King's College Alumni Magazine 2023

KING’S M A G A Z I N E

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F R O M T H E D E S K O F FAT H E R L O O N E Y

“King’s teaches its students not only how to make a living but how to live.”

— Rev. James Connerton, C.S.C. The heart, the core, of the King’s College experience is relationships.

Relationships with people, professionals and peers; relationship with ideas, transcendent and immanent; relationships with communities, within and beyond our borders. Relationships forged at King’s provide our graduates with the skills and competencies to make a living and inspire our graduates to champion the inherent dignity of every person to truly know how to live.

This issue features alumni, students, faculty, and professional staff whose deep relationships, forged at King’s, bring the words of Father Connerton, the first president of King’s, to life. I’ll highlight several articles, but read them all, for I trust that you will be inspired as I am.

Of note this year, the institution celebrates 50 years formally admitting women. Bridget Walsh invites us to celebrate the history of Title IX, especially in athletics. A series of profiles highlight impressive alumnae and their remarkable stories of fortitude: Maureen Hanlon ’87 and her rise through global sports entertainment and management; Cassandra Coleman ’10’s turn as the youngest woman to serve as mayor in the United States and now Executive Director of America250PA; and Joyce Chalarca ’23 who managed to remain at King’s with the incredible support of her professors.

In his tender and moving eulogy, delivered at a Memorial Mass for Brother Jim Miller, Dave Reynolds ’00, Professor of Theater, captured the essence of a King’s education. “Brother Jim taught me so very much about theatre,” he said. “But more than that, he taught me how to treat people. That we are all a beautiful part of the play that is life. That no matter who you are, you can make a difference in someone’s life if you listen and fearlessly be yourself.”

James Ambury, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Honors Program, describes his journey from falling in love with philosophy on an intellectual level, to personally engaging life’s great questions of meaning and purpose spurred on by colleagues and students.

For Dr. Ambury, King’s is “a nurturing environment in which a philosophy professor, armed with information and argument, can become a philosopher, a lover (and seeker) of wisdom.”

Loving knowledge and teaching students is the landscape for relationships that transform lives. Another is loving a community and dedicating oneself to community service. Bill Bolan, Ph.D., Director of the Shoval Center, tells of King’s efforts to fight food insecurity and the stigma attached to opioid addiction. We also raise up our students by providing the services they need to be successful. Rochelle Plummer, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic Success, describes the multiple services of KC Pathways and first-generation programming.

And in his Commencement Address, Anthony Macko ’23 issued a clarion call to his classmates.

His words capture the mission of King’s and challenge us all to live our noble mission: “Now is the time to take the core values of a King’s College education—including selfless service, generosity, compassion, love, and hope—and spread them throughout our daily lives.

The world needs us, and God is calling us to make a positive difference in others’ lives.”

Peace,

Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D. President, King’s College

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2023 ISSUE

CREATIVE TEAM Vice President for Institutional Advancement Gregory Morgan Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement Wendy Hinton Editor in Chief Brandi George Davis ’12 Alumni Editor Elizabeth Doherty ‘18 Faculty Editor Michael Little, Ph.D. Creative Director & Designer Carol Simonovich Scholl Faculty & Staff Contributors James M. Ambury, Ph.D. Jessica Anderson, Ph.D. Brandi George Davis ’12 Brother Jimmy Henke, C.S.C. Wendy Hinton Rochelle D. Plummer, Ph.D. Bernard Prusak, Ph.D. Dave Reynolds ‘00, M.F.A. Will Skaggs Bridget Walsh Alumni Contributors Samantha Olson Chencharik ’12 Christian Hernandez ’23 Anthony Macko ’23 Linda Stockdale Nestor ’76 Sarah Scinto ’13 Student Contributors Roben Jaoude ’24 Copyeditor Dawn Lees

HOW TO REACH US King’s Magazine is published by the Office of College Marketing and Communications for King’s College alumni and friends. We welcome your feedback and story suggestions by emailing news@kings.edu or calling (570) 208-8380.

Copyright 2023 by King’s College.

Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.

8 50 Years of Women at King’s ABOVE: Mrs. Donald Williams, Secretary to the Librarian, dries files at 191 North Franklin Street following the Agnes Flood of 1972.

ON THE COVER: From top left clockwise, women were formally admitted starting in 1970. Krista Rae O’Neal Chase ’72 was the first African American woman to enroll after transferring from Cheney State. Elaine F. Zavada started in the Development Office in 1957 and soon became Secretary and then Executive Assistant to the President; she served in that role until her retirement in 2012. Marion Airey, Director of Development, in the late 1950s. Stephanie Jallen ‘19 is a two-time Paralympian Bronze Medalist and Human Resources Generalist at St. Joeseph’s Center. Women’s Softball wins their fifth MAC title in a row in 2004. Theodora Abah ’21’s family immigrated from Nigeria and today she is an MD Candidate at Morehouse School of Medicine.

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURES W O M E N AT K I N G ’ S

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Celebrating 50 Years of Women at King’s

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Title IX and King’s College: A Storied History with a Bright Future

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From Monarch Court to Courtside at Barclays

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Executive Power

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All Hail the Mayor!

STUDENT SUCCESS

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Home Is Where the Heart Is

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We’re Still First—Generation!

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You Were Made for Greatness

44

Feels Like Home

NEWS

ALUMNI

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Learning Investigative Reporting Tips from One of the Best on the Beat

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Turning a Blank Page into Memories: Reflections on Leo’s Writing Retreat

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Social Media Highlights

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King’s Engineering Program Scores ABET Accreditation

Watch the Ice: A Eulogy for Brother James Miller, C.S.C.

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ADVANCEMENT

Homecoming/Reunion: The Tradition Continues to Grow!

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Hail Our Royal Regent

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Why I Give: Michael and Ellen O’Connor

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King’s College Honors Alumni Award Winners

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Leaving a Royal Legacy

66

An Original Leo’s Love Story

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Sending Us Forth

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Class Notes

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In Memoriam

FA C U LT Y

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The Hidden Dangers of Added Sugars

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Know Thyself: A Book, a College, and the Birth of a Philosopher

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New Issue of Zeal is Published, Spring 2023

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SERVICE

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All for One and One for All

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A Rooted Past, A Sprouting Future: Holy Cross at King’s

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All for One

Watch the Ice

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Holy Cross at King’s

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

James M. Ambury, Ph.D., is

Brother Jimmy Henke, C.S.C.,

Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Honors Program.

He earned his Ph.D. from SUNY Stony Brook in 2010 and has taught philosophy at King’s since 2014. In 2023, he was awarded the Faculty All College Award for Teaching, Service, and Leadership.

serves as a Campus Minister at King’s and works for Residence Life as a Resident Counselor. He earned his M.Div. from the University of Notre Dame in 2021. Prior to joining King’s in the fall of 2022, he spent a year serving in Bangladesh.

Jessica Anderson, Ph.D., is an

Christian Hernandez ’23

Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Program Director of Neuroscience. She earned her Ph.D. from Binghamton University in 2015 and has taught both psychology and neuroscience courses at King’s College since 2016.

earned his B.A. in political science with minors in economics and political economy and served as Student Government President and a Resident Assistant. Christian is currently pursuing his master’s degree in management at the University of Notre Dame and serving as an Assistant Rector for Knott Hall.

Brandi George Davis ’12 is

Wendy Hinton is the Associate

the Director of College Marketing and Communications. She earned B.A. degrees in communications and theatre from King’s College and her M.A. in communications from Marywood University in 2017.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Campaign and Development. She earned her B.A. from Fairfield University in 1997 and her M.S. in organizational management from Misericordia University in 2018.

Samantha Olson Chencharik ’12

Roben A. Jaoude ’24 is a senior

graduated with a B.A. in professional writing. She earned her M.S. in journalism from Stony Brook University and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in English at St. John’s University.

Samantha lives in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with her husband, Steven Chencharik ’10, and son, Wesley.

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from Whitehall, Pa., who double majors in international business management and marketing. She is interning with the College’s Office of College Marketing and Communications. Roben is involved in the Theatre Department and plans to carry the knowledge she gained from interning and theatre into her future career.

Anthony Jude Macko ’23 earned

a B.A. in criminal justice and served as class president. He was a member of Campus Ministry, the men’s swim team, and the Shoval Center Community Service Honor Roll. Anthony, a Wilkes-Barre, Pa., native, earned his Commission as an Officer in the United States Army from the Royal Warrior Battalion, Army ROTC, at the rank of Second Lieutenant. He attends the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Alabama.

Linda Stockdale Nestor ’76

graduated with a double major in special and elementary education. She earned her master’s degree in special education and learning disabilities from Western Maryland College. As a member of the Central New York Writers Café, she helps to mentor other writers. Currently, she is on the Board for Leo’s Writing Retreat and taught sessions in 2023. Linda lives in Stroudsburg, Pa., with her knight in shining armor and one weird dog.

Rochelle D. Plummer, Ph.D.,

is the Associate Vice President for Academic Success. She earned her M.S. from Wilson College in 2017, M.A. from Shippensburg University in 2011; and her Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania this year. Since 2021, Rochelle has worked within Academic Affairs overseeing campus retention.

Bernard Prusak, Ph.D., holds

the Raymond & Eleanor Smiley Chair in Business Ethics at John Carroll University. He was formerly Professor of Philosophy and Director of the McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at King’s. He came to King’s in 2012 from Villanova University to found the McGowan Center.

Dave Reynolds ‘00, M.F.A.,

is Professor of Theatre and Chair of the Theatre Department. He earned his M.F.A. from Temple University in 2009 and has taught theatre and arts at King’s since 2010.

Sarah Scinto ’13 graduated with a B.A. in professional writing and has worked in print, radio, and television journalism. She is a Connecticut native residing in Wilkes-Barre and is currently the local voice of NPR’s All Things Considered on WVIA-FM in Pittston, Pa.

Will Skaggs is the Public Relations and College Communications Manager. He earned his B.A. in political science from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 2006 and his M.S. in public relations and corporate communications from NYU in 2015. He joined the King’s College Marketing and Communications team this year after serving in several public affairs roles across New Jersey government.

Bridget Walsh is the Director

of Sports Information. She earned her B.A. from DeSales University in 2019 and her M.S. from Canisius College in 2021 and has worked in the Sports Information Department at King’s since 2019.

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C E L E B R AT I N G

50 Years O F W O M E N

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n the heels of World War II, King’s College was founded with the mission of providing a Catholic liberal arts education to both veterans and sons of the region’s coal miners. After two decades and slower enrollment among this group, the decision was made to open admission to women.

However, women were not new to the College—they had been taking evening classes for several years. In 1967, nursing students at Mercy Hospital and Pittston Schools of Nursing began attending day classes in anatomy, microbiology, and other sciences. Even so, these women were not formally matriculated into the College. It wasn’t until Fall 1970 that King’s saw 117 women register (150 when including transfers), marking the first large cohort of women to enroll as official, full-time students. To accommodate these new students on campus, East Hall (now known as Esseff Hall) opened one floor to house 39 women.

This past year, the College honored this historic milestone: celebrating more than 50 years of academic and professional excellence of women at King’s College. A panel including alumnae and former professors discussed with today’s student leaders how their King’s experience shaped their lives and careers. A social media series profiled successful Monarchs across the decades. And this September, a gallery exhibit in the Widmann Gallery showcased just some of the impressive “firsts” for students, employees, athletes, and artists.

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Marisue Elias Newman ’84 Vittoria DeGiosio ’15

Dr. Oluwatayo Ikotun ’05

Joselyn Hook ’76, ’77 Mollie Farmer ’84

Historic “Firsts” by Women 1946

1957

1965

1967

1968

1969

Ann Balz; King’s very first employee, as secretary to the President

Marion Airey; first administrator who organized the 1957 capital campaign

Dr. Margaret Corgan; first full-time faculty, professor of foreign languages and literatures

58 nursing students from Mercy and Pittston hospitals attended day classes, but not as full-time King’s students

Misericordia (all women) students were allowed to take day courses at King’s

6 women admitted as King’s first full-time day students

KING’S MAGAZINE

Denise Goodwin Pace ’75

AT K I N G ’ S

Dr. Margaret Corgan

Krista O’Neal Chase ’72 Mary Beth Bowler-Chambers ’83

1970

1975

1999

Geraldine Gustitus; considered the first graduate

women’s basketball team started; swimming team became co-ed

Janet Mercincavage; the College’s first Vice President

117 registered as full-time students first-year Nancy Fairchild first resident of East Hall 39 women were residents on the 6th Floor of East Hall

Gert McGowan ’92

Scan the QR code to read these alumnae profiles!

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TITLE

W O M E N AT K I N G ’ S

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Title IX and King’s College: A Storied History with a Bright Future The College continues to empower women as Title IX celebrates a milestone anniversary.

By Bridget Walsh, Director of Sports Information

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

These 37 words have helped pave the way for equal opportunities in educational programming, regardless of one’s identity. This legislation has evolved substantially over the last 50 years since it was signed into law, but, at its very base, Title IX has afforded individuals the ability to pursue their passions in education, activities, and athletics. continued on page 12

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Women are constantly breaking barriers and providing exposure for future generations in historically male-dominated professions and activities.

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This historic signing on June 23, 1972, followed the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment that would provide equal legal rights for all American citizens. Its evolution ensures that its original intent and purpose remains supported in order to best protect those it serves, including, but not limited to, areas of discrimination, misconduct, and athletics.

Women are constantly breaking barriers and providing exposure for future generations in historically male-dominated professions and activities. The impact seen at King’s College in its nestled corner of the Wyoming Valley has been invaluable as student involvement and engagement has grown, while positions of leadership and mentorship continue to allow positive role models for the ever-evolving educational landscape.

According to the Women’s Sport Foundation and their reports celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX, 60% of girls participate in high school sports, with over three million more participants in the 2018-19 academic year compared to the pre-Title IX signing in 1971-72. In the collegiate setting, women now account for 44% of all NCAA athletes as this growth is comparable to the 59.5% of women comprising college enrollment.

The positive enrollment uptick and participation is astounding and a step in the right direction in fulfilling the purpose of Title IX; however, the anniversary also provided the insight and acknowledgement that there is still much room for growth afforded not only to the participation in but also the leadership of women in sports. continued on page 14

ABOVE: Mary Beth Bowler-Chambers ’83 (right) receives MAC Hall of Fame plaque from Cheryl Ish, Associate Vice President and Executive Director for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation, during halftime of the King’s men’s basketball game against Wilkes in 2014. Credit: Bob Ziadie. LEFT: Delaney Hilferty ’25 and Alyssa Accordino ’25 made NCAA history and appeared on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt as part of their “Inspiring America” segment as the fifth and sixth women kickers to record points in an NCAA game. Credit: Tom Weishaar

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Leadership at King’s continues to provide opportunities for qualified and deserving women while opening the door for future generations of Monarchs to pursue their passions and climb the ladder in whichever field they pursue.

Title IX and the liberties for women in education at King’s College dates to the formal admission at the start of the 1970-71 academic year, which saw the institution admit 117 women, just one year ahead of the College’s 25th anniversary. Today, King’s supports over 50 student clubs and activities for all its students, as well as 28 varsity athletic programs with 14 available to women-studentathletes. Beyond extra-curricular activities, the King’s 2022 undergraduate enrollment was comprised of 49% women. Among these students, the programs that saw the most women pursuing those studies were the physician assistant program with 236 women, exercise science with 50 women, and criminal justice and accounting with 43 women each.

Notable women firsts in Monarch athletics date back to the early years in women’s basketball history. Mary Beth BowlerChambers ’83 still maintains many of the highest achieving marks

in the program’s history, including the record as the all-time leading scorer. A two-time NCAA Division III All-American, Middle Atlantic Conference Most Valuable Player, and four-time All-MAC recipient, Bowler-Chambers left a legacy for future women’s basketball players, including the annual award in her honor to recognize one outstanding senior player based on their contributions on and off the court throughout their time at King’s.

The historic success of the King’s softball program, especially under the direction of head coach Lisa Gigliello, continues to place Monarch student-athletes in both the regional and national spotlight for their abilities. After joining King’s ahead of the 199394 academic year, Gigliello built King’s softball into a program worthy of record books. The Monarchs appeared in the post-season tournament for 18 straight seasons, claimed six consecutive MAC Freedom titles, and earned eight trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. In that stretch, Gigliello produced 49 NFCA Regional All-Americans and two NFCA Division III National All-Americans as a complement to her historic legacy with 710 career victories, which ranks in the top 10 in active winningest coaches in all of NCAA Division III softball.

Recently, King’s athletics made national headlines for women in sport but from an unexpected program. On October 16, 2021, the King’s football team posted a dominant 51-12 win over Albright College at McCarthy Stadium, but it would not be the final score or the impressive team performance that made headlines. Firstyear kickers Delaney Hilferty and Alyssa Accordino made NCAA history as they are believed to be the fifth and sixth women kickers to record points in an NCAA game. Beyond that incredible feat, the kickers are believed to be the first women pair to accomplish the mark in the same game. This earned the duo national attention as part of the “Inspiring America” segment on NBC’s Nightly News with Lester Holt among other national and local media outlets.

Leadership at King’s continues to provide opportunities for qualified and deserving women while opening the door for future generations of Monarchs to pursue their passions and climb the ladder in whichever field they pursue.

Last summer, King’s announced Anitra Yusinski-McShea as the new Vice President for Student Affairs. Not only is McShea a lifelong native of the Wyoming Valley, but she also joined King’s

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A true example of living out the mission of King’s College, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Caitlin Hadzimichalis’ teams have had great success both in the classroom and on the court over the last seven years.

King’s softball Head Coach Lisa Gigliello speaks with her team between innings in a MAC Freedom contest against Lycoming in 2023. Credit: Photography by D. Scherbenco.

after extremely successful stints with local institutions such as the University of Scranton and Marywood University. McShea has brought to the College a wealth of knowledge, positive energy, and drive to continue to improve the institution, and her professional honors—such as a Top Women in Business in NEPA and a twotime recipient of the Woman of Leadership and Courage Award from the University of Scranton—are just small testaments of the impact she has not just on the King’s community but also the women across campus.

King’s athletics leadership positions are primarily held by women professionals who constantly serve as role models for our young women-student-athletes. Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Cheryl Ish has spent just shy of 30 years at King’s and has helped transform the College’s athletic teams into a respected foe with vast opportunities for our student-athletes.

While leading the King’s field hockey team through 22 successful seasons, including three MAC Freedom Championships titles and 10 post-season appearances, Ish has helped King’s introduce eight new athletic programs since her promotion to Director of Athletics in 2005. Her dedication to providing the best experience and a plethora of opportunities for our student-athletes shows her commitment to the Division III philosophy of ensuring our student-athletes graduate with a well-rounded college experience by creating a wide range of opportunities to grow and excel in the collegiate environment.

Now Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Cheryl Ish served as head coach of the field hockey program for 17 seasons and earned two MAC Freedom Coach of the Year honors in 1996 and 2005. Credit: Frank Lauri.

In the fall of 2022, King’s hosted its third annual Monarch Mayhem crowd-funding drive that helps our varsity athletic programs raise funds that will benefit the student-athlete experience by covering travel costs, meals, gear and equipment, and team bonding. In alignment with the theme of “Maintaining the Momentum,” Ish capitalized on the 50th anniversary of Title IX to present a challenge to bring in 50 donors to help unlock a generous donation from Ish herself for our women’s programs.

This specific challenge was a great success, raising $3,590 from 70 unique donors in addition to Ish’s donation to help support women in athletics.

The past 50 years have provided great opportunities for the advancement of women in education and in sports. From the introduction of women on campus for night classes in the late 1960s to the addition of several athletic programs like golf, ice hockey, and track and field, the impact of Title IX has shown that women at King’s are prepared to make their mark and provide a growing number of prospects for the next generation.

While studies shine a light on the need for more advancement to capitalize fully on the purpose of Title IX, women professionals are constantly proving that they are prepared to open the door for the next generation of women to seize their chances for true equality in education and athletics. ■

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W O M E N AT K I N G ’ S

From Monarch Court to Courtside at Barclays 2023 Lackenmier Award recipient’s journey from small town to world stage highlights the timeless benefits of resilience, diversity, and mentorship.

By Will Skaggs, Public Relations and College Communications Manager

M

aureen Hanlon 87’s legal career has taken her to the frontier of several transformational entertainment developments over the last 30 years: the expansion of cable sports programming in the ’90s, the 2019 multibillion-dollar deal to sell the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, and now, using virtual reality to revolutionize live entertainment in a post-pandemic world.

Certain values—forged from a supportive household and the mentorship she experienced at King’s—guided her throughout that journey. Hanlon learned early on that those who came before can help clear the way for those who come after, and she dedicated herself to that mission at every opportunity.

Smaller in Size, Equal in Might Hanlon, who now spends most of the year working remotely from the U.S. Virgin Islands, grew up in Wyoming, Pa. Her father worked at a local drug wholesale company and her mom was the bookkeeper at their church.

Hanlon’s interest in sports and math started early. She was a cheerleader, and her brothers were high school athletes. Her first memory of New York was traveling by subway to watch her father’s beloved Yankees play.

She also shared her mother’s affinity with numbers and originally chose a future in accounting.

“When we were kids, we would help count the collections at church,” she said.

Her mother always encouraged her to nurture her interests, so she started accounting classes in high school.

Her parents worked hard so all four of their children could become firstgeneration college students. But for families with modest means, every bit counts, and the full-tuition Presidential Scholarship Hanlon secured to attend King’s College in 1983 was a muchneeded boon.

“That’s the reality of being from a lower middle-class family with four kids,” Hanlon said. “The scholarship made it possible for me to attend college.”

King’s ended up providing more than just financial support. Her professor and former head of the Accounting Department John Davis helped her land an accounting job with an alumnus in Wilkes-Barre during her first year. Later, Dr. Donald Buzinkai, a King’s College pre-law advisor, guided her in her law school application process, where her impressive accounting skills and LSAT scores would help her stand out from other applicants, even at the Ivy League level.

Maureen learned early on that those who came before can help clear the way for those who come after, and she dedicated herself to that mission at every opportunity.

That guidance paid off, and Hanlon went on to attend Columbia University Law School in 1987.

However, law school at the time was more competitive than ever. Some of her classmates from Ivy League undergraduate programs were quick to intimidate someone from a smaller, less-known school in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

It didn’t take long for Hanlon to show her rivals she had what it took to succeed.

“I felt so much more equipped than continued on page 18

ABOVE: Maureen returns to campus.

LEFT: On the court for the 2019 NBA All Star game at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., where the Brooklyn Nets had four players represented.

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Within a month, Maureen was working on a $1 billion deal to securitize the entire 20th Century Fox film library.

ABOVE: At the 2018 NBA Draft at Barclays Center, Maureen and her two nephews, John and Joey Hanlon, meet the Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddle. The following year, Maureen is courtside with her siblings (John, Peggy and Tom Hanlon, sister in law Doris Hanlon and nephews, John and Joey Hanlon) at the 2019 first round playoffs for the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.

a lot of people thought I was,” she said.

“They underestimated the value of oneon-one investment in students at a school like King’s. I had professors who taught me how to stand on my own two feet and encouraged me to speak my mind.”

“That personal touch gives you an identity,” she added. “It got me through law school.”

Mergers expanded the firm from 90 attorneys to 900, and that smaller environment became a global operation.

And that global operation included client and Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, who wanted to buy a professional sports team.

It just so happened the then New Jersey Nets were performing worse than ever, Playoff Bound the owners were grappling with financial Afterwards, many doors opened for Hanlon, difficulties, and a related multibillion dollar real estate development project was reliant but she found herself largely uninspired by on their move to Brooklyn. the grind and culture typical of many large corporate law firms.

This was the perfect opportunity for someone to finally connect the dots, and Hanlon’s Eventually, a recruiter suggested working unique sports entertainment experience in with Squadron Ellenoff Plesent and New York made her the right candidate to Sheinfield (now Hogan Lovells), which advise Prokhorov in the acquisition. at the time was outside counsel to News Corporation, the predecessor to 20th Century Fox.

Coaching the Next Generation Just like a team owner who builds talent through the draft rather than overspending on star players, Hanlon regards the personal development of young professionals as integral to a successful business. In fact, for many years, she ran her firm’s summer associate programs for law school students who were getting their first taste of the legal world.

“Young people are not jaded and are still driven by the limitless possibilities of what you can achieve as a lawyer,” Hanlon said.

“That spark renews your interest in the profession and keeps you young at heart.”

When Hanlon was admitted to the bar, her mom revealed that she always wanted to be a lawyer. While she never got that chance, she wanted Hanlon to pursue what made her happy. Hanlon felt a responsibility to “pay it forward” and instill that spirit in young employees.

She continued in her role as outside counsel for several years and ultimately assumed “It combined something that I loved, which the role of President and CEO of Onexim was sports and media, especially the business Sports and Entertainment. She led the side,” she said. Within a month, Hanlon was sale of the now Brooklyn Nets as part of a As it turned out, Hanlon was filling a working on a $1 billion deal to securitize the colossal $2.35 billion deal, which at the time glaring void in the professional world. was the highest price ever paid for a U.S. entire 20th Century Fox film library.

Despite 40% of her law school class being sports franchise. women, the percentage of women partners Later, she worked on the launch of the Fox She oversaw NBA rule compliance, as well as was well below 10%.

Sports regional network system, which for the first time allowed fans to access all local the construction, renovation, and operation of the Barclays Center, Nassau Coliseum, and “I didn’t have women mentors really ever,” market games from one source. Hanlon she said. “It’s particularly tough in sports. To went on to manage several other transactions Webster Hall. She also served as an alternate this day, it’s still a boy’s network. It’s more governor on the NBA’s Board of Governors that bought and sold tennis, golf, and other difficult to get positions you are overqualified during that time. regional sports networks. for, and you are often the only woman in

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Despite 40% of her law school class being women, the percentage of women partners was well below 10%.

ABOVE: Maureen is seated next to Michael Jordan at an NBA Board of Governors meeting. LEFT: Maureen meets Michelle Obama at Barclays Center while on her Becoming book tour.

the room at the executive level. It’s been a great career path, but it comes at the cost of having to work harder than your peers.”

But Hanlon cared about more than just her personal success. While running those summer associate programs, she wanted to understand why when they did successfully recruit a diverse class, so many more women and people of color would drop out just a few years later. She even pursued a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Certificate from Cornell University, and continues to explore related research on the subject.

“One of the biggest hurdles is when you come out of school and you don’t see anyone like you, whether it’s gender, race, or sexual orientation,” Hanlon said. “If you don’t see people like you succeeding, it’s very difficult because you don’t have them as mentors.”

So, Hanlon decided to become the change she wanted to see.

“Even though I didn’t have a mentor like me as I moved up, I needed to be that for other people,” she said. “So, I dedicated a lot of time at my firm not just mentoring women and others to succeed, but also coaching senior leaders on how to mentor people different from them.”

Thankfully, Hanlon acknowledges there has been a change for the better.

“It’s exciting to see a new generation of students who don’t just hope they’ll be treated equally: they expect it,” she said.

“That’s the way it should be.”

Despite the limitless expanse of this new virtual frontier, Hanlon still believes personal connections and mentorship are just as important as ever.

She has also seen more companies realize that having a diverse and motivated employee base is also good for business.

“It makes us a better company, helps us deliver a better product, and makes us more attractive to our customer base,” she said.

She often tells mentees that success stems from “finding an area that you are passionate about, then finding people you respect and who respect you. Think about who you would want to be if you were in a senior role, then gravitate to those kinds of people.”

She mentioned the Nets were one of the first NBA teams to hire a DEI executive, which had a positive impact both on internal operations and its perception among the Brooklyn residents who make up one of the most diverse communities in the country.

Her personal investment in the future of others makes Hanlon a natural fit for the Rev. James Lackenmier, C.S.C., Award for Achievement and Leadership, which recognizes King’s College community members who attain professional excellence, demonstrate exceptional philanthropy, and uphold the highest ethical standards.

The Virtual Frontier and Beyond Now as the head of her own consulting firm, Hanlon’s expertise is serving a different kind of entertainment transformation. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Sensorium Galaxy, which connects clubs, musicians, and music venues as part of an immersive virtual experience that fans can enjoy at home.

“Not only does this improve accessibility for individuals who have difficulty attending in person, but it can also help nurture a sense of community in an increasingly digitized world,” she said.

Above all, the award celebrates the spirit of the institution. Proceeds from the event support the Presidential Hope Fund, which provides hard working students with financial assistance to complete their undergraduate journey.

Given what Hanlon achieved since King’s invested in her future back in 1983, one can only imagine what opportunities await today’s students if given the same chance, especially with alumni like Hanlon guiding them along the way. ■

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Executive Power How the DeCesaris Executive in Residence’s Glenn Tyranski ’84 connects the classroom with the real world.

By Will Skaggs, Public Relations and College Communications Manager

G

lobal markets are constantly changing. Companies crave innovation in a business climate that has never been faster and more demanding.

The William G. McGowan School of Business is the nexus of instruction and networking that empowers King’s students to persevere in such an environment. And lying at the heart of these efforts is the Angelo P. DeCesaris Executive in Residence (APDEIR).

Named after a 1953 King’s graduate and faculty member for 38 years, this is the only fully endowed faculty position in the institution’s history.

The APDEIR is a hands-on mentor to students in the business school and represents King’s in the surrounding business community and beyond. Using a wealth of connections and professional experience, this position is essential to ensuring academic instruction resonates with effective business practices in the real world.

Forever Teacher, Forever Student For Tyranski, his current role as APDEIR is a natural evolution of his life with King’s.

“It was an opportunity to serve the school in a different way,” he noted. “A logical progression from loyal graduate, supporter, advocate, Business Advisory Council member, and being on the Board of Directors. But even an active board member is usually on campus only a few times a year.”

“The pandemic gave people a lot of ways to try and reinvent themselves,” he continued. “This was a chance to make a difference in a more present way. Three days a year is now three days a week, and I’m accessible every day in between.”

Not only did Tyranski have DeCesaris as a professor when he was a King’s student, he also has a great relationship with Mark R. Leffler ’75, the first person to hold the position.

“He is a wonderful guy and good friend of mine,” Tyranski said.

“He was the APDEIR for 14 years when I was on the Business Advisory Council. During the pandemic, when I had a chance to help out and teach accounting in the fall of 2020, Mark mentioned, He was a senior manager at KPMG where he worked for 12 years. In ‘You are the logical person to succeed me.’” addition to serving as Senior Vice President of Financial Compliance There was just one problem. The position requires a master’s degree, for the New York Stock Exchange, where he worked for 18 years, which Tyranski did not have at the time.

Tyranski also spent nearly three years in EY’s advisory practice.

Currently holding the title is Glenn Tyranski, whose professional legacy is matched only by his lifetime commitment to King’s since he graduated in 1984.

Now, Tyranski is a Managing Director/affiliate with FTI Consulting, specializing in activism, shareholder engagement, and governance. He also consults independently on training and quality control matters and serves on the boards of multiple nonprofit and private organizations, including an advisory board for an entrepreneurial start-up.

And throughout his career, he served on the College’s President’s Council, the McGowan School of Business Advisory Council, and on the Board of Directors for 12 years. His professional achievements and service to King’s earned him both the Robert J. Ell Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to Alma Mater and the Lackenmier Award.

So, before he knew it, Tyranski was again a King’s student, this time in its Master of Science in Healthcare Administration program.

“I hadn’t taken a test in 30 years,” Tyranski joked. “But it’s a spectacular program. It was so rewarding to learn more about health care during the pandemic. And while I was often the oldest student in class, I got to connect with the professors I knew when I was on the board and my fellow classmates who enjoyed my experiences and stories.”

He completed the degree just over a year ago. And just like the U.S. President when assuming the Oval Office for the first time, he found a letter from his predecessor waiting for him on his desk when he took the position.

“Congratulations. You’ll be a marvelous executive in residence. Life is good,” it read.

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“You have one foot in the business world and another in the academic world,” he said. “Making connections between the two worlds is important.”

The Art of Connection Tyranski spends much of his time being a resource for students and teaching career development, management, and accounting. A key part of that effort is ensuring the King’s curriculum can keep up with the ever-changing business landscape.

“You have one foot in the business world and another in the academic world,” he said. “Making connections between the two worlds is important. What trends do we need to embrace at the College? Is our curriculum current? Is there a class we need to add? Is there new software that students should learn? What am I seeing in the business or entrepreneurial world that we can bring into the classroom?”

One of those trends, he discovered, is the benefit of mentorship earlier in a student’s journey. Given that many students are coming out of remote learning from the pandemic, there is an even greater need to develop interpersonal skills that are essential to a successful business career. Now, he says, they try to connect business students with mentors as early as their first year.

“Matching them is more of an art than a science and many contribute to this process,” he said. “It gives you an appreciation of how hard our career development people work.”

But for Tyranski, that effort is worth it.

“It’s gratifying watching alumni who were former mentees coming back to future events to mentor others.”

And what makes it even more rewarding is the Forum takes place the same day as the Lackenmier Award Dinner, which raises money for the Presidential Hope Fund.

“We honor great people, and it does so much good for the students,” Tyranski said. “People get a chance to really appreciate where their philanthropy goes. It all goes right back to the students, including the ones attending the event.”

Planting the Seeds of Success

When Tyranski describes his professional and academic life, he seamlessly weaves in all the important people he met along the way, whether it’s colleagues, teachers, or friends. His story is one This strategy builds on the College’s rich mentorship legacy, which is of meaningful and rewarding connections that span decades. on full display every year at the McGowan School of Business Forum. And it’s that experience that drives him to remind students at every opportunity to cherish the unique opportunities these For nearly 20 years, the Forum has matched students with mentorships provide. leaders in the business field, most of whom are King’s graduates.

“It’s about lifelong connections and what you make of it,” he said.

Approximately 85 students a year benefit from the event where “Don’t, don’t, don’t let it go to waste. Nurture it. Harvest it.” ■ students are carefully matched with mentors based on their interests, résumés, and mentor availability.

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STUDENT SUCCESS

HOME

Is Where the Heart Is

How a helping hand can be stronger than brick and mortar.

By Will Skaggs, Public Relation and College Communications Manager

H

ome is more than just the four corners of a house or a roof over our heads. It’s often the unshakable bonds we forge with family, friends, and community that ultimately shelter us from the worst kinds of weather.

Perhaps no one knows that more than Joyce Chalarca ’23, who had to constantly balance her academic life with keeping her family together in times of crisis. Yet her tale is not defined by those obstacles but instead on her perseverance and the support network of mentors and friends who helped her overcome them.

Born in Elizabeth, N.J., to Colombian parents, Chalarca also spent some time in Florida before settling in the Wilkes-Barre area during her early school years. Like many first-generation college students, Chalarca was incredibly excited to pursue a four-year degree, and King’s College was her top choice from as far back as she can remember. In fact, she recalls noticing the bright red signs for King’s when she was just eight years old and thinking, “That is the place I want to go when I graduate high school.” That goal remained with her over the next ten years, motivating her to keep her grades high so she would be ready when the time came.

While she chose to start at Luzerne County Community College to save money, she turned her dream into a reality when she transferred to King’s in August 2020.

“When I got the acceptance letter, I thought I was dreaming,” she said.

Unfortunately, she had to balance that dream with a growing list of responsibilities at home.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, her father was deported to Colombia, and three younger siblings and an ailing mother left Chalarca as the head of the household.

“I had no idea what to do,” Chalarca said. “Everybody was upset about it. But I couldn’t show my emotions because they would have been even more upset. So, I just told everybody that I was going to be OK.” It’s clear that family is incredibly important to Chalarca. Taking care of those close to her is just part of who she is, and that instinct had her waking up as early as 5 a.m. to fit work, classes, and family all in the same day. She even got a real estate license to see if she could earn more money to support her household.

She marched on until a new hurdle emerged during the Fall 2022 semester that threatened to derail her King’s journey for good. A major sewer line failure forced her family to vacate their home in Ashley, Pa., and live with relatives back in New Jersey. As a result, Chalarca was left with precious few options to finish her remaining coursework on time.

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“If it wasn’t for [Dr. Blewitt] and Dr. Rayeski, I wouldn’t have had a place to stay on campus and finish school,” Chalarca said.

“My degree isn’t just mine, it’s theirs too.”

All too often, unfortunate circumstances force students like Chalarca to forego pursuing their dreams so they can take care of their loved ones. That’s a tough sacrifice for one to make so young, but one that Chalarca would have done without complaint.

Thankfully, her mentors and friends kept her from having to make that choice.

Chalarca finally confided in one of her favorite professors, Linette Rayeski, Ph.D., who recommended she speak with her advisor, J.C. Blewitt, Ph.D. That turned out to be sage advice, and Dr. Blewitt immediately started working with Residence Life and the Dean of Students to secure her on-campus housing for the rest of the year.

He also offered to help her find a way to return her family to the Wilkes-Barre area.

“If it wasn’t for [Dr. Blewitt] and Dr. Rayeski, I wouldn’t have had a place to stay on campus and finish school,” Chalarca said. “My degree isn’t just mine, it’s theirs too.”

“I was honored that she felt comfortable and trusted me to share some of the challenges she was facing,” said Dr. Rayeski. “King’s College is an engaging community, and under our mission to pursue ‘personal attention to student formation in a nurturing community,’ there were student academic advisors, Student Affairs, the Shoval Center, and other support resources I could direct her to in her time of need. Cultivating this level of engagement and allowing students, like Joyce, to feel nurtured and respected is what allows our community to achieve these positive outcomes and levels of success.” continued on page 24 2023 ISSUE

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Meanwhile, Maura Modrovsky from the Office of KC Pathways—which offers tutoring, counseling, career guidance, and other services to students with limited financial means— helped Chalarca with groceries, transportation, and her effort to bring her family back to the area. Modrovsky also helped Chalarca secure a part-time job at the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), where she is currently providing administrative and bilingual support for low-income families who struggle with rent, utility, and transportation expenses. Now Chalarca is helping individuals across the county overcome the same hurdles she experienced firsthand.

King’s has always supported firstgeneration students but now with a bit more recognition and an office to call home.

Dr. Blewitt also encouraged Chalarca to take advantage of every opportunity to savor her last year at King’s. Thanks to the people she met during her classes and work study programs, she was able to do just that.

“I’ve made an amazing group of friends—Theo, Bailey, Zander, and Noah,” said Chalarca. “They’re a really good crew, and I’m thankful for them helping me focus on school and giving me opportunities to just make people laugh.”

Best of all, her family was finally able to move to Wilkes-Barre in March 2023, making it easier than ever for Chalarca to finish her courses and still be near the family she had looked after for years. She spent her last few weeks wrapping up her international business degree and still having time to enjoy the dinners, parties, and other fun activities planned for the senior class.

When asked to think about what advice she would offer students facing similar circumstances, Chalarca said, “When the world turns its back on you, don’t turn your back on the world. Sometimes you just have to ask for help even if you think someone else has it worse than you.”

Whether it’s offering the children of coal miners their first shot at a college education back in 1946 or helping students like Chalarca balance family and an education in 2023, that fervent belief in student potential regardless of economic circumstances is clearly woven into the very fabric of King’s College. Thanks to that spirit, when Chalarca finally did call for help, there were people at the institution who answered, and this first-generation college student was finally able to complete a journey she started over 15 years ago. ■

Chalarca took advantage of every opportunity to enjoy senior year, including goat yoga in O’Connor Park!

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STUDENT SUCCESS

We’re Still First— Generation!

More than 75 years later, King’s College is still nourishing the minds and spirits of firstgeneration students.

By Rochelle D. Plummer, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic Success While there is no universal definition for first-generation, at King’s College, we define it as a student whose parents or legal guardians did not obtain a four-year college degree. According to the Center for First-Generation Student Success, one in three undergraduates fall into this category, and this population will continue to grow.

As a proud first-generation graduate and professional, I have an intimate understanding of the importance of supporting firstgeneration students. Navigating college is not always easy, so having dedicated support systems in place can make a significant difference.

First-gen students struggle with the same barriers as their continuing-gen peers but typically at higher rates. Students who identify as first-gen may also persist and complete college at lower rates. When I began in 2021 as the Associate Vice President for Academic Success, I took to heart my responsibility to serve well our first-gen students. Specifically, I wanted to enhance the internal pathways for student success and establish additional external allies.

Fortunately, at King’s, the fruitful ground in which to harvest was already present in every person I met. On campus, within the first six months of my tenure, we defined what first-gen means at King’s; established a first-gen committee that includes faculty, staff, and students; and developed four priorities to guide us in nurturing our students, which are to advocate for, bring awareness to, celebrate, and support our first-gen students. We also held our first annual celebration as part of National First-Gen Day. Off campus, we gained designation as a “First-Gen Forward” institution (an initiative of NASPA and the Suder Foundation) and established an Alpha, Alpha, Alpha honors chapter.

True to our Monarch history, first-gen students are still supported through a wealth of efforts. Initiatives are occurring, such as the launch of our first-gen student organization, an annual graduation celebration where seniors receive recognition awards and cords to adorn their regalia, and a dedicated office where individualized coaching takes place.

“King’s has always supported first-generation students but now with a bit more recognition and an office to call home,” said Kelly Lettieri, a first-gen graduate herself and the Director of the Office of KC Pathways.

The Office was restructured this past spring to include firstgeneration with the purpose of removing barriers, so students can focus on their education.

“It is wonderful to know we have an official home to support all first-generation [students] while directing them to appropriate resources,” Lettieri affirmed. “We are excited to provide a welcoming and supportive office where students can come and ask any question, seek support in situations they may encounter, and know they have a system designed to support them.”

First-gen student Yanerif Alvarez is a senior Physician Assistant major. She is passionate about being first-generation and thinks about her role in inspiring and motivating other students like her to continue their college journey.

“There are times we may feel lost or discouraged within the journey,” she said. “I would like to uplift those students and inspire them to not give up.”

Alvarez also said she thinks about her family and the differences in opportunities they had.

“There are times we may feel guilty; however, it only drives us to break barriers and become pioneers for future generations.”

While Alvarez makes her impact as a student, she also stresses how alumni can support the first-gen King’s community by being mentors and providing networking opportunities within a student’s chosen field.

“First-generation alumni may [also] share their story with students, encouraging them to not give up,” she added.

Thank you for helping us remain—First! For more information on the Office of KC Pathways and our first-generation programs, including how you can become a partner and/or mentor, visit us at kings.edu/academics/kc-pathways. ■

ABOVE: Students at the inaugural First Generation Monarchs Celebration in November 2021.

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W O M E N AT K I N G ’ S

All Hail the Mayor!

Cassandra Coleman ’10’s story is a celebration of life, public service, and a turning point in American history.

By Samantha Olson Chencharik ’12

G

rowing up, Cassandra Coleman ’10’s future in politics was paved before she entered kindergarten. Her grandfather was a 30-year public servant and the mayor of Exeter, Pa. The only one of nine grandchildren interested in politics, Coleman was taken under her grandfather’s wing at an early age. When she was just four years old, she was dressed in a sandwich board over her shoulders to pass out palm cards with her grandfather’s ticket at the polling center.

It wasn’t long before she was handing out those same cards—but with her name on it. In high school, she served as the Exeter Borough Junior Council Representative for two years. Her grandfather was there by her side to swear her in.

After graduating with honors in 2006 from Wyoming Area High School, she set out into the world and took a job working for thenstate Representative Phyllis Mundy. She continued her work with Mundy on a part-time basis when she went to college, having started at Penn State Wilkes-Barre before transferring to King’s College.

Then, in 2008, tragedy struck when her grandfather passed away.

Coleman stepped in to complete his term as mayor of Exeter. At 20 years old, not only was she attending classes as a political science major, but she was also juggling the responsibility of leading an entire town. Coleman had become one of the youngest female mayors in United States history.

Balancing Roles as Mayor and Student “The faculty and staff at King’s were always so supportive,” she said. “They understood the demands I had as a 20-year-old were unprecedented. I was a mayor with 6,000 residents to account for. I can’t count the number of times I had to call my professors and say, ‘we have an issue here in the borough and I can’t make class today because I have to be onsite.’”

During the day, Coleman would attend class and learn intergovernmental affairs and public administration. In the evenings, she’d rush back to Exeter for borough meetings, where she

then applied those lessons. Her political science professors Joseph Rish and David Sosar would prompt her to use what she had just gone through—whether it was sharing her experiences with the class or writing a paper to make up for her missed time.

“King’s embraced the unique position I was in,” Coleman reflected.

“I was really able to dive into my role as mayor through the incredible support I received from everyone at King’s. I loved every second being there because of them.”

Exeter had a strong council, making it an ideal situation as her first mayoral experience. Her main responsibility was to run the Exeter Borough Police Department. There were veteran officers who had been there longer than she was alive. She dove into her role by joining ride-alongs and learned as much about the public safety and emergency services provided in the borough as possible.

They respected her dedication and in turn embraced their new and young mayor.

She went on to win re-election twice.

Her first job out of college—aside from being the youngest woman to serve as mayor in the United States—was Deputy Finance Director for U.S. Senator Robert Casey, a position she held for three years. She went on to serve as Governor Tom Wolf ’s Regional Director and was later named Special Adviser to the Governor.

It didn’t take long for national media to recognize Coleman’s larger than life impact on politics. She was barely 23 years old when Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine featured her as one of the six most remarkable women in America. She was also featured in a national NBC segment called “The Smart Woman.”

The Times Leader Media Group honored Coleman twice for her accomplishments: in 2008 as a Top 40 under 40 recipient and in 2019 as one of 14 Distinctive Women. In 2019, she was chosen as one of Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Top 25 Women in Business. continued on page 28

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Coleman found an OB-GYN who agreed to take on her high-risk case. Then, she worked closely with her hematologist to come up with a plan using anti-coagulation regimens and was monitored every step of the way for all nine months.

All that hard work paid off, and she gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Jimmy. Today, she collaborates with that same doctor to raise awareness for the signs and symptoms of blood clots.

Celebrating a 250-Year Legacy Coleman dove back into her career as a working mom. In 2019, she was named Executive Director of America250PA, the Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. The year 2026 marks the country’s 250th birthday, and Coleman is leading the charge to plan and coordinate all programs, fundraising efforts, and ensure all Pennsylvanians in the Commonwealth’s 67 counties are well represented for the commemoration.

“Eleven years ago, I had no idea what the next day was going to bring,” she recalled. “Every day, this job has become my second baby. I am grateful to be here and to have this impact.”

She is in great company. As part of America250PA, Coleman is working alongside business and industry leaders, community organizers, and elected officials including Governor Josh Shapiro, all living former Pennsylvania governors, and members of the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives.

Cassandra with former Governor Tom Wolf.

Avoiding Death and Welcoming Life Coleman’s life had been nonstop for so long, until the unexpected brought everything to a halt in 2012. What was supposed to be a knee surgery ended up becoming a near-death experience. Multiple blot clots developed in both of her lungs as doctors at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania worked tirelessly to save her life.

“In one fell swoop, everything I had built my career on disappeared,” Coleman said. “I was a healthy 24-year-old who was supposed to be married the next year, and I had a bleak prognosis. My parents were told I wasn’t going to make it through the night. It’s thanks to my amazing doctors that I was discharged with a long road ahead.”

She had been hospitalized for 46 days and lost the majority of both her speech and mobility. She was also told she was never going to have a child. But even this would not deter her, and she set to work.

Physical therapy became her focus.

“I worked my tail off to build my strength and gain my speech back,” she recalled. “I then had to go through this rigorous process before any doctors would agree to allow me to even think about becoming a mom.”

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“I have this wonderful eight-year-old little boy and this extraordinary opportunity in front of me,” Coleman said. “For him to say ‘my mom is running the 250th’ is really important. One day, he could tell his children that their grandmother had a part of this.

To be in this role and engage this next generation of Pennsylvanians for this important milestone, makes me feel so blessed to leave such a legacy. It’s overwhelming to think of sometimes.”

“It’s so important as a working mom, and as a mom of a little boy, for him to see me do what I do so when he grows up and finds himself in positions of power, he can be the advocate that says, ‘the woman sitting next to me deserves to be here as much as I do,’” Coleman said. “Jimmy understands that because he sees it through my work. He wants to be a part of all of it.”

Coleman’s dedication to public service and her role as a mother go hand in hand. Her journey leading up to America250PA was marked by an unwavering commitment to the people she served and a deep sense of community from the support she received throughout her life. She prides herself on where she came from and the people who helped her get there. She acknowledges that being a young woman in politics comes with added pressure, but nothing compared to what it was like in the years leading up to her first year as mayor.

“Fifteen years ago, while it doesn’t sound as long ago, it was a really different world,” she recalled. “I didn’t grow up seeing a ton of women running for office. Then, I became mayor as a female college student. I think that over time, women are now being seen in more government positions and at more board tables. You

deserve to be there. You deserve to have a voice. And I think more and more people are embracing that.”

The majority of Coleman’s team at America250PA is comprised of women, and she’d tell you she’s proud that a woman is running the celebration. She’d also tell you that mentors are key to unlocking that next step in building a career as a young woman out of college.

“I’ve had a very blessed career so far, but this job is one that I wake up motivated every day. I go to sleep thinking about it.

It’s empowering. I will say to the women at King’s: dig in. We need women to dig in. We need more women at those board tables, on the ballots, and in government and business. You have a village of women cheering you on and lifting you up to provide you the ability to have a voice and to really make that impact. Northeastern Pennsylvania has some very strong women here.”

Exeter Proud Coleman’s journey from Exeter to becoming the Executive Director of America250PA is not just a testament to her remarkable accomplishments but also an inspiring narrative of resilience, leadership, and the enduring impact of dedicated public service.

Those attributes made her a natural fit for the King’s Board of Directors, which she joined this fall.

She continues to pave the way for future generations of women leaders while embodying the spirit of both King’s College and Exeter, where her passion for politics and community began.

“It’s really important to remember where you came from,” she said. “I was born and raised in Exeter Borough. I’m a Wyoming Area Warrior. I’m a King’s College Monarch.

These are the communities I credit with helping me get to where I am today, and it’s important to give back to those communities both financially and by rolling up your sleeves and doing whatever you can for that next generation coming after you.”

To honor her grandfather, she set up the Mayor Joseph F. Coyne III Memorial Scholarship at Wyoming Area High School. The scholarship supports an Exeter borough resident who is looking to build a career in politics, go to school for political science, or serve in the military. To receive the scholarship, applicants must write an essay on what makes them “Exeter Proud.”

“My grandfather wanted to put Exeter on the map,” she said.

“I believe that we’ve achieved that. It’s really meaningful and special to me to know that when I speak across the country, it says ‘Exeter Borough’ next to my name.” ■ RIGHT: From top, Cassandra with her son, Jimmy; Cassandra’s grandfather swears her in as Junior Council Representative during junior year of high school; celebrating her role with America250PA at a Phillies game; Cassandra frequently returns to campus.

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FA C U LT Y

The Hidden Dangers

Added Sugars

of

New research helps parents navigate sweet snacks and drinks.

By Jessica Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Program Director of Neuroscience

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P

arenting is hard enough…little did I know that having a Ph.D. in developmental neuroscience would add a whole different level of parental guilt. At every event and with every decision, I picture my children’s brains reorganizing. Will this stunt their cognitive ability? Will that cause behavioral issues? Among the constant barrage of questions, one of the most insistent has been: how will dietary choices affect my children? And more specifically: what is sugar really doing to them?

To try to answer this question I’ve dedicated my research to finding out the dangers of sugar consumption on brain development, and over the past six years my students and I have discovered that sugar may be profoundly more damaging in the long term than we realized. In fact, sugar consumption in adolescence can lead to a range of complications in adulthood, including increased rates of depression, impulsivity, and learning impairments. continued on page 32

...sugar may be profoundly more damaging in the long term than we realized.

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My biggest concern was the alarmingly high amounts of added sugar— such as cane sugar, highfructose corn syrup, and honey—in products geared toward children.

What we feed our children can alter their adult life, but, as a mother of four children under the age of seven, I fully recognize the struggle that comes with trying to keep children on a healthy diet. My biggest concern was the alarmingly high amounts of added sugar—such as cane sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and honey—in products geared toward children. It’s easy to dismiss sugar-related concerns because children have such great metabolism. But we’re learning more about the long-lasting consequences of childhood diets, and we’re beginning to realize just how problematic this is. The American Heart Association recently reported that children as young as one- and two-years-old already consume double the recommended sugar allowances per day, while children between the ages of 14 and 18 eat four times the daily allowance. But again, high energy and high metabolism seem to negate these concerns when children don’t gain obvious weight. If they’re exercising, playing, and not gaining weight, they must be fine. Right?

Excessive Sugar Consumption: The Risks To fully understand the risks that sugar poses, it’s important to recognize first just how dramatically the brain is growing and organizing itself during childhood. I like to compare the developing brain to a wet piece of clay that you can bend and remodel. In comparison, the adult brain resembles a piece of clay after it has hardened—it’s much less malleable. Many things that you do or are exposed to during childhood have the potential to dramatically alter brain development and the formation of that final piece of “clay.” Typically, this formation is good: we learn to talk, walk, read, write, and these new abilities reshape our brain until, as we age, they become permanently engrained. The problem arises when our childhood experiences are maladaptive to brain development. In certain cases, “imperfections” in brain growth can also become long-lasting to the point that they alter behavior into adulthood.

So how does this relate to sugar? We’re generally aware that sugar can cause physical health issues, such as obesity and diabetes. What is less known is that excessive sugar consumption during childhood is also linked to a plethora of psychological issues, such as cognitive and motivational deficits, ADHD, and addiction. If we think back to our clay analogy, sugar is causing “imperfections” in the developing brain that are then solidified and persist into adulthood. And it’s interesting and important to note that many of these behavioral changes occur in the absence of any weight gain.

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...sugar consumption during childhood is also linked to a plethora of psychological issues...

As parents, what should we do?

So: does this mean you should never give your children ice cream?

Of course not. However, the American Heart Association and World Health Organization recommend that children limit their sugar consumption to six teaspoons per day (about 25 grams), and only eight fluid ounces of sugary beverages per week. It is surprisingly difficult to adhere to these recommendations, so here are a few tips I’ve implemented at home that may be useful for you and your family:

Research at King’s College Here at King’s College, my neuroscience research lab is devoted to understanding sugar-induced behavioral deficits on a molecular level. Over the past six years, King’s students have been studying the effects of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) on rats in order to better understand how sugar affects the adolescent brain. (Although smaller and less developed, the rodent prefrontal cortex contributes to similar behavioral responses to that of the human adolescent.)

We’ve learned some discouraging things. The data in our first published study—with two King’s undergraduates as co-first authors—suggested that overconsumption of HFCS during adolescence contributes to long-term deficits in learning and motivation, as well as increases in depression and impulsivity that persist into adulthood, long after HFCS consumption has ceased.

The study indicates that the foods we eat during our formative years can alter our behavioral responses into adulthood, even following the transition to a healthy diet.

We also set out to identify the brain changes behind some of the behavioral changes we observed. We focused on the region of the brain that contributes to regulation of mood and that helps translate motivation into behavior. When we compared the brains of regular rats to “sugar rats,” we found changes in a lot of important protein systems, but one change was particularly striking: the inflammatory proteins in their brains were no longer properly regulated, and this may directly underlie behavioral changes.

These surprising findings became a crusade for me and for Maritza Colon ’23. We spent the past two years trying to figure out the relationship between neuroinflammation and adolescent sugar overconsumption. Essentially, eating too much sugar leads to neuroinflammation, which in turn increases depressive behaviors.

We’ve learned that certain medications can mitigate this, but we are still trying to figure out just exactly what is going on in the brain.

This study was published over the summer, with Maritza as a first author. These research opportunities truly are meaningful for King’s students, with past lab members going on to graduate programs at UC Berkely and Brown University.

Find hidden sugars in “healthy” Recommended foods. This is especially important sugar consumption for breakfast. Sugar is hidden in everything. Even cereals like 6 teaspoons/day pumpkin Cheerios, which sounds like it ought to be healthy, is loaded 8 fluid ounces of sugary with eight grams of sugar per ¾ beverages/week cup. Most yogurts are packed with added sugars, some reaching as high as 25 grams. To be fair, five to six grams of that are likely natural sugars, but that’s still 20 grams of added sugar. Instead of highsugar foods, reach for nutritionally dense foods such as eggs, fruits, and low-sugar cereals and yogurts.

Sugar-sweetened beverages just aren’t worth it. The biggest behavioral disruptions seem to be associated with sugar-sweetened beverages. Instead of soda or chocolate milk, just reach for water or even juice. Studies have found no negative consequences associated with drinking pure fruit juices (although no benefits have been found, either).

Be an educated consumer. I can’t stress this enough: read labels!

Certain apple sauces have sugar as the first ingredient, and products that claim to be 99% fat-free are often loaded with sugar to compensate for the loss of fat. Even organic sugars like honey and maple sugar are still bad for our brain. Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask your children’s schools or daycares what they’re feeding them.

Many daycares are uneducated not just about the consequences of sugar but also the high levels of added sugars in many of the products marketed toward children.

Lastly, don’t deprive your children. The goal is moderation. If we can teach our children the art of moderation, we can hopefully begin to address the increases in behavioral and general health issues that exist in our society. Again, sugar is likely just one contributing factor among many, but it’s an easy one to moderate in our children’s lives. ■

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FA C U LT Y

Know Thyself A book, a college, and the birth of a philosopher.

By James M. Ambury, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy

W

ith a click of the period button on the keyboard, I concluded

my manuscript. I had just written 100,000 words on a piece

of philosophy by the ancient writer Plato and was quite satisfied

with myself. I resolved to leave it alone for a few days before a quick

proofreading session, after which I planned to submit it to a publisher.

One week later, I read the first page and realized something was

wrong. I had remained faithful to the scholarly issues pertaining to my topic, but something was missing.

continued on page 36

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I want them to believe in themselves, even if, as King’s College helped me to see, they are not exactly sure who they are.

As has often been the case in my life, I was mistaken, and this time, egregiously so.

Olympiodorus hoped to secure from their own students in studying the text.

Let us start at the beginning. My recent book project is a study of the Platonic dialogue entitled Alcibiades, which depicts a conversation between Socrates, the famous philosopher, and the dialogue’s namesake, Alcibiades. The philosophers and teachers Proclus (412-485) and Olympiodorus (495-560) used the dialogue as an introduction to philosophy for their students. It was the first of Plato’s dialogues to be read for the purposes of creating philosophers—lovers of wisdom—and signaled the moment when students were ready to move from passively memorizing the thoughts of others to passionately thinking for themselves.

I was first introduced to this beautiful story two decades ago in graduate school; it was the first thing I read as a master’s student, and I fell in love with Socrates’ brilliant teaching techniques. I knew I wanted to follow him in asking the big questions of my own students, and I was blessed with a job offer from King’s College in 2013 that created the space for me to do just that.

Like Proclus and Olympiodorus, I knew my texts, had mastered their arguments, and when the time came, I began writing my manuscript on the Alcibiades story from their point of view.

Alcibiades served for these teachers as a kind of comparison for their own students.

They, themselves, played the role of Socrates who challenges Alcibiades with questions about what he knows, wants, and values.

After initially evading these questions, the young man humbly acknowledges that he cannot answer them because he does not really know himself. In the end, he promises to live the philosophical life, the same commitment Proclus and

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At the same time, however, King’s College also offered me a rich place of inquiry in which these questions came alive for me in a way that they had not previously. I recall conversations with colleagues on campus about justice and love. There were questions from students about the nature of truth and the ultimate meaning of our lives. There were retreats and spiritual encounters through the Office of Campus Ministry. I confess that being part of all these interactions often made me uneasy.

I felt increasingly aware of my own

intellectual weaknesses and vulnerabilities, to say nothing of my narrow experience of the world.

It was at this juncture in my early years at the College that I found myself perplexed by how unsatisfactory my manuscript was. In retrospect, the problem was clear, for what was missing from those nearly 200 pages I had written so far was neither Socrates nor Plato, neither Proclus nor Olympiodorus. What was missing was the experience of the student—the fear, hesitation, sometimes even the evasion.

What was missing from the pages I had written was not something, but someone: what was missing from my book, was me.

Looking back on it now, the answer was obvious all along: the book needed to be written not from the perspective of the seasoned questioner or expert, but from the perspective of the rough and tumble respondent or apprentice. I was, with my professional degree and résumé, too prideful to have recognized this point.

Despite my scholarly grasp of the story, I did not know myself, and was therefore unable to write about the topic because I had not lived it.

Since I arrived on campus 10 years ago, King’s College has provided me precisely what I needed to recognize this fact, i.e., an atmosphere for living in an authentic pursuit of the truth. It is a nurturing environment in which a philosophy professor, armed with information and argument, can become a philosopher, a lover (and seeker) of wisdom. At the end of the Alcibiades, Socrates tells the young man to look at him as if he were a mirror and see himself as a reflection of God. My initial years at King’s College brought me to myself, showed me my own reflection, in precisely the same way. It continues to do so each day as I live out my vocation as a teacher and philosopher.

In my classroom, the Alcibiades story now serves as the main narrative in my course in Introduction to Philosophy, and it is fascinating to watch the hopeful but hesitant young people in front of me exhibit so many of Alcibiades’ tendencies: they are intelligent, though they get frustrated; curious, though they doubt themselves; full of aspiration, though unsure of what they want. It is my privilege to companion my students as they venture on this philosophical pathway that is now so familiar to me. I do my best to play the Socrates to their Alcibiades, drawing them forth into questions about truths within us, between us, and beyond us. More than anything else, I want them to believe in themselves, even if, as King’s College helped me to see, they are not exactly sure who they are.

In the meantime, I have rewritten my entire manuscript, and this time the words flowed far more smoothly than they had previously. That the book has now been accepted for publication does not gainsay the fact that it is an imperfect creation, as is its writer. But my change in approach does testify to the truth that identity, justice, love, community, beauty, and knowledge are not just interesting ideas but experiential realities that we must live out. Once we recognize that, it becomes clear that the work we do every day on our campus is not intellectual abstraction but the inspired work of transforming hearts and minds. ■

A JOURNAL FOR THE LiBERAL ARTS

New Issue of Zeal is Published, Spring 2023 INSPIRING SCHOLARSHIP, ENGAGING THE INTELLECT, AND ADVANCING THE LIBERAL ARTS.

By Bernard Prusak, Ph.D., formerly Professor of Philosophy and Director of the McGowan Center for Ethics at King’s, now Raymond & Eleanor Smiley Chair in Business Ethics, John Carroll University

T

he second issue of the College’s new academic journal, Zeal: A Journal for the Liberal Arts, appeared in April 2023. The issue included a forum on the theory and practice of “ungrading”; an author-meets-critics discussion of the future of Catholic higher education; and two education-themed essays in the regular section of the journal entitled “Provocations & Occasions.”

Zeal is an online, open-access journal with the mission of inspiring and fostering scholarship that supports and advances the liberal arts. Part of the purpose of the journal is to stimulate intellectual life on campus, directly serving the King’s faculty and thereby indirectly serving King’s students. The Spring 2023 issue exemplified that aim. Eight King’s faculty serve on its editorial board, and its advisory board consists of faculty from institutions far and wide.

The forum on ungrading, organized by Editor and King’s Professor of English Robin E. Field, Ph.D., comprises 10 contributions plus an introduction. The contributors include leading figures in the ungrading movement (not least the figure who coined the term), which questions the utility of conventional grading practices for the goal of student learning. The contributions examine the promises and pitfalls of ungrading and propose and evaluate concrete methods to make ungrading work for instructors and students alike. As a whole, the forum makes an extraordinary contribution to a set of pressing questions in post-pandemic higher education.

The author-meets-critics discussion focuses on the book The Future of Catholic Higher Education (Oxford, 2021) by James L. Heft, S.M., founder and president emeritus of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California.

The discussion includes five responses to Heft’s book and Heft’s response in turn. The respondents include both historians and theologians, who approach Heft’s book from a variety of angles and provide a rich discussion of what Catholic higher education has been and what it might be as it passes through this period of turmoil in American political and cultural life.

Finally, the two essays in the section “Provocation & Occasions” provide a bit of levity, even while taking on weighty matters. The essay “The Plight of the Dissertator” evokes, with apologies, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee”; the essay “Teaching towards Love: The Manifesto of a Recovering Pedant” opens with reflections on the TV series The Good Place.

We invite you to visit zeal.kings.edu to read the journal, which will be published twice annually. As King’s College president Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D., remarked on the occasion of the journal’s inaugural issue, “Naming this journal Zeal is a great affirmation of the spirit in which our dedicated faculty pursue scholarship and the art of teaching.” ■ Zeal’s publication costs approximately $1,000 annually, and the College would be grateful for financial support for this mission initiative. Please email zeal@kings.edu to learn how you can support the journal.

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NEWS

LEARNING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING TIPS FROM ONE OF THE BEST ON THE BEAT

Pulitzer Prize Winner Paul Pringle, author of Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels, visits King’s.

By Will Skaggs, Public Relations and College Communications Manager

C

orruption. Sexual abuse. Illicit drugs. Police inaction. Complex criminal activities are often first brought to light by hardnosed investigative reporting. And few know the field better than renowned Los Angeles Times journalist Paul Pringle, who visited King’s College for a gripping free public lecture and Q-and-A session at the Burke Auditorium last October.

“I was very proud to have Paul return to his hometown of WilkesBarre, to share his knowledge and expertise at King’s College—my alma mater,” said Mayor Brown. “I hope that the students gained insight from Paul’s lecture and interaction with them. I was pleased by the size of the crowd and am happy to help make this event possible.”

In 2019, Pringle and two colleagues won the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting for their work uncovering the widespread sexual abuse by Dr. George Tyndall at the University of Southern California, an inquiry that grew out of their reporting the year before on Dr. Carmen Puliafito, Dean of the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.

Pringle was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2009 and a member of reporting teams that won Pulitzer Prizes in 2004 and 2011.

Pringle won the George Polk Award in 2008, the same year the Society of Professional Journalists of Greater Los Angeles honored him as a distinguished journalist. Along with several colleagues, he shared Harvard University’s 2011 Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Reporting. Pringle and a Times colleague won the California Newspaper Publishers Association’s Freedom of Information Award in 2014 and the University of Florida’s Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Award in 2015. Pringle lives in Glendale, California. ■

Pringle recently published his book Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels, which goes behind the scenes of his investigation into drug use by the medical school’s dean, the lack of response by the Pasadena Police Department, and Pringle’s long struggle to get the story published.

The New York Times celebrated the book as “a master class in investigative journalism.”

“It’s a rare privilege for our students—and the community—to be able to learn from and interact with a journalist of this caliber,” said Michael Little, Ph.D., Department Chair and Associate Professor of English at King’s. “We are grateful for Mr. Pringle’s eagerness to share his experience with us and talk to our students about everything from principles of journalism to the practical day-to-day work of investigative reporting.”

The event was made possible through King’s alumnus and WilkesBarre mayor, George Brown ’97, who is Pringle’s cousin. The evening opened with remarks from Mayor Brown about their childhood in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the mayor’s gratitude and admiration for Pringle’s work and success.

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From left, Father Looney, President of King’s College; Paul Pringle; Mayor Brown; Dr. Little; and Freddie Pettit, Esq. ‘96, former Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

Social Media HIGHLIGHTS

Homecoming/Reunion Weekend, 561 likes September 28, 2023

Team Carol Night, 550 likes December 2, 2022

Commencement Hug Line, 735 likes May 19, 2023

Bigger and better than before, and packed with events, Homecoming 2023 was a blast!

Student-athletes participated in a yearly tradition that helps put our campus community in the holiday spirit all while raising money for Toys for Tots!

One of our favorite traditions at King’s College is where graduates get the chance to thank the professors, faculty, and staff who inspired them during their time at King’s.

Martin Sheen Visits Campus, 1,647 likes October 5, 2023

Squirreling Around, 578 likes September 25, 2023

Learning in a Virtual Environment, 328 likes May 12, 2023

Award-winning actor and activist Martin Sheen took time out of his busy schedule to pay an unexpected visit to our campus to chat with students and faculty from the Theatre Department!

At King’s College, we’re more than just a community—we’re a family! Our tight-knit bond is so strong that even the squirrels on campus are friendly and part of the crew.

King’s College occupational therapy students lead the way in pioneering a unique virtual reality program thanks to the exclusive Meta x Bodyswaps Educational Grant.

Welcome Class of 2027, 796 likes August 15, 2023

Mayor’s Cup Comes Home, 878 likes September 2, 2023

Summer Fun, 495 likes July 11, 2023

It seems just like yesterday that we were preparing campus for the arrival of our newest batch of students!

The Monarchs defeated Wilkes 27-23 in the annual Mayor’s Cup!

We love seeing what fun and exciting activities our Monarchs are doing during their summer vacation!

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NEWS

King’s Engineering Programs Score ABET Accreditation

By Will Skaggs, Public Relations and College Communications Manager

I

n just a few years since their introduction, the King’s College civil and mechanical engineering programs are now officially accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, the global accrediting body for college and university engineering programs.

King’s is now one of only three Catholic institutions in Pennsylvania to have ABET accredited engineering programs, an AACSB accredited business school, and nationally accredited health science programs.

The College launched its Bachelor of Science programs in civil and mechanical engineering in the 2017-18 academic year. The new programs complemented the existing dual degree program in which students can complete three years of pre-engineering studies at King’s and two years of specialized engineering studies with the University of Notre Dame or Washington University in St. Louis.

ABET accreditation ensures that engineering programs produce graduates that are qualified to enter rapidly growing technical fields and can anticipate public safety needs.

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King’s is now one of only three Catholic institutions in Pennsylvania to have ABET accredited engineering programs, an AACSB accredited business school, and nationally accredited health science programs.

“Receiving our ABET accreditation is the next meaningful step in the process of building our new engineering programs and signals that what we’ve built is not only successful but also has longevity,” said Paul Lamore, Ph.D., Chair of the Engineering Department.

The civil engineering program prepares students to plan, design, and oversee the construction and maintenance of buildings, bridges, and airports. The mechanical engineering program teaches students how to put machines to work for people through science, design, and fabrication.

In addition to traditional learning, both four-year programs provide practical experience through construction site visits, networking events, attendance at local and regional professional engineering meetings, internships, and undergraduate research. The programs are also supported by the College’s core liberal arts curriculum, which enhances technical skills with transferable professional skills desired by all employers.

“Our engineering program has rapidly grown since its introduction in 2017, and we expect it will continue to grow with this accreditation,” added King’s College President Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D. “I am so grateful to Father Jack Ryan, my predecessor, for his vision and bold initiative in starting an engineering program at King’s. It has been a significant addition to our academic offerings and supports our vision of forming graduates who will mobilize their talents for the common good.”

Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision, and safety are of the utmost importance. Developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET criteria focus on what students experience and learn. ABET accreditation reviews look at program curricula, faculty, facilities, and institutional support and are conducted by teams of highly skilled professionals from industry, academia, and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines.

Accreditation for the College’s program extends retroactively from October 1, 2018, through to September 30, 2028, when the institution will seek re-accreditation. ■

REKINDLING THE FLAME— KC-WiSE to Return King’s College Women in Science and Engineering (KCWiSE) started in 2016 as a joint faculty and student effort to boost women engagement in STEM fields. In the past, the group organized and co-sponsored movie screenings, guest panels, mentoring lunches and coffee hours, and other programs aimed at connecting aspiring women scientists and engineers with successful professionals who have persevered in typically male-dominated fields.

“More and more studies are showing that one of the major barriers to female success in STEM is a lack of representation,” said Kristi Concannon, Ph.D., Professor of Physics. “As a result, thoughts of ‘I’m not sure I’m cut out for this’ are more prevalent in young women, and it’s hard for them to picture what they could be without a role model.”

Dr. Concannon believes King’s is a natural fit for this effort, as women faculty in the College’s science programs make up 25-50% of their respective departments, which is above the national average. However, COVID-19 has slowed KC-WiSE engagement over the years, and Dr. Concannon and other faculty are eager to see the program return to its former glory. Part of that effort includes the group’s renewed efforts to build a more robust alumni network, particularly one that includes younger graduates.

“More and more women are advancing in STEM,” said Dr. Concannon. “We want to show our students multiple generations of successful alumni so they can be inspired to continue their career path knowing that future is within their reach.” ■

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STUDENT SUCCESS

You Were Made for

Greatness The Class of 2023 President reflects on this year’s Commencement.

By Anthony Macko ’23

A

s the President for the Class of 2023, I was honored to represent my classmates and their accomplishments at this year’s Commencement. I still express my heartfelt gratitude to our families and friends for their continuous unwavering support through our journey towards higher education and now, after graduation. Without it, this year’s ceremony would not have been possible.

To our parents, your encouragement, guidance, and love were crucial in helping us achieve this milestone, and we are eternally grateful. We also remember those who played a significant role in our lives but could not be with us as we celebrated. We remember the promises of Christ the King and look forward to rejoicing with them in Heaven.

What the Class of 2023 achieved was nothing less than extraordinary. Our journey was not easy, and we had to navigate sophomore year six feet apart while supporting one another through our darkest and most challenging days. Together, we overcame difficult curricula, emerging stronger and more resilient. On May 19 we stood victorious, exemplifying hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

The challenge we now take into the real world is to be a light that shines in the darkness.

Throughout our time at King’s, we have all developed an understanding of our meaning and purpose. Now is the time to take the core values of a King’s College education— including selfless service, generosity, compassion, love, and hope—and spread them throughout our daily lives. The world needs us, and God is calling us to make a positive difference in others’ lives. As John’s Gospel says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Let us make the most of the time we have on this Earth, creating a life rich in purpose, passion, and love while leaving a legacy that inspires and uplifts others long after we are gone.

The past is history, the future is a mystery, and the present is a gift. As class president, I have encouraged our new graduates to step out into the great adventure of our lives, the beautiful and precious lives that God has given us to shine our light into the darkness of the world.

As we walked across the stage and officially became graduates of King’s College, this milestone marked not only the end to our academic journeys but also the beginnings of a new chapter. We have joined a wonderful community of alumni who have gone before us and made significant contributions to their respective fields, and, with their support, we look forward to making our mark and creating bright futures for the next generation of Monarchs.

To the Class of 2023, I wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors. Ave Crux, Spes Unica. Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope. ■

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Now is the time to take the core values of a King’s College education— including selfless service, generosity, compassion, love, and hope—and spread them throughout our daily lives.

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e k i L s l Fee e m Ho

STUDENT SUCCESS

G

rowing up, I have always been fascinated by different cultures.

All my life, I have been surrounded by two: American and Lebanese. Little did I know, my experiences in Sevilla would bring me back to the place I like to call home away from home—Lebanon.

A student story from the Spring 2023 Travel Writing Study Abroad program in Seville, Spain.

By Roben Jaoude ’24

The first few days in Sevilla, I was going through a bit of culture shock. However, this shock was something I did not even know existed. Arriving in Sevilla, feeling the area around me in my skin and bones automatically felt safe. I knew I was going to love it here.

My body began to shiver in 90 degree weather and my lips became a crescent moon with teeth. I felt at home again, yet, the area around me was unfamiliar. There is something about Spain having such rich, authentic, culture that moves my heart and mind, just as Lebanon always has. In every corner, there is some form of art waiting to be appreciated. I was amazed at how similar the two countries are.

The streets are always kept clean and power washed every night.

There was never a piece of gum that I could accidentally step on or trash to trip over. Just like in Lebanon, the people maintained the looks of their restaurants and stores from the outside by wiping down not just the windows, but the cement and brick, too.

Even though Sevilla is an area where tourists often go, in traveling to Granada, Cádiz, and Córdoba the energy of cleanliness and care is still carried over. I never walked through a street or alleyway and thought to myself, “It is so dirty over here,” which is something I would say to myself wandering the concrete jungle of New York City.

I never realized how unsafe the streets in America are until I saw children playing in the Sevilla streets unsupervised. The area is so safe that parents just allow their children to wander around alone.

There are hardly any big chain restaurants—the majority I explored were small businesses. I noticed that while Lebanon loves chicken, Sevilla loves pork. Lucky for me, I love chicken. Unfortunately for me, I cannot stand pork.

I was more than thrilled to visit a country I have never seen before and try their cuisine. People were able to read the disappointment on my face from a mile away as I looked at any menu. The ambiance was perfect, sounds of laughter and chatter entering my left ear and exiting my right. But the restaurant menus; they are practically choking on ham with all the pork items. I was never disgusted by the options, just saddened that I was unable to eat what the restaurants offer. While Lebanon’s dishes include meat, they can atleast be made vegan or vegetarian. In Sevilla, I found it difficult to search for vegan or vegetarian items that are something other than a salad. It is peculiar, really. Still, food in Sevilla, and Lebanon, has never made me feel bloated, sick, or gross after consuming. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for America.

Dining in Sevilla also reminded me of Lebanon. In Sevilla, we were always given a basket of bread just after being seated at a table, which typically costs around one to three Euros. In Lebanon, certain dishes

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A D VA N C E M E N T

I found comfort in knowing that not everything in my life needs to be rushed or finished by a specific time. For once, I felt like I had all the time in the world. ordered come with pita bread for the table without extra charge.

Both Lebanon and Spain allow their customers to stay seated for as long as they would like. When it comes down to paying for the food, the customers have to ask for the check. I found comfort in knowing that not everything in my life needs to be rushed or finished by a specific time. For once, I felt like I had all the time in the world.

I was immensely immersed in Sevilla’s rich culture, especially Flamenco. The origin is uncertain; however, we do know that Roma play a big role in their contribution to the art. Flamenco in Spanish culture is like the Dabke in Arab culture. The Dabke is pretty simple; head of the household in the front, hand in hand, moving counterclockwise with both ends of the line of dancers waving worry beads in the air. One foot stepped forward, one back, one jump, and repeat. There is unity when dancing the Dabke, just as there is unity while dancing Flamenco. The guitarist produces the muse for the singer, and the singer produces the muse for the dancer.

Something that got me excited for my journey was knowing that everyone dresses nice. One of my favorite things is fashion, so dressing well does not feel like a chore. At most, I saw five people wear sweatpants out in the streets of Sevilla. Sweatpants, sweatshirts, and any type of loungewear worn outside are not viewed as acceptable. People in most countries, besides America, make sure they look their best anywhere they go. I did not want to wander outside looking like a tourist in loungewear, so my friends and I constantly went shopping to find clothes that would make us look a little more “local.”

In Lebanon, the streets are filled with people who love to look their best, just as those in Sevilla do. Having to get up everyday knowing I need to look presentable felt refreshing. In America, no one cares about what others wear in public, and oftentimes I see people out in their pajamas. I never before found an issue in wearing loungewear out in public; however, I did notice a boost of confidence when I dressed properly.

My time in Sevilla flew by. I can confidently say those were the best three weeks of my life. I had the privilege of experiencing a new culture first hand and expand my knowledge on the world around me. Learning how to dance Flamenco rejuvenated my love for my own culture’s dance. Feeling safe in the streets at night made me fall in love with the city even more. There is so much to appreciate in Sevilla with the very little time given. Sevilla feels just like Lebanon, and Lebanon feels just like home. ■

WHY I GIVE

Michael and Ellen O’Connor

By Brandi George Davis ’12 Director of College Marketing & Communications

I

n reflecting on his time at King’s College, Michael O’Connor, Esq. ’71 believes it was more than his textbook education that prepared him just as well as his Ivy League counterparts in law school. Coming from a family of lawyers, his undergraduate studies in history were naturally setting him up for his time at Villanova, but what he found most valuable at King’s was his interactions with professors, both academically and socially.

“The advantages of the constant interaction with professors and smaller classes were definitely unique and helpful when compared to the experiences of my law school classmates,” O’Connor remarked.

For him, classes in speech, writing, and accounting, among others, greatly prepared him for the spectrum of issues he would soon come to address as a successful trial lawyer, from human resources and discrimination to toxic products and medical malpractice.

“The broad education I received at King’s was a great basis to help me grasp these areas of expertise, communicate concepts to a jury, and understand what is important to a juror’s thought process,” he said.

O’Connor and his wife, Ellen, strongly believe in the King’s College mission and approach to education from which he benefited.

Longtime donors, they’ve given back to the College through scholarship and capital project support, more recently shifting their focus to the Presidential Hope Fund.

“This fund is different than most scholarship funds in that it provides financial support to students who have already proven themselves.”

The Fund, now in its 15th year, is designed to fill gaps for academic achievers overcome with unexpected financial misfortune and ensure they can fulfill their degree at King’s. The O’Connors compare these resources to the proverb of teaching one to fish.

“The recipients of this scholarship have already taught themselves how to fish; the funds simply provide a new fishing rod when their old one has broken,” he added. ■ 2023 ISSUE

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R O O F

On

Al

a nd

How a $300,000 AllOne grant to King’s College provided 417,000 meals to food insecure residents and doubled the number of local young adults seeking substance abuse help.

l

NE

ALL

SERVICE

e

r fo

By Will Skaggs, Public Relations and College Communications Manager

S

ince its inception, King’s College has endeavored to be a force for good in its surrounding community and beyond. After all, developing “graduates who will champion the inherent dignity of every person and mobilize their skills and talents to serve the common good” is woven into its very mission.

That mission comes to life through the College’s robust volunteer programs, which collectively contribute more than 100,000 hours of service a year. In fact, service learning is integrated into more than 50 of the College’s courses.

But unprecedented times call for unprecedented resources, and the struggles brought by COVID-19 are no exception. The pandemic worsened problems for families who were already below the poverty line, and shuttered businesses and diminished employment opportunities claimed other households who suddenly found themselves unable to provide proper nutrition for their loved ones.

And over the last decade, another disease had already made its presence felt in neighborhoods across the country. Opioid addiction continues to prey on people of all racial and economic backgrounds, and the pandemic did little to improve access to badly needed treatment options and support.

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ABOVE: George Bowman, Food Dignity ® Fellow; Kelly Gibbons, Community Outreach Coordinator, King’s College; Amanda Gordineer M.S., RDN, Director of Food Equity at Food Dignity ® Movement; Liz Gillen, Food Dignity ® Student Fellow with Food Dignity ® Movement and Registered Dietitian in training; Mike, New Roots Member.

Having seen these challenges firsthand through its extensive network in the Wyoming Valley, the AllOne Foundation—a nonprofit that provides funding to improve the health and welfare of residents in Northeastern Pennsylvania—sought to finance capable partners who could help advance its mission despite the staffing and logistical hurdles posed by the pandemic.

King’s College answered the call. Within moments of being contacted by AllOne, staff from across the College began crafting a vision of how to make the most of additional funding.

That vision ultimately led to AllOne entrusting King’s with a threeyear, $300,000 grant in November 2020 to establish a community health program that addresses two AllOne impact areas: food insecurity and opioid addiction.

“The AllOne Foundation strives for maximum positive impact by measurably improving the health and welfare of families, friends, and neighbors in our region,” said John Cosgrove, Executive Director of AllOne Foundation. “Yet we are only as successful as our strongest partners, and our partnership with King’s College is key to advancing our collective mission to make life better in our community.”

“We were incredibly grateful to receive this grant from AllOne to improve the health of our community,” said Bill Bolan, Ph.D., Director of the College’s Shoval Center for Community Engagement and Learning. “This funding gave us an unprecedented opportunity to work closely with our partner agencies and reduce food insecurity and the stigma surrounding opioid use.”

What happened next was a multi-year, cross-department collaboration among faculty and staff from the Division of Health Sciences, the Shoval Center, the Mass Communications Department, and dozens of King’s students who came together to make sure that the $300,000 investment delivered tangible results.

SALVATION THROUGH NUTRITION For the first impact area, King’s joined the Food Dignity® Movement to establish marketplaces that provide free, healthy food for struggling residents. The College worked closely with Food Dignity founder Clancy Harrison and three local nonprofits: continued on page 48 2023 ISSUE

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Since 2021, the College’s work with Food Dignity has established

5

food marketplace locations

347,185 lbs. healthy food provided

the Victims Resource Center, New Roots Recovery Support Center, and the West Side Career and Technology Center.

After helping each nonprofit develop plans that fit their clients’ unique needs, the College contacted suppliers to purchase and install refrigeration, shelving, storage, and other essential equipment. The College also connected the organizations with the Weinberg/CEO Regional Food Bank and the Midwest Food Bank to secure a steady supply of nutritious food and healthy meal plans.

The Food Dignity Movement follows a “train-the-trainer” model to ensure sustainability of each project at the community level.

In addition to King’s connecting them to valuable food suppliers, staff at New Roots, Victims Resource Center, and other partners received CEO Food Bank member agency status and related training, enabling them to indefinitely access free healthy food for their clients as member agents.

the equivalent of almost

417,022 meals

The network has continued to grow over the last few years. Amy Brzoska, one of the College’s faculty leads, along with Kelly Gibbons, the Shoval Center’s Community Outreach and Social Justice Programs Coordinator, and Briget Ford, Administrative Specialist to the Dean of Health Sciences, created a grab-and-go food station at the Richard A. Alley Center for Health Sciences.

Support from the Midwest Food Bank helped expand the graband-go station at the King’s post office to the McGowan Hispanic Outreach program, Office of KC Pathways, and Campus Ministry.

The Shoval Center also gives away free produce every Monday through Food Dignity.

estimated value of over

$1,448,630

In addition, Misericordia University used grant funding to upgrade its pantry with a new freezer and shelving in January 2023. The College is currently working to purchase and install a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and shelving for Luzerne County Community College in Wilkes-Barre so it can expand its pantry and offer fresh food for the first time.

And finally, Harrison successfully secured $500,000 in American Rescue Funds from the Luzerne County Council, in part to purchase fresh produce from local farmers for distribution at the nonprofit sites.

Since 2021, the College’s work with Food Dignity has established food marketplaces at five nonprofit locations. Collectively, those sites have provided more than 347,185 pounds of healthy food, the equivalent of almost 417,022 meals and an estimated value of over $1,448,630.

Suzanne Beck, the CEO of Victims Resource Center, saw the benefits within months of working with the College’s Food Dignity team.

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“We couldn’t be happier with the program and how great of a need this is for our clients,” she said. “They can pick up food at the same time they meet with counselors and advocates.”

“We had a mother of two children who was in a domestic violence situation and urgently needed to be moved to safety,” she added.

“Thanks to this program, we were able to get her and her children food immediately.”

Given the program’s success with both regular clients and those housed in emergency situations, the Victims Resource Center and members of the College’s Food Dignity team have been invited to present at the Statewide Victim Services Conference in State College, Pa., in November 2023. The focus of the presentation is on the intersection of violence and poverty and how programs like Food Dignity are essential resources.

Since the beginning of the campaign, the College’s Counseling Center has seen twice the number of students who are seeking help with substance abuse. Nearby, New Roots Recovery Support Center also saw a 125% increase of college-age clients from 2020 through 2022.

DISPELLING THE OPIOID STIGMA Meanwhile, mass communications students developed logos, posters, and other marketing materials for the King’s College Opioid Use Disorder Destigmatization Initiative, which seeks to educate college communities about opioid use disorder (OUD) and fundamentally change the way people talk about addiction. The College hired an advertising firm under Jeannine Luby to refine the messaging and determine the most effective media placements.

About-Face coverage on WILK Radio, WRKC, WNEP, WBRE, WYOU, and multiple social media channels extended its impact throughout the King’s community and beyond. In fact, since the beginning of the campaign, the College’s Counseling Center has seen twice the number of students who are seeking help with substance abuse. Nearby, New Roots Recovery Support Center also saw a 125% increase of college-age clients from 2020 through 2022.

Their collective efforts produced the About-Face campaign. While students took to Instagram and Facebook to promote related messaging and resources, the College organized and hosted the “Talk Tuesdays” series featuring peer advocates willing to share their personal OUD struggles. The series also included recovery professionals who could offer the latest counseling and treatment resources.

A TEMPLATE FOR THE FUTURE The AllOne grant illustrates the latest in the College’s 75-year mission to encourage its students to not just pursue personal success, but to use what they learn to improve the lives of everyone around them.

“The hope is that if we can decrease the stigma associated with opioid use, change the culture of shame, and humanize substance use disorder, those struggling with addiction will finally be comfortable enough to seek the help they need,” said Dr. Bolan.

Beyond the immediate impact for families in need, the project provides valuable professional and personal development for King’s students, faculty, and staff. Grant money was used to incorporate related service-learning projects into the College’s English, mass communications, and nursing programs.

The first Talk Tuesdays guest was Jamie Monahan, an incoming King’s business student who shared his past struggles and road to success after more than two years of sobriety. Next was founder and Executive Director at NEPA Pride Coalition Dylan Fredricey, who discussed what it’s like grappling with long-term recovery as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As a result, more than 150 students had the opportunity to be a part of this expansive service effort. This project is a template on not just developing and launching food insecurity and OUD projects, but also how to engage in community collaborations, cultivate communication and leadership skills, and use marketing to further the cause.

The third segment featured New Roots Recovery Center’s Lyndsay Guirin, Director of Operations, and Kerri Scheitrum, Regional Director, herself a person in recovery for over six years. Guirin and Scheitrum shared their background, advice, and the essential resources available at the Center.

“Participants are developing the mindset, skill set, relationships, and resources to effectively combat food insecurity and opioid addiction,” said Dr. Bolan. “We want this system to be a sustainable blueprint and toolkit for other colleges and nonprofits to implement with ease.”

The team closed out the program’s first year with Judge Michael Barrasse, who spoke about the Lackawanna County Treatment Court Program, a court-supervised resource for non-violent offenders that has been replicated across the country. This voluntary program involves working with the court, substance abuse counselors, mental health professionals, and other treatment resources to help participants achieve and sustain sobriety. Participants are eligible to have their charges dismissed upon successful completion of the program.

That goal will ensure the impact of the grant will be felt long after its third and final year concludes this December. ■

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SERVICE

A Rooted Past, A Sprouting Future HOLY CROSS AT KING’S

By Brother Jimmy Henke, C.S.C.

J

oining King’s College as a young religious brother, I step into a great history of Holy Cross priests, brothers, and sisters who have given their hearts and lives to the mission of this institution. I step into a tradition both rooted in its history and alive with new energy for the present.

The very physical spaces at King’s capture this convergence of the storied past and vibrant present. One such significant place in the life of our Holy Cross community is the residence hall that bears our name: Holy Cross Hall. The towering structure stands as a striking image of the interweaving of the old and the new, the rooted and the sprouting. I live in one of the rooms designated for Resident Counselors (RC) at the end of each hallway, previously

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occupied by Holy Cross religious living in these rooms or on the eleventh floor. At one point, more than 30 Holy Cross religious lived in Holy Cross Hall alone!

In my role as an RC for the 25 or so young men who live on my floor, I see building community and providing accountability as my core responsibilities. As the Holy Cross community provides me a space to recreate and be myself—as well as a place to find accountability and growth —so too, I try to extend the same to these students. My role

forms an important connection between the ways Holy Cross religious engaged the King’s community in the past and the ways we continue to bring new life to the King’s community of the present.

The twelfth floor of Holy Cross Hall stands forth as another beautiful connection between the old and the new. Before the Holy Cross community moved into Moreau Court at the top of Franklin Street, the chapel and social space were located here as a place to gather and be

ABOVE: From left, Father Looney, Father Brogan, Brother Jimmy, Father Issing, and Brother John Paige at Brother Jimmy’s final profession at Notre Dame.

As the Holy Cross community provides me a space to recreate and be myself—as well as a place to find accountability and growth—so too, I try to extend the same to these students. nourished by both prayer and socializing.

Now, each Wednesday night, we host a 9 p.m. Mass for students. The space has become a source of social life and a place to feel rooted with God. In this way, the twelfth floor continues to fulfill its original purpose, but with a new community.

It has not only been the physical spaces that have formed the connection between King’s Holy Cross history and its Holy Cross present. When I made my final profession of vows as a brother with the Congregation last August, I was surrounded by a living history of King’s College. Present as I celebrated my final vows were King’s College President Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D.; as well as Rev. Dan Issing, C.S.C., Ph.D.; Rev. Brogan Ryan, C.S.C.; Rev. Russ McDougall, C.S.C.; and Brother John Paige, C.S.C. This milestone is a great celebration for the entire Holy Cross community, but it was particularly meaningful for me to have the men I would be serving with in the future standing beside me.

well as on the formation staff for Moreau Seminary. In his work for the seminary, Father Schimmel serves as a chaplain, guiding men through the process of becoming priests and brothers.

at Notre Dame, one of the semi-retirement communities for Holy Cross—the priests and brothers there continue to serve at parishes in the South Bend area as well as in roles at the University.

So too, Rev. James Lackenmier, C.S.C., President of King’s College for 18 years, celebrated with me. Father Lackenmier now serves as the Superior of Fatima House

Brother Jim Miller, C.S.C., a proud King’s alumnus who gave of himself for around four decades at King’s, was also in South continued on page 52

In addition to those working at King’s now, I was also surrounded by men who had served previously. Also present were Rev. Chase Pepper, C.S.C., and Rev. Eric Schimmel, C.S.C., both of whom worked in Campus Ministry within the past decade. Having successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Cambridge, Father Pepper is preparing to begin his post-doctoral work there.

Father Schimmel is working as a rector of a residence hall at the University of Notre Dame, caring for over 200 young men, as

ABOVE: After 9 p.m. Mass on the 12th floor, students gather in the lobby of Holy Cross Hall to take a study break and build community together.

BOTTOM: Brother Jimmy shows the ropes to members of Kingsmen for a social outing.

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Bend to celebrate. Brother Jim was residing at Holy Cross House in South Bend—our community’s nursing facility that provides phenomenal care—at the time before his passing in June 2023. While unable to partake in full-time ministry as he had done throughout his life, Brother Jim continued to support the mission of Holy Cross through his prayer and commitment. Still residing at Holy Cross House, Rev. Dick Hockman, C.S.C., carries on this tradition, living as a neighbor to those in the seminary studying and preparing for a lifetime of ministry.

All these men served the King’s community faithfully in a variety of roles over the course of decades and continue to do so for the larger Congregation of Holy Cross in their various roles and stages in life.

As I begin my apostolic life at King’s College, the witness of the men both past and present who have given their lives to the mission has helped form my own imagination and zeal for this great work. The mission of King’s from the beginning has been marked with the character of Holy Cross in its people and its work. So too, it continues today—much developed since its origins—deeply rooted in the Congregation of Holy Cross and leaning forward into the ways to best care for our students today. ■

Brother Jimmy and Father Charles Kociolek celebrate the birthday they share together in the Holy Cross Community Chapel at Moreau Court. Father Charles has given over forty years of service to King’s College and has served as a mentor to many.

The King’s College Campus Ministry team gathers for a fall picture.

Through connections with a seminarian in Holy Cross and friends in the ECHO program, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile visited students from across campus in front of Holy Cross Hall.

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Turning a Blank Page into Memories

ALUMNI

REFLECTIONS ON LEO’S WRITING RETREAT

By Linda Stockdale Nestor ’76

I

n the summer of 2022, something new caught my eye. For four days at the end of June, King’s College sponsored a writing retreat for alumni writers.

never learned to . . ., brought up numerous insights. Trapped by the cultural expectations of the 1950s, my mom never thought past being a nurse and a mother. Nursing was the only acceptable science that allowed her. Going to King’s in the 1970s, those limitations had loosened for me. I took every science class I could fit into my schedule, enough to minor in it. As other alumni shared their thoughts, a consensus appeared that the women who graduated in the 2020s had gained much more. No academic discipline was out of their reach, although women still face challenges to achieve the equity we deserve. The value in that session alone was worth the price of the entire conference.

We were writers all, none of the differences mattered.

Feeling terribly old, I hesitated. My college days were generations ago. What if all the other attendees were recent graduates, would they see a retired teacher as irrelevant? Still, the chance to spend four days playing with words and ideas called to me. I took the chance and registered for Leo’s Writing Retreat.

Nervous and a bit lost considering how much the campus changed over the decades, I discovered how delicious it felt to be in a dorm again. Granted, Alumni Hall didn’t exist in the 1970s, but the exhilaration of tossing that suitcase on the bed matched that of my seventeen-year-old self on the first day in East (now Esseff) Hall.

At lunch, we discovered alumni from seven different decades, 1960s through a recent 2021 graduate. With relief I noted that I wasn’t the only mature writer attending. From the very first session, the spectrum of people and experiences generated an energizing delight. We were writers all, none of the differences mattered.

Other writer’s conferences featuring celebrity authors become events big on flash and costs but short on practical skills to help a writer.

Thankfully, this writing retreat chose a different direction. Intimate class sizes allowed for questions and meaningful answers. Exercises generated ideas designed to get the participants writing. Positive and constructive critiques from multiple points of view helped improve works in progress.

On a glorious day, warm and welcoming after pandemic isolation, we moved outdoors to write using a variety of prompts. One, My mother

We also wrote letters to our characters to better understand them.

Another session presented a step-by-step approach to new writing projects. There was time and space for solo writing, croquet, and surprisingly good meals. (Surprising to someone who survived the era of Mystery Meat and black Jell-O.) The discovery that someone who understands poetry on the level of Dr. Suess and Shel Silverstein could actually write a poem, priceless. That the science fiction loving techno geek could write memoir, astonishing. We learned from each other in a cross-pollination that generated new ideas and fixed nagging problems. Generations and genres complemented each other, creating a compassionate atmosphere that allowed the participants to stretch and grow as writers.

The Second Annual Leo’s Writing Retreat occurred in June of 2023.

Returning authors found new techniques and classes, while first time attendees discovered how the encouraging atmosphere facilitated everyone’s writing. The cross-pollination of ideas and genres proved more valuable the second time around. I am certain that the Third Annual Retreat will prove just as successful. ■

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ALUMNI

Watch the Ice A eulogy for Brother James Miller, C.S.C.

By Dave Reynolds ’00, M.F.A., Professor and Chair of the Theatre Department

B

rother. Broseph. Brosephus, Orb Mij. Bro. He went by many names. But rest assured if he saw you walking down the Lane, he would probably remember yours. And if he didn’t, he would say something like, “Hey, Trouble,” or the infamous “Crapper,” and he’d finish the conversation by telling you to “watch the ice,” or, the deeper cut, “careful crossing Main Street.”

He was many things to many people. He was a teacher, a mentor, friend, drinking buddy, philosopher, artist, muse, and father figure. He was, without a doubt, the most selfless person that I’ve ever met. If he saw a student that needed rest, or food, or help in a class, or a couple bucks for gas money, he would make sure that they got it. He would always remind you, “Don’t give up the ship”; maybe this one came from his Navy days. He is and will always be what King’s College is for me.

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I met Bro my freshman year, way back in 1996. Like many of you, I was confused. Who was this guy? Why are people calling him Bro? He looks like he should be in Hell’s Angels! As I got to know him more, I learned about his deep spirituality and relationship with God and the Holy Cross. Though I don’t think I fully realized it at the time, we all got to witness his faith manifest every day in the way he treated everyone he met. He had the uncanny ability to see something in you—whether creativity, compassion, leadership—foster it, and push you to be better. He would always tell his students to “be a sponge,” a phrase that I happily stole from him and use daily.

Anyway, flashback to fall of 1996. I had auditioned for and didn’t get cast in Little Shop of Horrors. I was super bummed. I mean, I played Tevye my senior year of high school! Incidentally, I did meet my wife in the lobby at those auditions, so I guess it’s not a total loss. Later in the semester, Bro came up to me at a talent show— dressed as his take on Carmen Miranda (fruit hat and all)—and encouraged me to audition again.

This time, I got in. It was one of those shows where we had all of three days to get it produced. In one of those nights, Bro, myself, and my friend, Tony, spent several hours transforming the bare stage into the apartment for A New York City Fade by John Lennon.

This was the first time that I learned about what Bro would always call “theatre magic”; the idea that people would leave the theatre in the afternoon and come back the next morning to something completely new and different. Of course, “theatre magic” really is hard work and determination, the power of giving your students a sense of ownership of the process, and the idea that all of us are in this together. The person playing Hamlet is no different than someone who puts a nail in the stage or a stitch in a costume. This is the heart of King’s Theatre, and it is directly from Bro’s playbook.

Soon, my major changed, I abandoned my intramural street hockey team, and I set up permanent residence in King’s Theatre. The people that I worked with became my very best friends, my family.

And every one of us would follow Bro anywhere.

A day or so after Bro passed away, I was giving a tour during our Leo’s Writing Retreat and started talking about Bro with someone who graduated in the early 1970s. In discussing his life, she touched on his Navy days before taking his profession of vows and then something I never knew. She mentioned that, at the time, there were several Vietnam veterans attending King’s, a few in particular that struggled with PTSD. Whenever that happened, Bro would go up to them, place his hand on their shoulder, and quietly say, “I know.” Anyone who has ever had that forehead-toforehead conversation with him knows exactly the kind of calming presence he could be. He somehow knew exactly when you needed it, or when you needed the tough love and to be pushed. His intuitiveness when it came to people was truly incredible. What a gift he was for every single one of us.

Of course, I would be remiss not to share some of the more fun memories as well.

Over the summer, some work study students and I were in the annual process of organizing and cleaning our scenery, prop,

and costume warehouse. To say Bro was a pack rat would be an understatement. The man saved everything. But he did that because he could make anything beautiful; garbage to grandeur as he would call it. We came across the most Bro Jim box I’ve ever seen. It was a paper ream box filled completely with beer can pull tabs. I immediately thought, “how many beers is this?” and, “how long have we been moving this box around from warehouse to warehouse?” Then, I looked it up: most breweries completely switched away from pull tabs by 1980. I mean...just perfection. I put the box back on the shelf labeled “Bro’s Beer Tabs.”

I often had the super fun opportunity to pick Bro’s Halloween costume. I know we all have our favorites, but some highlights of mine include Ben Franklin and the Grape from the Fruit of the Loom commercials (with purple balloons crafted into a sort of skirt). He also allowed the King’s Players to “auction off his head” (i.e., you could cut Bro’s hair anyway you wanted or paint a target on it).

The person playing Hamlet is no different than someone who puts a nail in the stage or a stitch in a costume.

This is the heart of King’s Theatre, and it is directly from Bro’s playbook.

Then there was the day that we all showed up for class and the theatre was dark except for a winding path of candles throughout the room. Bro wore a monk’s robe and carried a lantern as he led us along the path that he had stayed up all night creating. It was a walking tour through displays and printouts showcasing 2,000 years of theatre history. It was amazing and one of the most formative moments of my education. It might have been right then and there that I decided to combine my love of theatre with my love of teaching and make it my career.

Brother Jim Miller was one of the most important figures in my life. He taught me so very much about theatre, but more than that, he taught me how to treat people. That we are all a beautiful part of the play that is life. That no matter who you are, you can make a difference in someone’s life if you listen and fearlessly be yourself.

So, Brother. Broseph.

Brosephus. Orb Mij. Bro. We will miss you more than word can wield the matter.

As Hamlet said of his father, “He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”

Watch the ice, Crapper! ■

LEFT: William Shakespeare’s The Tempest 2023 ISSUE

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A D VA N C E M E N T

LEAVING A

Regal Legacy The mothers of students are among the first and longest running supporters of the King’s College community.

By Sarah Scinto ’13

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E

ven before women could attend King’s College in 1948, they found ways to create a lasting impact on campus life that can be felt to this very day.

Enter the Reginas. Named in honor of Mary, Queen of Mothers, the group is made up of mothers of King’s students who came together as a social club that quickly evolved into an important fundraising resource for students pursuing a King’s education.

“It’s such a wonderful group of ladies, and it felt good knowing we were helping people be educated there,” said Eileen Eustice, a past president and current member of the Reginas. “It can be difficult to put kids through school.”

Sisterhood for Life Eustice resides in Kingston, Pa., and has lived in Northeastern Pennsylvania her entire life. She joined the Reginas in 2009 when her sons started at King’s. She stayed with the group throughout their time at the College and has been a Regina ever since.

She says this is not uncommon for the group’s members.

“Originally we were mothers, guardians, or aunts of students,” she said. “People just remained. They’re extremely dedicated to King’s. They really, really believe in it.”

Members of the Reginas would hold a popular penny auction that supported students from the Wyoming Valley.

In for a Penny, In for a Pound Over the years, the group’s efforts expanded into multiple fundraising events, including a popular penny auction that supported students from the Wyoming Valley region.

The penny auctions would raise anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 at their peak, Eustice said. Over the years, that money has been used not only to support students, but also to fund priest vestments and improvements to what is now Regina Court.

By 2000, the Reginas had established a regular scholarship fund.

Twilight Legacy This year, due to declining membership, the Reginas will turn over management of their scholarship fund to King’s College.

“Our numbers are dwindling,” Eustice said. “We’ve had a hard time getting new members.”

She said the group will remain as a social club once the fund is fully turned over in November or December of this year. The scholarship will continue after the Reginas dissolve for as long as those funds remain.

“The Reginas helped many people through hard work and dedication,” said Rev. Charles Eustice said it will be known as the Reginas Kociolek, C.S.C., the group’s Chaplin and of King’s College Scholarship Fund. The moderator. “The scholarship fund is still scholarships awarded from the fund will awarded every year.”

continue to help local sophomore or junior students with tuition. Father Kociolek agrees with the name choice.

“These people have worked so diligently,” he said. “They should be recognized.”

The Reginas will hold a Christmas party this year, Eustice said, and while King’s manages the scholarship fund, members will still plan meetups in the future.

While the scholarship fund serves as a monetary legacy, Eustice hopes another legacy of the Reginas will continue after they transition away from fundraising.

“It’s the friendships,” she said. “We have just had such a good time. We’ve all been there to help each other out. These are friends for life.” ■

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ALUMNI

Homecoming/Reunion: The Tradition Continues to Grow!

By Beth Doherty ’18, Associate Director of Alumni Engagement

S

ince the fall semester of 2014, King’s College has combined its annual Alumni Reunion weekend and Homecoming weekend with a growing number of Monarchs returning to campus for reunions and other gatherings; 2022 was no exception!

The events over the weekend combined the celebrations of alumni whose class years ended in 2s and 7s. Held September 16–18, 2022, the scheduled events included an alumni golf tournament at Mountain Laurel Golf Club (one of the last times that course was played as it closed a few weeks later); the celebration at the field during the Homecoming football game; and evening milestone reunions.

The Class of 1997 was celebrated as Silver Monarchs, representing their 25 years since graduation. A combined reunion gathering for them as well as the Class of 1992 (30 years) was held in Regina Court, where class photos were taken. At the same time, a special reunion dinner was held in the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center for the Class of 1972, who returned as Golden Monarchs in recognition of 50 years since their graduation. At the dinner, Joseph Hook ’72 addressed those gathered about his time at King’s.

On Sunday, a pinning ceremony for the Golden Monarchs took place at the Homecoming Mass in the Chapel of Christ the King, followed by a farewell reception for all alumni and friends. ■

The 2022 Alumni Golf Tournament winning foursome pose with the Leo Cup Trophy. Pictured left to right are Tyler Papura ’20; Charles Blewitt; J.C. Blewitt ’07; Charlie DeCosmo ’06; and Mark Sciabacucchi ’05.

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19:46 HAIL OUR

Royal Regent

By Christian Hernandez ’23

W At the 90s Reunion in Regina Court: Geselle Polakoff, William Durning ’97, Lisa Feliciano Moore ’97, and William Moore ’97.

hile on our way to 8 p.m. Sunday Mass, my roommate, Nate Hullinger, and I heard the familiar melodies of the King’s College Alma Mater, which play every night after the bells toll. As we listened, I suggested to Nate that it would be a cool idea to have the Alma Mater played every day at 19:46 (7:46 p.m.) since 1946 was the College’s founding year. Nate shared the idea with Father Brogan, who also liked it and encouraged us to bring it to the College’s administration.

Although it was not the most appropriate time and place, I couldn’t contain my excitement and eagerly shared the idea with Father Looney during the President’s Senior Class Dinner. Father Looney, too, liked the idea, so I immediately worked with Sean Cryan in Campus Activities to make the change.

Members of the Class of 1972 received their Golden Monarch pins at Homecoming Mass.

On Friday, April 28, 2023, the Alma Mater was played at 19:46 for the first time. This was a special moment, and I was happy to share it with my friends, Julia Freund and Kyle Saylor, as well as Rev. Bill Lies, C.S.C., Provincial Superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. Together, we listened to these beautiful melodies and enjoyed knowing fellow Monarchs, today and in the future, will have the opportunity to enjoy a similar moment every evening. ■

Catherine and Bill Lenahan ’72 pose with Jim Cooney ’72 at the Homecoming celebration in 2022.

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OLLLLE ’’SS CCO EGG NNGG I I KK

R AL U M N I AWA

King’s College Honors 2023 Alumni Award Winners

By Will Skaggs, Public Relations and College Communications Manager

E

ach year, a committee comprised of faculty, staff, administration, and alumni assist the president in the selection process for the King’s College Alumni Awards, which are given to distinguished alumni who have made remarkable contributions to their professional fields, their communities, and the institution.

The committee has the distinct privilege of reviewing nominees submitted by fellow alumni and friends of the College.

Having previously been celebrated during Commencement Weekend, this year’s Alumni Awards were presented during Homecoming/Reunion Weekend in September; bestowing the honors during a signature weekend for Monarchs past and present.

Additionally, this year’s event was made open to the public and hosted by local morning show radio host Jocelyn Chocallo ’94 who is also a proud parent of a current King’s College student.

What remains the same though, year after year, is the expansive impact King’s College alumni have on their communities, colleagues, and families.

RUBIN DOSTER III ’04 AND APRIL TANNER DOSTER ’03 The King’s College ALUMNI AWARD FOR SERVICE TO SOCIETY is presented to an alumnus or alumna who has distinguished themselves through selfless and caring personal commitment to benefit others.

Rubin, a gifted defensive tackle who was a three-time All-MAC selection, graduated from King’s College with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. April graduated with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and psychology from King’s and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Penn State. Rubin and April met as first-year students at King’s and married shortly after graduation. At the age of 24, when Rubin’s mother suddenly passed away, Rubin and April fostered and ultimately adopted four of Rubin’s nieces and nephews that were in his mother’s care. Later, in December 2016, they fostered three more young children who were escorted by the state police into the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center where April works as an ER nurse. The children had just been rescued from an abusive household that left

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them dangerously starved, abused, and neglected, and a case worker was unable to find them a suitable home. Rubin and April later adopted all three children.

RACHEL EDELMAN ‘11 The King’s College ALUMNI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS & SCIENCES is awarded to an alumnus or alumna who has distinguished themselves through exceptional professional achievement in the field of Arts and Sciences.

Rachel graduated from King’s College in 2011 with degrees in elementary education and Spanish, as well as an additional certification in English as a Second Language. After graduation, Rachel moved to Boston to complete a two-year service and teaching program through AmeriCorps and Mother Caroline Academy, where she taught fifth grade at an all-girls school. Rachel then transitioned to the Jesuit-sponsored Nativity Preparatory School where she taught its inaugural fourth-grade class. During her time in Boston, Rachel also began the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame to pursue a master’s in educational leadership. After graduating, Rachel moved to Indianapolis to work with the Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).

After the University and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis formed a partnership to revitalize five Catholic elementary schools in the city, Rachel served for six years as the Regional Director of School Culture. Rachel now serves as the Coordinator of School Culture Formation on the national team of the Notre Dame ACE Academies, collaborating with the principals of several schools to nurture Catholic identity and fortify academics with the resources available through the ACE program. She is also an academic supervisor for the ACE Teaching Fellows Program, where she supports first- and second-year teachers around the country.

For the past four years, Rachel has also taught in the Remick Leadership Program, becoming the lead instructor for two courses.

ALUMNI

JAMES T. O’HARA, ESQ. ’58 Named for Robert J. Ell ’50, the first Director of Alumni Relations at King’s College, the ROBERT J. ELL ALUMNI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO ALMA MATER is conferred upon an alumnus or alumna for extraordinary service, dedication, and commitment to King’s College.

Born and raised in Hazleton, Pa., Jim was the first member of his family to go to college. Jim graduated from King’s College in 1958 with a degree in accounting.

He then went on to secure his LL.B. from Catholic University in 1962 and later his LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University in 1966, where he later served as an adjunct professor for 20 years. He ultimately joined Jones Day as a partner in 1972 and practiced business tax law there for 50 years. He has written several tax-related articles and coauthored a two-volume treatise on corporate taxation published by Shepard’s/McGraw Hill. Jim is also a dedicated member of the Jones Day Border Project, a pro bono initiative for migrant children and mothers, many of whom were detained by the U.S. government after fleeing life-threatening gang violence in their home countries. Jim has made numerous trips to the U.S.-Mexican border, assisted hundreds of refugees detained in Laredo, Texas, and provided critical legal counsel and representation for women and families seeking asylum and citizenship in the United States. Jim, along with Ray Kane ’50, helped form the King’s Washington Area Alumni Club (KWAC) in 2003, of which he is still an active member. KWAC conducts various social activities for its members, hosts annual conferences for students aspiring to start their careers in the area, and serves as a valuable resource for King’s fundraising campaigns. Jim now lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife of 60 years, Katie.

JESSICA KUC SHAPPELL ’13 The LEO AWARD is presented to an alumnus or alumna within fifteen years of their graduation who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in their professional or community activities. Named for the King’s College mascot, it suggests the energy, pride, and sense of purpose that the recipient personifies.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional writing from King’s College in 2013 and a master’s degree in English from Farleigh Dickinson University in 2015, Jessie worked at the Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Bethlehem, Pa., for two years as a grant writer and development coordinator. Afterwards, she spent two years at Habitat for Humanity

Lehigh Valley, eventually becoming its Director of Marketing and Development. Her success in doubling participation for the annual ‘She Nailed It!’ fundraising competition earned it the 2019 AFP Eastern PA National Philanthropy Day Special Project of the Year.

She then served as the Executive Director of ITNLehighValley, where she led a team of administrative staff, drivers, and volunteers providing safe and affordable transportation to seniors and visually impaired individuals, including a mobile COVID-19 vaccination initiative for homebound adults. Jessie is currently the Executive Director of Equi-librium Inc., which provides accessible and affordable equine assisted activity and therapy to individuals with physical and developmental disabilities or special social and emotional needs. Equi-librium is one of only seven Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International accredited centers in Pennsylvania and the only one to offer both therapeutic horseback riding and carriage driving. Jessie is also an active volunteer with Hellertown Lower Saucon Little League, Saucon Valley Elementary School, and Kiwanis Club of Easton.

THERESA COVERT WALKER, C.P.A. ‘88 The King’s College ALUMNI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN BUSINESS is awarded to an alumnus or alumna who has distinguished themselves through exceptional professional achievement in the field of business.

Theresa was recruited by PricewaterhouseCoopers after graduating from King’s College in 1988 with a degree in accounting and finance. Five years later, Theresa joined Schering-Plough, where she worked for 16 years in various finance roles related to manufacturing, research, and strategic planning, as well as foreign assignments in Canada and France. She ultimately rose to Assistant Treasurer, and was responsible for global cash management, capital markets, and cash flow forecasting. She also managed debt and equity offerings to finance the $16 billion acquisition of Organon Biosciences.

After the 2009 Merck/Schering-Plough merger, Theresa became Executive Director of Finance within Merck’s Manufacturing Division. She managed $2 billion in capital spending and $1 billion more in the company’s global supply chain, quality, and engineering divisions. Theresa later assumed the role of Vice President of Business Development and was responsible for identifying new opportunities to grow Merck’s business in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Asia. Global teams led by Theresa secured a multi-year oncology deal in Japan, numerous promotion and distribution deals throughout Europe, and several successful transactions involving women’s health and primary care products, among other accomplishments. Theresa is currently Vice President at Plexus Ventures LLC, a global consulting firm specializing in business development support for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. ■

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A D VA N C E M E N T

Sending Us Forth

By Brandi George Davis ’12, Director of College Marketing & Communications

W

hen King’s College embarked on planning a comprehensive campaign in 2017, the initiative did not yet have a name, but it was filled with much hope for the future. And while the campaign developed in its “quiet phase,” securing leadership gifts before its public launch, so did the pandemic. Send Us Forth was born in a time of great challenge and uncertainty but carried us through and sent us forward these past six years.

As we approach our goal of $50 million, King’s is poised to close this chapter and conclude the campaign come the end of the calendar year. It’s amazing what this campaign has accomplished with the support of our alumni, friends, and community.

We’ve secured more than 50 new endowed scholarships. This means we can make a King’s education accessible to even more students who need financial support.

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Student-athletes were able to travel and upgrade their gear. To name just a few examples of support through the Monarch Athletic Fund, Women’s Basketball traveled to their tournament in Florida over Christmas Break, Men’s Basketball got new winter parkas, and Men’s Wrestling purchased a new competition mat.

The KC Fund grew. These vital operational dollars allow us to direct money to areas of greatest need and deliver the high-quality service to students we pride ourselves on. Gifts without designation express confidence in our mission and commitment to our students.

We restored three important buildings. The Richard Abbas Alley Center for Health Sciences (formerly a hotel) and the Mulligan Center for Engineering (formerly a water utility company) are now state-of-the-art facilities for in-demand programs. And at the crest of North Street, the new Chapel of Christ the King is a breathtaking space for worship.

Endowment Growth ($ in millions)

$140

$125

$123

2021

2022

$120 $100 $80

$82

$85

$86

2019

2020

$75

$60 $40 $20 $0 2017

2018

$42.8M

Total private dollars raised*

38,104

Total number of unique gifts

O

n November 9, 2022, we hosted

the 3rd Annual Monarch Mayhem, a

thrilling 24-hour challenge dedicated to

bolstering our student-athletes’ dreams.

We are thrilled to announce that this event

received an outpouring of support beyond our wildest expectations, resulting in an astounding total of $68,142 raised!

We extend our sincerest gratitude to the entire King’s College community—our family, friends, dedicated faculty and

staff, enthusiastic students, loyal alumni, and passionate fans. Your unwavering support leaves an indelible mark on our student-athletes’

journey, enabling them to “maintain their

momentum” as they Father Looney speaking at the Alumni Hall, now named Rev. John J. Ryan, C.S.C., Hall, dedication.

pursue excellence in both academics and athletics. ■

We renamed Alumni Hall. In honor of her late husband, George, Virginia Emershaw’s $1 million donation provided a much-needed renovation to the facility’s interiors. The building was dedicated as Rev. John J. Ryan, C.S.C., Hall during this year’s Homecoming celebrations.

We renovated parts of Holy Cross Hall and Esseff Hall. Emershaw’s generous donation also allowed us to renovate these residence hall lobbies as more welcoming and functional spaces for students.

Despite having our focus set on Send Us Forth’s conclusion, there is still time to participate in this final stretch at sendusforth.kings.edu. No matter the amount, gifts small and large truly make a substantial impact in the lives of Monarchs. ■

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CLASS NOTES

John Holmes ’69

Thomas McNelis ’74

Maureen A. McBride ’82

Marisue A. Elias-Newman ’84

Maura B. Mundy ’91

Jason A.Derr ’05

Thomas Shubilla ’06

Caroline M. Jones ’18

60s

Edward A. Nardell ’68 received the 2023 Drexel College of Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes a graduate of Drexel University College of Medicine, the College of Medicine’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, or any of the predecessor schools, for outstanding professional achievements, personal integrity and stature, and lasting contributions to the recipient’s chosen profession.

John Holmes ‘69, a retired high school teacher has written three dark stories called “Old Poison,” “Dash,” and “Henry Jekyll’s Graveside Service.” He self-published them under the title “Three Dark Jewels.”

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70s

John J. Delaney ’72’s brother Donald Delaney ’76 sent in this special message: “Congratulations to John Delaney, Class of 1972, and his wife, Lorna, former King’s employee, on the celebration of their 50th golden wedding anniversary on November 30, 2023. Their families, and the King’s family, wish them continued happiness and many blessings.”

Thomas W. McNelis ’74 retired after 48 years with Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc, where he served as President.

McNelis’ commitment to enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities will continue to bear fruit through his professional investments in human services long after his retirement, a company spokesman said.

80s

Maureen A. McBride ’82 has been appointed Chair of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Civil Procedural Rules Committee.

A partner at Lamb McErlane PC, Maureen is co-chair of the firm’s Appellate Department and member of the Litigation Department and Executive Committee. She has served on numerous Supreme Court and Bar Association committees. She currently serves as CoChair for the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Appellate Advocacy Committee. Maureen is named a 2023 Super Lawyer and has been recognized as a “Top 50 Women in Pennsylvania,” as well as one of the “Top 100 Philadelphia” lawyers.

Stephen D. Morgan ’69, his wife, Doreen, and their daughters, Kelly Conroy Dussault ’01 and Casey Morgan ’08, were vacationing in Wildwood Crest, N.J. this summer, where they had a chance encounter with several King’s graduates. One day at the pool, Steve was wearing his King’s College hat and a man there asked about it. When he found out it represented King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, he announced not only was he a graduate but his nephew just graduated and was there with him. The man was Francis Fasciana ’81 and he introduced his nephew, Michael Amato ’23. Francis then proceeded to tell them he had just met another King’s alumnus at the same pool! That alumnus turned out to be Anthony Piazza ’77 and when they asked if they could take a group picture, he said he was there with his two daughters—also King’s graduates!

Doreen snapped the picture seen here. From left, Kristen Piazza ’11, PA ’12; Anthony Piazza ’77; Kimberly Piazza Hughes ’07, M.Ed. ’11; Francis Fasciana ’81; Michael Amato ’23; Casey Morgan ’08; Stephen Morgan ’69; and Kelly Conroy Dussault ’01. What a great Monarch meet up!

Marisue A. Elias-Newman ’84 was elected Chairperson for the National Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Association Board of Directors. She is the Assistant Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies, where she oversees the company’s residual market activities, licensing, and governmental relations. She is the past chair and current member of the New Jersey Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau, the past chair and current member of the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau, and a member of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Bureau Workers’ Compensation Committee

Sean D. McDonough ’86 received his Certified Educational Technology Leader (CETL®) certificate in the spring of 2023 joining over 700 CETL® certified members throughout the world. Sean is an educational technology leader with more than 30 years of experience in educational technology programs and initiatives in the public and private sectors. He is a former Chief Technology Officer for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit in Pittsburgh and has served as the Policy Specialist and Director of Educational Technology at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In addition, Sean has worked for a number of educational technology companies as a designer and developer of content and consultant.

Lisa (Evans) Johnson ’87 was named Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations by The American College of Physicians.

90’s

Maura B. Mundy ’91 was appointed

by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for a judicial position on the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board and was confirmed by the Senate. During the Senate confirmation hearing, she wore the class ring of her late father, The Honorable Hugh F. Mundy ’62, who passed away a few weeks earlier.

Noelle M. Hammerbacher ’92 co-wrote and published a book that helps Physician Assistants prepare for their certifications. Titled Clinical Reasoning for Physician Assistants: A Workbook for Certification Review and Practice Readiness, the book is now available on Amazon and other sites. continued on page 67

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AN ORIGINAL

Leo’s Love Story How the Admission of Women on Campus Changed the Lives of Two Monarchs Forever

By Wendy Hinton, Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement

J

ohn C. “Jack” Mutarelli came to King’s College after proudly serving his country in Vietnam. A native of Mountaintop, Pa., Jack had already had a taste of college life before he enlisted in the Army, as he attended Penn State Hazelton while working full time. When he returned home, he enrolled at King’s to pursue his business administration degree.

As an adult learner, Jack was pleased to find an active veteran’s club on campus. Advised

by Father Gardner, the club provided not only peer support but also fun activities like the annual Business School raft race, pickup softball games, and community service at the veteran’s hospital where they would help wheelchair bound patients attend Mass each Sunday.

Then, in 1970, King’s began admitting women.

Marguerita “Maggie” Brogan, a native of Exeter, Pa., and a graduate of Wyoming Area High School, had attended Mater Dei College in upstate New York for one year.

Although she transferred to King’s as a part-time student, her experience was so positive she decided to enroll full-time to earn her degree and teaching certificate in English.

Jack remembers some of his professors, particularly the encouragement of Mrs. Moran who taught language arts, and Bill McGowan, a supportive and mentoring accounting professor.

Maggie fondly recalls some of her professors. She remembers Professor Fixel or “Friend Fixel” as an energetic and fun English professor. She still feels bad for her economics professor who tried so hard to get her to “appreciate” economics. She realized that she needed a tutor to get a passing grade in her economics class.

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CLASS NOTES Timothy J. Cheslock ’96 was installed as President of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians for a oneyear term.

00s Having initially learned her way around campus as an evening student, Maggie soon discovered commuters were socializing in the library and cafeteria. The latter seemed a lot more fun to her, so when she was not in class, she found herself there. She also happened to find Jack there, and, as luck would have it, he was really good at economics.

Jack went from tutor to suitor, and the rest is history.

Jack and Maggie were married at Saint Cecilia’s Church in Exeter in August 1972. They completed their degrees that December and graduated as members of the Class of 1973.

The Mutarellis have stayed close to their alma mater over the years and have been incredibly generous supporters.

Just this past September, they attended Homecoming/Reunion to celebrate their 50th reunion from King’s as newly minted Golden Monarchs. Jack also gives of his time and talents, serving as a member of the King’s Board of Directors since 2022.

Their family has grown to include three adult children, John, David, and Colleen (Campbell); seven grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild. Married for more than five decades, they credit their success as a couple to their mutual respect and admiration for one another. ■

Andrew M. Milz ’01 was honored by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia with an Equal Justice Award for his firm’s exceptional record of providing consumer protection legal services to low-income residents of Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.

Jason A. Derr ’05 was appointed by the Federal Reserve Board to serve as the Assistant Inspector General for Legal Services at the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In this role, he leads the office’s legal team in providing oversight of the activities of the Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to ensure these agencies’ programs are efficient, effective, and free of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement.

Jennifer A. Gimble ’06 was appointed CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Gimble had previously served as the organization’s program director where she focused on community and site-based programs, as well as providing leadership and support to the 11 counties served by the agency. Prior to joining the organization, she spent years working in leadership positions in the childcare field.

Thomas M. Shubilla ’06 received the Monster Bash Achievement Award – “The Forry” in 2022. Named after Famous Monsters of Filmland editor and principle writer Forrest J. Ackerman, the award represents a lifetime achievement of fostering the love of classic movies. Shubilla received the award for his work at the Monster Bash Conference where he hosts Mexican horror movie night, writing for horror film magazines Monster Bash magazine and Screem Magazine, and for his book Primetime 1966-1967: The Full Spectrum Television’s First All-Color Season. Shubilla

is currently a professor at Luzerne County Community College in the Humanities department, where he teaches fundamentals of speech and film appreciation. In addition, he is a resident of and is a Commissioner in Plains Township and has recently been elected to a fourth term to Democratic State Committee in Luzerne County.

Zachary Dietrick ’07 was admitted into the PwC Partnership, focusing on Healthcare Transformation Consulting.

Justin Carder ’09 became the first Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the Defense Contract Auditing Agency (DCCA). The DCAA operates under the authority of the Under Secretary of Defense of the United States.

10s

Elizabeth (Wendolowski) Deegan ’11 was named a 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star for her work in family law at the firm Willig, Williams & Davidson. Rising Stars are attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or have been in practice for no more than 10 years.

Jamie (Cybulski) Johns ’12 graduated with an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Scranton.

Caroline M. Jones ’18 opened the tenth office of The Princeton Group, where she serves as Vice President and Financial Advisor. The new office is located on Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia. Outside of her career, Caroline continues to be involved with King’s as a member of the McGowan School of Business Advisory Council, mentor to business students, and founder of the annual King’s College Caroline Jones Women in Business Scholarship.

Submit your class notes!

Email alumni@kings.edu including your name, class year, your news, and a print-quality image.

2023 ISSUE

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CLASS NOTES 1

3

2

4

MARRIAGES 1 Stanley J. Pierkowsk ’78 married Donna Love on June 10, 2023.

2 Megan E. Grohol Roeder ’12 married Nicholas D. Roeder on October 1, 2022. The couple reside in West Conshohocken, Pa., with their dog, Nila.

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3 Timothy R. Lambert ’15 married Marlee Mierzwa ’20 on June 10, 2023.

King’s alumni include Gary Lambert Jr. ’10; Dan Horn ’11; Mario Martinelli ’15; Mike Brannon ’15; Mary Kate Henry ’12; Tara Lambert ’10; Thea Seasock ’19; Alisson Meluskey ’18; Bethanie Jones ’19; Abbigail Reimer ’19; Leah Hantz ’19; Melissa Wasielewski ’14.

4 Thomas M. Kozerski ’19 married Hannah Bowmaster ’19 on June 25, 2022. The alumni in the photo include the groom Thomas Kozerski ’19, the bride Hannah Bowmaster ’19 (now Kozerski), father of the groom Thomas Kozerski ’86, mother of the bride Diane Carey Bowmaster ’90, father of the bride Michael Bowmaster ’91, and various other family members and friends. The marriage ceremony was held at the Chapel of Christ the King at King’s College. Rev. Daniel Issing was the presider and Rob Yenkowski was the organist.

5

6

7

8

9

10

BIRTHS Rachael Pompeii ’12 and her husband, Devon Craft, welcomed their son, Calvin Phillip, on January 18, 2023.

7 Stephanie and Colin Walsh, both members of the Class of 2011, welcomed their daughter, Sienna Maren, born on June 20, 2023.

David Davis ’07 and Brandi George Davis ’12 welcomed their son, Arthur George, on May 25, 2023.

Michallynn (Vilushis) Barry ’09 and her husband, Brad Barry, welcomed their son, Logan Harrison, on July 17, 2023.

5

6

8

9 Corey M. Lavin ’10 and Molly (Dahl) Lavin ’13 welcomed their daughter, Charlotte Clare, on August 1, 2023.

10 Betty and Matt Kropp, both members of the Class of 2016, welcomed their son, Levi George, on September 17, 2022.

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IN MEMORIAM Our prayers and condolences are extended to the families of the following alumni and friends who passed away recently.

George Esseff Sr. ’51 Vincent “Bill” Quather ’51 Harry J. Miller ’54 Leonard Patrick Jennings Jr. ’55 Carmen J. Maffei ’56 Gerald P. Mrozinski ’56 Albert Sallitt ’56 Frank E. Kane ’57 Robert “Bob” N. Boyle ’58 Robert M. Brennan ’58 George A. Germak ’58 James J. Mahon III ’58 Joseph A. Maughan ’58 John Benedict Ferruggiaro ’59 Robert G. Gilbert Sr. ’59 Philip Edward Melovitz ’59 Joseph Resperski ’59 Edward G. Staback ’59 Bernard Bradley West ’59 John “Jack” J. Brennan ’60 Francis Patrick Burns ’60 Henry “Hank” A. Martin Jr. ’60 Daniel B. McKeown Sr. ’60 Donald Zlotek ’60 James Michael Bosso ’61 Robert P. Corcoran ’61 Robert James Gallagher ’61 John L. Kula Sr. ’61 Joseph A. O’Brien Jr. ’61 Dr. Tony Pugliese ’61 John Paul Glennon ’62 John Joseph Katsock ’62 Hugh F. Mundy ’62 Edward William Pilwallis ’62 James C. Vreeland ’62 Albert F. Answini ’63 William J. Desciak ’63 Jerome C. Krefski ’63

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Lawrence Lasecki ’63 William “Bill” B. Rosbrook ’63 Charles W. Suhoskey Jr. ’63 Joseph “Joe” Louis Tardio ’63 Metro Fetko ’64 Thomas G. Herstek ’64 Charles Simon Marowski ’64 John A. Sysak ’64 John L. Christie ’65 Joseph R. Kunitsky ’65 John Podskoc ’65 James Prideaux ’65 Thomas (Tom) Leo Reilly ’65 Robert M. Saks ’65 Bernard F. Slusarz ’65 Thomas Joseph Butchko ’66 Andrew Fabian ’66 Stanley John Konopka Jr. ’66 Frank J. Magdalinski ’66 Thomas B. May ’66 Thomas Anthony Rogish ’66 Philip C. Adonizio ’67 Richard Mergo ’67 Martin E. O’Hara ’67 Stanley Podlaski ’67 Anthony James Bellanca ’68 Daniel M. Einfalt ’68 George J. Goode Jr. ’68 John P. Moses ’68 James H. O’Connell Jr. ’68 Richard J. Swenski ’68 Joseph C. Loftus ’69 William T. Morgan ’69 Robert “Bob” Joseph Pennoni ’69 Paul J. Sheehan ’69 Anthony Silvestre ’69 Thomas C. Stires Sr. ’69 Michael W. McDonald ’70

John P. Milius ’70 Francis “Frank” Reatini ’70 John Birkenhead ’71 Santo “Joe” Giambra ’71 Thomas H. Gilmore ’71 James J. Haffey Jr. ’71 Alfred “Al” M. Leri ’71 Joseph Emery Morrison ’71 Michael J. Swortz Jr. ’71 Raymond R. Wasko Sr. ’71 Eugene M. Brady ’72 Gregory W. Kunkel ’72 Joseph “Joe” Mamary ’72 Robert J. Niemic ’72 Joseph “Jodee” D. Simon ’72 Philip R. Smith ’72 George A. Strish Jr. ’72 John Joseph Acconzo ’73 Vincent William “Bill” Ambrulavage ’73 Edward (Ned) J. Hayes ’73 Paul Joseph Hennigan ’73 Bonnie Koneski-White ’73 Lawrence “Larry” Daniel Mac Donald ’73 Carl D. Wint Jr. ’73 Stephen “Steve” Wolinsky ’73 Leo E. Agresti ’74 Frank B. Burnside Jr. ’74 Edmund P. Gongleski ’74 Brother James H. Miller, C.S.C. ’74 Allan D. Pietrefesa ’74 David Francis Ristagno ’74 David A. Voda ’74 William J. Krajewski ’75 Kathryn M. Miller ’75 Frank R. Pietruszewski ’75 Sharon Troynacki ’75 James P. Witinski ’75 Theodore Metro Chabon ’76

Jane Frances Dessoye ’76 Francis “Frank” P. Panuccio ’76 James “Jim” M. Paulshock ’76 Richard M. Pelak ’76 Joseph F. Dietrick Jr. ’77 Molly S. Doyle ’77 David Kosik Sr. ’77 Patrick S. Zwanch ’77 Meghan Ann Hizny ’78 John “Jack” William Katrenicz ’79 Jeffrey S. Lasky ’79 Anthony Thomas Werhun ’79 Joseph J. Barletta Jr. ’80 William Burke ’80 Donald P. Cawley Jr. ’80 Mary Jean Greco ’80 James C. Kaskiel ’80 Martin L. Thomas ’81 Conrad D. Baut ’82 Sandra Mercedes Hooper ’83 Virginia Ann Paoloni ’83 Joyce Polocko Jacobson ’83 Karen Kern Yarrish, Ph.D. ’83 Donatos Anthony Kolioutas ’84 Joan Magdalinski Kucewicz ’84 James M. McDermott ’84 Constant “Connie” J. Pivinski ’84 Robert J. Reddington III ’84 Robin Libraro ’87 Michael J. Pinkoski ’88 Steven Dennis ’89 Barbara Ann Drexinger ’89 Nancy Worke ’89 Lizette J. Gardner Skweir ’90 Christine Trottini Hindmarsh ’90 Edward M. Voitek ’90 Miriam Harry Heverline ’91 JoAnn C. Benson ’92 Robert A. Rodzinak ’93

Karen E. Padavan ’94 Harriet Lee Sporn ’94 Maureen B. Kenny McHale ’95 Robert J. Loftus ’95 Joanne M. McHale ’95 Alison Simola ’95 Bruce Yourechko Jr. ’95 Paul Langan ’96 Annette Norris ’97 Rebecca Lynn Constantine ’98 Rosemary Evanish ’00 Latisse A. Heerwig ’01 Maria Christi Elmir Hughes ’03 Mike Hage ’06 James Justin Blewitt ’18

FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND FRIENDS David William Crotty Edward Donohue Eberhard Faber IV George Powell Flint Eileen Mary Gillis Leonard Gorney Victor F. Greco, M.D. Sister Martha Hanlon, RSM Monsignor Arthur Kaschenbach Jean Patrice Losco O’Brien Trudy S. Mariano William “Skip” V. Milford Joseph Panzitta Jamie Price Budd Walter “Bob” Roberts Jr. Chester Michael Shiner Joseph A. Sinavage Donald J. Sipple Sr. Francis X. Smith Robert Sudnick Geraldine Wabik Anthony J. Welgosh

The Honorable Carmen Maffei ’56 King’s College lost a special member of its community on October 10, 2023, when the Honorable Carmen John Maffei ’56 passed away. Carmen’s life was a fascinating one, filled with professional adventure, world travel, appreciation for the arts, and love of family. Carmen always remained loyal to and engaged with his beloved alma mater.

Thanks to Carmen’s generosity, the Maffei Family’s presence lives prominently throughout the College’s campus. Physical spaces memorializing family members include the George P. Maffei II Theatre, the Sandra Dyczewski Maffei Gold Room, and the Chapel of Christ the King at the George and Giovita Maffei Family Commons. Carmen’s thoughtful generosity has also created endowment funds for student scholarships (through the George P. Maffei II Memorial Scholarship) and as a resource for the Theatre Department (through the George P. and Giovita Maffei Family Theatre Endowment).

His philanthropy also funded a high school Shakespeare competition at King’s for several years, bringing the magic of the Bard to high school students by way of our talented Theatre staff.

As we mourn Carmen’s passing, we are comforted to know that the Maffei Family will forever be well-represented at King’s College because of Carmen and his generous spirit.

Rest in peace, dear friend.

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 281 Wilkes-Barre, PA

133 North River Street • Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711

TRAVEL WITH Alumni and F riends

TO NORTHERN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND May 6 to May 14, 2024 To request more information, contact our Travel Partners at TravelWorld: Debbie Freas • dfreas@asktravelworld.com • (570) 288-9311 To see the full itinerary, scan the QR code or visit the King’s alumni website at kings.edu/alumni-travel