JUNIATA 2014 Fall-Winter
Backstage Education: Technical Theatre at Juniata
A Presidency Begins: James Troha Inaugurated
To Tweet or Not to Tweet: Social Media in the Curriculum
Comparing Cultures:
Classroom versus Government Work
Campus Conversations: Juniata faculty and students weigh in on issues of the day. Reported by Davon Jackson ’17, Hannah Jeffery ’16, Zack Lemon ’14, Kymberly Mattern ’15, Marlene Matula ’17, Katherine Tobar
post anything that is super personal; nothing religious or political, just goofy stuff. I don’t want to offend anyone.
Being a senior, I don’t want to risk anything affecting my ability to get a job. Even though I don’t think I have anything on my Facebook that would put me at risk, I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
—Tim Rule ’14, Annville, Pa., on his Facebook settings.
“I think the American Dream exists, but it is different from what it was.
The American Dream changes every day. Today my American
dream is being able to get a good job, having a house, and sending my kids to college where they can also be successful.”
—Katy Leamer ’17, Bellwood, Pa., on whether the American Dream still exists.
“I expect to teach the basics of mindfulness, lead a meditation group (hold services), and counsel students as needed. I would like
to emphasize that Buddhism is not evangelical. It is not part
of my role to convert anyone to the practice of Buddhism.”
—Carole Baker, Buddhist minister at Unity House
“Technology is an extension of their essences; it’s personal, and it’s a part of who they are. There is
plenty of research now that shows we have physiological responses to the use of our technology. The more you get
text messages, the more you feel you need to respond to them and the more that you do, the more you want to respond. For some, not having their computer means to be cut off from their friends, to be cut off from connection.”
—Donna Weimer, Thornbury Professor of Communication, on students’ reliance on technology.
Baker Refectory The redesign for e space even mor makes the dining . ns tio sa sual conver conducive to ca
“I enjoyed reading Before I Die by Jenny Downham, which I read for Young Adult Literature. I liked
it because I like books with a narrator that readers don’t tend to like, such as Holden
Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye. I think creating a main character that readers may not necessarily like is creating a main character that is human.”
—Hailey Aguero ’16, Newington, Conn., on her favorite reading assignment for a class.
“The naval base shooting, the Virginia Tech shooting and the Connecticut (Sandy Hook Elementary) shooting are all reasons why there should be more policy. The U.S. leads the
world in gun-related deaths, but people are still upset that restrictions should be enforced.
From what I understand, the NRA’s platform is that our country was built on guns, but our country was also built centuries ago. It’s 2013. It’s upsetting that this is still an issue.”
—Quinn Westlake ’17, Albuquerque, N.M., on the Washington Navy Yard shooting (Sept. 16, 2013).
“In college, you’re literally living
in the same place as the other person, so you can spend more time with each other, whereas in high school you have to get your parents to drive you to the other person’s house.”
—Amanda Matta ’17, Elizabethtown, Pa., and Kevin Butterfield ’17, Greenport, N.Y. , on the differences between dating in college and dating in high school.
What juniata.edu/opinions
do yo
u thin
Photos (left): Jason Jones; (top right) J.D. Cavrich
“No one who’s not my friend can view my profile. I don’t
k?
President’s Note Dear Friends, If you look at the slate of stories for this issue of the Juniata magazine, I think you’ll see that all of the main stories in some way reveal what’s going on behind the scenes on our campus. All too often, alumni magazines or college advertisements present a polished image that even the most naïve readers know is too good to be true. Juniata isn’t completely free of doing that sort of thing, but more often than not, we want our students and their parents to see a College without all its edges rounded off. James A. Troha To live and learn in a place that is free from flaws would be like President living in that giant bubble from The Truman Show. If a Juniata trohaj@juniata.edu education is about anything, it is about community and part of being a community is being able to appreciate how things work and how we fix things when the inevitable glitches arise. One political cliché has it that people don’t want to see sausage being made, which is true, but at Juniata we celebrate all the things that go into making a great educational experience. Take a look at the cover story on Juniata’s theatre program, where we literally go backstage to show how students who work on technical crews get irreplaceable experience that can translate into jobs once they step off the Juniata stage. Flip over to the profile of theatre professor Kate Clarke, whose own acting career took her all over the country before she decided that teaching was her perfect role. Similarly, in “Social Media Studies,” we also reveal that social media like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube is not just a way to while away a lunch break. They also can be used in Juniata classes to complement the learning process. Jim Borgardt, a physics professor, pulls the curtain back on the cultural differences between higher education and work at a federal agency. Jim’s insights show how a new person can fit into another community. And speaking of behind the scenes, we decided to share some of the photos from Inaugural Week and the text from my speech. Please take a look inside to see how we do things at Juniata. I guarantee you’ll learn things you didn’t know. Showing how an education is made, collaborating, finding common ground, is the core of our mission. See how we do it. Offer opinions on these stories. After all, that’s how a community is made. Sincerely,
James A. Troha, President
Gabriel Welsch VP for Advancement and Marketing welschg@juniata.edu
Leo Osborne E-communication Coordinator osbornl@juniata.edu
Evelyn L. Pembrooke Alumni Relations Coordinator
Angie Ciccarelli Graphic Designer
Jennifer Jones Sports Information Director
Norma Jennings Marketing Assistant
Nathan Wagoner Director of New Media Communication
A Juniata student practices slacklining, a relatively new pastime that requires great balance.
—photo by Candice Hersh
814-641-3128
U
ATA COLLE G NI
E
ed
is published two times a year by Juniata College, Department of Advancement and to Marketing and is distributed free of charge to alumni and friends of Juniata. Postmaster and others, En aS ustainable please send change-of-address correspondence to: Alumni Relations, 1700 Moore St., Huntingdon, PA 16652-2196. Juniata can accept no responsibility for unsolicited contributions of artwork, photography, or articles. Juniata College, as an educational institution and employer, values equality of opportunity and diversity. The College is an independent, privately supported co-educational institution committed to providing a liberal arts education to qualified students regardless of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability. Its policies comply with requirements of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IV of the Education Amendments of 1972, and all other applicable federal, state, and local statutes, regulations and guidelines. Juniata
1
2014 Fall-Winter
itt Co mm
JUNIATA
meadowd@juniata.edu
Rosann Brown Executive Director of Marketing
vi ro nm en t .
Cert no. SW-COC-002556
wallj@juniata.edu
David Meadows ’98 Director of Alumni Relations
J
XX% 30%
John Wall Editor Director of Media Relations
President James A. Troha huddles with freshmen to strategize storming the Arch. Whatever strategy they came up with failed, but a great time was had by all.
Juniata
—Photo by Grace Braxton ’16, Huntingdon, Pa.
2
Every Friday, bands like Lonely Biscuit or comedians and other entertainers perform for students.
—Photo by Sungouk Park ’14, Gwacheon, South Korea
The students at Homecoming show school pride by rooting for the Eagles. —Photo by Candice Hersh
2014 Fall-Winter
3
Juniata
The Juniata football team posted a winning record of 7-4 and played in the ECAC Southwest Bowl against Albright College. It was the third postseason appearance in school history and highest win total since 1990.
4
The men’s cross country team finished second in the Landmark Conference Championships, equaling the best showing for the runners at the event in Juniata history.
Juniata Dominates The Fall Photography: J.D. Cavrich
The women’s soccer team (pictured here, Paula Pryor ’14) went 14-6, setting program records for most wins (14), most goals (55) and most conference wins (4) in the process. They were the No. 2 seed in the Landmark tournament and made the team’s first ECAC appearance since 2007.
2014 Fall-Winter
5
Mikaela Sloan ’15, of State College, Pa., shows the intensity that helped the field hockey team to a 4-2 Landmark Conference record and a 9-11 record overall.
Juniata
Cross country runner Katrina Woods ’14, of Shirleysburg, Pa., was Juniata’s first -ever individual title winner at the Landmark Conference Championships.
6
Andy Blunk ’14, of State College, Pa., and the rest of the men’s soccer team posted a 13-6-3 record, setting a program record for wins and earning the team’s first postseason berth in school history. They went on to play in the Landmark Conference Championship match and the ECAC South Tournament.
The women’s volleyball team dug deep like libero Brittani Young ’15, of Columbia, Pa., to post a 31-5 record. The team won its seventh straight Landmark Conference title and played in the NCAA Regional Semifinal match.
2014 Fall-Winter
7
JUNIATA 2014 Fall-Winter
Contents
Campus Conversations . . . . . . Inside Front Cover President’s Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Campus News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Backstage Education: Technical Theatre . . . . . 24 Juniata’s theatre department has turned into a cast of dozens as the program has grown over the past decade. Not everybody walks into the Suzanne von Liebig Theatre dreaming of stardom. A small, but dedicated cadre of students love the technical side of the footlights.
A Presidency Begins: James Troha Inaugurated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
24
The inauguration of Juniata’s 12th president reflected Jim Troha’s low-key personality while emphasizing Juniata’s inimitable sense of community.
To Tweet or Not to Tweet: Social Media in the Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Is there anybody left in the world who is NOT using Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, and how do you take a worldwide phenomenon and turn it into a teachable moment? Some social-media savvy professors and students are using social platforms to teach and learn. Does that pique your Pinterest?
Comparing Cultures: Classroom versus Government Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
JU NIATA
On the Cover
inter 2014 Fall-W
n:
io Educat age atr iata e at Jun Backst hnical The Tec
cy Begins: d A Presiden Inaugurate James Troha Tweet: or Not to To Tweet in the Curriculum a Social Medi
: ng Cultures nt Work Compari versus Governme Classroom
11/21/13
W14_juniata
Mag Front.indd
1
Juniata
››See covers that didn’t make the cut at www. juniata.edu/extra
8
Jessie Sullivan, left, technical director in theatre, works with student Alex Heicher ’15, of Hummelstown, Pa., to create a lighting design for the fall musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Working the technical crew on theatrical productions is a great way to gain experience for the working world.
3:45 PM
Cover photo J.D. Cavrich
Physics professor Jim Borgardt spent last year working as an American Institute of Physics Fellow at the U.S. State Department. He writes a wry look at the differences between teaching nuclear theories and using his expertise to help set nuclear policies at a federal agency.
Faculty Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Faculty Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Alumni Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 The Latest Buzz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 360° . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Endpaper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover
t ra x e / u a.ed ssue: t a i n ju this i Religion n eos i
Vi k i n
g
t t: ›› Vgiidng for Creadcikstage Tihdeeant Troha’s re
P i ll a ew : B a c t : P r e s he Cr e Cue t Evolve, R k, d res s d A Thin l gura ies Ina u
to ❣ Pho
r galle
34
52
Up and Coming: Juniata in Top 10 in U.S. News Ranking Category Juniata was named as one of 10 Up and Coming Schools among national liberal arts colleges in the 2013 U.S. News & World Report Rankings. Juniata also retained its ranking in the Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges in the magazine’s annual poll. Juniata is one of three colleges from Pennsylvania to be included in the prestigious ranking. Ursinus College, in Collegeville, Pa., and Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., also were ranked. The remaining colleges in the Up and Coming category are: Berry College, in Mount Berry Ga.; Hendrix College, in Conway, Ark.; Roanoke College, in Roanoke, Va.; University of Richmond, in Richmond, Va.; Beloit College, in Beloit, Wis.; College of St. Benedict, in St. Joseph, Minn.; and Wofford College, in Spartanburg, S.C. “It’s gratifying to be recognized as an innovative college by our colleagues across the country,”
says James A. Troha, Juniata president. “The faculty and staff at Juniata are never content to ‘sit on their laurels.’ Juniata is always searching for ways to improve the College and our students’ educational experience.” In other rankings publications Juniata was listed 36th out of 70 institutions rated in the Washington Monthly 2013 “Best Bang for Your Buck” College Rankings, a new wrinkle in the magazine’s poll that measures “the economic value students receive per dollar.” Juniata rose five places to 86th in Washington Monthly’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges poll. Juniata was ranked 91st in the 2012 poll.
“It’s a new era for many colleges and universities in that students and families are much more concerned with the financial cost of higher education and Juniata’s recognition as a financial value shows us we are on the right path as an educational community,” Troha adds. Juniata received another endorsement on affordability as Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranked Juniata 81st (it was 97th last year) out of 200 colleges and universities in its “Best Values in Private Colleges” 2014 rankings. Juniata also was rated 178th in the 2013 Forbes.com College Rankings, which rates all 3,000-plus colleges and universities nationwide. 9
2014 Fall-Winter
Photos/illustration (left): Jessie Sullivan; (right, top) J.D. Cavrich, Rick Hamilton, (right) Jason Jones
Tell us what you think in the comment windows.
Campus News
“It was clear during my visit to Juniata that its sense of community shines through and this is a great time for a small college to differentiate itself from the larger universities and colleges by offering community and a singular education.”
Juniata
—Fumio Sugihara, vice president for enrollment
10
Fumio Sugihara, director of admission at the University of Puget Sound since 2007, has been named vice president for enrollment at Juniata, where he will oversee the college’s enrollment office and provide strategic leadership to grow the college’s enrollment, identify new markets for recruitment and strengthen existing markets, nurture alumni connections to Juniata’s enrollment program, play a key role in retention efforts, and enhance communication and enrollment-related efforts throughout the campus community. “It’s a new set of challenges, particularly positioning Juniata in the current market where the demographics for all colleges and universities are changing. There are challenges for exploring those new markets, but there also is opportunity,” Sugihara says. “It was clear during my visit to Juniata that its sense of community shines through and this is a great time for a small college to differentiate itself from the larger universities and colleges by offering community and a singular education.” During Sugihara’s tenure, Puget Sound’s enrollment office drafted and implemented a need-aware admissions policy, underwent a series of critical restructurings to better align resources, implemented a new financial aid model, and installed a new software system to streamline and correct inefficiencies in the university’s admissions process. “Right from the start of the search process, Fumio Sugihara emerged as a very strong candidate with deep knowledge of enrollment practices and market pressures,” says James A. Troha, Juniata president. “His depth of passion for the liberal arts education Juniata provides and his proven ability to attain goals and move good teams to great outcomes made him, ultimately, the successful candidate.” Sugihara started his career in higher education in 1998 at Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine, where he was director for multicultural recruitment and associate director of admission. He coordinated and designed programs to recruit low-income and multicultural students before leaving in 2006 to attend graduate school. Bowdoin College also is Sugihara’s alma mater, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1996 in women’s studies and environmental studies. He went on to earn a master’s degree in higher education in 2007 from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
Photo (left): Barbara Weist
Leading Enrollment: Juniata Hires New Vice President
READ IT & KEEP Juniata faculty and staff recommend reading...
A Bitter Truth
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
by Charles Todd
by Robin Sloan
Reading J. Glenn Gray’s The Warriors sparked my interest in the World War I experience and Charles Todd is a mother-son writing team—using WW I as a backdrop—combining historical fiction and whodunit mystery.
A mystery that will keep you smiling about books, codes and Google—not to be missed.
—Kris Clarkson, dean of students
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
—Donna Weimer, Thornbury Professor of Communication
Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Scott Anderson
How much can one person take—a lot more than we think; how much can one person forgive—much more than we can imagine.
Much of the history of WW I is Eurocentric, and this is invaluable in gaining a different perspective concerning the Middle East and the history we either didn’t know or conveniently forgot.
—Russell Shelley, Elma Stine Heckler Professor of Music
—Randy Rennell, manager of enrollment data and research
11/22/63
I Am Malala
by Stephen King
by Malala Yousafzai
King makes the historian’s dream—to go back in time and try to change history—come to life.
The compelling story of a young woman with courage and strength to make a difference despite being a victim of the Taliban.
—David Hsiung, Knox Professor of History
11
2014 Fall-Winter
—Sarah DeHaas, Brumbaugh Professor of Education
Juniata
Campus News
12
Straight Scooters: ‘Mild Ones’ Lead HighMileage Effort Jim Troha, president of Juniata College, felt he should do his part for Juniata’s ongoing sustainability effort so his everyday vehicle on campus (when he doesn’t have to pick up his children or in case of inclement weather) is a Kymco scooter. He joins two other environmentally minded “Sons of Sustainability”—chemist Richard Hark (with his red Tomos scooter), and Jim Borgardt, professor of physics, (with his Yamaha Vino scooter). Troha takes the scooter every day to make the 1.25-mile journey from Juniata’s President’s House. He’s used the scooter countless times to date and the gas gauge rarely moves. Troha estimates the scooter gets about 100 miles to the gallon. Hark and Borgardt also commute regularly on scooters. —Photo by J.D. Cavrich
2014 Fall-Winter
13
Campus News
‘Viking’ Students Pillage—as Homework
“Professor Braxton even gave us fake blood to smear on our faces and arms.”
Early one October morning, a light fog settled over the Juniata campus. As usual, students made their way to their 9 a.m. classes, wearing hoodies and backpacks. However, on this particular day, another band of students emerged from the fog, wearing horned Viking helmets and wielding swords.
—Erin Netoskie ’16, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Juniata
No, these students weren’t celebrating the weekend early— they were members of the College’s “Viking Religion” course, an introductory religion class taught every fall and created by Don Braxton, J. Omar Good professor of religious studies. “Viking Religion is a survey of the history of what we know about the Vikings,” says Braxton. “It’s based on the archaeology of Viking settlements and life, as well as the written records that we have through Iceland of pre-Christian religion as it was practiced among Scandinavian and Germanic people.” Through the class, students learn about Viking customs and discuss subjects including longboats, epic poems, and the Viking religion itself, in which Vikings worshiped a pantheon of gods— later made 14
popular by Marvel Comics— including Thor, Loki, and Odin. “The class allows you to imagine yourself in scenarios that are liberating for a lot of people, because we live in a very controlled and domesticated society today,” says Braxton. “Viking religion actually celebrates a variety of things that are not virtuous in many religious traditions, such as wit, trickery, your ability to hold drink, and an ability to eat endlessly.” The course highlight is “Pillaging Day,” essentially an educational role-playing scavenger hunt. Students participated wearing all sorts of makeshift Viking garb, including duct-tape helmets and plastic swords. “I wore big boots and a sword and a hat and a wool smock,” says sophomore Erin Netoskie ’16, of Pittsburgh, Pa. “Professor Braxton
d i t: e o: vi d or Cre f t he ” S ee agi ng n l ig i o “ Pi l xtra Rel u/e i ng Vik a.ed
iat jun
even gave us fake blood to smear on our faces and arms.” The hunt was based on an epic poem that Braxton wrote, which gave the participants clues on where to discover various treasures hidden across the campus. This involved a number of roleplaying faculty members, including Russ Shelley, professor of music, as a minstrel, Hal McLaughlin, Sodexo general manager, as Keeper of the Smorgasbord, and President Jim Troha as a Jarl (essentially a Nordic governor). The pillagers were required to perform tasks, such as taking Jo Ann Isenberg, executive assistant, hostage to compel Jarl Troha to give up his money. “Afterwards President Troha went onto his balcony with his Viking hat on and screamed ‘I’ve been pillaged!’ It was great.” says Shelby Rakoski ’16, of Duncansville, Pa. —John Dubensky ’14, of Pittsburgh, Pa., is the Juniata Associate for Media Relations
Photos (left): courtesy Don Braxton; (right) Candice Hersh
ral Although the cent is “Viking ” in th s pitched battle seem g lin ne an ch to be in William Wallace us foc e th , rt Bravehea ng iki “V se ur co e of th Religion” centered on pre-Christian . religious practices
Hall Golf: Teeing Up Historical Camaraderie
History POEs and other students pu ttering around on floor of Founders the third Hall of ten play “H all Golf,” a test of creativity orchestra skill and ted by history profe ssors Jim Tuten, Da Hsiung , and David vid Sowell. Here , Sowe ll, in his role as “fl pro,” poses with a oor few players.
House, N.J. After each game, the score is written on a whiteboard that keeps track of everyone’s score and shows the record of how many people have ever played hall golf. It’s a really big board. Even if you have no experience playing golf or you own a personally designed putter, you can still learn new tips and techniques from your classmates and professors, and the pointers go beyond the game itself. “We get a chance to stop what we normally do and we get to socialize with the students in a more laidback atmosphere,” says Tuten. “Hall golf equalizes the students and the professors. And it gives us an opportunity to build community.”
“Hall golf equalizes the students and the professors. And it gives us an opportunity to build community.” —Jim Tuten, associate professor of history
—Lauren Frantz ’15, Summit Hill, Pa.
15
2014 Fall-Winter
After leaving class in Founders Hall you may want to step into your professor’s office to ask a question or get some advice. In the history department, you can accomplish the same thing by playing golf—on an indoor golf course in the very same building. Although it doesn’t boast plastic grass, the impromptu green is often a site where professors and students socialize during friendly competition. History professors Dave Hsiung, Jim Tuten, and David Sowell improvised the hole out of an empty mug lying flat on the ground. Their course uses the entire hallway, littered with benches turned on their sides, a rubber duck, and a multicolored stuffed lizard next to a portable mini golf hole. “The benches act as barriers that players have to shoot around or underneath,” Hsiung says. The rules of the game also differ from an average game of golf. The yellow rubber duck and the stuffed lizard are randomly placed around the mini golf hole as hazards, making it difficult for the players to aim for the hole. “If a player hits their ball into the death duck, the player dies and has to then hit their ball into the life lizard to revive themselves before they can shoot for the hole,” Hsiung explains with a straight face. “Don’t be shy! Every student should play hall golf at least once before they graduate and take advantage of the fun, entertaining, and valuable experience,” says Emma Campbell ’16, of Cape May Court
Campus News
Generation Map: Seniors (As Defined by AARP) in the Classroom But while Hershberger’s classmates will all be graduating sometime between 2014 and 2018, Hershberger has already graduated from Juniata—in 1950. Hershberger lives in Westminster Woods, a retirement community located in Huntingdon. She is also one of roughly 60 members over the age of 65 who participates in the Passport to Juniata program, which provides Westminster Woods residents with access to different activities on campus. “It allows us to keep in touch with people outside of our generation,” says Hershberger. “Just being on campus again is nostalgic.” The program includes auditing classes, which allows a person to sit in on a class and participate without getting a grade or academic credit. Auditing classes is on a space-available basis. “She was such an integral part of the class,” recalls Kathy Jones, associate professor of education, who taught Hershberger in her “Science Juniata “sen and Society” class. “She jumped right in on ior” Dottie H ershberger ’5 during the co 0 meets with urse History discussions and was able to offer a totally different historian Jim of Food . Her classes each Tuten sh berger sits in se m es view because she has so many years of experience.” te r a s pa on a few Jun rt of the Pass which allow iata s po W rt es to tm Ju inster Wood Darwin Kysor, director of career services and niata prog ra s residents to m, au d it classes . coordinator for the program, says that auditing classes is only one part of the program. Passport to Juniata includes access to Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center and the Beeghly Library, as well as Juniata Donald and Patricia Bachman were both “recruited” Presents, other lecture series on campus, convocations, by Hershberger to audit a class. “We just moved here last spring,” says Donald. “Now we’re both auditing Interpersonal Communication with Grace Fala (professor of communication).” “There’s a lot of class participation,” says Patricia. “We had the idea we could just go sit in the back of class and watch, but Grace won’t allow that.” Jones and other faculty feel as though the program— especially auditing classes—is extremely valuable for Westminster Woods residents, undergraduates, and —Patricia Bachman professors. “I think the folks up at Westminster Woods want a chance to share their own knowledge. It keeps invocations, Baccalaureate, art exhibits, film series, them young,” Jones adds. Mountain Day, and Lobsterfest. Members even get a discount in the bookstore. —John Dubensky ’14, of Pittsburgh, Pa., is the Juniata Associate for Members can also take classes for credits, though Media Relations there is an additional fee. Juniata
“We had the idea we could just go sit in the back of class and watch, but Grace won’t allow that.”
16
Photos (left): Thomas Jordan ’14; (right) courtesy Stephen Nolan ’14
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 1 p.m., Dottie Hershberger walks into her “History of Food” class. She sits down and chats with some of her classmates about campus gossip until Jim Tuten, associate professor of history, starts lecturing.
Fake News, Real Experience: Juniatian Works on Colbert When looking for a meaningful intern experience, getting stuck beneath a Coke machine would have to rank fairly low for many college students. Not so for Stephen Nolan ’14, who tested out the life-size prop and performed a host of other duties as a summer intern for The Colbert Report this past summer. The senior from Montclair, N.J. studying psychology sees nothing Freudian about the symbology of having a soda machine fall on you. For him it was just another day at work. “Stephen Colbert was doing a skit where he would be stuck under a Coke machine and the crew needed to know if the weight of the machine would be too heavy for him, so I was asked to test it,” Nolan says. “They had taken most of the equipment out of it, so it was safe.” Over the summer, Nolan was able to accumulate high-end television network experience as he worked three days a week in New York City doing such varied duties as getting coffee, shadowing technicians, sitting in the control room, and even taking a meeting with Stephen Colbert himself, a comic actor who plays a self-important political pundit interviewer. Along the way, Nolan got to meet actual celebrities who agreed to appear on The Colbert Report, such as Matt Damon, Hugh Laurie, Paul McCartney, Kevin Spacey, and the Lumineers. While it would be perfect to credit Juniata’s eminence as the reason for the internship, the
real reason probably lies closer to home. Nolan attended the same school, Montclair-Kimberly Academy, as the Colbert children. “My mother and Evelyn Colbert had worked together on a couple of occasions, so I wrote (Mrs. Colbert) a letter asking where I should send a résumé and a cover letter. She wrote back and about a month later I had an interview,” Nolan explains. Nolan had worked in Juniata’s Digital Media Studio for a semester before heading off for his internship. He’s now ready to try his luck in the television industry. “I’ve definitely caught the TV bug,” he says. “The people at Colbert told me they usually hire their old interns, so I will definitely be sending them a résumé when I graduate,” he says.
ephen Juniata senior St ight of we Nolan tests the hine ac m g in a soda vend ship rn te in s hi of as part rt . po at The Colber t Re to d re ee Nolan volunt to see test the machine lber t if host Stephen Co ck ” tu “s could safely be it. th undernea 2014 Fall-Winter
17
Athletics Through the Viewfinder If you’re not watching film, you’re behind the eight ball. By Laura Chapman,
assistant sports information director
W
hen casual sports fans think of watching film, their minds generally turn
to
black-and-white
striped
officials in the NFL walking into the video booths on the field and reviewing a play. You think of the locker rooms at the University of Oregon where the football team has multiple flat screen TVs, or a film manager in a climatecontrolled room at the University of California, Berkeley with servers and computers and a constant feed of game film running in the background. What the casual fan doesn’t know is that studying film to perfect performance is prevalent in all levels of athletics and can be found in great volume on the campus of Juniata. In today’s high-tech age, if you’re not watching
Juniata
film, you’re not winning.
18
Assistant track coach Blair Taylor uses an iPad to check the starting technique of sprinter David Spayde ’15, of Mount Joy, Pa. Spayde’s specialty is the 100- and 200-meter sprints.
19
2014 Fall-Winter
Photo: Thomas Jordan ’14
Juniata
20
Almost every morning at 7 a.m. a stream of football players can be seen walking into the coaches offices on the ground floor of South Hall. They separate into position groups and head into different rooms. Ward Udinski ’15, and the other quarterbacks, file into assistant coach and offensive coordinator Mike Newton’s office to go over the previous day’s practice film. They all settle into seats and turn to the TV on the wall. Newton’s laptop is connected to the TV and from there they have a complete breakdown of practice film. “For my position group at least, we watch every single play, every single rep, and correct it, get coaching advice, go over what we did wrong, what we need to fix. We watch every single game, every scrimmage, every game we play. That’s probably the most extensive film period we have,” says Udinski. But football is not the only sport on campus to utilize film. Both the men’s and women’s volleyball programs at Juniata analyze video on themselves and their opponents all year long. “For the most part, kids have been hearing the same thing from coaches for a number of years,” says head men’s volleyball coach Kevin Moore ’02. “But actually seeing what they are doing is what inspires them to change. As an athlete, you can be told how to do things, but a lot of being an athlete is just going out and figuring it out yourself.” Finding the correct methods or clue to beating an opponent is not solely a coach-player thing. For example, both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams use a computer program called StatEasy. A student-manager keeps match stats on the sideline during a game, giving the teams access to film
Photos (left): Christopher Shannon ’09; (right) Thomas Jordan ’14
Watching film to scout opposing football teams is much easier these days for, from left, assistant Todd Quinter ’00, head coach Tim Launtz ’80, and Mike Newton, offensive coordinator. In the lower middle, quarterback Ward Udinski ’15 gameplans an upcoming game with the coaches.
breakdown at the click of a button. The person keeping the stats hits the keys to the rhythm of the game and then, after the match, the stats and the film are loaded into the program. By synching one event—let’s say a serve—with the video, the entire match is segmented and cataloged appropriately. If a student-athlete wants to see all the attack attempts during a match, all she has to do is login online, find the match, and click on her statistics line. Every clip from the film she is involved in is automatically cued up for her to watch. “The fact that the video is ‘in the cloud’ makes it even better because then they can look at it when they have time,” says head women’s volleyball coach Heather Pavlik ’95. “They can look in and see what the stats are in practice. ‘OK, I didn’t block any balls in practice, there is video I can watch. I think I was good in this match, let me see. What was I doing differently then compared to now?’ Older video is on there from previous games so they can compare the two as well.”
The way film is used in athletics across campus is as varied as the sports, but everyone agrees, you have to use it. Assistant track and field coach Blair Taylor uses the Coach’s Eye App on her iPad to film and study race starts, hurdling technique, and jump form. “I can watch them doing their events and notice things, but sometimes I’ll miss something that’s huge. But with video, I can go back and watch, and be able to say, ‘here you were over-striding so when you planted your foot to take off from the board you didn’t go anywhere,’” says Taylor. “It’s really great for starts. If I can get a good side view I can actually draw the angles in the app, and see their body position, and tell the sprinters where they are supposed to be. If they’re not in the right position I can pull up two videos side-by-side and show them, this is where you are right now, and this is where you should be.” Using video in athletics is an increasingly important teaching tool, particularly for a generation that has grown up with the
personal computer and easy access to television. Visual stimulation has been central to their learning process from a young age. “I can show my players a video of a teammate and say this is what you should be doing and they’ll say, ‘Oh! I get it now.’ Everything is very visual with this generation,” says second-year head softball coach Sam Kszepka. “The more I tell them, the more they tune me out. If I can show them, it’s 100 times better.” For coaches who began their careers many years ago, advancements in film allow them to know more about their teams, while radically streamlining the time it takes to gather that information. A team of coaches can now spend more time implementing ideas rather than sitting in a room, late at night, repeatedly hitting the play and rewind buttons. “It really enables us to be more task-oriented and less timeoriented. When I sat down to break down film, I’d be in there for hours, doing percentages and notes with a calculator. Now, we can better utilize our time for teaching and preparation,” says head football coach Tim Launtz ’80. Launtz and the Juniata football team recently made the jump to Hudl, an online system that makes all video, play diagrams, and coaching presentation securely available to the entire team over the Internet. The change was made at a conference level to allow for easy film exchange between teams. Now, all a team has to do to access film
21
2014 Fall-Winter
Student assistant Kiara Keaton ’15, of Edison, N.J., ta kes game film for the football team usin g a telescoping ca mera that gives a high-ri se panoramic view of the entire Knox St adium field. The fil m is used by Juniata co aches to analyze tea m performance and also is sent to oppo sing teams to scout Juni ata’s team.
“I can show my players a video of a teammate and say this is what you should be doing and they’ll say, ‘Oh! I get it now.’ Everything is very visual with this generation. The more I tell them, the more they tune me out. If I can show them, it’s 100 times better.” —Sam Kszepka, head softball coach
on an opponent is log in to the Centennial Conference Hudl site and the film is ready and waiting. Through the program, the team can then log information into the computer (down and distance, which hash the ball is on, what time in the game, in what formation a team lines up, etc.) and the application will tabulate that information into a scouting report. Also impressive is the new program utilized by the men’s basketball team. After a vote of the men’s basketball coaches, the Landmark chose to partner with Synergy Sports Technology. Now, rather than having to cut and code video themselves, the teams will send game film to Synergy and within 24 hours it will come back fully edited and classified. Synergy is also partnered with the NBA and all NCAA Division I basketball conferences. The Landmark is the first NCAA Division III league to make an agreement with Synergy. Through this new partnership, Juniata will have access to analyzed film from all games in the Synergy system. “We’re the first Division III league that we know of that’s gone to this,” says Greg Curley, head men’s basketball coach, and director of athletics. “A lot of teams use it more for opponents. I use it more for ourselves to show our guys what we need to do and what we don’t need to do.”
Juniata
Kevin Moore ’02, works with volleyball player Chad Albert ’16, of Cranberry Township, Pa., as they watch video playback of a practice. Moore says athletes often can make critical corrections to their play after seeing themselves on film.
22
Photos: Christopher Shannon ’09
free time,” says women’s volleyball setter Kelly Reynolds ’17. “You can look individually at your body position or different techniques. Or you can look at decision-making. You can see if you made the right choice after the play. I think it’s really helpful, especially if you’re a visual learner.” With all the advancements in film analytics, coaches and players are finding new ways to understand their sport. Sport is still very much an art, but with each technological step it gets closer to a science. It’s easy to see the day when an athlete is issued an iPad right in the bag with all their other gear. “If you’re not watching film you’re pretty far behind the eight ball,” says Wiegand. >j< —Laura Chapman is assistant sports information director chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
23
2014 Fall-Winter
As every athlete knows, during a game it’s hard to see everything going on all at once. Film study becomes central to a studentathlete’s effort to decode how they fit into the strategy of a game. “While it’s happening, it’s hard to separate yourself and look at it from an objective perspective,” says Rachelle Wiegand ’14, outside hitter for the women’s volleyball team. “Film allows you to be able to look at yourself in a different way. It helps you to see what’s going on in the heat of a game.” The days of mailing tapes or taking hours to drive film door-todoor are over. Now, teams can access film via cloud computing from a number of different devices simply by connecting to the Internet. “We can access film whenever we want. I try to watch it whenever I have some
Softball coach Sam Kszepka not only uses video to teach her athletes but also uses it for her assistant coaches to help them look for certain things that she wants the team to concentrate on.
Juniata
Jessie Sullivan, technical director for the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts, works to position a light in the weeks before the premiere of Juniata’s production of the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Sullivan teaches and works closely with students working on the technical crews for theatre productions and Juniata Presents entertainment events.
24
Behind the Curtain Technical Theatre Crew Builds Experience Backstage
Act I
Scene opens with two
actors in Juniata’s production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels engaging in some tomfoolery with a wheelchair and a whippy tree branch. The audience is rapt. As the viewer goes behind the Art Deco scenery, meant to suggest an opulent casino, the view swivels upward into another world. Up above the players, by the metal catwalk above the Suzanne von Liebig Theatre space, there is another world—filled with students intently studying light boards, sound
By John Wall, director of
equalizers, computer projections
media relations
and other technological tools that
Photography: J.D. Cavrich
help the Juniata College theatre
(unless noted)
department suspend disbelief in ways that transport theatregoers to a French Riviera casino, ancient Rome, or Grover’s Corners.
2014 Fall-Winter
25
Behind the Curtain
The spotlight moves to Heidi Kleber ’15, of Morrisdale, Pa., who is perched in a small booth near the metal catwalks directly above the actors. She’s holding a well-thumbed copy of the Scoundrels script, littered with markers, Post-its and scribbled notations. She is The Stage Manager. But unlike Our Town’s Stage Manager, she doesn’t wander out to the edge of the stage and offer folksy aphorisms. She’s more like an air traffic controller at a very busy airport. “Cue projection,” she says into the headset she’s wearing that is plugged into a communication system allowing her to talk to the lighting board operator, the soundboard operator, the assistant stage manager, and the projection operator. Kleber also communicates via her cell phone with the box office and has the actors’ personal cell phones entered into her phone so she can text them if needed. “Even when you’re working, you’re having so much fun that it doesn’t seem like a job,” she says.
Kleber has been wired into Juniata’s theatre department since her third day on campus, yet she has never been on stage as a performer. She’s one of a dedicated cadre of Juniatians who prefer operating the lights to standing in the spotlight. Unlike such huge theatre programs as those at Yale University or Northwestern University, Juniata doesn’t have a designated technical theatre POE, but that hasn’t stopped students from designing their own education programs in technical theatre while also designing lights, sets, or sound for countless College productions.
Juniata
Alex Heicher ’15 keeps his balance as he adjusts a light. Heicher also created the computer video projections used for the Scoundrels production.
26
Photo: Thomas Jordan ’14
Heidi Kleber ’15, of Morrisdale, Pa., stage manager for many of the productions emerging from the theatre program, keeps track of all members of the technical crew through headsets all while giving the technical crew the correct cues.
“I would say of the tech students we’ve had, about 90 percent of them are working in the field.” —Neal Utterback, assistant professor of theatre
ia jun
27
2014 Fall-Winter
eo: vid w: ” t he re C e e atre S t he e T h e t ra u e “C x ag e t / s k du Bac ta.e
“We usually have 4 to 6 students on campus at any one time who are only interested in technical theatre,” explains Kate Clarke, associate professor of theatre. “But because there are fewer of them, they get more experience than tech students in larger programs.” And, unlike the old joke where a recent college graduate says, “I’m an actor,” and his acquaintance says, “Really? What restaurant?” many students specializing in the technical side of theatre can find employment a bit more easily. “I would say of the tech students we’ve had, about 90 percent of them are working in the field,” says Neal Utterback, assistant professor of theatre. “If you’re a good stage manager or a good technician, you will work forever. You are gold.” There also are golden opportunities at Juniata to work with professional technicians and designers through Gravity Partners, Juniata’s professional theatre instructors, as well as the professional technicians who come to campus as part of a Juniata Presents concert or performance.
Juniata
Backstage, things are kept busy as the technical crew makes sure props are arranged and wardrobe is marked for the correct characters. Clockwise from top left, theatre students Alexandra Zerjav ’15 and others arrange props, assistant stage manager Katya Pribysh ’16, of West Chester, Pa., checks a text from Heidi Kleber, wardrobe manager Holly Souchack ’16 arranges costumes, and Pribysh makes a final prop check.
28
Behind the Curtain
Act II Of course, for technical theatre, there is no Method method where the lighting guy shadows a real-life lighting guy for a year before emulating the skill for real. Instead of reading Stanislavsky or Stella Adler, the Juniata technically inclined theatre students go see Jessie Sullivan. Sullivan is the technical director for the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts, which means she’s in charge of making everything from theatre productions, choir concerts, Juniata Presents events, and even Mr. Juniata flow like an Oscar broadcast. “The one thing we try to emphasize is that these are professionallevel shows,” she says. “I want them to walk out our doors and be able to work to a professional standard.” “Each show we treated as a professional performance as soon as the audience entered the theatre,” recalls Jessica Spirko ’12, who works as a freelance assistant production coordinator in New York City and has worked for such reality TV shows as Restaurant Stakeout and Project Runway. “We were taught the standards of how we should present ourselves.” Students reach such benchmarks by working for Sullivan in three ways: through the courses “Technical Theatre Lab” and “Technical Theatre Practicum” and through work-study jobs for Juniata Presents events. “Technical Theatre Lab” is a three-credit course that can be taken at the 100, 200, 300, and 400 levels, depending on the interest of the student. Each student must work six hours a week during the construction phase of that semester’s productions. The jobs are matched with expertise and skill level, with Sullivan as coach, instructor, and co-worker. Of course she doesn’t just let 20 students loose with access to sewing machines and power tools. Before
Lighting technician Jennifer Dupee ’16, of Flanders, N.J., controls how the play is illuminated throughout the Suzanne von Liebig Theatre.
2014 Fall-Winter
29
Behind the Curtain
and seeing the set in show light. It looked just like a painting,” he says. “I remember thinking the sets are not what people come to see, but the platform itself can be a work of art.” Art appreciation on that level has taken Redmond on a series of internships that have raised his skill levels even more as a carpenter at the Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham, N.Y., as a crew member at the Wolf Trap Opera Company, and, last summer, as a set crew technician at the Santa Fe Opera Company in New Mexico. Students also can get showstopping experience by taking Technical Theatre Practicum, which, in a nutshell, offers academic credit for working on one of the theatre department’s major productions from start to finish. “Practicum students are responsible for the show build, the rehearsal process, and the show once it opens,” Sullivan says. They all get an assignment and are supervised by someone on the faculty or staff.”
Juniata
Former technical theatre students have found employment throughout the industry. Jessica Spirko ’12, has worked as an assistant and “wrangler” on such reality shows as Project Runway (that’s Jessica behind the iconic model lightbox) and Restaurant Stakeout. Jessica, left, is pictured with Stakeout host Willie Degel and his makeup artist. 30
“It’s a great learning tool to throw us into a job and let us fend for ourselves to see what evolves. That’s a lot better than learning the theory behind lighting and then applying it without any experience.” —Alex Heicher ’15, technical theatre and design
Assignments can range from banging a hammer constructing a riser to highly technical tasks that are integral to the success of the production. Consider the case of Alex Heicher ’15, of Hummelstown, Pa., also a self-designed technical theatre and design POE. For his fall semester practicum, he was assigned to create the video projections for the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a job he’s done previously on Noir, Noir, Noir and Arcadia. Theatrical projections require familiarity with combining imagery with computer programming, something the confident Heicher, who has had an internship at Open Stage Theatre in Harrisburg, Pa., and whose dream job is to work for Electronic Theatre Controls Inc, a manufacturer of computer-based boards to control lights, sound and projections, has in spades. “I’ve had full design freedom,” he says. “It’s a great learning tool to throw us into a job and let us fend for ourselves to see what evolves. That’s a lot better than learning the theory behind lighting and then applying it without any experience.”
Photos (left): courtesy Jessica Spirko ’12
working the students must watch a series of videos on set construction, power tool use, shop safety, how to read a technical plan, and other subjects. (She can also tell if students don’t watch the whole thing.) While a 100-level student might be part of a construction crew team under supervision, the 400-level student might work on an individualized project. At the highest level, a theatre student can do an independent study project that counts as class credit. Last year, Jazmine Jade ’13 designed the sets for Arcadia as an independent study and Gus Redmond ’14, of Bethesda, Md., whose POE reads Technical Theatre and Design, will create the entire set design for The Importance of Being Earnest in spring semester starting Feb. 20. Redmond has gathered extensive experience in all aspects of technical theatre, but creating the world actors live in is his true calling. “I remember walking into the theater during a production
Photo: Jessie Sullivan
, shown Gus Redmond ’14, of Bethesda , Md. sound the g atin oper and here building sets ka, Dha of ’16, n dma Saa ib Sak with board Trap f Wol at Bangladesh, has interned Opera Opera Company and the Santa Fe semester, ng spri In ico. Mex New in y Compan gn for desi set Redmond will create the entire of nce orta the production The Imp Being Earnest.
2014 Fall-Winter
31
Behind the Curtain
Act III As the number of theatre POEs on campus multiply faster than Stephen Sondheim’s royalty payments, many of the students who have gone through the College’s technical program point out that Juniata’s postmodern von Liebig Theatre and the professional influence of the Gravity Partners’ instructors offer experiential learning that can’t be obtained at much larger institutions because the physical performance spaces are often less adaptable due to age, antiquated equipment, or both. Still, most of the students who seek out theatre as a POE as incoming freshmen are focused on some aspect of performing. For recruiting purposes, Clarke says it’s difficult to emphasize that the College offers technical opportunities, because the College does not have a faculty member whose expertise is solely focused on production technology. Anecdotally, Utterback says students often find their interest in technical theatre sparked by experiences during college productions or if they see others getting
“The biggest thing I learned working as a stage manager for Juniata productions was how to be a leader.” Juniata
—Jessica Spirko ’12, freelance assistant production coordinator in New York City 32
more parts in productions. “At a certain age everyone wants to be the center of attention,” Utterback explains. “The students we bring in get chances to work with a lot of different theatre artists from the professional world, so they have a chance to figure out what direction they want to go in—instead of auditioning for role after role.” “Finding employment in any theatre field is difficult,” says Spirko. “But once you get your foot in the door and make a good impression, people will want to work with you again and recommend you for other jobs. The biggest thing I learned working as a stage manager for Juniata productions was how to be a leader.” If they go for the technical side, they can work all they want, either on Juniata theatre productions or Juniata Presents concerts. “It’s like I’m a glutton for punishment,” says Redmond, who, with Heicher, works as a student supervisor for Juniata Presents. “We’re doing so much that sometimes we need to be reminded to eat or go home and sleep.”
To some extent, students also have to have the right temperament to work on the technical side. “The person who is an actor wants to be seen,” Clarke adds. “The tech person is fine working in a dark room.” Which is not to say that Juniata’s technical theatre students are immune to applause. It’s just that their vision of theatre is more holistic. “When the cast is out front taking bows and the lights go up, you can see the looks on the faces in the audience,” says Kleber, who last summer stage-managed American Western for Utterback at a series of performances in Ireland. “That’s when you can see if the audience really liked your work and I’ve actually cried when it happened— it’s a mindblowing moment.” >j<
Director Kate Clarke, associate professor of theatre, shares a few words of advice to cast members during a rehearsal session.
33
2014 Fall-Winter
Photo (bottom right): Thomas Jordan ’14
From left, the backstage magic continues as cast members have their makeup and hair done by Leslie Troup ’15, of Littlestown, Pa., although some cast members, such as Rachel Cline ’17, of Brecksville, Ohio, in pink dress, prefer to do their own makeup. Troup helps Sara Luccini ’14, of San Diego, Calif. set her hair. Lara Schaffer ’15, of Goshen, N.Y., applies the finishing touches to her eyes. Just before the curtain goes up, (although in reality, there is no curtain at the postmodern von Liebig Theatre), the cast prepares for the show.
Juniata President James A. Troha just before entering Rosenberger Auditorium for his Investiture ceremony.
Juniata
Photography: J.D. Cavrich 34
Inaugural Address Friday, October 19, 2013 James A. Troha
I want to welcome our collective and individual histories into the room. None of us has arrived here without the support of others. We carry on what has come before us and we remember those who have changed our lives for the better. My own example is right in front of me. I asked that as we planned this event, a seat be left open for where my mother, Cynthia Troha, would have sat. I vividly remember the day I called her to share the exciting news of my appointment at Juniata. As you might imagine, it was an enjoyable moment between a son and his mother. A few weeks later, however, she unexpectedly passed away, leaving us much too soon. My mom would have liked this party, to be sure, but I’m confident she is here with me even if I cannot see her. And in her honor and in memory of Jennifer’s father, Jack Wright, who died 18 years ago of cancer at too early an age as well, Jennifer and I have committed to endow a Juniata scholarship in their honor. Both of them truly understood the value of education and its impact on our world.
President Troha receives the President’s Medallion from Robert McDowell ’67, chair of the Board of Trustees, just prior to the start of Jim Troha’s address.
35
2014 Fall-Winter
But they are not the only presence.
Inaugural Address
This room has held generations of students, parents, faculty, and other guests. This is where freshman classes have been welcomed for decades. This is where the choir has sung, where alumni
Juniata
have gathered, where visiting artists have
36
expanded our understanding of the world. They all look on today. Even Juniata’s first teacher, Jacob Zuck, is out there somewhere, probably frowning at what some of his fellow Brethren would have found outrageously extravagant by standards of their day.
: act e o: , Re vi d the Evolve ” s e s e S , re i nk Ad d xtra “Th r al u/e ug u d a e n . I ta
ia jun
The Juniata Concert Choir performed The World of Our Dreams at the Investiture ceremony, directed by Russell Shelley, professor of music.
2014 Fall-Winter
37
Inaugural Address
But here we are, mingling with
the voices and ideas of the past as we eagerly prepare for what lies ahead. I think of that to remind all of us here that what we celebrate today is not so much a change in leadership but rather a continuity of community. Last spring, for example, I was able to watch the Bailey Oratorical via a live stream in my kitchen in Tiffin, Ohio and hear advice on this transition from students themselves. One young man, senior Seth Ruggerio, gave me a memorable piece of advice: “Dr. Troha, do not try to change Juniata. Rather, let Juniata
change you.” Wise counsel, to be sure. Thank you Seth. Although fraught with expected anxiety, this transition has given space for all of us, including me, to reflect on where we are as an institution of higher learning in 2013. Without a doubt, we exist in one of the most competitive higher education markets in the United States. With rising concern over price and student loan debt, over the value of higher education in general, changing technology, challenging
must preserve and strengthen that which is distinctive about Juniata. You may have noticed in your invitations a fact I learned in reading Earl ’46 Kaylor’s history of Juniata: At the time of their founding, the Brethren colleges had a tendency to name their campuses for the towns in which they stood. Juniata’s founders elected to do something a bit different, and named the college for the river that flowed nearby. For me, this is a compelling characteristic of our beginning: our founders had in sight a farther horizon. We named ourselves for
The Call to Think, The Courage to Evolve, The Conviction to Act
Juniata
, Jonathan ta students and Two Junia 4 ’1 gh Keeney ’15, of Brumbau ry a is Faiz Qa Airokhsh n a istan, harif, Afgh Mazar-e S to offer the d collaborate . n invocatio
38
demographics, there is a real sense of urgency not just to maintain our quality but to get better. There are complex challenges to resolve in our world today and it will require shared expertise, across disciplines. To that end, the theme this week is The Call to Think, the Courage to Evolve, and the Conviction to Act. The theme resonates for a few reasons. For one, it links the attributes we must possess today—a calling, courage, and conviction—with what has been, for nearly two decades, a palpable ethos that helps articulate the curricular and co-curricular work on this campus, the three simple words: think, evolve, act. It is not a tag-line. It is our culture and we live it out every day. I have already described, a bit, the call to THINK. We must understand and acknowledge our position in the current marketplace of higher education, and as one of the 40 Colleges That Change Lives, we
a feature that brings the world to us and sends us back out. Our engagement as a community with the world must do the same, and we have been recognized for our strength in doing so. Just last year, in fact, we were one of five schools nationally recognized for the international character of our campus through the Senator Paul Simon Internationalization Award. Just this summer, we also had students interning in 27 states—and it was a pretty typical summer. We have achieved a student body of which more than 12 percent are from nations other than the United States. I welcomed 178 international students during orientation week. Overall, our student body is much more diverse in many measures than it was just a decade ago and it has strengthened our community in ways hard to describe. However, we are not yet done. We must continue to develop a student body, a faculty and staff, a Board of Trustees that reflects the way our world now looks. We also must continue to be good stewards of our environment, something Juniata has done exceedingly well over the years.
Pennsylvania Proud Jennifer Troha’s Journey Back Home
U
nlike her husband, whose childhood indoctrinated him to become a lifelong Cleveland sports fan, Jennifer Troha is the member of the household with Pennsylvania coursing through the family tree.
Jennifer put her teaching career on hold when Jim was assigned to be dean of students at Harlaxton College, the university’s study-abroad site in England. To make things work out she was asked to be his assistant dean. “I truly enjoyed working on the student services side and that was something I was interested in, but Jim and I thought it would be better if we weren’t specializing in the same career area,” Jennifer explains. So, when the Trohas returned to the United States to start a family, they did so at Baker University in Kansas. Jennifer taught third grade for four years in Gardner, Kan., had two children and earned a master’s degree at Baker University. “I stopped teaching after I had our second child,” she says. As the Troha family grew to three children, Jennifer put teaching on hold (save for a one-year substitute stint in 2009-10). “As Jim’s job responsibilities increased, his job became my outlet,” she explains. There was always an event to go to or we would be hosting a student group or a visitor.” As Jim considered applying for presidential positions, the Trohas told their kids early that a move might be in their future. As Jim’s personal presidential search started two years ago, the family was ready and you can easily guess which potential employer received Jennifer’s vote. “This is the closest I’ve been to my family since I went to college and we have relatives in Baltimore and Pittsburgh—which made Juniata everyone’s top choice,” she says. For now, Jennifer has decided to retire her teaching career, although she thinks she might go back once her children are older. She also is thinking about working with Juniata students in some way. She’d like to work at some college recruitment fairs too. But all of that is at least a year or so down the road. These days, Jennifer is still settling in for the next leg of the journey.
39
2014 Fall-Winter
In fact, you can’t get more Pittsburgh than Jennifer. Her late father was a steelworker for decades and then when he was laid off, he got a job as field manager for Three Rivers Stadium, the then-home of the Steelers and Pirates. You can imagine a cocktail party conversation between uber Steelers fan Rob Yelnosky ’85 and the Trohas going something like this: Jim nodding in agreement, but thinking “Bernie Kosar was better than Roethlisberger,” and Jennifer making a solid case for Rod Woodson over Mel Blount as best Steeler defensive back. She even knows what Sid Bream’s Slide is. Jennifer Troha grew up around Pittsburgh’s South Hills in Jefferson Borough, the daughter of a steelworker and a teacher. It was a given that the three girls in the family would all go to college. Jennifer, the youngest, had it in her mind from early on that she would follow her mom into the classroom. “That’s what brought me to Edinboro University,” she says. “They had a great education program with a lab school that went up to the third grade and you were out in the public schools by your second year.” While she studied, she got a job as a peer counselor, a group of undergraduate students who helped students build academic skills. The group was overseen by a young graduate student named Jim Troha. The two dated through Jennifer’s undergraduate years, then, when Jim got a job in Indiana at the University of Evansville as an administrator, Jennifer accepted a teaching job in Frederickburg, Va. where she taught 5th grade for two years. A large amount of plane trips and two years of long-distance phone calls later, they were married.
At far left, the Trohas pose in Juniata’s Hall of Fame Room. From left, daughter Madison Troha, Jim Troha, daughter Natalie Troha, Jennifer Troha; and son Nick Troha. Center, Jennifer Troha gets some practice for future proms attaching a boutonniere to son Nick’s lapel. At near left, the faculty, guests and other stride purposefully toward Rosenberger Auditorium before the Investiture ceremony.
Juniata
Led by Amiable Amble organizer Cady Kyle, assistant director of human resources, foreground, a group of ambling Juniatians set off to tour downtown Huntingdon, accompanied by the Trohas, assorted dogs, plus faculty, friends, Trustees and children.
40
Inaugural Address Dominic Dottavio t refers to Presiden ol” -to ve “fi a as a oh Tr ll ba player, a base a reference defining o wh er ay pl ll ba base ll. we does everything
As we think, and as we
probe next steps to manage what we find—call it the Courage to Evolve. Kaylor notes in his history a still-popular saying about the conservatism of colleges: it is easier to move a cemetery than to change a curriculum. And I know from my days in advancement and working with alumni that if most alumni had their way, colleges would have well-preserved hitching posts and inkwells on all the desks. I understand that impulse: when a college is strong, like Juniata, and has the life-changing effect on individuals that has come to typify peoples’ experiences here, it is reasonable to want to preserve what is good, to keep unchanged something that is so successful. In fact, if nothing else, a liberal arts education urges us to change, to become comfortable with ambiguity. At a time when our culture appears to value vocational training over broad education, we must remember that advancements in industry, science, art, medicine and law happen when we confront what we do not know, and find ways to proceed toward answers, knowing what we find may be uncomfortable, complicated, and ambiguous.
The capacity for critical thinking, clear and persuasive expression, contextual understanding, and empathy come from thoughtful work in multiple disciplines, in teams and groups of committed people, and in varied settings. The liberal arts approach— whether adapted by a student toward emerging professional fields or steeped in the traditions of its bedrock disciplines—produces leaders because of its centuries-old orientation toward educating citizens for lives of purpose and contribution. While the aim of a liberal arts education has long remained the same, its particulars have changed over time. As we look toward Juniata’s future, we must honor
our own traditions but possess the Courage to Evolve. Very shortly, this community will begin work on its next strategic plan, a process that will help launch us on an even greater trajectory and help us achieve the clarity we need to be more nimble, entrepreneurial, and purposeful in what we do and how we do it. President Tom Kepple, in his inaugural address back in March of 1999, remarked that an institution can only accomplish what it is willing to dream. Ladies and gentlemen, now is our time to dream. A new era is emerging, a new strategic plan in its very beginnings, and the time is now to define our future before it defines us. We will invite new people, new ideas, and challenging new perspectives to join us, and I expect them to ask us to do at least a few things differently. Make no mistake: as we vigorously confront our future, we need visible and authentic leadership at all ranks. The collaborative spirit and depth of transparency this community has enjoyed in the past will be required for our success. And genuine communication and personal accountability will nurture strong institutional decisions.
41
2014 Fall-Winter
Jim Troha examines a buckeye presented to him by Bradley Haubert ’93, president of Alumni Council, in honor of the president’s cherished Ohio roots.
Inaugural Address
President Troha acknowledges the nt emotion of the mome as the assembled students, employees, friends and families gave him a standing ally ovation and symbolic the to on him d welcome Juniata campus .
While I am ultimately accountable for this
Juniata
about a collective effort toward personal wellness. When you consider that wellness has dimensions beyond the culture, I am asking that that we collectively own these physical, that it touches the emotional, intellectual, principles and live them daily. spiritual, social, and occupational dimensions, our sense As our academic community evolves, we will of campus also expands. become more global in our outlook, more technologically When we talk about wellness, it is to sophisticated and varied in how engage and nurture that which is the best we interrelate, perhaps even more “Having faced within us, and that puts us at our best for physically distant at times than we are the benefit of our communities. For what now. We will work together in spaces challenges together, we share here—however it may evolve that differ greatly from the libraries over years and decades—we will have the and study lounges we know, or the and having watched common thread that makes us Juniata “classrooms and the halls” invoked in College. With that in mind, and knowing our alma mater. our circumstances the challenges we face together, we will I joked about hitching posts and together find the Courage to Evolve. inkwells earlier, but they represent the evolve within and Having faced challenges together, and pressures of technology, and we face having watched our circumstances evolve similar pressures today. As students around us, we within and around us, we should arrive at arrive from high schools where they should arrive at our our conclusions with conviction. That is studied and collaborated in virtual, the third and final piece to this journey: the team, and classroom environments, conclusions with Conviction to Act. (and who will leave Juniata to then I have said a few times that no one work in such environments) they conviction.” arrives at Juniata by accident. We find that expect their college experience to those who arrive here—as students, as occur across a similar variety of —President James A. Troha faculty, as staff— they seek us out. They learning spaces. are looking for something specific that we For that reason, we will be offer, whether it’s the POE, the unique beauty of central challenged to conceive of our campus differently—a fact Pennsylvania, or the extraordinary working environment. which has yet unknown ramifications for this space, this The result is a community of people focused on action. campus, and the global reach Juniata increasingly enjoys. Focused on results. In some ways, our Founders, intentionally or not, were Think of our forebears: they acted with conviction prophetic in naming us not for a single town, but for a that education was important enough to defy the body of water that reminds us that we are never static. mainstream of their faith. They established and later I have spoken a great deal in the last several months
42
in 10 Juniata graduates earn their diplomas having had significant work through such experiences. We must act to not only preserve that but build on it. Strengthen it. We will, of course, be planning for the resources it will require to continue this experiential learning, the development of our campus spaces, new international partnerships, and yes, financial resiliency. Those resources will come, in part, from the conviction of our alumni and friends to act on our behalf and invest in the efforts to strengthen Juniata and its students, as they are indeed why we exist. As I mentioned earlier, overall personal wellness will and should demand our collective attention. Consequently, we must act to intensify our efforts with career and academic support, counseling services, spiritual awareness, recreational activity, and a strong and competitive athletics program. The recently retired provost, Jim Lakso, was fond of mentioning that Juniata was—according to results from the National Survey of Student Engagement—among the most academically challenging and academically supportive environments in the nation. Very few other colleges can claim both, and it takes conviction to create that environment anew every year, for every class, for every student. And that conviction starts with our faculty and we have one of the best in the nation. Creative, student-centered, relationshiporiented, and passionate, the Juniata faculty are the rock upon which all else is built. Their actions—their contributions to our community, their work in the
classrooms and other learning environments—determine who we are and who we come to be. We must create a place where they have the resources to do what they have been called to do. And that is to change lives for the better. Case in point, class of 1970 Juniata graduate, Bill Phillips, a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. Learning of his award, Bill was quoted in the Altoona Mirror as saying “I learned a lot of intangibles there. I learned about growing up and becoming a complete individual. Juniata produces good scientists but it also produces good people.” Faculty, thank you for your uncommon commitment to support those students who choose us. You deserve our collective thanks and appreciation. So my final call is this: we need to think, yes. Evolve, of course. And when the time comes, we need to act with conviction, with uncommon strength, compassion, and boldness. And we will do this together, in an environment built on trust, respect, and collegiality. These enduring and transcendent values still matter at Juniata. It is why I am here. It is why WE are all here. >j<
Jim Troha and Tom Kepple, president emer itus , get a chan ce af ter the cerem ony to connec t and to put the final touches on a ve ry smooth presid ential transiti on .
43
2014 Fall-Winter
brought to this place a conviction that an education founded in peacemaking, service, and community would instill values as well as practical knowledge. In 1970, a group of faculty decided to act with conviction to establish the POE or program of emphasis, with the idea that students would work with faculty to articulate and defend a vision for their own education and potential. In recent years, we decided that the research and creativity of our students was important enough to cancel classes for a day and collectively witness and discuss their works. These actions live with us and the results are exceptional. We have before us now a new set of challenges and conventional wisdoms. It is now fashionable to say that college may not be worth the investment and that a credential is all that matters and you can get it anywhere. That future earnings are more important than intellectual curiosity, the ability to think, or question, or deal with ambiguity. We often hear rhetoric that we as a sector are failing to deliver. I unequivocally reject the notion that higher education is declining in value and efficacy and I especially reject that notion if Juniata is part of that decline. Our faculty has thought carefully about how to preserve the rigor and intensity of our academic programs and we have worked diligently to insure these same programs evolve over time to meet the demands of an ever-changing world. I challenge you to walk this campus and look for the lists of honors our students earn. The posters from our Liberal Arts Symposium are in several public spaces for the rest of this week. Read the most recent copy of our president’s report. Our students tell the story for us. We have made experiential learning—action, if you will—a central concern with what we do here, whether through internships, faculty/student research, study abroad, student teaching, service learning, or other service. As a result, nine
Facebook, Twitter and Other Social Networks Permeate Juniata Classes and Culture By Genna Welsh Kasun ’06,
assistant director of advancement communication
l
ike most professors Hannah Bellwoar, assistant
professor of English, hands out serious amounts of homework. But her students in “Writing Across Media” and “Writing for Video Production” aren’t pulling all-nighters to crank out 8- to 10-page papers. At least not every week. Bellwoar teaches topics that would not have been taught 10, or even five, years ago. So her students’ assignments—though based in writing and audience analysis, two skills that have been necessary for decades—aren’t usually completed by pen and
Juniata
ink or even printed.
44
Social Media Studies
45
2014 Fall-Winter
Photo: Jason Jones
v
John Wright ’93, assistant professor of computer science, incorporates lessons on using social media responsibly into many of his classes. He also creates closed Facebook groups for many of his classes so members can share work and offer comments on current projects.
Social Media Studies C.J. Briggs ’14, right, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and her roommate, Sophie Chambers ’16, of Liverpool, England, look over C.J.’s Pinterest page. She uses Pinterest and other social media to find tutorials for many of her art classes. —Photo by Thomas Jordan ’14
Juniata
Bellwoar’s students blog. Their Wordpress sites, updated weekly, explore topics like a student’s struggles with a disability at college, being an international student from India learning in the U.S., and healthy living on campus, a blog that featured an entire series of entries devoted solely to Ramen noodles. After they write a blog post, each student posts his or her blog entries to social media sites, but they’re soon faced with a challenge: How do they push their content on sites that are only recently becoming popular, like Instagram, Pinterest and Google+, each with differing audience demographics and challenges? “There’s so much information out there. How do you get your information to the right audience?” asks Bellwoar. “That isn’t a question we had to ask 20 years ago.” This question and other similar queries are asked on college campuses across the country as people use Facebook to post pictures and write posts about the events in their lives; use Twitter to tweet 140-character blog entries and retweet news from networks, celebrities and friends; and to snap photos, enhancing their aesthetic qualities before posting them on Instagram. As new media evolves at a dizzying rate, the real questions is: how can colleges incorporate these new tools into existing courses? And should they?
46
“There’s so much information out there. How do you get your information to the right audience? That isn’t a question we had to ask 20 years ago.” —Hannah Bellwoar, assistant professor of English
Juniata isn’t going all atwitter about social media, strategizing in a frenzy. But the College isn’t ignoring social media either. A growing number of faculty are looking at ways to incorporate not only Twitter or Facebook but other social media platforms, some designed for learning, into their classes. After all, you’d be hard-pressed to find an adult who doesn’t know what Facebook is, and even more challenged to locate a college student who hasn’t used Twitter or Instagram. This means that students are putting a lot of information out there, but they’re also consuming gigabytes of it as well. Bellwoar has found that her students are clearly taking in a lot of information. And, although students are tweeting, snapping and designing photos on Instagram, and pinning to Pinterest boards, they’re not doing so strategically. “My job is to get students to reflect on how they use social media, to get them to consciously develop content,” Bellwoar adds. So, each student joins a social networking site they haven’t previously explored and, at the end of the semester, they share with their classmates what it’s like to post and engage on the site. For example, Pinterest is an online bulletin board onto which individuals can pin interesting photos that hyperlink to the pages from which the images and ideas originate.
“Students don’t watch the evening news, but they get news from posts their friends and family share on social networking sites.” —John Wright ’93, assistant professor of computer science
Teaching “Writing Across Media” keeps Hannah Bellwoar, assistant professor of English, up to date on all types of social media, from Facebook to Twitter to Goodreads. —Photo by Thomas Jordan ’14
2014 Fall-Winter
47
Social Media Studies
President Jim Troha doesn’t live on Jaybird Street but he really does love to tweet, tweet, tweet—at least on Twitter. Troha asked Ally Lush ’14, Juniata Associate for social media, and Genna Kasun ’06, assistant director of advancement communication, for lessons on the emerging social media platform. So, armed with an iPad and an endless supply of events to attend, our president brags about the College— becoming a
Juniata
iPad
woofer and a tweeter.
48
Photo: Jason Jones
2014 Fall-Winter
49
Social Media Studies
Juniata
“I used Pinterest for the first time,” says C.J. Briggs ’14. “I had crafts and DIY boards, like most people, but, more importantly, browsing through Pinterest helped me see what people like and what others are interested in. It was cool to see that happen just through pictures and without comments.” In her final reflection paper, Briggs shared with classmates that she used Pinterest to find tutorials she uses in her drawing, ceramics, and digital media courses. “We had an interesting discussion on how female-centered Pinterest is,” Bellwoar said of the class’s response to Briggs’ presentation. “We’ve also talked about how students don’t like Google+ and how positive their experience with Goodreads was.” Bellwoar wishes she had recorded these discussions and bottled up the enthusiasm and critical thinking they evoked. But, in the end, Bellwoar says she always comes to the same conclusion: that students don’t see social media as intrusive to their daily lives and expect others to feel the same way. To older generations, especially those who teach our current students, social media is most certainly a big deal. Consider one common on-campus debate: students don’t see taking notes on their laptop or iPad with apps like Evernote as rude, but for the faculty who are teaching them, the clicking of keys and tapping of fingers on touchscreens can be distracting. And, what’s more, there is always that nagging question: are students paying attention or are they distracted, scrolling through their friends’ tweets? One commonly held faculty view is that social media and technology are here to stay, so using them to enhance student learning should be the next challenge.
50
“My job is to get students to reflect on how they use social media, to get them to consciously develop content.” —Hannah Bellwoar, assistant professor of English
John Wright ’93, assistant professor of computer science, tries to set a positive example for his students for responsible social media use. For his introduction to information technology course, Wright has created a closed Facebook group where students can share their digital media works in progress. “Instead of simply showing them what to do, the Facebook group allows them to share their work with each other,” says Wright. “I’m even sharing my work with them and I encourage them to give me feedback on my projects.” So far, the group is a hit, partly because students find Facebook to be a good learning tool. “There could be a Facebook group for every class,” says Harris Cauler ’15, of Moorestown, N.J. “Professors can—and some do—post articles that are pertinent and I reply on my phone.” Not that most college students carry cell phones around campus constantly. Oh wait… Wright chose Facebook as the social media network he wanted to work through for a similar reason—because he knows student are on the site often, via their smartphones, and that his course content would pop up in their regular stream of information, along with everything else they like to look at repeatedly. “Students don’t watch the evening news, but they get news from posts their friends and family share on social networking sites,” Wright explains. Briggs’s social media consumption follows this trend to a T. She and her roommate watch two vlog (video weblog) series— vlogbrothers and DavidSoComedy—through YouTube; both are news-comedy hybrid shows that are “not as depressing as the evening news,” Briggs says. So, like most students, Briggs and Cauler see social media as a regular part of daily life, as routine to them as tuning in to a 6:30 p.m. evening newscast is to an older generation. “It’s a lifeline to home,” Briggs says of social media in general. “And, it’s how employees are checking on prospective employees.” In other words, not only is it here to stay, it is bringing students’ personal and professional, or, at this point in their
early careers, academic lives ever closer. They search for colleges on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube while networking with potential internship supervisors on LinkedIn. “Students have grown up with social media so they don’t understand the power of it,” Wright says. But Wright and others on campus certainly see its potential as a teaching tool. Biology professors Regina Lamendella and Jason Chan use Twitter to congratulate their students on winning poster presentations at national conferences, and Jigar Patel ’08, who teaches “Hypermedia” at the College, hosts class discussions over Branch, a forum-like platform that allows users to tweet in their contributions to a chat. “I can see from wrong answers or debates in Moodle forums, as well as on the Facebook page and with an app I use called Socrative, which topics need more discussion in class,” Wright adds. Lynn Cockett, professor of communication, similarly uses a social learning platform called Articulate. First, Cockett films short lectures related to her course “Introduction to Human Communication.” Then, she inserts stop points where she assesses student learning inside the video via pop-up questions. Since the videos are designed for out-of-class use, Cockett says they encourage all learners to participate.
“If I ask a question in class, the three students who always raise their hand will answer,” Cockett says. “With Articulate, every student has to engage.” Cockett also uses a texting program where students can send their answers anonymously during class. Similar to a clicker system, Poll Everywhere allows for more robust answers than the multiple choice replies given by early clicker platforms and—according to Cockett—it allows anonymity which enhances the chances that students will be forthcoming with answers to questions about online dating and sex—two aspects that are often topics in discussions on digital identity. Coupled with in-class discussion—a hallmark of Juniata’s personalized education—the tools Cockett uses are enhancing her students’ ability to learn. Through Cockett’s use of social media, her students become the audience or target group in an experiment. They are the recipients of Cockett’s efforts to present content in its most engaging state through a social network. So far, the experiment is working and they feel the impact of how learning is changing because of social media—at Juniata and beyond our campus. In other words, the professor’s role is to understand and teach both the medium and the message. Through actively engaging her students in understanding not only the content, but the media through which they present their expertise, Cockett is teaching in a style that could be referred to as Lynn 2.0. In many ways, Juniata faculty have been doing this for some time, from using slides and PowerPoint in the classroom years ago to today’s habits of discussions delivered via YouTube. “The truth is that it’s never really about the tool,” Bellwoar says. “It’s about what they’re doing with the tool. If students can get their content to reach the right audience, they’ll be ready.” For now, it’s almost certain that social media is here to stay. And, it is even more likely that those social networks won’t stay as they are now for very long. Thankfully, Juniata faculty, like Cockett, Wright, and Bellwoar, haven’t missed that message. “Students need to be ready,” Bellwoar concludes. “The world is changing fast.” >j<
“If I ask a question in class, the three students who always raise their hand will answer. With Articulate, every student has to engage.”
51
2014 Fall-Winter
—Lynn Cockett, professor of communication
Juniata
52
Culture Clubs: Academe and Government
Government Post Gives Professor Insight on Different Ways to Work By Jim Borgardt, professor of physics Illustration: Rick Hamilton
I
53
2014 Fall-Winter
had the opportunity during my sabbatical last year to experience life as a government employee, as the 2012-2013 American Institute of Physics Executive Branch Fellow. Each year the government and professional societies sponsor competitive fellowships to bring a few hundred academics and professionals into the United States government allowing these individuals to share their knowledge of research and science while participating in and contributing to the federal policymaking process.
Culture Clubs
Juniata
“Working outside an academic setting required me to foster a new way of thinking.”
54
These academics, called Fellows, represent a broad range in age and career stage, and come from a wide array of sectors including academe, government labs, nonprofit enterprises, and private industry. They tend to have strong professional contacts and a firm grasp on current knowledge in their area of expertise. These fellowships provide an introduction to government and policy, a chance to learn firsthand about the intersection of science and policy, and can provide a path for Fellows who are so inclined to transition to careers in government service. As a visiting scientist at a national lab in Hanford, Wash., over the prior eight summers, I conducted research on radiation portal monitors, used at border crossings to passively sense nuclear and radiological material. Directly observing the inefficiencies that resulted when scientists, private industries, and government policy makers were mutually engaged in a project motivated me to better understand the mechanics of government and policy formation. This Fellowship presented a valuable and unique opportunity to do so. Now that I’m back at Juniata, there are lessons learned which I thought might be interesting to share. Much of the specific information about my year working at the State Department’s International Security and Non-proliferation Bureau in the Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism office can’t be divulged due to its sensitive nature. However throughout my year at State I realized that while there are certainly transferrable skills between the academic and government worlds, there are also different perspectives one needs to be successful in each environment. Working outside of an academic setting required me to foster a new way of thinking and employing different approaches when tackling challenges. I wanted to share some of what I found, distilled both from my observations as well as perspectives gathered from conversations with about two dozen other Fellows serving in various federal agencies and Congressional offices, regarding cultural differences between working on a college campus and as a member of the federal government. For any professor or administrator considering these Fellowships, in many ways it can be likened to a study abroad experience where you are immersed into a culture that operates by a fundamentally different set of rules. This is not to imply that working in either sector is “better” than the other. Rather, it’s intended to highlight some of the differences between the two worlds in case Juniata faculty or alumni considering a foray or transition to the government side might find some of these cultural observations useful.
“In many ways it can be likened to a study abroad experience where you are immersed into a culture that operates by a fundamentally different set of rules.”
The Nature of Time
“Much of the specific information about my year working at the State Department’s International Security and Non-proliferation Bureau in the Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism office can’t be divulged due to its sensitive nature.”
Einstein established that time is relative for observers in reference frames in relative motion. In the reference frame of governmental work, timelines can be very different than those on college campuses. Deadlines can be quite short, with as little as five minutes to pen a brief on a bill in a Congressional office. Look for the phrase “Short fuse” in the email subject line or header. Deadlines are strict. As one Fellow noted, “writer’s block is not an option.” Whereas academics may struggle over a particular word or specific phrasing, in the fast-paced world of government work sometimes “good enough” must do in order to “move the ball forward.” When the ball doesn’t have to be moved quite so fast, writing can be less frenzied. For example, if a Fellow is part of a U.S. team in an international group working to deliver a position paper, there are interagency clearances required domestically to ensure all principals are “on board” and that the paper accurately represents the key elements of the government’s position on an issue. More time is added to the equation as foreign counterparts work through a similar process on their end. Then everybody involved must negotiate specific changes to the paper. Fair warning: Discussions can go through many iterations, and as a result such policy papers can take years to bring to fruition.
—Jim Borgardt, William W. Woolford Professor of Physics
“Deadlines can be quite short, with as little as five minutes to pen a brief on a bill in a Congressional office. Look for the phrase ‘Short fuse’ in the email subject line or header. As one Fellow noted, ‘writer’s block is not an option.’” 2014 Fall-Winter
55
Culture Clubs
Test for Echo: Offering input, getting feedback, writing and speaking
In a government office, input is more hierarchical. In academia, you might feel comfortable making suggestions to your college president, questioning the scientific methodology of a luminary in your field, or directly contacting an author if you want to resolve some confusion on a published paper. Government agencies tend to be more established, rigid, and restrictive. There is a “chain of command” that must be followed in advancing ideas and initiatives. If an offered idea is rejected by your office leadership, it can be hard to move that idea forward without risking consequences. This is not to say that the government has no room for creativity. There are many inspired ideas that can have a large impact. Still, those offering an idea may not be aware of all the implications of a proposal, or its consistency with established policy or other related issues. Communication generally occurs more through established channels, and circumventing this process can create problems and have undesirable repercussions. As one Fellow put it, “Intellect is valued and invited to the table, but it does not trump rank.” Soliciting feedback in a government environment can present a challenge as well. On campuses we are expected to give and receive criticism—it’s generally welcomed, and we don’t take it personally. We expect students to take a comment such as “you are capable of more” as a challenge to improve, and not a personal affront.
Juniata
“There is a ‘chain of command’ that must be followed in promoting ideas and initiatives.”
56
“On campuses we are expected to give and receive criticism—it’s generally welcomed, and we don’t take it personally. We expect students to take a comment such as ‘you are capable of more’ as a challenge to improve, and not a personal affront.” —Jim Borgardt, William W. Woolford Professor of Physics
“In government, writing a position paper or a briefing can resemble an assembly line. You might write the first draft and pass it up the ladder for revisions and subsequent rewrites which occur at increasingly higher levels—beyond your view.”
In government, using text from prior documents is approved and even encouraged. This “cut-andpaste” ethos makes sense in this culture as the work, as noted above, is often a collaborative process where the entire office may make progressive and substantive contributions. Even more importantly, prior documents have been previously cleared, and thus accurately reflect official doctrine and contain very specific language that precisely captures the views of the organization on a particular issue. Using such key sentences or phrases verbatim gives one cover and speeds up the writing process. Speaking your mind as a public servant is also fundamentally different when working for the government. Professors are used to their communication being a reflection of their own ideas. Speech in a federal capacity represents the position of your agency, and hence your government. By definition, exchanging views is more conservative and guarded.
57
2014 Fall-Winter
In government, writing a position paper or a briefing can resemble an assembly line. You might write the first draft and pass it up the ladder for revisions and subsequent rewrites that occur at increasingly higher levels—beyond your view. So, receiving formative or summative feedback on a specific project or piece of writing is hard to do. Work moves up the chain, receiving edits at each successive step as it is passed on and moves through any required interagency reviews. Any feedback is indirect—you compare the final product to your early submission and glean how an initial draft might look better in the future. There is a lot of “group-write” in government. Unlike academe, names are not attached to a product and there are many eyes checking to ensure the paper reflects established policies and positions. What this means is that citing sources in interagency documents is not required, needed, or even wanted. For academics with a hyper-sensitivity to this issue, failing to cite a source is viewed as a major professional indiscretion that can cast a permanent pall over a transgressor’s career.
Culture Clubs
Juniata
“Like academic conferences, there are numerous side conversations that occur on the margins of meetings where you can be more forward-leaning in private, while still reflecting the stance of your federal agency and government.�
58
It takes awhile to realize and understand that in speaking openly you must stay within the confines of the agency position and not imply any stance or promise that is not explicitly sanctioned. Representatives of other agencies or countries will view your statement as an official governmental position, so speaking off-the-cuff can have serious consequences and undermine policy objectives. But there are opportunities to speak a bit more freely. Like academic conferences, there are numerous side conversations that occur on the margins of meetings where you can be more forward-leaning in private, while still reflecting the stance of your federal agency and government.
“Adept at quickly extracting the essential elements of this new topic, federal workers are more comfortable than academics making decisions and recommendations based on this cursory understanding.” —Jim Borgardt, William W. Woolford Professorship in Physics
Specialist vs. generalist
As professors, we often burrow down the rabbit hole, specializing in a narrow niche or specific subfield. Outside of our area, we may feel uncomfortable speaking definitively or with authority. In government, a civil employee must be a skilled and knowledgeable generalist, a sort of jack-of-all-trades with broad familiarity with a wide range of subjects. They must maintain a vital network of colleagues to call upon to “come up to speed” on a topic. Adept at quickly extracting the essential elements of this new topic, federal workers are more comfortable than academics making decisions and recommendations based on this cursory understanding. Individuals in higher education represent a great reserve of ability, skills, and subject-matter-expertise that can be of immeasurable benefit to the country when paired in an appropriate government agency. I have personally been amazed by not only the talents, but also the tenacity and dedication to mission on behalf of our country of the individuals in the office I continue to contribute to, and many other Fellows have shared similar observations regarding the offices they worked in.
Partnerships between academics and government facilitate a better understanding of policy formation and implementation for academics, and provide a potential conduit for such individuals to transition to government while providing valuable knowledge and expertise to the government office or agency involved. I feel fortunate to be a part of this philosophy of governance that realizes the value of such interactions, and encourage those who believe they have something to offer to explore such an opportunity. >j< —Jim Borgardt served as the 2012-2013 AIP Executive Branch Fellow in the State Department’s International Security and Nonproliferation bureau in the Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism office. This article originally appeared in a different form in the American Physical Society Forum on Physics and Society summer 2013 newsletter.
2014 Fall-Winter
59
Faculty Feature
Just Say Yes Theatre Professor Kate Clarke Finds Her Motivation
By John Wall Illustration: Rick Hamilton Photography: Jason Jones
B
ehind Kate Clarke’s childhood home there was a wideopen green space, a meadow of sorts, flanked on one side by a grove of impressive trees and on the other by huge rock formations. She spent hours pretending to be different characters in a play of her own imagination. Every now and then real life would intrude on her make-believe world, but only rarely. Otherwise she could go on pretending to be a sprite, a huntress—or Julie Andrews.
Juniata
Since Kate and her family lived in Evergreen, Colo., a small town about 40 miles outside of Denver, she had the requisite Alpine backdrop needed to twirl in the meadow and belt out “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”. All she was missing was a severe naval captain wielding a whistle. “I was obsessed with Julie Andrews,” she says, laughing. “I wanted to be her, although I was more fascinated with Mary Poppins—I think because she could fly.” Such adolescent flights of fancy were pretty well grounded in reality since the Clarkes were always involved in community theatre. In fact, theatre had been one of Kate’s favorite things since getting a part in “Amahl and the Night Visitors” at age five in a production staged by the Evergreen Chorale.
60
“It was a wonderful formative experience,” she recalls. “We did two musicals a year and they did very challenging material.” After whetting her appetite for performance, Kate also tried out for the Colorado Children’s Chorale, a statewide group that toured in Colorado, across the country and
internationally. Over time, her work singing and performing made it clear to Kate that there was only one mountain to climb and it led to the stage. “I didn’t care about being in the lead role,” she says. “I just wanted to be involved in it. I was all about theatre and doing well in school.”
Maria. “I had gone to a screening of The Sound of Music and in the bathroom I ran into a woman who was a member of the Annex company,” Kate recalls. “She remembered me from my audition and asked if I’d like to work (backstage). Once again I thought, Yes.” For nearly a decade she worked on and off stage in Annex productions, working with now-famous writers and directors and actors such as Paul Giamatti and Jillian Armenante. “We never had any money—we used to make sets out of ladders and cardboard—but there was a lot of creative energy,” she says. Inspired by her work at Annex, but uninspired by all the odd jobs she was doing to make a living, Kate decided to return to graduate school in 1998 to the University of Washington in Seattle. By 2000 she had earned the coveted Master’s of Fine Arts in acting. So, the stage was set for an academic career. Not quite. “I would have been totally affronted if you had suggested I should teach. I was going to be an actress!” she says with mock hauteur. A successful acting showcase on the West Coast resulted in her getting an agent and in 2000, she moved to New York. She worked doggedly on auditions while working as a waitress and other jobs to support herself. She had some stage, commercial, and television work. In fact she was cast in two episodes of the NBC fire department drama Third Watch. (“In both episodes, I discovered a dead body.”) Then came 9/11 and Kate said yes to leaving New York to accept a friend’s offer to be an adjunct faculty instructor at Tulane University in New Orleans. “I was directing and acting and I had all this energy, whereas in New York all my energy was going to surviving,” she says. She found she had an affinity for teaching, although she wasn’t confident being an authority figure. “I was more the cool, fun teacher, then,” she says. “I wasn’t confident about teaching but if asked, I always said ‘yes,’ even if I didn’t know how to do something. I could figure it out.” She taught at Hunter College
for a few years and was a teaching artist at Two River Theater Company in New Jersey for several more. In 2007 she was asked by Andy Belser, then a professor of theatre at Juniata, to be a member of the College’s cadre of professional performers/ directors, The Gravity Project. She acted in a number of productions and directed a handful of others. By 2009, she was asked to be a full-time faculty member. Of course, she said, “yes.” By her own admission, her transition to full-time faculty hasn’t all been a jolly holiday, since she had never served on academic committees, or attended meetings or run an academic department. But she’s had a couple of years to get the lay of the land academically and now she’s able to talk like a Juniata veteran, throwing around acroyms like SoTL, FISHN, or IC with the best of them. All in all, for Kate Clarke, it’s the role of a lifetime. “I love talking with others about teaching and it’s fun to try and figure out how my teaching of a creative process can be (quantified) to see if it’s effective,” she says. “It’s like getting out of my own little world.” >j<
Kate Clarke, associate professor of theatre, has found theatrical opportunities always work out if you just say “yes” to the job, even if you have never done it before. Here, Kate teaches a class in the von Liebig Theatre.
61
2014 Fall-Winter
She pursued theatre throughout her high school career, although her experience there was more Glee than Fame. “It was not the cool thing to do at our high school at all,” she says. But, in the summer preceding her senior year, cool came calling in the form of a summer program sponsored by Northwestern University called “Cherubs.” “You had to audition to get in and it was like taking college courses,” she says. “At the end I sort of said ‘OK, wherever I go to college there has to be a theatre program.’” She was looking at a group of colleges along the East Coast as well as Oberlin College in Ohio. Oberlin appealed to her because it had a theatre program and a conservatory of music. “I remember I told my mom ‘I’m going to go there’ in the hotel before we even stepped on campus,” Kate says. At Oberlin, she learned some lasting lessons, like perfect students don’t necessarily make the best actors. The college’s acting professor wasn’t particularly nice, but he pushed the young actress to realize that getting good grades wasn’t quite the path to Broadway she’d envisioned. “Being perfect doesn’t really work in theatre. It’s supposed to be really messy,” she says, smiling. A little messiness entered Kate’s life when it came time to apply for graduate schools. Many of her friends were accepted into Yale, Northwestern and other prestigious programs. Kate was accepted to a number of grad schools, but missed the cut on the acting schools. “I was devastated,” she says. A chance conversation during spring break with her sister jolted her out of the funk she was in. “My sister told me, ‘You’d love Seattle, they have great coffee there,’ and I thought to myself, yes, I am moving to Seattle.” And in 1990, quicker than you can say “Starbucks,” she moved to the land where drops of golden sun are limited. She worked a series of desk jobs—law firm receptionist, police department receptionist—and went on auditions. She did not get any offers but she came close, particularly with a new company called Annex. Then Julie Andrews intervened. Well, not Julie Andrews in person, more like Fraulein
Faculty Notes
William Ames, assistant professor of chemistry, published an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describing how a combination of advanced spectroscopic techniques, isotope labeling, and theory shows that a specific oxygen atom, which forms a bridge between two manganese atoms in the oxygen evolving complex of photosystem II, can be exchanged between two manganese atoms. This has implications for how nature uses light and water to make oxygen and store energy. Jack Barlow, professor of politics, attended the conference, “Solving ethno-national conflicts in Europe: An example to the rest of the world?” presented by the German Federal Center for Political Education and the Center for Civic Education, in Tutzing, Germany in April. He also wrote a book review of A Written Republic: Cicero’s Philosophical Politics, by Yelena Baraz, for The Review of Politics. Kathy Baughman, assistant professor of business, and Wei-Chung Wang, assistant professor of economics, presented “Limiting the Use of Calculators to Encourage Cognitive Calculations of Relationships,” in October at the Northeastern Association of Business, Economics and Technology meeting in State College, Pa. Matt Beaky, assistant professor of physics, was invited to speak at the Tri-State Astronomer’s Club in Hagerstown, Md. in October. Jim Borgardt, William W. Woolford Professor of Physics, attended the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia in October, representing the U.S. State Department. He also spoke on “Galaxy Serpent: A Web-Based Exercise on the Development and Efficacy of National Nuclear Forensics Libraries.” He also wrote an article for the Forum on Education of the American Physical Society newsletter, which appears in a different form in this magazine (page 52). Marlene Burkhardt, professor of economics and business administration, gave two presentations—“Online Learning and Social Interaction Patterns” and “Social Network Analysis of Assessment, Attitudes and Abilities”—with eight Juniata student coauthors, in October at the Northeast Association of Business, Economics and Technology annual meeting in State College, Pa. Kris Clarkson, dean of students, spoke on “The Cabinet and Student Affairs” at the Senior Leadership Academy of the American Academic Leadership Institute during the Council of Independent Colleges Conference, in Pittsburgh, Pa., in November.
Juniata
Daniel Dries, assistant professor of chemistry, with a co-author, published the eBook chapter “The What, Where, and How of gamma-Secretase Complex Assembly” in Advances in Alzheimer Research.
62
Doug Glazier, professor of biology, published an article on allometric scaling in the Journal of Theoretical Biology and, with seven co-authors from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, published an article on metabolic and water-loss rates in caterpillar aggregations in the Journal of Experimental Biology. The same article also was highlighted in the journal Nature. Debra Kirchhof-Glazier, professor of biology, received the Outstanding Collegiate HOSA Advisor of the Year from Penn-HOSA (Pennsylvania Health Occupations Students of America). Jerry Kruse, Dale Professor in IT and computer science, made a presentation “Using Performance Tasks in a FullCycle Assessment to Improve Quantitative Reasoning,” at the International Institute for SoTL Scholars and Mentors in Los Angeles, Calif., in May. He also served as a panelist on “National Assessment Instruments” at MathFest 2013, in Hartford, Conn. in August. Darwin Kysor, director of career services, was awarded the 2013 Donna Dentler Service Award presented by PennACE, for “outstanding service to the association.” James Lakso, provost emeritus, was selected as chair of the board of directors of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Regina Lamandella, assistant professor of biology, published, with co-authors (including Juniata students), three papers in professional journals. With Steven Strutt ’12, an assessment of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Gulf Coast microbial communities in Frontiers in Microbiology. With Strutt again on RNA analysis in Proceedings of Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering. With Caroline Solomon ’13, Ryan Trexler ’13 and Chris Grant, assistant research professor, on the response of freshwater microbial community to Marcellus Shale “fracking” in the Public Library of Science. Monika Malewska, associate professor of art, exhibited artwork in a group show, “Consumed: Nourishment & Indulgence” at Willard Wankelman Gallery at Bowling Green State University Fine Arts Center, in Bowling Green, Ohio. One of her paintings, Bacon Wreath with Bees and Figs, was published in the Fall/Winter Direct Art Magazine. Mark McKellop, associate professor of psychology, presented “Instructional Methods and Student Evaluations of Teaching in an Undergraduate Abnormal Psychology Course” (co-authored with Kathy Westcott, associate professor of psychology and interim provost) and “Assessing the Development of Critical Thinking Skills in Undergraduate Psychology Students” (with co-author Philip Dunwoody, associate professor of psychology) at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii, in August. Seven current and former Juniata students contributed to the presentations.
When we ask, So What—we’re not being rude. It started when we asked the faculty to explain a little more about the work they do in research, developing courses, consulting, and the like. We wanted the info behind the paper title, the story behind the curricular change, the life and the thinking that make Juniata profs as interesting as they are. —Read on
Scott McKenzie, soccer coordinator and assistant athletic director, was inducted into the Southern Vermont College Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach and administrator. Cynthia Merriwether-De Vries, associate professor of sociology, was elected in 2012 to a three-year term as a Council of Undergraduate Research Councilor in the Social Sciences Division. In September, she was appointed as the Social Sciences Division representative to the council’s Zotero Project. Ei-ichiro Ochiai, professor emeritus of chemistry, wrote The Sick Current Human Civilization and an Alternative Sustainable Human Civilization (in Japanese), published by the Hon-no-Izumi Co., and Hiroshima to Fukushima: Biohazards of Radiation (in English) published by Springer Verlag. Michael Pennington, assistant director of career services/alumni liaison, was selected by Pennsylvania Business Central for its Foremost Under 40 feature. Rosalie Rodriguez ’01, special assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion, published, with a co-author, “Who to turn to? Help-seeking in response to teen dating violence among Latinos” in the journal Psychology of Violence. Rodriguez and John Mumford, librarian, received a $1,200 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Gilder-Lehrman Institute to fund a showing of the film Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle. Deborah Roney, assistant professor of English and director of Language in Motion, gave an invited talk at the first Language in Motion Pacific Northwest Consortium Workshop at Willamette University, in Salem, Ore., in July.
Russell Shelley, Elma Stine Heckler Professor of Music, directed the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Synagogue Choirs and Juniata’s Concert Choir performing Voices of the Holocaust at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md. in November. Karen Rosell, professor of art history, two students, Jerika Jordan ’14 and Shelby Miller ’15, and Erica Quinn ’10 photographed nearly 500 artworks in the Stottlemyer Collection of the Juniata Museum of Art in preparation for inclusion for a catalog of the museum’s collection. James Skelly, director of the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the western Hungarian city of Köszeg as part of a trip to the European Commission-sponsored conference on “Citizenship in Europe.” Skelly also coordinated two seminars on “Critical Thinking in the 21st Century” at the Institute for Social & European Studies in Köszeg.
Catherine Stenson, professor of mathematics, with coauthor Justin Schultz ‘08, published “Let Pi be a Function” in the June 2013 issue of Mathematics Magazine. Bill Thomas, professor of IT and computer science, taught Security Engineering at the Fachhochschule Muenster University of Applied Science, Steinfurt campus. Four Juniata students traveled to Germany and took the course. Jim Tuten, associate professor of history, spoke on “The Fall of the Rice Kingdom” at the Lowcountry Rice Forum 2013, in Charleston, S.C., in September. Henry Thurston-Griswold, professor of Spanish, Amy Frazier-Yoder, assistant professor of Spanish, Kati Csoman, assistant dean of international programs and Shya Erdman ’03, international education advisor, presented “Think, Evolve, Act: A Holistic Approach to Global Citizenship Education” at the Universidad de las Américas Puebla in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico in October.
Benjamin Smith, assistant professor of chemistry, published a paper on nanowire arrays in the journal Particle and Particle Systems Characterization, 2013.
Jennifer Streb ’93, associate professor of art, spoke on “Between Spontaneity and Control: Minna Citron’s Uncharted Course” at the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery at Lebanon Valley College, in Annville, Pa., in November. Wei-Chung Wang, assistant professor of economics, was a keynote speaker on successful marketing campaigns at the Taipei (Taiwan) Asia America Multitechnology Association in June. Polly Walker, assistant professor of peace and conflict studies, presented a paper, “Indigenous Ceremony and Conflict Transformation” at the conference In the Balance: Indigeneity, Performance and Globalization, in London, England, in October. Seth Weil ’13, NetVUE Program coordinator in the Center for International Education, spoke at the NAFSA Region 8 Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 15, on Juniata’s work in study abroad re-entry programming and vocational exploration.
Jill Keeney, Goodman Chair in Biology, was invited to speak on “Encouraging Study Abroad for Science Students: Flexibility in the Curriculum” at the “Bridges Across Culture” International Conference on the Arts and Humanities at the Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy, in June.
So What? Q: How do you go about getting invited to speak at a conference in Italy? A: Usually you are invited to speak at a conference or a session at a larger conference by someone you know who has been asked to organize the session. In this case, the person organizing the session was Rob Iuliucci ’90, who is a chemistry professor at Washington & Jefferson College. He actually reached out to Ruth Reed, who has been very active in the College’s international efforts, but she had just retired and had a conflict so she suggested me. I guess I was the backup choice, but I didn’t mind. I’d never been to Italy.
Q: In addition to speaking, what else did you do as a representative of Juniata? A: I was able to tour the Institute and I was able to get an appointment with the director that was very beneficial. Part of our interest in going is that Juniata doesn’t have any studyabroad sites in Italy and this could be a chance to establish a connection there. I was able to meet with the director for about an hour. Q: What did you get to do as a tourist? A: I loved walking through all the cafes in Perugia and before I came back I was able to take a train to Assisi and I spent a lot of time walking through this beautiful city and visiting cathedrals (and more cafes).
63
2014 Fall-Winter
Photo: Jason Jones
Q: Once you agree to go, what’s the protocol for getting there? A: What you find when you are invited to an academic conference is that the conference rarely has the money for travel, so you have to find out how to get the funding to cover the expense of the conference. Inevitably, there’s a lot of emailing back and forth before it’s all worked out. In this case, I was able to get funding from Juniata’s Professional Development Committee.
Alumni Feature
Role of a Lifetime Juniatian FindsCenter Stage as an ArtsAdministrator
Remember the guy in the Federal Express commercials from the 1980s and 1990s who talked at speeds up to 100 miles per hour? Well, in order to track Danielle Rohar ’09’s path from freshman year to starting a career as an arts education administrator two weeks after receiving her diploma, even that fast-talker would be busier than an aggressive rugby player during Storming of the Arch. Today, four years into her career as a program coordinator at the Center for Education at Wolf Trap, Danielle has learned to slow down a bit and take time to savor each learning experience, but she will tell you that staying insanely busy during her student career gave her the skill set and confidence to work with and communicate among a variety of audiences: teachers, performing artists, babies, parents, administrators, and students.
Juniata
“It always seemed I would get up early each morning and keep going until midnight,” she says of her Juniata experiences. To truly appreciate the distance Danielle has traveled since arriving on campus in 2005 as a theatre-obsessed freshman, let’s see what her goals were as a student. Growing up in Canonsburg, Pa., a small town roughly between Pittsburgh and Washington, Pa., Danielle had been deeply involved in the South Park Theatre, a small, local performing venue. “I was doing everything I could get my hands on. I acted in productions, I did fundraising, arts production, marketing,” she says. “I think as a freshman my plan 64
By John Wall Photography by: J.D. Cavrich
was to learn about theatre and go back to run the South Park company.” “As soon as I got to Juniata, I realized there was so much more to learn, and what I knew about theatre from South Park was just a small part of it,” she adds. Although she took a lot of acting and movement classes and acted in quite a few productions, she found her personal spotlight shined more brightly when she was immersed in the backstage hustle of a theatre production or Juniata Presents concert. At the time, the theatre department was still growing and the opportunity to create a POE in technical theatre was not really offered, so Danielle decided to pursue a POE in performing arts management. She soon found the opportunities available for students in search of hands-on arts production experience rivaled the cast list for a Cecil B. DeMille biblical epic. “You could do something on every theatre show and work on all the Juniata Presents events if you wanted to,” she explains. She did all that and more. She took the “Performing Arts Management Lab” three times and learned every aspect of how to make a performing artist event a success. She carried equipment out of tractor trailers, worked as an usher, ran the ticket office, made posters for shows, wrote grants to fund other concerts, helped manage the Speaker Series, and other opportunities too numerous or technical to list here. And that was just for Juniata Presents. For theatre productions she was stage manager or assistant stage manager for a number of productions. She also created promotional materials and worked on the technical crew in other productions. She managed to work in a little acting and even got to swing around on a trapeze in the play Airstonewater. “I was also a tour guide, which gave me experience at public presentations and marketing,” says Danielle, who uses her tour guiding experience all the time at her Wolf Trap job when busloads of schoolchildren from Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland arrive at the site for field trips. “The thing that makes Juniata unique is that it’s chock full of opportunities—you can do anything you want.” One of the jobs Danielle wanted was to work as program assistant to Chad Herzog ’99, director of performing arts at the College. She started that job at the beginning of her junior year. As part of her duties she attended the annual Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference in
Washington, D.C. One day she could be helping teachers learn how to incorporate performing arts into classroom curriculums, and the next day she might be traveling to rural Virginia to see how one of the center’s artist residencies is going or organizing a busload of elementary school students to take in a performance by Wolf Trap’s jazz combo during a field trip. She was promoted to program coordinator in 2012 and now she has been able to work more closely with agencies that fund the center’s efforts as well as writing grants. She also works more closely with teachers and administrators at schools in the region to see how the center’s programs are working and helps develop new programs. “One thing I learned at Juniata was to think things through and make it work,” she says. “Being able to think on my feet and being a good communicator has been important in this job.” As program coordinator, Danielle gets to see first-hand how Wolf Trap’s educational programs affect people out in the world beyond foundations and grants. She recently observed a Wolf Trap “Baby Program,” aimed at toddlers ages 0-3 and their parents, and saw a parent whose child was having trouble learning language skills. The toddler attended a few sessions of the program and started talking. The mother wrote Danielle a letter that made almost everybody she showed dissolve into tears. “Being able to hear these stories and work with artists to make that happen is pretty incredible,” she says. Danielle’s own incredible story is still being written as she continues to learn new talents and skills at the Center for Education at Wolf Trap. But she’s not falling into the trap of maintaining the status quo. Indeed, she’s committed to keep absorbing every new lesson that comes her way. “As a student you have to be able to find out where there are opportunities and then go for them,” she advises. “As long as you’re up to the challenge, taking these jobs on will definitely help you succeed.” >j<
Wolf Trap’s full-time, paid summer internships offer the practical opportunity for Juniata students to work side-by-side with professionals producing, promoting, and administering the full spectrum of the performing arts. Over 30 Internships are available in Communications, Technical Theatre, Finance, Education, Development, IT, Production and many more. Deadline for summer internships is March 1. Visit www. wolftrap.org/internships for application information. —Danielle Rohar ’09 65
2014 Fall-Winter
New York City, a get-together where performing artists and presenters meet to showcase their acts with the hope that venue directors will book them for a performance. Encouraged by Herzog to network at the conference, Danielle met a musician who was part of the brass quintet group Synergy. He pitched her the idea of a Christmasthemed concert, which she thought would be a popular concert for Juniata students during the holiday season. Ideas flew back and forth, including an outreach event to local schools. “At one point I thought, I’m not allowed to book an act by myself, so I went to go find Chad to see if he liked the idea,” she says, with a laugh. So, the budding concert promoter not only hired Synergy as a Juniata Presents artist, but booked them to perform at Madrigal (did we forget to mention Danielle was on the committee to stage Madrigal?) and coordinated an outreach visit to the Juniata Valley School District. “I was putting everything I had learned at Juniata and squeezing it into four days of intense work,” she recalls. “It was incredibly cool to have that opportunity to see a performance cycle all the way through.” The casual observer might think that Danielle used her summers to recuperate or to go back and work at South Park Theatre, but as The Clash sang, “Career Opportunities” are out there. Entering her junior year, Danielle snagged an internship with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts where she analyzed data from the council’s activities that year and also worked to help the council sponsor a new performance and tour by the Paul Taylor Dance Company (including an appearance at the College). The next summer, she interned at the Bradford County Regional Arts Council, where she helped organize a conference of early childhood education teachers and adminstrators. “All of the experiences I had at Juniata and with my internships checked all the boxes for the skills I need for my career at Wolf Trap,” she says. “I don’t think any academic program that just offered classroom experiences would give anyone the skills that I learned at Juniata.” Danielle is certainly using all the skills she absorbed at the College and adding new bits to her toolkit as she works at Wolf Trap. Those same abilities got her hired in an intensely competitive atmosphere (she was interviewed over the phone and asked to interview twice in person, driving to Virginia both times, before the job was offered). However she’s still acquiring knowledge at the same rapid pace. For most people, even those who live in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Wolf Trap means a state-of-the-art concert venue, but in reality the site adjacent to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (where the Filene Center concert venue is located) houses a separate entity, the Center for Education at Wolf Trap, devoted solely to creating, fostering, and administering educational programs centered around the performing arts. Danielle started at the education center two weeks after Commencement as a program assistant, where she helped organize and administer events and activities for the center’s regional educational programs in Maryland, Virginia, and
1949
Elizabeth (Alderfer) and John R. Malenke ’52
reside at Cross Keys Village, the Brethren Home Community in New Oxford, Pa. Elizabeth is the director of the Villagers Choir and participates in an instrumental group called The Chimes. She also serves on a committee with the Southern Pennsylvania District of the Church of the Brethren.
1950
L. Audrey (Madeira) and F. David Marschka ’48
celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5, 2013. The couple was married in the Stone Church of the Brethren at Juniata College. Audrey and David now have four children, seven grandchildren, and five greatgrandchildren.
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 55th Reunion Celebration— June 5-8, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu).
1960
Elizabeth (Claar) Thomas and Linda A. McCall ’73
sent “Happy 137th Birthday Greetings” to Juniata from The Great Wall of China in April 2013. They traveled with the Blair County Chamber of Commerce to major cultural and business destinations in China.
1963
and wife Beverly moved in October 2012 to Clark Retirement Community, a United Methodist facility in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Juniata alums visited a castle in Europe in October 2013. (l-r) J. Thomas Congersky ’63, Nancy Congersky, David G. Oliver ’63, Marion (Kercher) Oliver ’64, Ronald J. Porban ’63 and Rita Poruban.
1952
1964
Paul E. Patterson
Jack S. Dickey
and wife Janice celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on March 22, 2013.
Juniata
1959
66
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 50th Reunion Celebration— June 5-8, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu).
Grey H. J. Berrier Sr.
and wife Judith, were honored guests at a ceremony in Altoona, Pa., where their son, Grey, was keynote speaker. Grey spoke about his 31 years of service in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. William H. Chew
recently retired from Lockheed Corporation after 32 years of service as senior systems engineer. Lockheed, founded in 1912, is an American aerospace company that merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1955. Rolfe W. Wenner
is the president of the philanthropic Rotary Club in Martha’s Vineyard, N.Y. They made a video entitled Rotary/ Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, which was shown at the international Rotarian conference in Thailand this past year. The video struck a chord with other Rotarians and Alzheimer’s research is now an international goal for Rotary.
1965
Barry J. Halbritter
was presented the Blair County Philanthropy Award at a luncheon held at the Lakemont Park Casino in Altoona, Pa. in May 2013. The award is presented every year to someone who has made a significant contribution of their time and money to benefit the community of Blair County. Barry is the president and owner of Mid-State Tool and Supply Company.
1966
Kathleen (Stevens) Hoover
connected with former classmate Joy Jackson Williams Trainer ’66 in Pittsburgh, Pa. in April 2013. Joy attended Juniata as a freshman and junior with the Class of ’66. Kay was on a business trip for work with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. (l-r) Joy Trainer ’66 and Kathleen (Stevens) Hoover.
1967
William L. Dills Jr.
attended the inauguration of Divina Grossman at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in North Dartmouth, Mass. on April 4, 2013 as a delegate of Juniata.
1968
Neil F. Johnson
retired from mainframe computer programming after 46 years of work with various companies. He relocated from Middletown, Pa. to Brockway, Pa.
1969
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 45th Reunion Celebration— June 5-8, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu).
1970
Larry N. Osborne
retired from Chaminade University of Honolulu in August 2013, having served as provost for four years. Previous to that he was dean of information technology and the library for nine years at Chaminade, and also taught in the computer science program and the library program at the University of Hawaii for 18 years. In addition, Larry taught 18 years for Charles Stuart University (Australia) in Hong Kong during summers.
1971
Daniel M. Sell
started Dansumur Consulting LLC in 2013. Dansumur is a strategic human resources consulting company that helps small to mid-sized organizations develop people-related strategies and solutions to meet business needs. In addition, Dan was keynote speaker at the Pennsylvania Society for Human Resource Management Leadership Conference in Gettysburg, Pa. in August 2013. His presentation was a business case study on The Battle of Gettysburg. Phyllis (Morningstar) Sikorsky
had two essays about her work with the Amish in rural Pennsylvania published in
The Delaware Medical Journal. She retired in June 2011 and enjoys her involvement in her local Episcopal church.
1972
George F. Harpster Jr.
was appointed as interim president at Shippensburg University on April 11, 2013. Ronald A. McAlpine
was named to the board of directors at the Calais Regional Hospital in Calais, Maine after serving as a trustee on both the finance and strategy committees for a year. Bonnie (Miller) Shapbell
had a book published titled Hiking the Pack Line: Moving from Grief to a Life. Before Bonnie’s husband Jan died, he made her promise that she would be ok. She kept that promise by rebuilding a joyful life without him while cherishing her memories. Now she offers a helping hand to those on a similar journey through her book, which can be found on Amazon.com.
1973
Kelly (Crain) Wike
through her association with the Altoona Sunrise Rotary Club, has become active in a worldwide organization call ShelterBox. The organization, headquartered in Great Britain, but with fundraising outposts in at least 16 nations, has responded with aid to 4,500 Syrian families. The aid provides tents, blankets, and many other items that enable refugees to establish a temporary home and to survive the crisis.
1974
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 40th Reunion Celebration— June 5-8, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu.
1976
Renee D. Diehl
was honored with the Woman Physicist of the Month award by the American Physical Society. The award recognizes “female physicists who have positively impacted other individuals’ lives and careers.” Renee is a professor of physics at Penn State University. Anthony J. Kamnikar and Dennis M. Katawczik (Dirt and Kat)
challenged retired provost and former economics faculty member Jim Lakso and former business and accounting faculty member, now Juniata board member, Bud Wise to a match at the Huntingdon Country Club in July 2013. Not surprisingly, Lakso and Wise won handily and welcome challenges from other former business students. Cheryl (Dettmar) Stites
was awarded New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s Five Star Professional Realtor award for March 2013. The award, which is determined by comprehensive research and surveys throughout the state, recognized Cheryl for her professional services with clients.
Stephen A. Svarczkopf
is a sales and leasing consultant at Fred Beans Cadillac-Buick-GMC in Philadelphia, Pa.
1978
David C. Powell
owns a rail expediting business, established in 2009, known as Powell Rail. As a resident of Indianapolis, Ind. and a frequent world traveler, David sends his greetings to his Juniata classmates, as he was unable to make his 35th reunion in June 2013. Alan D. Wirt
earned a master’s degree of science in public health in 2009 and in August 2013, he received a doctorate in public health from Walden University. Alan still cherishes the education that he received at Juniata, and is a big believer in lifelong learning. During his time on campus, professors preached the importance of self-actualization and instilled in him a passion for learning, both of which have served him well during the 35 years since graduation.
1979
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 35th Reunion Celebration— June 5-8, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu).
1977
David A. Corman
began a new job as development coordinator at the York County Heritage Trust in York, Pa. in August 2013.
2014 Fall-Winter
67
Dear fellow alumni, It is with great pride that I have taken on the role of Alumni Council President for 2013-2014. I’m also honored to have this position as Jim Troha takes the reins to lead Juniata. Early indications are that the search committee did a fantastic job of matching our new President to Juniata’s culture and its needs. While President Troha gets acclimated, I see my role as being a strong voice for our alumni. I take this very seriously and invite alumni to contact me with concerns. I can tell you that the members of Alumni Council also take this role to heart. Those who know me will tell you that I’m a bit of a realist. I say this because, until I was asked to serve as a member of the Alumni Council, I honestly didn’t know such an organization existed (nor what it did). I think that may be the case for many alumni. And that’s a shame. The good news is that, in the past few years, the members of Alumni Council have worked hard to improve the organization and make it more beneficial to all Juniata alumni. Our first meeting of the year was geared toward making sure we get the word out about what we’re doing. In addition, we want to develop a way for alumni to contact us with concerns. Finally, the Council wants to find more ways to share the benefits of being a Juniata graduate. To accomplish the tasks we see as most important, we’ve broken the Council into committees: • Enrollment: Our alumni know better than anyone the type of student who will excel at Juniata. This committee has worked hard to establish a mobile app page for the GOLD Card Program that can be used to refer a student you see as a great fit for Juniata. If that student ends up at Juniata, you’ll be a hero. He or she will receive a scholarship in your name for $1,000/year with no financial commitment from you. Get out your phone, tablet or other mobile device and visit www.juniata.edu/goldcard. With a few clicks, you can save that page right to your homescreen (and get a nifty JC logo to boot). • Communication: This committee was formed specifically to improve communication to and from the Juniata community (alumni, faculty, regional groups, etc.). We want you to know what we’re up to. We also want to know what you’re up to—and ways we can help address any concerns you have. • Special Events: This committee assists in many of the special events at Juniata. If you’ve attended Homecoming, Alumni Weekend, or Career Day, chances are good that these folks have had a hand in making the event a success. • Benefits: Being a graduate of Juniata College means more than a piece of paper and a great education. This committee is working to communicate the benefits of being a member of the Alumni Association. They’re also exploring new ways that alumni may obtain value from being a Juniata grad. If you have thoughts about Alumni Council and/or Juniata in general, I invite you to email me directly at bradhaubert@gmail.com or contact any of the members of this year’s Alumni Council (you’ll find their information at: https://www.juniata.edu/alumni/connect/alumniCouncil/).
Juniata
Go Blue and Gold! —Brad Haubert ’93, Alumni Council President 68
Denah (Byler) Appelt
is the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine recipient of the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, granted by the Christian and Mary Lindback Foundation. She enjoys teaching neuroanatomy labs, noting that it is important to every student, no matter what specialty they are pursuing. Denah is associate professor of neuroscience at PCOM.
1982
Gerard V. Wolf
was elected to the board of directors at Energistics, an oil and gas consortium company in Houston, Texas. Gerry was previously an upstream technical computing manager with ExxonMobil information technology and worked in various positions throughout 29 years with ExxonMobil.
Cynthia (Brumbaugh) Burton
1983
was recognized by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide Publication for her outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of medical devices, an area in which she has more than 14 years of experience. She is a logistics analyst for DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction, a company that manufactures and distributes orthopedic and medical devices in the United States and internationally. Cynthia also serves as a manufacturing and inventory liaison for a variety of computer systems in numerous countries.
and wife Loretta are the first married couple to complete the marathon cycle, finishing a marathon on all seven continents. An article on the couple appeared in the sports section of The Morning Call newspaper in the Lehigh Valley area in Pennsylvania on July 22, 2013. The impressive accomplishment has allowed the couple to stay fit as well as see the world, including stops in New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, China, Turkey, and the Galapagos Islands.
1980
Amy (Powell) Rummel
was presented with a Joseph Kruson Trust Fund Award for Excellence in Teaching during Alfred University’s annual honors convocation. As an assistant professor of marketing in the College of Professional Studies, Amy teaches courses that include consumer behavior, international marketing, marketing principles and management, and marketing research.
1981
David J. Fahey
is now managing director of the Philadelphia branch of Avison Young, the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm headquartered in Toronto, Canada. David also currently serves on the Board of King of Prussia Business Improvement District and St. David’s Golf Club in Wayne, Pa.
Steven R. Dodson
Gaye E. Shelley
is preparing to take the board exam to be certified as a behavior analyst. She is currently employed as a therapist with Brook Lane Health Services in Hagerstown, Md., where she works with children and adults that have behavioral issues and issues related to traumatic events. Beth (Shuster) Surbeck
is enjoying her new position as a psychologist at Johns Hopkins Medical School as of September 2012.
1984
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 30th Reunion Celebration— June 5-8, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu).
1985
David K. Merwine
was promoted from assistant professor, a position he held since 2010, to associate professor of biology at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He was also awarded tenure.
Allison, and daughter Marlo, 4, have moved to central Florida. Daniel Nicholls
and his family recently moved to Australia from the United Kingdom. They look forward to beginning a new adventure together.
1991 Tracy (Stough) Grajewski
has joined the consulting firm Mercer as a partner and senior client manager for its Pittsburgh and Cleveland markets. She is responsible for growing and strengthening client relationships in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and other markets throughout the Midwest.
Richard W. Fronheiser
was promoted to Pennsylvania state counsel, after nine years as branch counsel with First American Title Insurance Company in Pittsburgh, Pa.
was recently honored with the Gold Medal from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Sons of Italy at its State Convention. He was recognized for his service to the community, his service as a judicial leader, and his untiring efforts on behalf of his filial lodge, Brockway Lodge No. 206 and to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Sons and Daughters of Italy.
accepted the position of chief counsel for The Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General in February 2013. He previously served as senior deputy attorney general in the Criminal Prosecutions Section of the Office of Attorney General.
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 25th Reunion Celebration— June 5-8, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu). Mary Beth (Gardill) Matsko
attended the inauguration of James Conneely at the Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, Md. on April 5, 2013 as a delegate of Juniata.
1990
Christopher A. Huff
Karl K. Brown II
Phyllis J. (Heverly) Flesher
has been appointed administrative services director of the Conestoga Valley School District in Lancaster, Pa. Stephanie (Smith) Landis
was named elementary principal at Boyertown Area School District in Boyertown, Pa. She was previously employed in the Schuylkill, Muhlenberg, and Pottsgrove school districts throughout Pennsylvania. Bradley R. Newman
has been promoted to senior advisor and director of business development of Roof Advisory Group in Harrisburg, Pa., an independent, registered investment adviser with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission whose mission is to deliver objective investment management and financial advising.
was named chief marketing officer of Metron-Athene Inc., a leading information technology capacity management software, services, and education company. He has been with the company for the past 10 years. Sylvia (Carowick) Kurtz
earned a master’s degree in criminal justice in 2012. She published her comprehensive examination of the Jerry Sandusky trial in summer 2013. The book, titled To Believe a Kid: Inside the Jerry Sandusky Case, profiles what occurred at the trial and examines a number of related issues and lessons that have been learned from this landmark case, which includes understanding pedophilia, the long-term impact of child sexual abuse upon an individual, why children and adults are hesitant to report abuse, and ways to protect children against predators. Matthew A. Smyers
is pleased to announce that he has partnered with business development and marketing expert Kimberly Alford Rice to form a national public relations team, Strategic Alliance. Previously, Matthew spent eight years working in the medical malpractice insurance industry and then in 2008 he founded RedShift, an online media planning and buying agency.
1995
Thomas C. Heffner
was appointed assistant dean of sciences, humanities and visual communication at Pennsylvania College of Technology in
Williamsport, Pa. On Oct. 25, 2013, Tom returned to Juniata to join the education department alumni panel as part of Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities.
1997
Kristen (Holloway) Querriera
is featured in President George W. Bush’s Library in Dallas, Texas, as founder and CEO of Operation Troop Appreciation. Kristen received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in 2006 and was honored again in 2008 when President Bush invited her to the White House. President Bush referred to Operation Troop Appreciation as the “epitome of what it means to serve others.” Learn more at www. OperationTroopAppreciation.org and visit on Facebook. Karla (Ross) Wiser
was promoted to director of accounting at Juniata. She oversees the functions of accounts payable, purchasing, and payroll for the College.
1999
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 15th Reunion Celebration at Homecoming & Family Weekend— October 17-19, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu). Mandi Walls
recently had an article published, “Building a DevOps Culture” online at O’Reilly. The article is about accomplishing goals in the workplace by managing the organization of companies to keep up with new and ever-changing requirements.
69
2014 Fall-Winter
received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Georgia in May 2012. In addition, Chris accepted a position as assistant professor of history at Beacon College in Leesburg, Fla. He, wife
1994
Stacie (Wagner) Patterson
1992
1989
attended the inauguration of Helen Giles-Gee at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pa. on April 19, 2013 as a delegate of Juniata.
has joined Fesnak and Associates LLP, a leading accounting and business advisory firm in Blue Bell, Pa. He is senior manager in the assurance and accounting services group.
1988
John H. Foradora
Karen V. Beck
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 20th Reunion Celebration— June 5-8, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu).
Michael S. Buchheit
1986
1993
2003
David N. Kincel
was one of eight athletes inducted into the 2013 Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame in Verona, Pa. Brandi (Whetstone) Musselman
2000
Rebecca K. Barrett-Fox
accepted a position teaching sociology at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark. Her husband, Jason, serves as an assistant professor of English. She looks forward to making contact with other Juniata graduates in the area.
Casey L. Shoup
shared a picture of her son Tommy, 2, enjoying the latest issue (spring/summer 2013) of the Juniata magazine. He especially enjoyed the story with the picture of the tractors.
is the new head coach for Penn State Altoona’s varsity women’s basketball team for the 2013-2014 season. Her coaching experience began in 2009 as an assistant coach for the girls’ varsity team for two years at Bellwood-Antis High School in Bellwood, Pa. She went on to coach with the PA Pride Grassroots Youth Program, where she currently serves as a head coach. Casey also volunteers as an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball coach.
Micah F. Morton
Ashley (Clark) Snyder
Christina (Weber) Hartman
has accepted a marketing sales specialist position at Naked Lime in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Christina (Warnagiris) Machielson
has been named a 2013 Charlotte W. Newcombe doctoral dissertation fellow. This award supports doctoral work in religious and ethical values.
2001
Todd A. Fortney
was inducted as a new member of the Huntingdon Rotary Club. Todd is currently a clinical information specialist at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital and is a liaison with the hospital information technology department, as well as a member of several committees. Elaine (Kneller) McMullen
received a master’s degree in special education from San Francisco State University in January 2013. She accepted a position as resource specialist at Marina High School in Monterey, Calif. Juniata
completed her medical residency training in September 2013 at Drexel University College of Medicine and Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., where she began a fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and is also an instructor.
70
accepted a position at Northern Bedford High School in Bedford, Pa. teaching English and applied communications courses. Previously, she taught social studies at Huntingdon Area High School in Huntingdon, Pa.
2004
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 10th Reunion Celebration at Homecoming & Family Weekend— October 17-19, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu). Maria S. Bowman
received a doctoral degree in agricultural and resource economics from the University of California, Berkeley in May 2013.
She is now a sustainable livestock economics fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Council in San Francisco, Calif. Kerry (Fagan) Harper
has accepted a job as college counselor at the Health and Wellness Center at Juniata. After graduation, Kerry worked as a resident director and counselor in academic support at Juniata, while completing a master’s degree through Temple University. She has also worked as a therapist and disability services specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown and as an outpatient therapist at The Meadows in Yeagertown, Pa. Jillian (Davis) Pinkard
and fellow Juniatians (row 1, l-r) Sarah R. Moyer ’02, Megan L. Tromm ’04, (row 2, l-r) Joshua E. Tyler ’04, Melissa E. Berdine ’04, and Scott R. Baker ’01 got together in March 2013 for a mini-reunion in Orlando, Fla.
2005
Jacob W. Harper
is the client relationship specialist at Symplicity Corporation in State College, Pa., where he leads three cloud based software systems for higher education. Richard C. Ziegler III
was hired by SSRCx, a facilities commissioning and sustainability consulting branch of Smith Seckman Reid Inc., in Salt Lake City, Utah. Previously, he was a regional office manager for Architectural Testing Inc.
2006
Nathan A. Greczek
received his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his family medicine residency at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Nathan joined the practice of Dr. Rajan Mulloth, and is now accepting patients at the offices in Olyphant and Scranton, Pa.
Rachel N. Jones
began a new position as manager of Mindteck Academy in Enola, Pa. in June 2013. Genna (Welsh) Kasun
was promoted to assistant director of advancement communication at Juniata where she writes grants, performs grant prospect research, produces prospective student marketing materials and alumni magazine articles, and consults on various web projects. Steven E. Knepper
graduated from the University of Virginia with a doctorate in English language and literature in December 2012. He is now working as an assistant professor of English at Erskine College in Due West, S.C.
2007
M. Sonia Eqbal
is chairwoman of 1400, a youth political movement in Afghanistan founded in 2011 to change the political system of the country by mobilizing copious young voters. The group started as a meeting of highly educated Afghans in their 20s and 30s who wanted to find a way to change a political system they saw as corrupt, ineffective, and too deeply rooted in the past. Since 2011, the movement has gained about 150 core members and hopes to become a political party by the year of 2020, or 1400 on the Persian calendar (inspiring the group’s name). Noriko Hayashi
has won the top award for feature reporting at an international photojournalism festival in Perpignan, France in August 2013.
Noriko was nominated for her work on bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan. She won the Visa d’or Feature Award for a series of photos depicting the kidnapping of a woman in Kyrgyzstan for a forced marriage. Noriko is the first Japanese to win the award in the festival’s 25-year history. Her photos were highly regarded as they were the first to show the reality of the matrimonial custom in the central Asian country, where it is extremely difficult for an outsider to capture such scenes. The annual festival draws around 3,000 photojournalists and editors from around the world, with some 220,000 visitors attending a variety of related events. Erica (Rhodes) Hayden
graduated with a doctorate in history from Vanderbilt University. Her doctoral dissertation was titled ‘Plunged Into a Vortex of Iniquity’: Female Criminality and Punishment in Pennsylvania, 1820-1860.” Jessica M. Mann
graduated from Rutgers University in August 2013 with a doctorate in the department of microbiology and molecular genetics. She is now working as a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md. Evan L. McClennen
received a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She continues her medical training in obstetrics and gynecology at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pa.
Dolphin Diagnosis: Marine Mammal Medicine
Photo: Courtesy of Perry Habecker
Perry Habecker ’76 doesn’t like attention. He isn’t into photo shoots with sexy CSI lighting or interviews that sensationalize his work. In fact, Perry insists he is simply doing “conventional diagnostic procedures.” But, when those procedures are performed on 40 bottlenose dolphins found dead on the New Jersey shoreline, people get interested. When 40 deaths turn into hundreds along the coast between Maine and North Carolina, people get alarmed. And just like that, Dr. Perry Habecker, chief of large-animal pathology at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, is being quoted in the national news.
Q: How did you get involved in the dolphin strandings that made national news over the summer?
A: Penn has had a relationship with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, N.J., since the ’90s. When marine mammals are found dead on the New Jersey coastline, they’re frequently sent to us to determine the cause of death.
Q: When did it become clear that something out of the ordinary was happening?
A: We usually see about a dozen dolphins and small whales from the New Jersey
beaches in any given year. This year in July and August alone, we autopsied more than 40 bottlenose dolphins. Because there were hundreds more up and down the coast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an Unusual Mortality Event.
Q: Were you able to determine what was killing the dolphins? A: Using immunohistochemistry, which allows us to detect antigens in cell tissue
by introducing antibodies, we found morbillivirus in more than 75 percent of the specimens. Morbillivirus is similar to measles in humans or distemper in canines. In essence, it suppresses the immune system and often allows secondary infections such as pneumonia to kill the animal. Further testing has shown the virus in more than 90 percent of the expired dolphins.
Q: Does the morbillivirus pose a continued threat? A: The bottlenose dolphins have migrated south to Virginia and North Carolina, so
we haven’t seen any problems in New Jersey recently. The virus caused a similar epidemic back in 1987 and it will likely be seen again. Even though the mass die-off may seem alarming, it’s fairly common for diseases to strike wild animals, both in the ocean and on land.
Perry may describe himself as a farm boy who became a large-animal veterinary pathologist. But, it’s a love for pathology that has led him to working with marine animals, something he never imagined he’d be doing. —David Meadows ’98, director of alumni relations and parent programs
Photo: Courtesy of Perry Habecker
2014 Fall-Winter
71
A Rising Tide Lifts All Knowledge
Gerald G. O’Donnell
Anna Jaworski ’11, with a POE in environmental science and geology, is researching sea-level rise as part of her doctoral work at Drexel University. Using an easily understood method to measure rise, she is learning a great deal about the impact here in the United States. She can teach us all a thing or two about climate change. Photo: Courtesy of Anna Jaworski
Q: Tell me about your research. A: The focus of my thesis is on relative sea-level rise in relation to climate change.
When we talk about sea-level rise, we speak on a global scale. I zoomed in on a local coastline to show impact on a local level, in this case the New Jersey coastline along the Delaware Bay.
Q: How will this research help us understand rising sea levels? A: We are using two different methods to examine rates of change. The first method is traditional, examining peat deposits, which also are known as salt marshes. As sealevel rises, salt marshes have to build up further in response to sea level lines. This is an effective but expensive method. The second method is the study of life history of trees through tree rings. Up and down the coasts you see drowned tree marshes. We are dating the trees in these marshes to determine when they drowned. It is cheaper, and it is easier for people to understand. Americans especially feel like it is happening somewhere else, but when I show them the drowned forests and tell them when they drowned, which is relatively recently, it begins to resonate.
Q: How did your time at Juniata prepare you for this kind of research opportunity?
A: Faculty in both environmental science and geology departments were very
supportive in helping me figure out how to blend the coursework to create knowledge in my areas of interest. Also, I was given a lot of field experience very early. Many of my graduate school peers didn’t get into the field until their senior year as undergraduates. Juniata helped me stand out because of my wellroundedness in addition to my core curriculum. I traveled to Ecuador and to the Galapagos. I worked on Juniata’s chestnut project, water sampling, and acid mine drainage. I also took many Peace and Conflict courses (PACS) and served as president of PAX-O. I was given the flexibility to try new things and make mistakes. That has made me very adaptable and has given me tremendous problem-solving skills. I want to teach at a small liberal arts school because of the experience I had at Juniata. I want to provide those opportunities to other students.
Timothy M. Penrod
has been hired as the head coach of the men’s soccer team at SUNY Canton in Canton, N.Y. He has spent the past six years at Southern Vermont College, where he led the team to four consecutive berths in the New England Collegiate Conference. In 2011, Tim was named the NECC Coach of the Year award after Southern Vermont won the regular season conference championship. Daniel C. Van Riper
received a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He continues his medical training in family practice at Palmetto Hospital, Miami, Fla.
2008
Jennie (Rinehimer) Carr
A: Complete a variety of internships and research projects. Participate in a variety
graduated from Indiana State University in August 2013 with a doctorate in philosophy and biology. She now works as an assistant professor of biology at Washington College in Chestertown, Md.
Q: If there is one thing you want readers to know about global
Ashley R. Hileman
A: Climate change is happening. There is some debate about how fast and what
graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in
Q: What advice would you give environmental science and geology students?
of activities in your field. Your undergraduate years are the time to experiment and stretch yourself. Juniata is great at providing the means to do so. Also, study abroad. I was the only one among my high school friends that studied abroad.
warming, what is it?
the cause is, but we have to address it or it is going to be too late. We have to adapt now. Average rainfall is the same, but when we’re getting it is not. Two weeks of torrential rain and two weeks of drought is not optimal for growing crops, so our food supply is going to change as the climate changes. We need to consider rebuilding coastal communities further inland and think about how our development is contributing to habitat loss.
—Linda Carpenter, executive director of constituent relations To learn more about Anna’s research, please visit: www.facebook.com/DrownedForestsAndBuriedSaltMarshes and enjoy this article: http://exelmagazine.org/article/the-inevitably-rising-tide-2/ Juniata
was featured in the July and August episodes of Brethren Voices, a public television program provided through the Peace Church of the Brethren in Portland, Ore. As a press secretary and member of the staff of U.S. Representative Grace Napolitano of California for three years, Jerry was interviewed about his personal history and work life as a press secretary in Washington, D.C., as well as how to communicate with Congress about upcoming legislation.
72
John E. Lash
May 2013. As of September 2013 she has joined the Pittsburgh (Pa.) firm of Leech Tishman as an associate in the corporate and real estate practice groups, where she will counsel clients on issues related to business formation and entity selection, corporate governance and due diligence. On the real estate side, Ashley will be involved in advising clients in transactions involving the negotiation, leasing, property development, sale, and acquisition of commercial property. She will also assist with matters involving development issues, and zoning and land-use issues. Joseph D. Houck
graduated with a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Virginia. He also accepted a faculty teaching position at the University of Maryland, College Park. Michelle (Campbell) Krall
attended the inauguration of Lewis Thayne at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa. on April 19, 2013 as a delegate of Juniata.
was the featured speaker regarding forensic accounting and financial crime in an Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists Financial CrimeCast interview at www.ACFCS.org with ACFCS president, Charles Intriago on August 13, 2013. John is a forensic accountant at Cowheart, Singer & Company, an accounting firm with offices in Miami, Fla., San Diego, Calif. and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Travis R. Paul
accepted the position of finance manager for PPG Industries. He relocated to Puerto Rico to oversee the company’s newly acquired and current operations in the Caribbean, which includes manufacturing, distribution, company owned stores, independent hardware dealers, export business, Home Depot, and Walmart. Megan E. White
recently became an agent in the Concerts Department at ICM Partners, one of the world’s largest talent and literary agencies with global offices in Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, and London. Tasia Y. White
received a master’s degree in education from the State University of New York at Potsdam on Dec. 14, 2012. In July 2013, Tasia was promoted from her position as the area coordinator of traditional-style housing to the director of residential living and learning at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y.
2009
Be sure to mark your calendar for your 5th Reunion Celebration at Homecoming & Family Weekend— October 17-19, 2014. Please contact the alumni office if you would like to volunteer and serve on your reunion committee. (1-877-JUNIATA; alumni@juniata.edu).
Four members of the Class of 2009 graduated with their doctorate in osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on June 2, 2013. (l-r) Alicia A. Shields, Bryan R. Hess, Matthew J. Sullivan, and Lance B. Joseph. Amanda L. Fulmer
was promoted to operations assistant manager at American Mint LLC in Mechanicsburg, Pa. in January 2013. Kelly A. Gibson
recently began a new position as a psychologist in the Plum School District in Plum, Pa. Bryan R. Hess
received a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He continues his medical training in family medicine at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, N.C. Courtney J. Rondinelli
graduated from Clarion University in May 2013 with a master’s degree in rehabilitative services. She has accepted a job as a behavioral specialist consultant and family-based mental health worker at Northwestern Human Services at the Juniata River Center in Huntingdon, Pa. Casey L. Shaw
is now project services specialist at John Deere Landscapes in Escondido, Calif. Previously, Casey was an account manager and director of sales and marketing at Five Seasons Landscaping in Silver Spring, Md.
Matthew J. Sullivan
received a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is now a resident physician at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pa. Claire E. Wakefield
was promoted to curatorial assistant at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, N.Y. in December 2012. The boat museum is located on the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands and features a collection of more than 300 antique and classic boats as well as thousands of recreational boating artifacts.
2010
Cory M. Ammerman
has been commissioned a wildlife conservation officer with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He has been assigned to the South Central Division’s southern Adams County area.
Alicia A. Shields
received a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is completing her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa.
2014 Fall-Winter
73
Omar T. Schoenthaler
Kelly L. Rotan
has accepted an assistant coach position for the U.S. Air Force Academy’s women’s basketball team. Kelly previously served as an assistant coach at Yale University for two seasons. Brandon M. Spayd
Johnniersi D. Harris
Dustin L. Gee
has been named program officer for Europe and Eurasia at the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar program in Washington, D.C. Cassandra M. Hale
had the pleasure of going on vacation with the Hodgkins family in June 2013. While there, they thought it would be great for all of the Juniata graduates to take a picture in front of a famous lighthouse on the island of Nantucket. (l-r) Austin S. Ankney ’12, Sarah E. Hodgkins ’12, Susan (Grimes) Hodgkins ’72 (deceased), Cassandra M. Hale ’10, and Shelby E. Hodgkins ’10.
was accepted into the Peace Corps and departed for Peru in June 2013 to begin training as a business development volunteer. She will live and work in a community to teach basic business skills and assist organizational development, as well as participate in a secondary project to help meet community development needs. She is excited to begin her volunteer work in the Peace Corps, which combines her love of volunteering and accepting new challenges. Sarah (Weick) Jefferson
received a master’s degree in social work with a clinical concentration from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. in January 2012. She is now a director and foster care coordinator at Soulberry Farm Inc. in Huntingdon, Pa. Jessica E. Mauch
graduated May 13, 2013 from Widener University School of Law with the Pro Bono Distinction award. Earl R. Rogers
Juniata
received a master’s degree of divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Mass. Currently, he is in discernment with the OxfordUnion Association of the Maine Conference. This past summer, he served as the interim systems administrator of Andover Newton Theological School.
74
was recently named the Penn State basketball strength and conditioning coach. He will be developing and implementing the Lions’ year-round training program. For the past three seasons, Brandon was assistant speed, strength, and conditioning coach for the Penn State men’s and women’s basketball programs.
2011
Alicia A. Dahl
graduated from the University of Delaware with a master’s degree in health promotion with outstanding honors. Kenneth M. Goodfellow
won first place in the fifth annual Garden Spot Village marathon in New Holland, Pa. on April 6, 2013. The marathon is Lancaster County’s biggest road race and only USATF-certified Boston Marathon qualifier. Andrew H. Hirsch
is in his second season as an assistant baseball coach at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa. He also just completed his second season as an assistant baseball coach with the Alexandria Aces of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. In addition, Andrew serves as a baseball coach, instructor, and camp director during the summer and winter seasons in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Kyra K. Lehmann
is pursuing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, N.Y. She also has an internship at Champlain Valley Medical Center in the speech pathologist’s office.
received a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn. He works as an administrative fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Md. Benjamin D. Sealy
was promoted from box office assistant to account manager for the Frederick Keys in Frederick, Md. The Frederick Keys is a minor league baseball team that is a Class A baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
2012
Lauren M. Chambers
was accepted into the Peace Corps and departed to Guatemala in June 2013 for training as a health volunteer. She lives and works in a community teaching rural families how to maintain a healthy home and how to use and maintain sanitation infrastructures. Lauren is excited to volunteer with the Peace Corps because she said it provides a great opportunity to not only work hands-on in the global health area, but also to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities outside of the United States. Michael J. Haupt
has been accepted to participate in the 2013-2014 CongressBundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. He was competing in an applicant pool of more than 600 and was one out of 75 participants accepted into the program. Amanda M. Schmidt
has accepted a marketing administrative position at H.F. Lenz Company in Johnstown, Pa.
Fly Like an Eagle: Meriting a Collection For 30 of the 57 years that Dr. Terry Grove ’64 has been an Eagle Scout, he’s been in pursuit of amassing the largest and most complete collection of Eagle Scout awards and memorabilia in the world. In 2011 he was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for preserving Eagle Scout history and Order of the Arrow history. Surely that’s worth a merit badge. Photo: Reese d’Aquin/d’Aquin Films
Ann M. Ziegler
has recently undertaken a Brethren Volunteer Service assignment with Emanuel Children’s Home in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
2013
Corby M. Hess
accepted an English instructor position at Gloria English School in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Rebecca E. Strohm
has recently joined Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest for a year of service. Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest was established in 1956 and is an independent, nonprofit organization that recruits, places and supports volunteers living in communities across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Q: How did you become an Eagle Scout? A: My family moved from Altoona, Pa., to a neighborhood called Lakemont and my
parents suggested that joining Cub Scouts would be a good way for me to meet new kids. In 1956 at age 14 I earned my last merit badge for physical fitness. That particular one was the last one for a reason. I received my award during a worship service at Zion Lutheran Church, where the troop was based in nearby Hollidaysburg, in front of my parents, my great-aunt who was a member, my troop master and the entire congregation.
Q: What inspired you to begin your collection? A: I was a Scout Master for my son’s troop when he received his Eagle Scout award in
1983. During the ceremony, I noticed that his award was different than mine and was different than the ones many of the other men were wearing. I got curious and began to research and collect information about the awards. I contacted manufacturers and interviewed over 300 Eagle Scouts to gather the information I needed to start my collection and publish a book on the subject.
Q: What kinds of items are in your collection? A: Medals, patches, hat pins, palms, letters from the Chief Scout Executive, Wallet
Cards identifying the carrier as an Eagle Scout, Wall Certificates, even the boxes the awards came in. The display is on 21 two-by-three-foot panels.
Q: How did you get the items to add to your collection? A: Items from after 1983 were purchased from the organization. I obtained earlier
pieces by trading other scouting items or purchasing them. Also, as people began to hear about my collection, they often gave me their pieces. I identify the original owner by name in the display.
Q: What is your favorite piece? A: Obviously, my Eagle. Second is my son’s. Q: What is one of the most unusual or memorable things that happened to you as a result of creating your collection?
A: I was able to visit Stange Manufacturing Company in St. Louis, Mo. and watch a
medal being made from start to finish. I thought it was really incredible that they would open this process up to me, and I was deeply honored to see it.
Q: Who are some other recipients of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award?
A: Gerald Ford, Robert M. Gates (former director of the CIA), many astronauts and
captains of industry. Approximately 2,000 of the 2 million Eagle Scouts have received this honor. A Distinguished Eagle Scout must meet the following criteria to be considered: 1) 25 years as an Eagle Scout, 2) national or international distinction in their vocation or avocation and 3) a commitment to voluntary service in their community. My Juniata classmate, Hal Yocum ’64, has also received the award for his work as a hand surgeon.
—Katie Padamonsky Dickey ’97, associate director of alumni relations
75
2014 Fall-Winter
To see the collection in person and learn about the history of scouting and the Eagle Award, join Terry and Hal at Alumni Weekend June 5-8, 2014.
Marriages Linda (Herrmann) Lower ’72
and Nial McCabe were united in marriage on Dec. 8, 2012. The couple resides in Succasunna, N.J. Valerie A. Fyock ’96
and Lowell Jessee were united in marriage on Nov. 3, 2012. Erin R. Firestone ’99
and Jane Nordell were united in marriage on Nov. 24, 2012. In addition, Erin has a new position as manager of marketing and public relations at Princeton University Art Museum. Rachael E. DeHart ’01
and Sam Johnson were united in marriage on March 22, 2013. Juniata alumni in attendance were Megan (Wagaman) Wile ’03, Anthony W. Spangler ’01, Bernadette M. Joslin ’00, Erin (Frazier) Anderson ’00, Lena (Gowder) Kramer ’01, Dana (Miller) Davis ’01, Mary E. Baxter ’01, Dustin B. Brouse ’03, Erin (Winter) Brouse ’01, and Jennifer (DeHart) Rigby ’99. Jean L. Thompson ’01 and Jeffrey L. Steinbauer ’01
Juniata
were united in marriage on July 4, 2012 and celebrated with family and friends in October 2012. Juniata alumni in attendance were Renee (Graziosi) Williams ’03 and Morgan (O’Dellick) Williams ’09.
76
Robyn J. Eastwood ’03 and Kylee K. North ’03
were united in marriage on June 22, 2013 in Boston, Mass. Jessica L. Shenker ’05
and Cory Abbey were united in marriage on May 26, 2013 at Little Lexington Farm in Mercer, Pa. Juniata alumni in attendance included Anne (Eller) Langdon ’06, Jeremy A. Langdon ’05, Jared B. Miller ’03, Stephanie (Shaver) Brett ’05, Rebecca L. Hubsher ’05, Thomas D. McGraw ’04, Anne (Laird) Huber ’05, and Adrian R. Huber ’05. Kira L. Troutman ’05
and Kadie McKay were united in marriage on Feb. 14, 2013. Emily C. D. Eller ’06
and Sait Mboob were united in marriage on Oct. 7, 2012. In May 2012, Emily earned a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York. In 2011, she coordinated an alumni panel in New York for a visit of Juniata students in Peace and Conflict Studies. Two of the panelists were Allison M. Chandler ’09 and Paul R. Blore ’05. Currently, Emily is a presidential management fellow at the U.S. Department of State, and works for Juniata alum Michael F. Miller ’96. She also occasionally has coffee with fellow Juniata graduate and state department employee Michael B. Wetzel ’07. Emily is a fellow at the Political Military Bureau and is on a training assignment in Thailand for six months as a U.S. Diplomat.
Katherine E. Laucks ’06
Derek J. Pavlovic ’07
and Joseph Ruesgen were united in marriage on March 23, 2013 at The Manor House at Commonwealth in Horsham, Pa. Joseph’s family traveled from Campbeltown, Scotland and Scottish traditions were incorporated into the wedding ceremony and celebration. Juniata alumni in attendance were: Amy E. Hanson ’06, Elizabeth H. Ghebreselassi ’06, Abigail J. Leonard ’06, Bethany M. Kozak ’09, Aaron P. Chamberlain ’07, Ryan M. Genova ’04, Alynne R. Pompeani ’08, and Stephanie L. Kines ’07. Katie and Joseph currently live and work in New York City. She is a senior media relations specialist for Missy Farren and Associates Ltd., a public relations and marketing firm.
and Erica McDade were united in marriage on April 13, 2013. Juniata alumni in attendance were John S. Rosselli ’07, Daniel G. Heinlein ’06, Nicole (Watson) Heinlein ’05, Allison (Leidy) Barnes ’07, Denise (Bankert) Dalton ’07, Jessica L. Abel ’07, Joshua R. England ’07, Joshua J. Gulley ’07, Cari A. Nanna ’07, Lisa (Detwiler) Miller ’07, Eric W. Miller ’07, Daniel A. Wetzel ’07, Nicholas M. Trionfo ’07, David A. Wickard ’07, and Matthew J. Pierotti ’07.
Elizabeth A. Stinner ’06 and Walter H. Goedkoop ’06
were united in marriage on Sept. 25, 2010. Walt received a master’s degree in early childhood literacy from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. in 2011. Brent W. Calaway ’07
and Michelle Neilson were married in September 2012.
Amanda R. Albanese ’08
and Michael Shymanski were united in marriage on June 29, 2013 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Annandale, N.J. Bridesmaids included Amanda (Wimer) Mosso ’08 and Lindsay A. LaPrad ’08. Also at the wedding: Ashleigh E. Ehnts ’08, Ashton M. Cutchall ’08, Michelle (Campbell) Krall ’08, Kimberly (Wagner) Hilling ’08, Kimberly (Stoia) Habig ’08, Daniel S. Habig ’09, Kaleigh (Driscoll) Hunt ’08, Travis R. Paul ’08, Heather (McMinn) Haines ’08, John E. Lash ’08, Timothy P. Gill Jr. ’08, and Jennifer (Jensen) Vespole ’88.
2014 Fall-Winter
77
Megan E. Bachinski ’08 and Andrea E. Locke ’08
were united in marriage on Nov. 3, 2012. Juniata alumni in attendance were Chad H. Herzog ’99, Sarah E. Latham ’08, and Katherine R. Walker ’07. Allison N. Estright ’08
and Joseph Bednash were united in marriage on June 16, 2012 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in State College, Pa. The couple resides in Pittsburgh, where Allison is attending graduate school in applied behavior and analysis and Joe is an internal medicine resident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Montefiore. Juniata alumni and friends in attendance were Stephen P. Estright ’13, Anna W. Sowash ’08, Colleen M. DuBrey ’08, Daniel L. Bowser ’08, Kenneth W. Tomlinson Jr. ’08, Phillip K. Copley ’08, Joseph W. Chura ’06, Jessica R. Musselman ’08, Heather L. Sjolund ’06, Denae N. Imler ’09, and Jim Latten. Heather L. McMinn ’08
Juniata
and Joshua Haines were united in marriage on May 25, 2013 at Seven Mountains Wine Cellars in Spring Mills, Pa. The couple now resides in Lewistown, Pa. Juniata alumni in attendance were (l-r) Emily (Wills) Book ’08, Stephanie S. Mury ’08, Colleen E. Cribbs ’10, Gloria-Ann Seel ’08, Amanda (Albanese) Shymanski ’08, Kaleigh A. Driscoll ’08, and Peter E. Hauer ’86. In addition, Heather graduated from a two-year diploma program at Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing on Sep. 9, 2013. She took her board exams and is now a full-time registered nurse on the intermediate care unit at Lewistown Hospital.
78
Jessica R. Musselman ’08
and Gregory Cox were united in marriage on July 13, 2013 at Trough Creek State Park in James Creek, Pa. Jessica L. Winemiller ’08
and Benjamin Gibboney were united in marriage on May 17, 2013. Juniata alumni in attendance were Thomas E. Gibboney ’78, Priscilla (Grove) Gibboney ’78, Terry L. Grove ’64, A. Keith Black ’73, Virginia T. Meadows ’03, Robert S. McMinn ’79, Laura (Nuernberger) McMinn ’80, Aaron P. Chamberlain ’07, Bethany M. Kozak ’09, Rebecca E. Shoaf-Kozak ’05, Timothy C. Cole ’06, Andrew S. Miller ’10, Tyler M. Hall ’10, Brandon W. Grim ’08, Jessica (Milheim) McCoy ’09, Kelly (Popernik) Gertz ’08, Tara M. McMinn ’08, John E. Weber ’07, Katie (Rhoads) Weber ’08, Zachary L. Wakefield ’10, Claudia A. McDowell ’09, Alison (Meckey) Schilling ’08, Jennifer C. Melis ’08, Garrett G. Bull ’08, Kelly (Ashcraft) Pearce ’09, Shawn D. McDonald ’08, Jill E. Walsh ’08, Courtney M. Callas ’08, Tyler J. Templeton ’08, Matthew D. Schmidt ’08, Stephanie A. Hatch ’09, Michael A. Conte ’08, Kelly L. Rotan ’10, Mindy B. Werner ’08, Brandon M. Spayd ’10, Brenton J. Mitchell ’06, Jessica Ritchie ’08, Adam S. Black ’06, Jerrod M. Smith ’08, Travis M. Sumner ’08, Jesse W. Leonard ’06, Lauren (Gates) Leonard ’07, Toby G. Mitchell ’94, Jennifer P. Mitchell ’95, Justin F. Armbruster ’08, Emily M. Hauser ’09, Caitlin H. Hinson ’08, and Beau M. Ryan ’10. Pamela D. Mansell ’09
and Richard Grimminger were united in marriage on June 29, 2012 at Creekside Pavilion in Reedsville, Pa. In August 2013, Pam received a master’s degree in educational development and strategies from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Renee V. Stiehler ’09
and Ben Berg were united in marriage on June 29, 2013. Renee graduated from Penn State University with a master’s degree in science education in December 2012. Molly A. Harlacker ’10 and Zachary A. Cupler ’11
were married Aug. 24, 2013 at Yorktowne Farms in York, Pa. Alumni in attendance were (back row, l-r) John W. Almquist ’12, Andrew J. Melber ’11 (groomsman), Alyssa M. Kress ’11, Andrea (Gibble) Weir ’11, Mark C. Weir ’11, Brittany M. Rusczyk ’11, Benjamin D. Sealy ’11, Jennifer L. Hnatuck ’11, (front row, l-r) Patrick T. McShane ’11 (best man), Sarah E. Slat ’10, Clare L. Coda ’10 (maid of honor), Zachary A. Cupler ’11, Molly (Harlacker) Cupler ’10, Tiffany N. Markel ’10 (bridesmaid), Leslie (Stern) Freeman ’08 (bridesmaid), Alicia A. Dahl ’11, and Benjamin A. Maurer ’11. Daniel R. Reed ’10 (absent from photo). Rachel E. Nagy ’10 and Christopher C. Heckler ’10
were united in marriage on March 16, 2013. Andrea M. Gibble ’11 and Mark C. Weir ’11
were united in marriage on June 23, 2012. Mark is a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Andrea teaches at the Hartwood Learning Center in Glenshaw, Pa. Juniata alumni in attendance were (back row, l-r) Patrick T. McShane ’11, Clayton A. Cooper ’13, Daniel R. Reed ’10, Alyssa M. Kress ’11, Andrew D. Murdock ’11, Andrew J.
Melber ’11, Blake A. Colaianne ’11, Erik J. Dulick ’11, Andrew R. Ickes ’12, Danielle M. Fulmer ’11, Joel L. Rhodes ’13, Sheena M. Zolla ’11, Jesse R. Northridge ’11, (front row, l-r) Dana M. Previte ’08, Sarah E. Slat ’10, Benjamin A. Maurer ’11, Alicia A. Dahl ’11, Molly A. Harlacker ’10, Zachary A. Cupler ’11, Mark C. Weir ’11, Andrea (Gibble) Weir ’11, Heather M. Hall ’11, Ann M. Ziegler ’12, Chelsea (Homes) Ickes ’12, Sara M. Garside ’12, and Tristan L. Benson ’12. Juniata alumni in attendance who were not pictured are Athena (Gibble) Cospito ’06, Lauren N. Seganos ’11, Dessie R. Schwentner ’11, Jeremiah D. Zeek ’15, David M. Sollenberger ’10, Sandra (Gehman) Sollenberger ’10, and Ashlee D. Fultz ’14. Juniata faculty and staff in attendance, but not pictured are David Witkovsky, Dawn Scialabba, Lisa Baer, John Bukowski, Catherine Stenson, Henry Thurston-Griswold, Jill Keeney, Leigh Zimmerman, Valerie Park, and Fay Glosenger. Heather M. Hall ’11
and Lionel Hounkanrin were united in marriage on Aug. 24, 2013. Bradley H. Hoffman ’12
and Christina were united in marriage on July 7, 2012. Stephanie E. Metz ’12 and Sairam V. Babu ’12
were united in marriage on Aug. 3, 2013. Juniata alumni in attendance were Jordan J. Yu ’12, Liam M. Sharp ’12, Sara E. Holtzinger ’12, Michael C. Huffaker ’12, Sarah M. Davis ’12, and Nicholas W. Talisman ’12.
2014 Fall-Winter
79
Freedom Marcher: Right Place at the Right Time Marie Zeller ’63 spent the summer after graduating from Juniata at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., for Peace Corps training. On August 28, 1963, the group decided to walk to the National Mall for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Little did Marie know, she was about to participate in one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history.
Births Christopher W. Gahagen ’94
and wife Shanel are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Mary Louise, on Sept. 30, 2013. She weighed 7 lbs. 2 ozs. and was 19 inches long. Mary Louise was welcomed home by big sister, Gracie, 18 months. Kimberlee J. Cinko-Stevens ’96
and husband Greg are proud to announce the birth of their son, Noah Reed, on June 27, 2013. Andrew C. Krugh ’96
and wife Halima are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Nadia Rena Miah, on April 19, 2013. She weighed 7 lbs. and was 19 inches long. Alon Tatsas ’97 Photo: Courtesy of Marie Zeller
Q: Tell me about your experience at the March. A: As our group got closer to the Reflecting Pool, we began holding hands so we
wouldn’t get lost from the group. I paired up with a tall, African-American man and we proceeded to the middle of the Reflecting Pool. This is when I saw signs saying “Church of the Brethren,” which is the church where my father was a minister and in which I had been raised. When we went over to talk to them, we realized they had staked out a position in the middle of the 200,000 people. We heard the songs and the speeches from loudspeakers positioned high in the trees along the Mall (unsafe, I’m sure, by today’s standards).
Q: Is there something about the day that sticks out in your mind? A: I do recall the heat of the day and the images of people who had dressed up with
ties and suits, dresses, fancy hats and high heels, as if going to church. I remember the crowd swaying together while singing “We Shall Overcome.” I had the feeling that I was participating in a very important public showing of unity and that it was possible to live and work together.
Q: What was the most moving experience of the March? A: Of course, hearing Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech for the first
time. But also, the sense that the group of 200,000 people, black and white, felt like a family. Everyone said hello to each other and had smiles on their faces. We all knew we were participating in something good that day. It was a very reverent experience.
Q: What do you feel is the legacy of that day? A: That day was a great day, even bearing in mind that events in our lives can take on a greater meaning the more time passes. But, as we look around, we know that here and now, 50 years later, there is still much more that needs to happen for fairness, human interaction, and peace.
Juniata
—Christina (Garman) Miller ’01, assistant director of alumni relations 80
and wife, Amy are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Sarah Luccille, on Nov. 1, 2012. John A. Maitland ’98
and wife Amanda welcomed their son, Alexander John, on Nov. 23, 2012. He weighed 7 lbs. 12 ozs. and was 21.5 inches long. Shannon (Price) Bailey ’99
and husband Bradley are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Mina Rose, on March 23, 2012. She weighed 7 lbs. 11 ozs. and was 19 inches long. Jason C. Biringer ’99
and wife Gretchen are proud to announce the birth of son, Jackson Warren, on July 29, 2013. He weighed 9 lbs. and was welcomed home by big sister Madeleine, 3.
Parisha P. Shah ’01
and husband Dimitri are proud to announce the birth of their son, Naveen Arun, on Sept. 12, 2013. He weighed 6 lbs. 12 ozs. and was 19.25 inches long. Rebecca (Weikert) Bard ’02
and husband Jim are proud to announce the birth of son, Elliott William, on June 13, 2013. He weighed 7 lbs. 2 ozs. and was 20 inches long. Scott E. Kofmehl ’03
Amy (Castellan) Howells ’99
and husband Dave are proud to announce the birth of son, Devin Thomas, on May 30, 2013. He weighed 5 lbs. and was 17.5 inches long. Devin was welcomed home by big brother Logan. Jennifer (DeHart) Rigby ’99
and husband Rhett are proud to announce the birth of son, Stewart Peter, on May 7, 2013. He weighed 8 lbs. 10 ozs. and was 21.5 inches long. He was welcomed home by big brothers Robert, 4, and Michael, 16 months. Ellen (Feuster) Vande Bunte ’99
and husband Christopher are proud to announce the adoption of son, Luke Ryan, born on May 29, 2013. They traveled 1,700 miles that night to become a family. Luke weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20 inches long. Michele (Moyer) Gibbel ’00
and husband Joel are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Danielle Joy, on Jan. 23, 2013. She was welcomed home by big brother Micah, 3. Miranda (Gresko) Peruso ’00
and husband Dominick are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Madeleine Marie, on April 12, 2013. She weighed 7 lbs. 10 ozs. and was 20 inches long. She was welcomed home by big brother Dominick, 5. Joni (Murello) Capelli ’01
and husband Michael are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Gianna Mae, on April 11, 2013.
and wife Aryani are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Talia Jati, on June 29, 2013. She weighed 8 lbs. 9 ozs. and was 20 inches long. Randi (Whetstone) ’03 and Douglas A. Kubeck ’07
are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Tessa Lynn, on April 27, 2013. She weighed 7 lbs. 13 ozs. and was 19 inches long. Dorian (Carl) Morse ’03
and husband Bradley are proud to announce the birth of their son, Landon Emmanuel, on Feb. 11, 2013. He weighed 9 lbs. 12 ozs. and was 21 inches long. Landon joins big brother Michael, 4. Lisa (Bolig) Towle ’03
and husband Daniel married on Aug. 20, 2011 and are now proud to announce the birth of their son, Coen, on April 19, 2012. In 2007, Lisa received a master’s degree in special education from Arcadia University, in Glenside, Pa., and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa. in May 2013. Elizabeth (Rhodes) Book ’04
and husband Grant are proud to announce the birth of son, Dayton Matthew, on May 30, 2013. He weighed 8 lbs. 12 ozs. and was 19 inches long. Cari (Clewell) ’04 and Michael D. Brown ’04
Amy (Fletcher) Wright ’05
and husband Luis are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Jovie Noel, on June 23, 2013. She was welcomed home by big sister Hadley, age 3. Juniata classmates had a children’s play day at the library (l-r) Saige Yvonne, born Dec. 14, 2012 to Lindsay (Clark) Turnbull ’05 and Christopher K. Turnbull ’05, Elle Kathryn, born April 8, 2013 to Kerry (Figurelle) Clapper ’04 and husband Christopher, Lana Jonette, 4, parents are Lynette (Nolt) ’05 and Eddy D. Luke Jr. ’02, Charlotte Rose, born March 3, 2013 to Jessica (Diehl) Lego ’05 and husband Bob, and Kalliam Eddison born March 11, 2012 to Lynette (Nolt) ’05 and Eddy D. Luke Jr. ’02. Shane A. Fether ’07
and wife Rebecca are proud to announce the birth of son, Andrew Jay, on Dec. 19, 2012. Zachary S. Shatto ’07
and wife Stephanie are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Kendall Rose, on Feb. 10, 2013. She was 9 lbs. 12.7 ozs. Daniel E. Kraft ’10
and wife Samantha are proud to announce the birth of son, Brandton Grady. Daniel and Samantha were married June 25, 2011. Steven Knickel ’11
are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Payton Leigh, on May 29, 2013. She weighed 7 lbs. and 14 ozs. and was 20 inches long.
and wife Brett are proud to announce the birth of son, Kolton Jakob, on Feb. 2, 2012.
Alaina (Cominskie) Hunt ’05
and husband Parker are proud to announce the birth of their son, Dakota Martin, on March 14, 2013.
and husband Daniel are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Ariana Mae, on Jan. 15, 2013. Ariana was welcomed home by big brother Brody, 4. Jennifer (Manahan) Nemet ’05
and husband John are proud to announce the birth of their son, Jaxton Zander, on June 22, 2013. He was 3 lbs. 11.5 ozs. and 17.5 inches long.
Holli (Taylor) Smith ’11
Jessica (Hark) Beckstrom ’12
and husband Tyler are proud to announce the birth of daughter, Evelyn, on July 25, 2012.
Tara (Gracey) Strauser ’05
and husband Justin are proud to announce the birth of son, Alexei Josef, on June 3, 2013. 2014 Fall-Winter
81
The Power of Juniata Ne the twork Last year He
30th European International Reunion
ather Le healthcare c r o n e ’0 9 auditor at , ju n io r C onnolly LL out to Dom C , Peruso, ch reached air o f A cc o u n ting, Busin of the Department ess & Eco share that nomics, to her compa ny was hir J a ke H a r t ing. ber Heather an ger ’13 , sent his re When de sume to it along to xpressed interest, sh e passed her boss a nd talked value of a about the Juniata ed ucation. S graduating h o rtly after in May, Jak e joined th team. Hea e ther hopes to represen Connolly Juniata Ca t C reer Day o onnolly at n Friday, F eb. 28, 201 4.
You’re invited to join us as we celebrate 30 years of international reunions! This year’s destination is Baden-Baden, a picturesque spa town in southern Germany located in the foothills of the Black Forest. May 23–25, 2014 juniata.edu/euroreunion
014
March, 2
Juniata
n Tour ata o r i o h C he Juni
cing t Announ Concert Choir College r. We hope Tou Spring ou there! to see y 82
hold, N.Y. 22 – Sout Island, N.Y. er 23 – Shelt
ir, Md. 2 – Bel A own, Va. 1 les T boro, Pa. 15 – Char llege, Pa. 9 – Wells , Pa. e Co sle isit: 16 – Stat 10 – Carli , Pa. mation, v r o f in e le r il o ml s and m 11 – Dryv lendar.ht a cert date c / n s o t c n l e a v n e io For addit niata.edu/alumni/ u .j w ww
Alumni Weekend June 5–8, 2014 Special reunions for the classes of 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, and 1994
juniata.edu/alumniweekend 2014 Fall-Winter
83
I met a Juniata alum in the most unusual place... ing n excit What a hen w e surpris n N. ri E t e m a I er ’11 in t g n i a Edd g meetin ity recent s Univer ia Arcad ., a P , e sid in Glen er ve as s I where esident vice pr w the in is no r E . g A ivin n NC A nnual g s and a tor through a dia athletic n io t la ni re direc Arca for alum to the athletic ddition to the 8 a t ’7 t n t a a r t e e alb a gr assis . She is et (Edgar) W m a r g o pr Jan ent. — departm
I got married May 25, 2013 and graduate d nursing school Aug. 9, 2013. My husband, Josh , and I finally had time to ta ke our honeymoon and celebrate my graduation . We had a week trip plan ned with a few stops on our way to Lewistown, Pa Bar Harbor, M . on Aug. 10 aine. We left and stopped the Mystic Se that afternoo aport museu n to tour m. Josh and I artifacts and were looking information at some on old woode “Hi, what year n ships when did you gradua I heard, te off guard at fir st because I co from Juniata?” It caught m e ul went to Juniat dn’t figure ou a. Then Mich t how she kn ew I elle (Bomba to my shirt an ) Boswell ’83 d we both laug pointed hed. We talked how people al ways pronou about Juniata nc and e it wrong. Sh me about whe e proceeded n she gradua to tell ted and asked daughter Eliza if I remembe beth A . Bosw red her ell ’11 and he Pott ’10. I to r friend Chlo ld her I did an eB d about how C soccer togeth hloe and I play . er at Juniata. ed I always wan in a random ted to meet an place and Mic alum helle was my whole day. I th first. She mad ink the next tr e my ip I go on, I w clothing. —H ill wear more eather (McM Juniata inn) Haines ’08
Family Motor Coach ’69 while watching the ey rsh s He E. ob Jac ring at the fairground I ran into ir October 2013 gathe d the ha at e he d rad pa tte n mi tio ad e cia Asso t college days, Jak ou ab ng sci ini rem him in York , Pa. After ersation was making reunion, but our conv his never been to a class e 2014. So watch for Jun 45th reunion in his ass for Cl g nin the ur by ret p r sto conside lly he will ar on campus–hopefu . ain ag me mobile home to appe ct with lounge and reconne of 1964’s hospitality an ’64 —Daniel F. O’Sulliv
Juniata
On Aug. 4, 2013, my wife, Marion (Kercher) Ol iver ’64, and I went to “Just Pe achy” at the Terhune Orch ards in Princeton, N.J. Obvio usly it was a day all about pe aches and peach dishes. While waiting in line at the Farm Store to pay for a peach melba pie , who did we run into waiting to do the same? Classmate Da Young ’63 and his fri vid A. end, Patti Lachowiec . Having just seen Da Juniata for our 50th ve at reunion in June, this meeting was really ne —David G. Oliver ’63 at.
84
esident Troha d I ran into Pr My husband an wn the do while walking and his family hoboth Re in k boardwal street near the ch other by e recognized ea Beach, Del. W ere wearing w chandise we the Juniata mer (l-r) Jennifer e. ur ct take a pi and stopped to lupko ’99, ne (Vrabel) Z Troha, Christi lupko ’00. Brandon M. Z Jim Troha, and ’99 o pk rabel) Zlu —Christine (V
I work at the Antique Boat Museum, which is located in the 1000 Islands region in Clayton, N.Y. Every August we host an annual boat show where boaters from all over the country come to display their boats. When I stopped by the registration counter for exhibitors, I thought I saw someone who looked familiar, but he walked away before I could talk to him. Later on the docks, I went up to this familiar face and realized it was Gregory R. Woodard ’08. We went to Juniata together! He was visiting the show as a member of the Antique & Classic Boat Society Lake Champlain Chapter, and he and his parents had brought a boat to the show. The antique boating world is very small, so it was especially fun to meet someone from Juniata. —Claire E. Wakefield ’09
Fellow Juniat a classmates met at Juniat Pig Roast on a’s May 4, 2013. (l-r) Milan P. Tweardy ’82, James D. Kiely ’81, Jack T. Follweiler ’82, James E. Klein ’82, and David C . Berger ’94.
On July 5, 2013, we were running in the pouring rain across the bridge over the Fort Jefferson moat 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Fla. We were on our way to grab some lunch before heading out to snorkel along the coral reef when a ge ntleman saw my Jun iata shirt and yelled, “Hey, my wife went to Juniata!” We weren ’t able to find him later and weren’t able to stop because it wa s raining buckets of water, but what are the chances? So cool that you can be in such a remote are a and still run into Jun iata people. —Heather L. Lecro ne ’09 and Dane A. Ott ’09
WE WANT TO PRINT YOUR STORY . . .
Tell us the most unusual place or circumstance where you met another Juniata alumna/us and we will highlight it in an upcoming Juniata Magazine. PLEASE SEND YOUR STORY TO . . . Evelyn Pembrooke, Alumni Relations Coordinator Juniata College, Alumni Relations Office 1700 Moore Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652 Fax: (814) 641-3446 E-mail: pembroe@juniata.edu
85
2014 Fall-Winter
e ABE student r and I took th ge er nb ollege se Ro y Rand 13 McDaniel C ipate in the 20 lege ol C l ie an team to partic tition at McD pe om ion C e as pe C Finance day of com tit After a whole . 13 20 , 23 . e ct at on O organ St n University, M n against Towso , Elizabethtow ge le ol C tysburg iel an cD M d University, Get an , State Mont Alto irdCollege, Penn ght back the th niata team brou Ju a e th g, , ur ge sb le ri ol C in Har er our dinner the place prize. Aft asked whether d an us ed ch oa pr he ap t ou an gentlem de. Turned van was our ri He Juniata College A . Glover ’89. er ph to is hr C um al tin marke g was Juniata elor’s degree in ch ba a . ith w d r) Reinaldo H graduate as Jim Lakso. (lw r so . vi B a ad ic s ss hi and ’14, Je . hen P. Estright Liem ’15, Step Christopher A g, an W ng hu -C ei la W no 4, yi ’1 Matlack e ’15, and O averick C . Forc Glover ’89, M g, assistant an W Wei-Chung — 4. ’1 si Le . A onomics professor of ec
ond In April 2013, I took my Bey n, gto shin Wa to s clas Tolerance D.C. for a field trip. A few of them decided to participate in the march for immigration Two reform while we were there. is nco Fra n of them, Simon Jea ina Sel and a, am Pan Perez, from t me as, Tex from , ’16 Urbina up with alumna Maria Clara titute. for the National Hispana Ins Samaniego ’07, who works sident for pre the to t , special assistan — Rosalie M. Rodriguez ’01 diversity & inclusion
GOLD-en Opportunity for Alumni
Photo: Danese Kenon
Eric C. Jensen ’77, of Indianapolis, Ind., knows the importance of trying to recruit Juniata students. Eric explains how recruiting students miles from Juniata’s campus has been a rewarding experience. He has submitted several GOLD cards in the past few years. By submitting a GOLD card, Eric has ensured that students will receive Juniata admission materials. As part of the process, Eric actively recruits the students by offering support throughout the search process, recommending campus visits, and encouraging application. If one of these students are admitted and selects Juniata, they’ll receive a $1,000 scholarship in Eric’s name—$4,000 over four years—with no financial commitment necessary from him.
Q: How did you become involved with the GOLD card program? A: I became involved with GOLD card partly because I work as a Juniata Admissions
Ambassador (JAA) in central Indiana. I like to file GOLD cards for students I meet at college fairs who appear to be a good fit for Juniata.
Q: Why do you think it’s important for alumni to participate? A: It’s important for alumni to participate because they can speak better than anyone
about the life-changing experience of a Juniata education. Hearing a personal story from an alum who was there can be much more powerful than reading the facts and figures that students get from print literature. Juniata’s alumni have the potential to reach far more students than our admission officers can reach in a year.
Q: Why is it important for alumni outside of Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region submit GOLD cards?
A: Juniata is well on its way to becoming a more national rather than regional college.
However, Juniata’s name recognition is still not where it needs to be outside of its traditional recruiting areas. When alums in other regions submit GOLD cards, they’re helping the College’s mission by increasing Juniata’s awareness on a national basis. When they get a letter from Juniata to say they’re eligible for a $1,000 per year scholarship if they’re accepted, it can be a powerful incentive for them look more closely at Juniata. Distance from home is often an issue, so an incentive like a GOLD card scholarship might make the difference in their decision.
Q: How and where do you give out GOLD cards? A: Almost all of my GOLD cards have been the result of college fairs. I don’t submit
a GOLD card for every student I talk to, but when I find one who is interested in a small liberal arts school and has that “spark” that suggests that Juniata would be a great option for them, I submit a GOLD card.
Q: According to our records, the students you’ve submitted GOLD
cards for haven’t selected Juniata. Is this discouraging to you?
A: Yes, it’s slightly discouraging, but not enough to keep me from trying. I’m not
going to get the same return on GOLD cards that alumni in the more traditional recruiting territories will get, but that’s OK. I’m working to establish improved name recognition in an area of the country which is not traditional Juniata territory. By doing college fairs, distributing admissions materials to high school guidance counselors, and submitting GOLD cards for students who look like a good fit, I’m increasing our name recognition. With a little luck, this will pay off in a few students from Indiana who will attend Juniata in the future.
—Christina (Garman) Miller ’01, assistant director of alumni relations
Juniata
For more information about the GOLD card program, visit: www.juniata.edu/alumnischolarship
86
Obituaries Thomas E. Bramble ’34
August 17, 2013—Tom was a graduate of Girard College, a private boarding school for boys in Philadelphia, Pa., before attending Juniata College. He spent his entire adult life working for the Tuberculosis Society. Upon retiring, he served as a high school counselor and in 1980 he moved to Bradenton, Fla. with his wife. He enjoyed playing sports, especially golf and tennis. Tom was preceded in death by wife, Catherine (Smith) Bramble ’34. He is survived by a son, two daughters, two grandchildren and a sister-in-law Thelma (Smith) Scott ’38. Woodrow W. Middlekauff ’35
May 19, 2013—Woody earned a doctorate in entomology from Cornell University in 1941. He then served in the U.S. Army during World War II under Dr. Stan Freeborn, who was instrumental in starting Woody’s career as a professor of entomology in late 1945 at the University of California, Berkeley. He taught and did research at Cal until his early 90s, when his eyesight began to keep him from identifying insects. Woody was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis (Buckman) Middlekauff ’35, brother, John C. Middlekauff ’33, and sister-in-law, Hilda (Ritchey) Middlekauff ’37. He is survived by son Jeffrey, daughter-in-law Joan, grandchildren, John and Jeffrey, and niece, Sylvia (Middlekauff) Hess ’62. Jane (Gehrett) Rayner ’35
July 13, 2013—Jane was a chemist, teacher, avid traveler, and active member of various civic organizations. After earning a doctorate in organic chemistry from Yale University, she was the first woman to work in the market research department of General Chemical. Jane taught chemistry at Douglass College, Farleigh Dickinson University, and Pine Crest School. After moving to Boca Raton, Fla., she served as a board member and volunteer with the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center for many years. Jane is survived by son John, daughter Judith, grandson Shane, and brother John O. Gehrett ’42. Mary E. Klotz ’36
June 20, 201—Mary graduated from the University of Chicago, and worked until retirement as a registered dietitian. Catharine (Rodgers) Corbin ’37
June 24, 2013—Catharine began her teaching career at the River School in Entriken, Pa., a one-room country school house. After leaving her career to raise her children, she returned to teaching and retired in the late 1970s. She was an active member of the Standing Stone chapter of the Daughters of
the American Revolution and was active in various civic organizations. Among her many hobbies, Catharine enjoyed playing bridge and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by husband Max H. Corbin ’38, brother John S. Rodgers ’34, and sisters Elizabeth (Rodgers) Steiner ’35 and Mary (Rodgers) Geissinger ’45. She is survived by daughter Anne (Corbin) Matlack ’67, son Maxwell, five grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. E. Marian McNitt ’41
March 30, 2013—Marian worked as a teacher for many years. She then worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Assistance and retired after 30 years of service. Marian enjoyed traveling, theatre, music, and playing cards. She served as an elder for the Lewistown Presbyterian Church. Edwin H. Moyer ’42
January 5, 2013—Edwin was the pastor at Randolph First Baptist Church in Massachusetts for 21 years when he retired in 1991. He is survived by wife Maria, two daughters, one son, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Donald P. Garner ’43
September 14, 2013—Donald attended Juniata for two years before entering the U.S. Navy where he served from 1943-1946 during World War II. There, he attained the ranking of aviation radioman third class and was awarded one battle star as well as the Presidential Unit Citation. He went on to become an automobile salesman for Sam Garner Chevrolet and Stoudnour Chevrolet in Saxton, Pa. In addition, Donald was a sales agent with Nationwide Insurance Company for 40 years and he was also employed as a real estate sales agent for Schrack Realty of Huntingdon, Pa. Recently he received his 50-year Masonic pin for being a member of the F&AM Woodbury Lodge Number 539, Roaring Spring. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Martinsburg, Pa. and taught Sunday school for 52 years. Donald deeply loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He also enjoyed reading and studying his family’s history by collecting family photographs and other memorabilia. Donald is survived by wife Helen, a daughter, a son and four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Pittsburgh. In addition to raising their four children, Jean and husband Robert served as host parents to foreign exchange students. From 1942-1945, Jean volunteered for wartime duty in the U.S. Navy, serving with the WAVES in Hawaii. She was also a Girl Scout leader for 20 years. For all her volunteer service, Jean received the “Good Neighbor Award” from UPMC in 2012. In her professional career, Jean worked as a nutritionist at the Allegheny Health Department for 12 years. After retiring, she volunteered as a counselor at a teenage pregnancy clinic. Jean served as president of veterans’ organizations in the Three Rivers Unit 28, state director of the WAVES units of Pennsylvania and regional director for New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In addition, Jean taught Sunday school and was ordained a deaconess at her church, Beluah Presbyterian. She is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren and five great-granddaughters. Martha (Hoffer) Hess ’45
June 10, 2013—Martha and husband Robert, served with the Mennonite Central Committee from 1947-1949 in the China Relief Medical Unit before moving to Terre Hill, Pa., where Robert opened a private practice of general medicine. Martha was an office administrator in his medical office for the last 30 years of his more-than-60-year practice. She was an active member of Akron Mennonite Church and sang with the Franconia-Lancaster Choral Singers for more than 50 years. She enjoyed music, flowers, bird-watching, travel, reading, learning, and visiting her family and friends. Her family knew Martha as a generous person who loved life and sharing this love with others. She is survived by children Susan, Martha, Robert, Thomas, Rebecca, and Phillip, 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
walking, and other activities throughout her life. She was known for her contagious smile that could brighten up a room and her love and zest for life. Sally is survived by children Steve, Marilyn, and Paul, as well as 11 grandchildren and a great grandson. Pearl (Simpson) Smith ’46
August 9, 2013—Pearl was a devoted wife and a loving mother and grandmother. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed singing, cooking, and doing needlepoint as well as sharing stories of her travels. She was an involved member of Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda, Fla. and the Presbyterian Women. Pearl is survived by husband Robert, daughter Karin, son Jeff, stepchildren Randy and Karla, and five grandchildren. Simon C. Brumbaugh Jr. ’47
August 21, 2013—Si was a general medicine practitioner who tended the medical needs of countless patients for more than 60 years. He received his medical degree in 1950 from Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pa., after serving as a quartermaster in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 and participating in several South Pacific campaigns, including Iwo Jima. He then joined the Jefferson ROTC and became a first lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1952, Si founded Lemon Grove Medical Group in California and built Lemon Grove’s first and only medical building in 1957. He was a charter diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice, a charter fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a 20-year associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. In addition, he was an officer of the San Diego County Medical Society, Grossmont Hospital’s chief of staff during 1964 and 1965 and district
Ellen (White) Nagy ’45
June 1, 2013—Sally worked in the heart of New York, N.Y. where she met her husband Ed. They married and moved to Long Island to raise their family. After her husband retired, they moved to Austin, Texas where she spent nine years working for the IRS. She was active in church, scouting, and volunteer school groups. A lover of the outdoors, Sally enjoyed biking, skiing, bowling, swimming,
Jean (Gilmore) Curtis ’45
March 5, 2013—Jean earned a master’s degree in home economics and dietetics from George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. Later in life, she decided to return to school, and at age 60 earned a master’s degree in nutrition and adult health with a concentration in maternal child health and nutrition, from the University of 2014 Fall-Winter
87
Photo: Christopher Shannon ’09
Paul E. Ritchey ’51
February 4, 2012 Clyde J. Johnson ’52
Luther R. Zehner ’48
counselor and committee chair for the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He donated his body to the University of California, San Diego Medical School. Si is survived by seven daughters and 14 grandchildren. Ralph D. Harrity ’47
June 6, 2013—Ralph started at Juniata as a member of the class of 1945, but then served in the military during World War II and graduated in 1947. In addition, he received a master’s degree in history from the University of Michigan. He was attached to the 87th Infantry Division Artillery in Europe and served in the Battle of the Bulge. He remained enlisted in the reserves and re-entered active service in 1948, serving as a second lieutenant in Japan. In 1950, he went into combat in Korea, serving in the 24th Infantry Division. He was the recipient of two Bronze Stars and nine other battle citations for his service. Ralph was employed at several high schools in several positions, including social studies teacher, vice principal, and principal. He was an accomplished athlete in high school and translated his success over to coaching, leading his track and cross country teams to multiple state championships in Indiana and New Jersey. He is survived by wife Olive, son Daniel, and three grandchildren. Duncan C. Laing Jr. ’48
Juniata
June 28, 2013—Bud served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was also the owner of Bud Laing Used Cars in Altoona, Pa. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren and also enjoyed cars and tropical fish. Bud is survived by daughters Linda and Patty.
88
March 30, 2013—Luther received his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia, Pa., and completed his surgical residency at Harrisburg Hospital. He served for three years in the Indian Service, as a physician on Fort Yates Reservation in North Dakota and also on Fort Defiance Reservation in Arizona. In 1952, after learning how to speak the Lakota Sioux language, Luther and his wife were adopted into the Lakota Tribe. In 1956, Luther moved to Meadville, Pa. and opened a medical practice. He had a passion for his vocation and a lifelong love of Native American culture. He was a member of First Christian Church in Meadville. Luther was preceded in death by wife, Frances (Townsend) Zehner ’43. He is survived by daughter Gail and her husband, and three grandchildren. Robert L. Charles ’49
March 8, 2013—Robert received a master’s degree from Penn State University in 1955. He then served during World War II and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. From 1955-1990, Robert was a microbiologist at Miles Laboratories/Bayer. From 1990-1995, he was a consultant at Solvay Enzymes. Robert was also a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the Society for Industrial Microbiology, and Sigma Xi. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Elkhart, Ind. Robert is survived by wife Patricia, son Robert, and three grandchildren. Myrna (Ankeny) Rhodes ’49
April 15, 2013—Myrna married Paul D. Rhodes ’49 in 1948. They moved to New Mexico to teach school on a Navajo Indian reservation. Myrna then worked as a secretary on the Penn State University campus in State College, Pa. Once retired, they moved to Florida and then Virginia Beach to be close to family. Myrna was preceded in death by her sisters Mary (Ankeny) Graybill ’51 and Luella (Ankeny) Schneider ’55. She is survived by her husband, two children, and two grandchildren.
April 20, 2013—Clyde served in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Penn State University with a master’s degree in music education. He taught music and served as a choral and band director in Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was the director of continuing education at Penn State Mont Alto from 1966 until his retirement in 1986. Clyde served as the director of public relations for Quincy Retirement Village until 1993. He enjoyed music, history and woodworking. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Geraldine, four children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Marjorie (Alleman) Scialabba Mills ’52
May 23, 2013—Marjorie married her husband in 1954 and lived in Huntingdon, Pa., where she worked and raised a family. She remarried in 1981 and moved with her husband to Carlisle, Pa. Marjorie taught English composition at Juniata, worked as a realtor, and at the Kinney Corporation until she retired in 1996. She was active in two bridge clubs, loved gardening, cooking, classical music, theatre, and reading. She played the piano, loved to play golf, studied her family’s genealogy, and was a dedicated football fan of Penn State and the Philadelphia Eagles. Marjorie is survived by husband Richard, children, Debi, Ken, Susan, and David. She is also survived by stepchildren Craig, Scott, and Christy, grandchildren and step-grandchildren. David M. Hackett ’53
March 21, 2013—David served two years in the U.S. Army. He was always an entrepreneur and owned the American Seed Company in Lancaster, Pa. He went on to join his brother, Burtis M. Hackett Jr. ’54, as a financial advisor at Hackett Associates Investments in Reading, Pa. David enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, participating on local radio shows, and writing columns for the Charlotte County Sun as part of the Curmudgeon Club in recent years. David is survived by four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Marjorie E. Fish ’54
Suzanne (Jamison) Klein ’55
Carl E. Trimber ’56
April 8, 2013—Marjorie worked at Gibbs Studio in Lakeside, Ohio and for a photographer in Toledo, Ohio. She then attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio to obtain a teaching certificate. She taught kindergarten at Catawba School in North Carolina and Portage School in Indiana before teaching first and third grades at Benton-Carroll-Salem Schools in Ohio. She was portrayed in one series on The History Channel when she received international interest for her 3-D star map correlation where she determined that binary stars were too close together to support life. She later moved to work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn. She retired after more than 20 years of research service for the U.S. Department of Energy. Marjorie enjoyed sharing her love of art, learning of the outdoors, camping, and gardening with her family.
June 24, 2013—Sue graduated from the Kathryn Gibbs Finishing School in New York City and began a career as an executive secretary for Anheuser-Busch Inc. in Van Nuys, Calif. After relocating to Indiana, she thrived as a fashion coordinator, organizing shows and galas for an exclusive boutique. While living in Indiana, she served as a member and past president of the Community Concert Committee of Tellico Village, the Knoxville Symphony League, and the Muncie Symphony League. Sue had a lifelong love for music and loved being involved in community organizations, as well as supporting her children in school activities and other endeavors. She was also a former Alumni Council member at Juniata. Sue was preceded in death by father William A. Jamison ’31, mother Helena (Rohrbaugh) Jamison ’29, aunt Elizabeth (Rohrbaugh) Oller ’23, aunt Eleanor (Rohrbaugh) Bergstresser ’35, uncle Jack E. Oller ’23, and cousin Robert B. Jamison Jr. ’50. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Don, daughter Mary, son Michael, grandchildren William and Lucy, and cousin Lynn (Bergstresser) Schaffer ’66.
April 22, 2013—Carl retired as a teacher and coach after 34 years at Northgate High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served during the Korean War. He is survived by wife Bette (Nazzaro) Trimber ’58, and daughters Sharon and Lisa.
Kaydonna (Bubeck) Friesen ’55
July 7, 2013—Kay married her college sweetheart John G. Kisel ’53 and raised four sons while traveling the world as a military wife. After settling in San Antonio, Texas, she became a beloved teacher at Ft. Sam Houston Elementary School where she was known for instilling a passion for learning in her students. In the years following John’s death, Kay married Clarence Friesen. Both were active members of the Christ Lutheran Church and shared a love of traveling. Kay was recognized earlier this year for volunteering more than 3,000 hours at a local hospital, where she especially enjoyed volunteering in the pediatric neurology clinic. She is survived by sons David, Paul, Jeff, and Todd, as well as grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. W. Remle Grove ’55
April 6, 2013—Remle worked for the federal government and retired after 43 years of service with the Food and Drug Administration. He was an active member of the Grace Methodist Church and he was also a member of the Frederick Church of the Brethren for the past 22 years. In addition, he was a member of the Frederick Elks Club. Remle enjoyed watching sports, singing karaoke, playing piano and spending his summers at Beach Harbor Camper’s Cooperative in Grasonville, Md. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter L. Grove ’27 and his mother, Esther (Zook) Grove ’29. He is survived by his sister, Marilyn A. Grove ’67, four children, five grandchildren, and cousins, Joyce (Grove) Ellinger ’52 and John E. Criswell ’56.
J. Paul Wingert ’55
March 22, 2013—Paul graduated from The Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., in 1945 and went on to attend Brown University in Providence, R.I. until 1948. He then joined and served the U.S. Air Force until 1953, achieving the rank of first lieutenant. After his graduation from Juniata in 1955 and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1959, he served an internship at Altoona Hospital. In 1963, after completing a residency at the Cleveland Clinic, he returned to Altoona, Pa. to practice internal medicine. He became the first board-certified physician in internal medicine in Blair County. In 1972, Paul co-founded Blair Medical Associates. He is survived by a son and grandchildren.
Thomas H. Chase Jr. ’58
March 8, 2013—Tom proudly served his country in the 8th Army Headquarters in Korea from 1958 to 1960. From 1960 to 1994, he based his career in human resources with Allstate Insurance, retiring as vice president. Tom loved spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by wife Jeannette (Lowe) Chase ’57, a daughter, two sons, and seven grandchildren. Harvey G. Wagner ’59
April 14, 2013—Harvey received a master’s degree from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. He retired from Cameron County High School after 42 years of teaching American history. Harvey enjoyed teaching his students, gardening, raising his dogs, and spending time at home surrounded by family. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Emporium, Pa. Harvey is survived by wife Nancy (Patterson) Wagner ’59, a daughter, a son, and five grandchildren. J. Earl Dibert ’60
July 26, 2013—Earl graduated from Elizabethtown College and taught science at Shippensburg Junior High School in Shippensburg, Pa. before attending Penn State to earn a master’s degree in guidance and counseling. He also completed classes at Millersville University to become a psychologist in the Chambersburg Area School District, where he later retired. Earl and his wife, Mary, volunteered during a yearlong sabbatical at Concept 7, a Christian
Mark E. Beech ’56
August 5, 2013—Mark worked as an inspector for the Pennsylvania Department of Highways and Bridges. He was a member of Somerset Alliance Church in Somerset, Pa. Mark is survived by wife, Loretta, four children, and eight grandchildren.
2014 Fall-Winter
89
Photo: Rosann Brown
Paul J. Emrick ’61
ministry in Hemet, Calif. to help abused and neglected teenage girls. He enjoyed camping, house construction, family activities, and helping others in disaster relief, as well as operating a small solar business and counseling families in his spare time. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary (Hoffman) Dibert ’57, sons David, Steven, and Kevin, and five grandchildren. Peter A. Douglas ’60
March 9, 2013—Peter received a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Oklahoma City University. He then worked for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for 20 years and retired from the Oklahoma Medical Board in Oklahoma City. Peter is survived by wife Betty, son David, and two grandsons. John H. Wingert ’60
Juniata
September 19, 2013—John was employed as a medical technologist for more than 31 years at Washington County Hospital of Hagerstown. He was a member and the organist of the Fourth Street Church of the Brethren in Chambersburg, Pa. He also served as organist for the Heidelberg Church in Marion, Pa. for a number of years. John was a member of the American Guild of Organists and served as the guild’s treasurer. He was a lifetime member of the Marion Volunteer Fire Company and served on the Marion Fire Company Relief Association. Family members reported that when John’s health began to fail, they got him a Juniata sweatshirt and it truly lifted his spirits. John is survived by his wife Helen.
90
September 2, 2013—Pete worked as a manager of government relations at Brockway Glass in Brockway, Pa. and Jacksonville, Fla. Later he served as the regional director of state government affairs for the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. In 2001, Pete moved to Orange Park, Fla. where he served on the session and was a member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church. Pete enjoyed spending time with his family and afternoons on the beach. He also loved football and writing. During his retirement, Pete and author Thomas Dean co-authored a book titled On Coaching Football, which is an instructional manual for coaches. Pete is survived by his wife, Nancy (Wike) Emrick ’62, daughter Jill, sons Todd S. Emrick ’92 and Steven P. Emrick ’98 and four grandchildren. John K. Merrill ’61
September 1, 2012 John H. Vernocy ’61
August 16, 2013—Jack operated an insurance agency in Moon Township, Pa. and later worked in the golf department of Dick’s Sporting Goods. He is survived by wife Jean and two daughters. John L. Latshaw ’62
January 8, 2013—Jack was a beloved social studies teacher and mentor for 28 years for the Rush Henrietta School District in Henrietta, N.Y. He was also a member of Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester, N.Y. Jack is survived by his wife of 47 years, Donna, son Scott, and two granddaughters. Grace F. Williams ’65
April 19, 2013—Grace studied at Stetson University and Rollins College in central Florida, and then worked briefly for TimeLife in Chicago as a college correspondent while taking courses at the University of Chicago. In 1960, after working in the United
States Marine Corps as a cartographer, Grace resumed her college education at Juniata. She was Juniata’s first returning adult student and earned her bachelor’s degree in history at age 42 and went on to earn a master’s degree in early childhood education from Shippensburg University. Grace became a kindergarten teacher for the Tussey Mountain School district at Saxton-Liberty Elementary School. She retired from her teaching position after 17 years of service. She loved to sail, fly airplanes, and volunteer for Meals-onWheels in her community. Grace is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Kathryn L. Kenders-McCreary ’66
September 30, 2013—Kathie was a former Juniata Alumni Council member. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Maurice and daughters Kathryn and Jessica. Amelia (Allison) Tierney ’66
July 30, 2013—Mimi studied at the Pratt Institute in New York City where she majored in fashion design. She had a lifelong love of fashion, making almost all of her clothes since grade school. For 30 years she ran a tailoring business in her home where she designed wedding dresses, suits, and uniforms and performed thousands of alterations. Mimi enjoyed studying languages, particularly French and Italian, and she traveled all over the United States and throughout the world. She loved food and gourmet cooking, which led to a cultivation of a large garden and small vineyard. She made wine every year since 1977 and had a comprehensive wine cellar of her own wine, in addition to Russian and French wines, and champagne. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Harry, daughters Rhonda and Valarie, a granddaughter and great-grandson. Carole (Heisey) LeFever ’67
May 20, 2013—Carole earned another bachelor’s degree in art from Millersville University. She was a beloved art teacher and field hockey coach at Wheatland Junior High School in New York for 33 years, retiring in 2004. A true philanthropist, Carole was a fierce defender and advocate of civil rights of the Iroquois nation in New York and the Navaho nation in the southwestern states. Her philanthropy reached the less fortunate
in the Ivory Coast of Africa where she conducted agricultural missions and donated computers. An avid gardener, Carole organized the Demuth Plant Sale, a fundraiser for the Demuth Museum, in Lancaster, Pa. She was preceded in death by father Kenneth H. Heisey ’42, grandmother Grace (Nedrow) Heisey ’12, grandfather Herman B. Heisey ’11, aunt Kathren (Heisey) Gibson ’37, and uncle Christian S. Wenger ’37. She is survived by son Alexander, and grandson Xavier. Sally I. Schmidt ’67
September 2, 2013—Sally began her career in child development in Reading, Pa. and went on to become a social worker at Berks County Children and Youth Services as well as a supervisor of in-home services. She was a member of Calvary United Church of Christ in Reading, Pa. Her pastimes include horseback riding and gardening. John S. Homolash ’68
October 4, 2013—John was a member of the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Huntingdon, Pa, where he was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Council #4644, Knights of Columbus. He previously served on the board of directors of the Huntingdon County Employment and Training Center in Huntingdon. John was a case worker for Huntingdon Children Services from 1968 to 1969. He later worked for Huntingdon County Board of Assistance as a case work supervisor from 1969 until his retirement in 2004. He was a collector of local memorabilia and had an extensive collection of Huntingdon County milk bottles. He also loved spending time with his grandchildren and family. John is survived by wife Connie, five daughters, and six grandchildren. Jay B. Phythyon ’68
August 11, 2013—Jay was a retired teacher from the Pennsbury School District in Bucks County, Pa. He was a world traveler, an avid reader and an entertaining storyteller. Jay is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, a niece and her husband, a nephew and his wife, and several grandnieces and grandnephews. Wayne A. Light Jr. ’70
August 20, 2013—Wayne was retired from the Insurance industry and kept active as a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Beverly, NJ, as well as a mentor in the Big Brothers/Sisters organization. He was a dedicated and long-standing member of the St. Stephen’s Vestry. He enjoyed his family, friends, favorite sports teams and cooking. Wayne’s fondest moments were as
“PaPa” when he was reading and playing with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Paula (Schober) Light ’72, two daughters and son-in-laws, and five grandchildren. Steven E. Wheland ’71
March 27, 2013—Steven earned a master’s degree in New Testament theology from Denver Baptist Seminary in Denver, Colo. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 1977. He served as a missionary in the Congo in Africa with African Inland Mission. He was a chemist for Test America Corporation. Steven enjoyed photography, stamp collecting, and model railroading. Susan (Grimes) Hodgkins ’72
August 15, 2013—Sue received a master’s degree in specific learning disabilities from George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., in 1976. She then taught in the Arlington County Public School System at Ashlawn Elementary School for 31 years. From 1976 to 1979, Sue was a special education teacher at Arlington County’s Abington Elementary School. She then moved to Ashlawn Elementary where she was a special education teacher until 1995 and a fifth-grade teacher until 2007. After teaching at Pinecrest School in Annandale, Va., Susan taught at schools in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. She was a middle school math and science teacher at St. Thomas More Cathedral School in Arlington from 2008 to 2010 and she taught fifth grade at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Alexandria until her death. She was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church in Alexandria. She is survived by husband Jay and daughters Shelby E. Hodgkins ’10 and Sarah E. Hodgkins ’12.
Daniel L. Caton ’80
March 11, 2013—Dan attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. where he majored in accounting. In addition, he was a certified medical coder technician. He was a devoted family man who loved sports, computers, and music. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. Dan is survived by a son and daughter, and two sisters, including Donna L. Caton ’78. Theresa (Draskler) Grove ’87
July 16, 2013—Theresa was awarded a full graduate research assistantship at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1987 and worked toward a master’s degree in environmental biology. She was employed as a medical transcriptionist and served as her late grandmother’s primary caregiver for 10 years until her grandmother’s death. Theresa held various positions in local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. She had a great appreciation for nature, and loved spending time with her family, gardening, camping, fishing, and going on beach vacations. Theresa is survived by husband John and son Isaac. Kenneth J. Malenke ’89
May 18, 2013—Ken had been employed in accounting at Doehler-Jarvis in Pottstown, Pa., in logistics for Penske in Reading, Pa., and most recently as a project manager for Varolli in Seattle, Wash. He was an active volleyball player and had an interest in golf and NASCAR. He was a member of Coventry Church of the Brethren in Kenilworth, Pa. Ken is survived by son Jackson, former wife, Ellen, and parents John R. Malenke ’52 and Elizabeth (Alderfer) Malenke ’49.
John S. Labash ’79
May 23, 2013—John was retired from environmental chemistry and consulting. He was an implement artist and chairman of the Diablo Rod and Gun Club in Concord, Calif. where a library will be dedicated in his name. John made the sound effects for the Oscarwinning movie “Brave.” He was an expert in knife throwing and was featured on the TV show “MythBusters.” In addition, he was the 2007 California state champion in Class A, Outdoor Air Pistol competition. John is survived by his mother and brother.
2014 Fall-Winter
91
Remembering LeRoy Maxwell Sr. ’36 A loyal member of the Juniata community, the second of four generations in his family to attend Juniata, LeRoy cared for the “college on the hill.” That care showed early in his life, as he served as the president of the first Student Government. He worked with Calvert N. Ellis, then professor of philosophy/religion, to get a valued and important part of Juniata student life up and running. LeRoy’s gifts for leadership, which were evidenced throughout his life, showed early. A desire to “give back” led to many contributions within his local community, Waynesboro, Pa. Many organizations, especially the Boy Scouts of America, benefited from his participation and leadership. A lot of young men’s lives were deeply affected by LeRoy. He had clear visions for his work, both as a lawyer and as a member of the groups with which he volunteered. No one ever doubted that he knew where he wanted to go. A long-standing family story, which Tucker, his son, shared with me, rang absolutely true—when baby sitting for Tucker and his wife, Judy, early in their marriage, LeRoy rearranged Judy’s spice rack. (He knew what he wanted!) However, when told by his daughter-in-law that that was not acceptable behavior, it did not happen again and they had a long, happy and caring relationship. A contributing leader for all of his life, bringing a caring and resolute manner to all he did, LeRoy’s life made a difference.
LeRoy Maxwell Sr. ’36
LeRoy’s mother was a Juniata graduate, and in turn LeRoy’s son and grandsons, graduated from “his” college. I received a phone call from LeRoy every time a grandson was coming to Juniata and he was just so happy about it that he had to tell my husband, Ron, and me because he knew we would be happy with him. After all, the Cherry family also had several generations related to Juniata, and we also had Juniata alumni relatives connected to Waynesboro (my grandmother and mother were from Waynesboro, and my father and his parents all were Juniata alumni). For LeRoy, in so many ways, Juniata was a constant in his life. As one of the generation that lived through the Great Depression, LeRoy never lost the frugality that guided his early life. It enabled him to graduate from college, attend the University of Pennsylvania law school, raise a family, and have both resources and time to “give back.” The College was special for LeRoy and Juniata honors him for a life well lived. —Betty Ann ( Ellis ) Cherry, professor emeritus of history
LeRoy Maxwell Sr., Juniata Trustee from 1967 to 1981 and an attorney in Franklin County, Pennsylvania from 1940 to 2002, died Oct. 13 at age 98. Maxwell, a resident of Waynesboro, Pa., was a 1936 graduate of Juniata and served as a Trustee emeritus since 1981. He was president of the Juniata National Alumni Association from 1953 to 1954. Maxwell and his wife, the late Pauline Maxwell ’35, were honored with Juniata’s Alumni Service Award in 1981. After Juniata, Maxwell earned his law degree in 1939 at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He began practicing law in Franklin County in 1940 with a variety of partners and associates, including his son, LeRoy Maxwell Jr. ’63, who practiced law with his father from 1969 until the elder Maxwell’s retirement in 2002. Maxwell also was district attorney for Franklin County from 1944 to 1948.
Juniata
He was an active member of his community and an active member of the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren, where he served as Sunday School Treasurer, Finance Committee 92
chairman, Building Committee chairman and Ministerial Committee member. He also served as a member of the board of directors for The Brethren Home, Cross Keys Community, in New Oxford, Pa., and Prices Church Cemetery. He was on the board of directors for First National Bank and Trust Co. in Waynesboro from 1964 to 1990 and also served as a director for the First National Bank of Blue Ridge Summit from 1955 to 1964. He was a director on the board of the Waynesboro Hospital from 1953 to 1983, serving as the board president from 1955 to 1963. Maxwell was a member of the Rotary Club of Waynesboro since 1949 and he was club president from 1953 to 1954. He also served on the board of directors of the Renfrew Museum and Park from 1973 to 1991. LeRoy Maxwell Sr. also was an Eagle Scout and served as the chairman of the Tuscarora District of Mason-Dixon Council of the Boy Scouts of America from 1951 to 1953 and as chair of the District Eagle Board of Review from 1955 until 1994. In 1965, he received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts.
Endpaper
Appetite for Education: Juniata as Moveable Feast By Jim Tuten
F
when breaking bread together— took hold. It is not every college that would bring someone As befits the crea many regard tor of a c History ou r s e c a o f F as a living lled The occasion ood , Jim Tuten s b y r e calling w marks special hero and h a t wa s s e r ve d . create such a space for eating and exchange without administrators or faculty.
With 15 years under my belt at Juniata as an administrator and faculty member, I sometimes look back on landmark events here and often it is the gustatory memories that come to mind first. In some ways, these meals reflect significant aspects of Juniata’s culture.
The faculty and staff at Juniata really do serve students: Most schools like to say that undergraduate students are at the center of the mission, but few put this so symbolically into action as Juniata does at Madrigal Dinner. The students come to an elegantly decorated Baker Refectory dressed in their best semi-formal clothes for what is likely the finest meal they’ll ever eat there. For the duration of the meal the wait staff are volunteers from among the administrators and faculty. These servers could be at home or out at dinner being waited on themselves, but instead they give up a Saturday evening to cheerfully serve the students.
Juniata tries to be welcoming: As you might imagine, when bringing a guest to campus the College strives to be a good host in ways large and small. Our chefs have prepared meals that have made us look good many times over the years. However, I remember a bit of nervousness around Ralph Nader’s visit in 2002. Nader ate a vegetarian diet and there was just a bit of concern over whether we could provide the perfect menu. Provost Jim Lakso and I kept a watch on Nader’s eating to see if the meal was a success. He ate a little, then a little more, and finally, he turned his plate at an angle so he could scoop up the last of his sauce with a spoon. We were so satisfied that even our Midwestern Finnish-American provost nearly smiled. Juniata really is student-centered: In 2004, Juniata invited Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis to campus as we reflected on the 40th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery March in which Juniatians participated. The opening day included a large dinner and his speech to a packed Rosenberger Auditorium. The next morning I organized a small breakfast for a group of African-American students and Rep. Lewis. I tagged along as host to get things started and to be a witness. The breakfast included eggs, juice and coffee to be sure, but it was the intimacy and quiet of the conversation that stood out. As it went along a growing sense of commensality—the sense of fellow-feeling that occurs
Photo:
J.D. Ca vrich
ood and eating are crucial markers for me. I mark my day by meals and a coffee break on campus at Jitters most mornings. I remember celebrations by the menu we enjoyed as much as the convivial company. Back in the 20th century, before I was married, I would write my future wife letters during the summer (this was before Skype or even email). She once wrote back asking if I wouldn’t like to tell her about things other than what I had been eating. From Bill Alexander ’66, vice president emeritus of finance and operations, I took the idea of maintaining a spreadsheet of restaurants in which I had dined. After all, human memory dims, but spreadsheets are a primary source.
Juniata builds community—Each spring during senior week the history department, like many others, hosts our graduating seniors for a meal. We call it the Senior Roast and usually have it at the house I share with my wife Belle, Juniata’s medieval historian. I cook my barbecued spare ribs with bourbon sauce. After our repast each student gets a good-humored roasting and receives a gift—often comical, sometimes poignant—that reflects a significant feature of his or her personality or senior research. Sometimes they roast the faculty in return. For the faculty and seniors it is a meal to anticipate because it represents the culmination of our membership in a history community. Early in this school year one of the newest members of the Juniata Faculty, Amanda Page, assistant professor of English, commented on her early experiences: “I’ve been fed a lot!” I wasn’t surprised and I hope, to paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, she will continue to find Juniata a moveable feast. >j< —Jim Tuten is associate professor of history.
NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Office of College Advancement 1700 Moore Street Huntingdon, PA 16652-2196
We’re social.
JUNIATA COLLEGE
www.juniata.edu
Member Institutions: 271
E Recycle this magazine
gwd-photography.com
Give it to a high school student and help spread the word about Juniata.
“While walking to the library to study one night, I was surprised by a long bolt of lightning that flashed across the sky. It was not raining, so I knew that I had to attempt photographing this unusual storm. After several mediocre attempts over North field, I found an interesting angle near Cloister Hall. On my third long exposure image, I succeeded in capturing a nice bolt of lightning that passed directly over Cloister. It was a surreal night, with the roar of thunder drowning out everything around me.”—Gordon Dimmig ’17, biology, Elizabethtown, Pa.