PORTRAITS
BIG WINS!
Pitt-Bradford athletes are leading on and off the field
Coach Tina Phillips and the 2025 Panther softball team
More Than a Game
Athletics at Pitt-Bradford isn’t just good for students and alumni — it boosts retention, builds community, and strengthens the whole university.
16 Hoop Heroes
Coach Jesse DeLoof ’13 guides the Panthers to the AMCC title and their first March Madness NCAA tournament win.
18 Big Leagues
Softball coach Tina Phillips wins her 400th game and national recognition.
20
Thought Leaders
Pitt-Bradford athletes are moving from the playing field into national roles.
departments
2 First
Shot
How the Panthers rallied late in the game to win their first AMCC title in 22 years.
4 The Commons
We asked the Class of 2025 what they’ll miss about campus; Athletics pulls the trigger on starting a sporting clays program; Student gets experience while volunteering at EMT; Gaskew honored by Chancellor; Seven longtime employees retire.
22 Panther Pack
An anonymous gift launched Dr. Betsey Eggler’s path to medicine. Now her generosity is powering chemistry research for today’s students at Pitt-Bradford — and they’ll know exactly who to thank.
Cover by xxxx xxxxxx
Coach Tina Phillips and team enjoy a moment in the dugout after another Panther win.
Divine Onyewuchi, a criminal justice major from Secane, Pa., performs at open mic night in the Commons Café, part of Pitt-Bradford After Hours programming during the spring semester. Other nights featured bingo, trivia and karaoke.
More than a game
If you’ve ever sat in the stands, heart pounding as the clock winds down, then you’ve witnessed the spirit that defines Pitt-Bradford athletics. Our student-athletes compete with grit, heart, and a passion we all can feel in the air.
Whether it’s a buzzer-beater shot, a game-saving goal, or a perfect catch, our athletes bring a high level of intensity and focus. And just as impressive as their competitive spirit is their sportsmanship—they’re graceful in victory and gracious in defeat.
One in four of our students competes on a varsity team. However, at Pitt-Bradford, an NCAA Division III school, athletics is about much more than wins and losses. All of us here know that our student-athletes are students first.
Our faculty and staff help our athletes develop the skills that enable them to succeed in competition but also, most importantly, in the classroom. And the results speak for themselves. Our athletes consistently outperform their peers with higher average GPAs as well as higher retention and graduation rates.
The lessons our student-athletes learn — discipline, leadership and teamwork — help to shape them into confident, courageous and compassionate individuals who succeed far beyond the game.
President Richard Esch ’83 is ready to cheer on the Panthers with cheerleaders (from left) Isabella Anderson, Loom Soe, Abigail Wright, Alexia Catalone and Tiana Putt at the NCAA DIII men’s basketball tournament this spring.
The impact of our athletics program also extends beyond campus. Game days bring our community together — students, families, alumni, neighbors and friends — all bound by our love for Pitt-Bradford athletics. There’s a palpable and powerful sense of connection in the stands, where we cheer together for the Panthers.
That connection doesn’t end when the game or match is over. For years, our student-athletes and their coaches have forged strong bonds in the community. Our teams log countless hours of community service, including mentoring young athletes through programs like Special Olympics and CARE For Children, where their kindness and commitment have a profound and long-lasting impact.
I invite you to join us this season — to cheer, to connect and to celebrate what it means to be part of our Panther family. Your support and your presence matter, and I know our student-athletes — and I — will be thrilled to see you in the stands..
Richard T. Esch ’83, president
PORTRAITS
Telling the Stories of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
EDITOR
Kimberly Marcott Weinberg
COPY EDITORS Laurie Dufford Judy Hopkins ’71-’73 Pat Frantz Cercone
ART DIRECTOR John Sizing www.jspublicationdesign.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Timothy Deters, Alan Hancock ’07, ’19, Glenn Melvin ’04, Aimee Obidzinski, Tina Phillips, Andrew Truman ’23, Andy Zeng ’27
NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT
The University of Pittsburgh, as an educational institution and as an employer, values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and racial/ethnic and cultural diversity. Accordingly, as fully explained in Policy 07-01-03, the University prohibits and will not engage in discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability, or status as a veteran. The University also prohibits and will not engage in retaliation against any person who makes a claim of discrimination or harassment or who provides information in such an investigation. Further, the University will continue to take affirmative steps to support and advance these values consistent with the University’s mission. This policy applies to admissions, employment, access to and treatment in University programs and activities. This is a commitment made by the University and is in accordance with federal, state and/or local laws and regulations.
For information on University equal opportunity and affirmative action programs, please contact: University of Pittsburgh, Office of Affirmative Action, Diversity and Inclusion, Carol W. Mohamed, Director (and Title IX, 504 and ADA Coordinator), 412 Bellefield Hall, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15260 (412) 648-7860. In compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the University guarantees that students have the right to inspect all personally identifiable records maintained by the institution and may challenge the content and accuracy of those records through appropriate institutional procedures. It is further guaranteed by the University that student records containing personally identifiable information will not be released except as permitted by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
Personnel for Nondiscrimination statement
For faculty and staff
Dr. David Fitz
Vice president of institutional integration and community engagement, (814)362-5119 dfitz@pitt.edu
For student-related concerns
Kara Kennedy
Director of student care and conduct (814)362-5057 kjk3@pitt.edu
first shot
Champions
Panthers men’s basketball players and coaches erupted in jubilation, leaping from the bench and sprinting to midcourt to embrace their teammates as the final buzzer sounded in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship game Feb. 28 — sealing a thrilling 92-90 victory over Penn StateAltoona.
The victory marked the program’s first AMCC championship in 22 years. The electric celebration followed a heart-stopping final sequence in which PittBradford clung to a twopoint lead and defended desperately, forcing the Lions into a flurry of missed shots in the paint as time expired.
It was a comeback for the ages. Down by 10 points midway through the second half, the Panthers roared back behind clutch performances. The team outscored Altoona 12-3 in the final five minutes, fueled by steals, layups, and relentless defense. Rodd Yarbrough’s tying basket and assist on what would be the winning shot capped off a gritty team effort.
With the win, PittBradford claimed its third AMCC title and tied the school record for wins in a season at 23. The championship capped a season defined by resilience, teamwork, and belief — and marked a moment Panther fans will never forget as their team stormed the court not just as winners, but as champions.
COMMONS THE
News from Around the Quad
Fare thee well
Pitt-Bradford employees say goodbye for now
Seven long-time employees retired this summer, including some of the longestserving members of the staff and faculty.
All told, Bill Kline, Dr. David Soriano, Leasa Maley, Dr. Don Ulin, Pat Frantz Cercone, Jody Randolph and Dr. Nancy McCabe had a combined 218 years of service at the university.
“Each retiree has left a unique imprint – whether in the classroom, behind the scenes or out in the community representing our values,” said Richard Esch, president of Pitt-Bradford, at a reception held for retirees in the spring.
If you were a student at Pitt-Bradford in the last 40 years, it’s likely you knew at least one of these retirees.
We asked them to tell us a bit about what their next chapter holds.
Executive director of Communications and Marketing, 25 years
“My retirement plans include spending more time in the woods photographing beautiful creatures – from red foxes and bald eagles to porcupines and barred owls. I also hope to travel even more, including spending more time in Colorado with my son, Max; reading more of only what I want to read; and doing some freelance writing. If there’s any time left, I hope to learn to make really good bread.”
Bill Kline ’84
Director of Computer Telecommunications and Media Services, 41 years
“My plans during retirement include working around the house, but most importantly traveling with my wife and family. I enjoy cruising and have two planned for this summer. I’d like to see more of the continental United States, Europe and Hawaii. I hope to also be back to teach a couple courses as an adjunct instructor each term for the next few years.”
Dr. David Soriano
Associate professor of chemistry, 41 years
“I find myself getting refreshing sleep and will continue my research with the university’s new scanning electron microscope. I will also develop some ‘cold wax’ formulations for oil paint additives since I do small-scale oil
Pat Frantz Cercone
Soriano
Kline
Cercone
paintings. I walk daily and listen to podcasts on various topics, and I will visit one of daughters in Erie and help with landscaping.”
Leasa Maley ’03
Assistant director of Auxiliary Services, 37 years
Most people probably know Maley from her years as manager of The Panther Shop, but she also taught skiing and snowboarding to students at Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, N.Y., and advised the Pitt-Bradford Ski Club. She often invited international students to her home and celebrated with some of them at their weddings around the world.
Dr. Don Ulin
Professor of English, 27 years
This spring, he took part in the annual study abroad trip to Pitt-Bradford’s sister school, Yokohama College of Commerce.
Jody Randolph ’15
Education program database coordinator, 24 years
ground’ and ‘The Pamela Papers’ across six states. I also must write my next book, which is already under contract, ‘Creating Some Measure of Beauty: The Healing Power of the Artful Essay.’ But I also hope for more bike rides with my dog, Lorelei, and am getting a mini doodle named Lucille!”
Ulin splits his time between his camp and maple-syrup farm outside of Bradford and his city home in Olean, N.Y. On a good day, he enjoys being outdoors or at home with a good book or movie on the rainy days. He also enjoys traveling and has lived in Scotland, Japan and Botswana.
“I am looking forward to having more time to help my father and to visit my grandchildren. I enjoy working in my yard, and now I’ll have time to relax on the deck and enjoy the view. I know I will travel to visit family and friends. In fact, at the end of my last day, I will head to the beach immediately!”
Dr. Nancy McCabe
Professor of writing, 24 years
“I’m not really slowing down, just shifting gears. I have a book tour planned for ‘Fires Burning Under-
McCabe
Randolph
Maley
Ulin
Ready, aim, fire!
Panthers to launch clays target team
Pitt-Bradford is expanding its athletics programs with the launch of a co-ed clays target team, set to begin competition in trap and skeet shooting in the 2025-26 academic year.
The new team will become the 15th varsity sport at the university and is part of the fast-growing Scholastic Clay Target Program, which includes 125 colleges nationwide.
Athletic Director Bret Butler called the addition “a great asset to our department and the university,” noting the sport’s rising popularity in the region.
skeet and sporting clays at the age of 14 and has remained active in the sport.
The Panthers will train and compete at the Bradford Gun Club, which will serve as the team’s home base for practices, meets and equipment storage. Competitions will include a mix of in-person and virtual formats, with teams recording and sending scores from their local facilities.
Three faculty members received Chancellor’s Teaching Awards: Dr. Tammy Haley, Dr. Lauren Yaich, and Dr. Rick Frederick. Caption goes here. Caption goes here. Caption goes here. Caption goes here. Caption goes here. Caption goes here.
Alumnus Jeff Cattoni ’16 has been named the team’s first head coach. A member of the Panther swim team during his college years, he gained coaching experience as head coach of the Bradford Area High School swim team for three years.
Cattoni has also served as a volunteer coach for the Bradford Bird Busters youth trap team and is an activities guide for The Lodge at Glendorn. An NRA-certified shooting instructor, Cattoni began competing in
The idea of starting a clays team began more than two years ago with conversations Butler had with the athletic director at Mount Aloysius College, a fellow Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference member, about their team.
Coach Cattoni will be able to recruit team members from a growing number of high school scholastic shooters, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio and across the Midwest.
President Rick Esch supported the new enterprise. Zach Stark, instructor of exercise science and a coach with the Bradford Area High School clays team, lent his expertise as well.
Gaskew honored with Chancellor’s Public Service Award
Dr. Tony Gaskew, professor of criminal justice and associate dean of academic affairs at Pitt-Bradford, was named a 2025 recipient of the University of Pittsburgh’s Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award.
Chancellor Joan Gabel recognized Gaskew for his longstanding work with incarcerated individuals at Federal Correctional Institution McKean in Lewis Run, Pa., and State Correctional Institution Forest in Marienville, Pa. His work at those institutions has included founding Pitt-Bradford’s Prison Education Program, which has reached more than 1,000 students, and creating the Life Support program for juvenile lifers.
Gaskew, who has taught at PittBradford since 2006, is the first PittBradford faculty member to receive this award and the fourth to be honored by the Chancellor’s office.
Gaskew
Unverdorben named volleyball coach, Schwab returns as wrestling coach
Kelly Unverdorben has been named as the sixth head coach of the women’s volleyball team, and Terry Schwab returns to Pitt-Bradford wrestling as head coach.
Unverdorben joined the university this summer with an impressive coaching résumé and a reputation for developing championship-caliber teams and athletes.
Over the past 11 years, Unverdorben built a volleyball powerhouse at her alma mater, Portville (N.Y.) High School, guiding her players to eight New York State Class C titles and 305 wins. More than 65% of her high school athletes continued their careers in college —more than 15 times the national average. She also captured a state title at Ellicottville (N.Y.) High School during the 2012-13 season.
Unverdorben has been named American Volleyball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year three times and brings a strong record in club volleyball as well.
Schwab has been an assistant wrestling coach and served as interim head coach during the 2024-25 season. Before coming to Pitt-Bradford, he was a successful coach at Smethport (Pa.) Area High School, where he amassed 197 dual meet wins in a 34-year coaching career. In 2021, he was named to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District IX Hall
student standout Jordan Walsh ’25
Jordan Walsh of Allegany, N.Y., discovered her passion while volunteering as an emergency medical technician in her hometown.
Walsh grew up around the world as her mother’s work as a mining engineer took the family to Indonesia, Peru, Canada, Virginia and Spain.
Her grandparents live in Allegany, and when it came time to look for a college, she wanted to be near them. She has found her roots in Allegany, at Pitt-Bradford and with the Allegany Rescue and Emergency Medical Service.
“I just love being there and being able to use what I know to help people,” she said. “Patients are looking at us saying, ‘Thank you so much.’ It’s a good feeling. These people don’t even know who I am.”
After graduating, she now knows she wants to continue to help people face-to-face as a physician’s assistant. Walsh became interested in exercise science after undergoing physical therapy as a high school athlete.
“I love the exercise science program,” she said. “I don’t think college would have been for me without my professors.
“The exercise science program majorly helped me as and EMT,” she said, pointing to classes she was taking in how to read echocardiograms and treating chronic diseases. “It gave me a really good foundation.”
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‘Crowned with love of son and daughter’
What the Class of 2025 will miss about Pitt-Bradford
For four years (more or less), students make Pitt-Bradford home and, well, get attached. Before they headed out into the wider world, we asked members of the Class of 2025 what they thought they would miss about their alma mater, dear Pitt-Bradford.
“I’m going to miss my student worker supervisor, Shannon Ridenour. She’s a mom away from home and the first person I go to when I need something.”
– KYLIE SMITH a psychology major from Tampa, Fla.
“My friendships through playing on the basketball team – post-game meals on the road and the conversations we had.”
– KATELYN WOOLSON a sport and recreation management major from Biglerville, Pa.
“The interpersonal relationships I made with my professors. I was able to connect a lot, and it made me retain the knowledge better.”
– MITCHELL BURKE an exercise science major from Sugar Run, Pa.
“Dr. Ken Wang (associate professor of computer information systems and technology). He’s a very down-to-earth guy. Always willing to help.”
– KYLE KIMOTO a computer information systems and technology major from Bradford.
“My independence. This place is really secluded, and it allowed me to focus on my schoolwork and myself.”
KAMRIN
Del.
“The people. Playing basketball with my friends and watching the NFL on Sundays in the residence hall. We ate, and I got the wings.”
– ABDUL ELOLA a sport and recreation management major from Jersey City, N.J.
“Daily chats with my advisor.”
– LEILUANEA BEDILLON a business major from Canonsburg, Pa.
“The small community.”
– CIANA VERDUSCO a forensic science major from Saginaw, Mich.
“I’m going to miss the woods and having the (Richard E. McDowell Community) trail to walk on.”
– OLIVIA SHULTZ a biology major from Stillwater, Pa.
“Living with my best friends.”
– EMILY FILOSA a biology major from Williamstown, Pa.
–
SIMMS a nursing major from New Castle,
MORE THAN A GAME
Athletics is about more than wins and losses. It’s a launching pad for lives of leadership, service and purpose
by KIMBERLY WEINBERG
Bret Butler picks up a 2”-thick pile of greeting cards wrapped in a rubber band and taps it on his desk. “Thank you notes from moms,” he says, “and this is just a small number of them.”
Butler, who was named athletic director in 2016 after serving 17 years as head baseball coach, doesn’t say this to pat himself on the back – it’s to show how valuable athletics can be in the lives of student athletes.
Pitt-Bradford athletics does more than get students on the field; it gets them through college and launches them into meaningful careers and lives.
“We’re one of the tools in the tool box for them to get that degree,” Butler says.
More than one in four Pitt-Bradford students is a student-athlete, and many of them would not have found the campus without their sport. They may not have even found college.
The Panthers now have 14 NCAA Division III sports as well as cheerleading, esports and a new interscholastic clays target shooting team.
“Most student-athletes are here because a coach recruited them,” Butler said. And when a student-athlete arrives on campus, they already have some people in their corner with whom they have things in common – a coach, upper class students to mentor them and other first-year friends to bond with.
At the Division III level, there are no scholarships.
“We truly are still the amateur athletes, and it’s a beautiful part of the college experience,” he said. “These athletes do it because they love it. Sometimes they’re playing in front of 17 people.”
While Butler can tell hundreds of stories, we tracked down several alumni athletes to tell us how being an athlete enriched their college experience.
Andy Guelcher ’03 dreamed of playing in front of a lot more people, but he was happy with what he could get. He was one of those young people who just wanted to keep playing baseball. In high school, he was 6’2” and 140 pounds – a left-handed pitcher, but a pretty skinny one.
“I emailed Coach,” he said, meaning Butler. “He drove down to Harrisburg and watched a game and said, ‘You can come play.’ I had emailed a bunch of coaches. He was the only one to come see me play.”
Guelcher worked hard, put on weight, eventually even tried out for some professional teams.
“It was going to be a very minimal amount of money,” he said. He started selling cars at a Honda dealer in Mechanicsburg to earn a living. He was a talented sales associate and was named general manager of Ciocca Honda in Harrisburg when he was 27. By 39, he and a partner founded
“Playing baseball for Coach Butler was one of the best life experiences I’ve had … professionally and as a father.”
– ANDY GUELCHER ’03
Today, he leads 400 employees – and in June, Mohawk Chevrolet was named a Chevrolet Dealer of the Year, an honor only 3 percent of dealers receive. Guelcher believes what he learned in baseball has contributed to his success.
“I talked with Coach Butler not too long ago,” he said. “He thought maybe he had been a little too hard on me and the guys back in the day. I gave him specific examples of how he has helped me build effective teams. Playing baseball for him was one of the best life experiences I’ve had as far as what I’ve been able to do professionally and as a father.”
Mohawk Chevrolet in Ballston Spa, N.Y., near Saratoga Springs.
Guelcher
“Most student-athletes are here because a coach recruited them.” – A.D. BRET BUTLER
Beyond leading his team at Mohawk, Guelcher is involved in another team as a coowner of the Albany Firebirds and its league, Arena Football One, successor to the Arena Football League.
“There are a lot of young men who had dreams of the NFL. They still have dreams of that,” Guelcher said. Having dreamt of being a professional athlete himself, he relishes the opportunity to give the Firebirds players that chance. Like Butler, he expects those players to participate in the community – the same way he expects it from his Mohawk Chevrolet employees.
“Our players and coaches will go to schools and different events and Special Olympics,” he said. “The kids are just in awe when these athletes are talking to them.”
An athlete alumna who is also making a difference to children is Dr. Katie Anderton ’22, who spent spring of this year as one of only three occupational therapists in Belize City, Belize, helping autistic children and educating their parents about the different way their children experience and process the world.
Although Anderton is not as far along in her career, she also sees the benefits of her time in athletics. Recruited to Pitt-Bradford to play soccer, she said the lessons she learned about organizational behavior and leadership helped her through graduate school and as a young professional.
“I loved my experience as an athlete,” she said. “I played sports my entire life, and I owe so much to sports for developing me into the person I am.”
One of the skills she directly
attributes to her time in athletics is taking constructive criticism. As an athlete, she realized her coaches’ feedback was meant to improve how she played the game.
In the clinical setting where she now practices her craft, her mentor is her coach.
“When my mentor comes to me and says, ‘I don’t really like how you did this,’ I don’t take it too personally,” she said. “That was a huge one for me.”
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Anderton
Athletics gave her a place to practice other interpersonal dynamics. A lot of seniors graduated after her first year playing Panther soccer. Her sophomore through senior years, she served as team captain and helped rebuild the team and bring players together.
“You would have a teammate who was the polar opposite from you, but coming together with different personalities with one main goal was super helpful.” Now she thinks of that as she
“As a student, having a team was helpful because I’m an introvert. ”
– TAYLOR MCMILLEN ’15
collaborates with co-workers, setting personal differences aside to serve her patients’ best interests.
When the COVID pandemic changed college life in her junior year, she added swimming.
“The swimming part of my college career enhanced so much for me,” she said. “It was just nothing but stress relief and meeting new people.”
Exercise and connecting with others are also part of what Dr. Taylor McMillen ’15 enjoyed about being an athlete. A star volleyball player at Pitt-Bradford, she said that being a studentathlete helped her both in college and in her professional life as a neuropsychologist in Michigan, where she assesses the cognitive function of patients for signs of dementia, strokes and other conditions.
“As a student, having a team was helpful because I’m an introvert. We all got along well and spent a good chunk of time together. It gives you a built-in friend group,” she said.
One of those friends was Kelcey Schaum ’14, who not only played volleyball with McMillen, she was also a psychology major. The friends and teammates went on to graduate school together as well, earning doctorates in psychology within one year of each other.
McMillen continued to make friends through volleyball during her master’s program, when she played for fun. After tearing a ligament in her knee, she stopped playing volleyball, but now
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McMillen
enjoys cycling, weightlifting and body building.
“It’s great for your mental health,” she said.
Another alumna who drew on her athletic experience for discipline, time management and how to thrive under pressure was Haley Ward ’18. Since graduating with her bachelor’s in science, Ward went on to earn a master’s degree in pathology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Today she’s a pathology resource technologist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Ward excelled not only in biology at PittBradford, but she was also an all-conference bowler. Her love for bowling began at age five, inspired by her mom and dad. She came to Pitt-Bradford after being recruited for bowling because it was close to her home in Machias, N.Y., let her continue her athletic career and focus on her academics.
Pitt-Bradford Athletes at a Glance
• 1 in 4 Pitt-Bradford students is a student-athlete
• 14 NCAA Division III teams — plus cheerleading, esports, and clay target shooting
• As a group, student-athletes earn higher GPAs than non-athletes
• They enroll in and complete more credits per semester
• They’re retained at higher rates from year to year
• And they graduate at higher rates than their non-athlete peers
One of her proudest moments was winning the AMCC title as a freshman, an experience that bonded her team and left lasting memories. Now she hopes to coach collegiate bowling and give back to student-athletes like herself.
That would make Butler proud.
“It’s our job to turn our athletes into mature contributors in our society,” he said. Thanks, Coach.
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Ward
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by MATT LOVELL
HOOP HEROES
First-ever NCAA tournament win caps off historic season
Panthers men’s basketball finished its season this year in a place it had never been before – the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament.
Along the way, head coach Jesse DeLoof ’13 broke into the national spotlight and secured the team’s first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference title in more than 20 years.
Coming off the program’s first winning season in a decade last year, DeLoof entered this year with optimism. With four starters returning, the foundation was strong. But the real spark came with a bold shift in strategy.
The addition of assistant coach Nathan Schneider ’23 brought a new edge. Schneider spent the past year using his final year of eligibility playing at Division II Gannon University in Erie, Pa., where he was part of a team that reached the Elite Eight.
He returned to Pitt-Bradford as an assistant coach with “The System,” a high-pressure, high-speed attack that uses a deep rotation and constant energy to overwhelm opponents.
“We knew we had a deep roster, and with the team’s speed, athleticism and talent, it would be a perfect fit,” DeLoof said.
After a grueling preseason that included high-intensity practices and conditioning, the Panthers debuted their new style at the season opener against Hiram College. At first, the team struggled to implement the new system and quickly found itself trailing by 23 points.
“For a few minutes It was scary, falling behind early,” DeLoof said. “But we had faith in our guys and the system and knew it would pay off.”
And pay off it did.
After their initial stumble, the Panthers roared back to win against Hiram in overtime. That comeback sparked an eight-game winning streak — the best start in school
history — with the team topping 100 points in all but one contest. Even a mid-season loss to nationally ranked Wooster (Ohio) College couldn’t derail their momentum. After losing to Wooster, they responded the next day with a bounce-back win and then ripped off 11 more victories to open the new year.
The regular season brought record after record: most wins, most points scored in a regulation game (135 against Alfred (N.Y.) State College), and even a tripleovertime thriller over Hilbert College. For the first time ever, Pitt-Bradford received votes in the d3hoops.com
Top 25 national poll.
Entering the AMCC tournament as the top seed, the Panthers rolled past La Roche University in the semifinals and then faced Penn State-Altoona in a heart-stopping final. Down seven with five minutes to go, the Panthers clawed back, took the lead in the final minute, and held on through four frantic Altoona shots as the buzzer sounded. The celebration was 23 years in the making.
The championship earned the Panthers an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, where they stunned The College of New Jersey 98-96 behind a red-hot first half and clutch second-half poise, securing the program’s first NCAA tournament win. Though they fell the next day to host Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College, the season had already become legendary.
The accolades soon followed. DeLoof was recognized as both AMCC and d3Hoops.com Region 7 Coach of the Year and several Panthers were recognized with all-conference
This spring, DeLoof capped off a remarkable run at his alma mater by accepting a new position as head coach at Guilford College in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, one of the most competitive in DIII men’s hoops.
“I’ll always be proud of what we built here,” he said. “We made history.”
Women’s softball coach
Tina Phillips hits 400 wins and basks in the national spotlight
by PAT FRANTZ CERCONE
BIG LEAGUES
Tina Phillips , head women’s softball coach, is having quite the year, from sitting in the front row at this year’s Women’s College World Series to capturing her 400th career win.
What could be dubbed the “Year of Tina” started in November when she was named chair of the NCAA Softball Rules Committee.
“This is a huge deal,” said Bret Butler, athletic director, “and quite an honor not only for her but also for Pitt-Bradford and the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.”
As chair of the committee, Phillips sets the course for all NCAA softball rules for teams in all three divisions, Butler explained, from Division I schools like Notre Dame and Texas to Division III schools like Tufts and Pitt-Bradford.
“It’s really just too cool!”
As chair, Phillips leads the committee that this year will examine the current rules and regulations and make any necessary adjustments.
“We want to create safe, concise and enforceable rules,” she said, which involves getting input from head coaches, athletic directors, conference commissioners, senior women administrators and umpires. “We’re trying to better our game.”
event, and got a chance to test bats. On the personal side, she geeked out as a softball super-fan, taking photos of the games, snapping selfies, and holding the championship trophy.
But that wasn’t all. There was more to her remarkable year.
In late March, Phillips, whose been head women’s softball coach at Pitt-Bradford for 22 years, reached her 400th career win.
“Very few softball coaches get to 400 wins,” Butler said. “Tina got there because she’s an excellent coach.”
Then, less than two weeks later, her team was honored by the AMCC as a Peak Performer for having the highest team GPA – 3.77 – of all the other softball teams in the conference.
“I was so proud of these women,” Phillips said. “They worked hard, not only on the field but also in the classroom.”
For Phillips, an exciting perk of being committee chair was attending this year’s World Series in Oklahoma City.
“I was like a kid in a candy store. It was one of the most amazing thing I’ve done professionally and personally.”
On the professional side, she saw video review in action, sat in on umpire meetings, witnessed how the NCAA managed the
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While this has been a great year for Phillips, her love for the game and her players has helped make each of her 22 years at Pitt-Bradford special.
For over two decades, Phillips has been more than just a coach. She’s been a mentor, a mom, a friend. She’s taken the time to connect with her players.
“I’ve got to find out what makes them tick,” she said. “You have to have a rapport with them. I take that very seriously, and I tell their parents that, too. ‘I’m going to take care of your kid.’”
“I don’t think you can succeed in this business if you’re not willing to help mold and shape 18- to 22-year-olds,” she said.
“Women have to feel good to play good.”
I’ve got to find out what makes them tick. You have to have a rapport with them. I take that very seriously, and I tell their parents that, too. ‘I’m going to take care of your kid.’
” “
— Coach Tina Phillips holding court at the World Series press conference
Thought Leaders
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Pitt-Bradford athletes are making their mark off the field as well as on it, stepping into national leadership roles within the NCAA.
This spring, Mohamad “Zoal” Awad became the first Pitt-Bradford athlete named to the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Lacrosse player Tyrone Bowen-Collateta attended the inaugural Native Student Athlete Summit, representing Pitt-Bradford and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Both athletes previously took part in the NCAA Division III Immersion Program, which aims to build a diverse pipeline of future coaches and administrators.
The program is already yielding results for PittBradford. Alumnus Dahmir Noel ’17, a sport and recreation management major and former athletic department intern, attended the NCAA Convention through the Immersion Program during his senior year. Today, he serves as associate athletic director at Alma College, a Division III institution in Michigan.
This year also marked another first: Brooklyn Bellavia , a junior dual-sport athlete in volleyball and swimming, became the first Pitt-Bradford woman selected to attend the NCAA Convention through the immersion program.
Through these programs, student-athletes are
workings,” he said. He was asked to talk about international students and the new Name, Image and Likeness provisions that allow college athletes to receive financial compensation for promotional endeavors.
“But this is not the biggest problem for DIII,” Awad says. He plans to campaign for Division III athletes to be able to receive athletic scholarships – something that is not currently allowed. It will be a tough sell in the division at the heart of amateur sport, but it will definitely be good experience for Awad, who thinks his next step may be law school.
His enthusiasm for a career in athletics only grew when he attended the NCAA-sponsored Black Student Athlete Summit in Chicago in May.
“I met a lot of DI athletes,” he said. “I’ve never been around so many people who want to be in sports, who are killing it in their sport and are so supportive of each other.”
Similarly, the first-ever Native Student Athlete Summit, which was attended by Bowen-Collateta in June, was started to provide a dedicated space for Indigenous student athletes to gather, connect and get support.
“As an Indigenous student-athlete, one of the
Pitt-Bradford athletes are stepping off the playing field and into national roles
gaining national experience and leadership training, helping shape the future of college sports. As Division III emphasizes the balance between academics and athletics, Pitt-Bradford students are proving they can lead in both arenas.
Arenas are exactly where Awad hopes to end up one day. An international student from Sudan by way of Saudi Arabia, his dream is to promote soccer in the United States. With a winning smile, joie de vivre and passion for all sports, Awad is known on campus, in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and soon probably all of DIII as just Zoal.
In his new role, Awad will represent the AMCC at the DIII level nationally for the next two years, even if he graduates in three years next spring, and he’s already planning his agenda. This spring, he attended the NCAA conference as a delegate and observer to see how the organization works and how legislation passes.
“It was very exciting to get to see the inner
topics of discussions that hit home is that we often feel alone in a classroom or on our teams because we are often one of a very few indigenous students who play for our respective sports or institutions,” Bowen-Collateta said.
At the summit, he had the chance to talk about how he has introduced his non-Indigenous lacrosse teammates to the Haudenosaunee roots of the game and how the team has hosted events such as Orange Shirt Day to recognize the survivors of Indian boarding schools.
“Some of the speakers were very impressed with the support that the university has given to building and strengthening our relationship with the Seneca Nation of Indians.”
It’s clear Bowen-Collateta and Awad are poised to follow in the footsteps of Dahmir Noel and lead in athletics for years to come.
ALUMNIFOCUS PANTHER PACK
Alumni Dinner
Dr. Yvon Woappi ’11, center, introduces his daughter Zema and wife, Bethel, to Dr. Richard McDowell, president emeritus. Woappi returned to campus this spring to accept the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award and give the Commencement address to the graduating class.
1960s
Ronald Carty ’64-’66 retired from his appraisal business in Kane, Pa.
1970s
Dr. Gil Mintz ’69-’71 has set up the Dr. Gilbert R. Mintz Scholarship at Pitt-Bradford to provide financial help to students studying natural
sciences such as biology, chemistry and physical science. He said his success in the biotechnology field has allowed him to give back. The inaugural scholarship will be awarded to a student this fall.
Judy Hopkins ’71-’73 had three poems published recently: “Dream Steed” in
The Orchards Poetry Journal and “My Book” and “More Like a Houseboat” in Witcraft.org.
Lori Ferguson ’76-’78 retired as project director for Primary Care Development in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Pamela Morgan ’77-’79 is a retired art educator from the
Cherokee County (Ga.) Board of Education. She is a volunteer on-site job coach with Lionheart Works, a program for young adults with a variety of neurological abilities. She lives in Alpharetta, Ga.
1980s
Samantha Lowrey ’86 has a
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new job as an educator and patient advocate with ScriptEase in Wheatland, Pa.
The Hon. John Pavlock ’88 is the principal judge for McKean County (Pa.), a position which he has held since 2011. He has started several recent programs in the civil and criminal court system, including Good Growing Gardens community service program, which instructs participants while growing produce, and programs to maintain trails and public areas.
Mark Zampogna ’88 was named the 2024 Employee of the Year at the Bradford Ecumenical Home, a continuing care community in Bradford. As a resident assistant at the home’s personal care facility, Chapel Ridge, he helps 60 seniors stay happy, healthy and independent as long as possible.
Bryan Mallette ’89 has a new job as regional vice president of business development at Cousino Restoration and Environmental, a water damage restoration service in Perrysburg, Ohio. He lives in Wayerville, Ohio.
1990s
James Campbell ’90 has a new job as a machinist with Linde Advanced Material Technologies in New Castle, Pa.
Jerry Pattison ’93 retired at
55 years old in May 2024 after a combined 35 years as a soldier in the U.S. Army and a high school math teacher. He bought a travel camper with his winnings of $20,000 on a $2 scratch-off lottery ticket and plans to go wherever he wants, whenever he wants for the rest of his life.
Scott Bell ’94 has a new job with Indivior as the head of criminal justice system marketing, leading marketing initiatives to address the opioid epidemic by highlighting the benefits of medically assisted treatment in the criminal justice system. He lives in Upper Black Eddy, Pa.
J. Paul Barr ’95 has a new job as chief revenue officer with VistaXM. He lives in Sunset, S.C.
DorothyBelle “DB” Craig Poli ’97 was promoted to professor of biology and cannabis studies at Roanoke (Va.) College after launching the first cannabis studies program in Virginia and the only liberal arts cannabis program in the country. She lives in Rocky Mount, Va.
2000s
A poem by Dr. Richard Pierce ’00 was featured on WPSU’s Poetry Moment. The poem, “Go Gentle,” is a response to poet Dylan Thomas’s famous villanelle “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.” Pierce, unlike
Thomas, wishes his father a peaceful death. Pierce lives in southwestern Pennsylvania with his wife, Blenda. He holds a doctorate in creative writing and literature from Texas Tech.
In April, Capt. Raymond Douglas ’01 was promoted to second-in-command of the Bradford City Police by Chief Mike Ward ’01 after serving the department for 23 years.
Amanda Crick-Parrish ’03 has a new job as the clinical
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team lead with the Pennsylvania Institute on Disability, known as PA START Allegheny. She was the first certified clinical coordinator in Pennsylvania
COMMENCEMENT – Susan Silvestri ’72-’74 prepares to receive the Presidential Medal of Distinction from President Richard Esch ’83. Silvestri is a longstanding member of the Executive Committee of the Advisory Board and chair of the Advisory Board’s Athletics Council as well as being a founding member and past president of the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association.
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for the START (systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resources and treatment) model, which strives to improve the quality of life for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs by providing stability and preventing crisis in participants’ lives.
Douglas Shaw ’03 is a major crimes prosecuting attorney for the state of Indiana, managing complex and highprofile cases involving major crimes such as homicide, sexual assault and robbery.
Sara Eddy Furlong ’04 earned a first-place Keystone Media Award in enterprise reporting for her 10-story series “Cyclone Lives Matter” about a wastewater disposal injection well near Bradford. She is the managing editor of The Bradford Era.
William Reuschlein ’05 has a new position with Elsevier as the company’s senior director of technology, infrastructure and operations for academics and government. He lives in Butler, Pa.
Jamie Stefko ’06 is a customer service call mentor for RoadRunner Waste and Recycling. She lives in Pittsburgh and writes fiction under her birth name, Jamie Lackey.
Jana Wolf ’06 welcomed a son, Maxwell, last year and married on Christmas Eve
2024. The family lives in Pittsburgh.
Jim Colestro ’07 earned his executive Master of Business Administration in April from The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. He is executive vice president and chief retail lending officer with Northwest Bank in Columbus, Ohio.
Melissa Ovaska ’08 lives in the beach town of Wilmington, N.C., with her husband, Justin, and children, Carter and Liliana. She is a radiology manager with Novant Health New Hanover Primary Care, managing five locations in her area. She wrote, “I absolutely love living at the beach and a big thanks to Pitt-Bradford and its radiography program. I was able to go from a radiology tech to a CT tech to being promoted to a radiology manager.”
Brittany Raabe ’08 is a registered nurse who is a travel nurse. Last year, she and her fiancé sailed from Maryland to the Bahamas and even rescued a starving dog they found on an uninhabited island. They have kept in touch with the kind sailor who gave the pup a home.
Valerie Detweiler ’09 is a transition specialist with Hire Heroes USA in Fayetteville, N.C. She works with activeduty service members, veterans and military spouses in career transitions, writing
resumes, doing career coaching and connecting clients with services like mentorship and mock interviews.
Sgt. Matthew Gustin ’09 was recognized by the Bradford City Police for 11 years of service with the department.
2010s
Katherine Nussbaum ’10 received the Outstanding Woman Award for 2024-25 from the Bradford Branch of the American Association of University Women for meritorious service to the
and Kamron
meet up with Dr. Jim Evans.
branch and the community. She is the service desk supervisor in Hanley Library, where she trains, supervises and mentors 18 student employees to keep the library open 16 hours a day.
Taylor Thomas ’12 is a brand manager at W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. in Bradford.
Tiara Brown ’13 will be the airspace security coordinator at FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the
Jim Duan, left,
Khodjaev, right,
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United States.
Max Cercone ’13 was named one of 2025’s top influencers in local government by Engaging Local Government Leaders. Max, a data analytics and evaluation manager for Adams County, Colo., “has been a regional leader … to better position local government to address homelessness. …” He lives in Longmont, Colo., with his wife, Kat.
Jennifer Douglass ’14 is the new quality director for The Guidance Center in Bradford.
Michael Hutchins ’14 has been promoted to the supervisor of accounts payable/accounts receivable at Novo Health Services in DuBois, Pa. He welcomed a son, Carter, on March 27, who joins a big sister, Ava, and dog brother, Crosby. Outside of work and family, he enjoys volunteering with the Jaycees, serving as treasurer and chair of the club’s annual golf scramble to raise money toward scholarships for high school seniors and provide holiday meals and Christmas gifts to families in need.
Laurie Marcello ’14 has a new job as a safety coach at Mease Countryside Hospital, where she helps ensure that patients and staff stay safe. She is a current member of the Florida Nurses Association continuing the quest for legislation to ensure safer nurse-to-patient ratios. She lives in Palm
Harbor, Fla.
Christopher Salerno ’14 was promoted to lieutenant in the Bradford City Fire Department. He also received a commendation from Bradford Mayor Tom Riel for his role in unexpectedly helping deliver a baby at home on the day before Thanksgiving. Salerno led his crew, which included Andrew Piganelli ’22, to care for mother and newborn.
Jim Duan ’13-’14 and Kamron Khodjaev ’12-’15 have moved their company, KOOP Technologies, which helps businesses make sure they meet important security and legal requirements, to New York City from Pittsburgh. Once they got there, they met up with Dr. K. James Evans, former dean of students.
Andrew Caroll ’15 has a new job as community office assistant manager at CNB Bank. He lives in Bradford.
Mariah Cole ’15 has a new job as the associate director and clinical research scientist for Insmed, a global biopharmaceutical company. She works in medical research, helping evaluate new medicines to make sure they are safe and effective. Right now, she’s part of a study on a lung disease called pulmonary hypertension. After good early results, the team is preparing for the next phase of the study.
Michael Moran ’15 was promoted to partner at the law firm Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanches, Gaston & Zimet LLP. He lives in Bloomfield, N.J.
Archangela (Carter) Kervin ’17 is the new director of the Palisano Learning Center and Trocaire Opportunity Program at Trocaire College in Buffalo.
Paige Potter ’16 has joined the Pitt-Bradford staff as a development associate in the Office of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement. Previously, she was an administrative assistant in
the operations and purchasing division of Zippo Manufacturing Co. in Bradford.
Kate Colella ’18 has a new job as a controller for Asheboro Kubota. She lives in Kernersville, N.C.
Shayne Kraynyk ’18 has put his business management degree to use for himself, opening Renegades Barbershop in Pittsburgh. He and his two co-owners are all Pennsylvania-licensed barbers.
2020s
Hannah Jaroszynski ’20 is a
Dr. Haley Tuller, DVM
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licensed behavioral health therapist with the Chautauqua County (N.Y.) Department of Mental Health specializing in working with children, teens, young adults and their families in both a community clinic and through local pediatricians’ offices. Additionally, she is running for a seat on Jamestown (N.Y.) City Council to represent and advocate for those living in her district.
Antonell Robinson ’20 has a new job as a school
In Memoriam
counselor in The School District of Philadelphia. She lives in Philadelphia as well.
Aaron Meserole ’21 is a park resource ranger with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and an elected constable in Kane (Pa.) Borough, where he lives.
Haley Tuller ’21 is now Dr. Haley Tuller after graduating with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Lincoln Memorial University. She will be practicing small animal
general medicine and surgery in Pittsburgh.
Mark Miller ’22 is the new academic program supervisor for the Division of Management and Education at Pitt-Bradford after teaching social studies at Smethport (Pa.) Junior/ Senior High School. In his new role, he will administer the university’s College in the High School program and work with school districts to place pre-service teachers.
Michael Shulnes ’23 has a
new job as a first-tier technician with Ardent Core Technologies. He lives in Lakeland, Fla.
After working for a year as an emergency medical technician, Andrew Bokulich ’24 has enrolled in Lincoln Memorial University’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Chad Carlson ’24 will be teaching physical education this fall at his high school alma mater, AlleganyLimestone (N.Y.) Middle/
Dennis Bartlett ’79 died in December in Bradford. After working for 15 years at Dresser Rand, he was a motorcycle mechanic for Race Honda and enjoyed fishing.
David O’Brien ’83 died in January at his home in Chambersburg, Pa. He was a hydrologic technician with the U.S. Geological Survey in New Cumberland, Pa., and loved the outdoors, hunting and music.
Rosanne “Rosie” Conaway, retired government documents librarian and director of library instruction at Hanley Library, died in January in Oswego, N.Y., where she lived. In addition to being a librarian, she taught writing and grammar courses and was a charter member of the Friends of Hanley Library. After retiring from the library, she returned to campus to work in The Panther Shop from 2002 to 2007. She also set up the Bob and Rosie Conaway Scholarship Fund.
Mark Cunningham ’68-’70 died unexpectedly in December at his home in Middleport, N.Y. He worked as a registered nurse for Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo for more than 30 years in the emergency department. He loved animals of all shapes and sizes.
Zy’onnah Dully ’27, a nursing student from Ewing, N.J., died Nov. 22, 2024, as the result of a car accident as she drove
home for Thanksgiving break. She was a member of Lambda Xi.
Dr. Andrew Dzirkalis, retired associate professor of political science who taught at Pitt-Bradford for 30 years, died in December in Orchard Park, N.Y. As a young boy, he fled Latvia with his family to escape Communism near the end of World War II. They spent several years in a refugee camp in Germany before immigrating to the United States. A firm believer in the value of a liberal education, at Pitt-Bradford he engaged with life’s big questions and encouraged his students to do the same. He taught a wide-ranging curriculum that included courses on great political thinkers, American political thought, and liberalism and conservatism. In the 1980s, he directed the Title III program for Pitt-Bradford, securing nearly $3 million for the university. This funding helped to set up majors in fields such as computer science, communications, and biology. He is survived by his wife of 57 years and former Pitt-Bradford instructor of
Dr. Dzirkalis
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High School.
Morgan Frishkorn ’24 is attending Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in Saint Kitts and Nevis, an independent country located in the Caribbean Sea.
Hali Hahn ’24 is a human resources coordinator with Journey Health System in Bradford.
Elena Isaman ’24 has a new job as a web developer with Kaleida Health. She
lives in Olean, N.Y.
Sarah Newland ’24 is a tax associate at Freed Maxick in Buffalo, N.Y.
Jackson McManus ’24 is an audit associate at Brown Edwards, a public accounting firm in Roanoke, Va.
Mychal Berlinski ’25, the university’s first energy engineering technology graduate, is working in quality engineering at Napoleon Engineering Services in Olean, N.Y., with a
art, Elga, and children Anna ’95 and Peter ’00.
Arthur Glow Jr., who taught physics at Pitt-Bradford from 1964 until 1966, died in March. After teaching at PittBradford, he went on to teach at SUNY College at Morrisville, where he became a full professor.
Jan “Porky” Hauser ’88 died in May. A resident of Latrobe, Pa., he worked at Pace Industries and enjoyed fishing, bowling, basketball and baseball.
Dr. Anita Herbert, instructor, donor and friend of the university, died in March in Bradford. She practiced internal medicine in Bradford from 1968 to 1978 before practicing elsewhere. She returned in 1993 to set up and serve as the first medical director of the Occupational Medicine Department at Bradford Regional Medical Center. She taught anatomy and physiology as an adjunct professor at Pitt-Bradford and served on the board of the Friends of Hanley Library. She was a dedicated scholarship donor, contributing to the Dr. Holly J. Spittler Community Engagement Scholarship and the McKean County Medical Society Pre-Medicine Scholarship.
Donald Moore ’78 died in January in Pittsburgh. He lived in Warren, Pa., where he worked in the computer department of Blair Corp. and then served as information technology
focus on measurement and artificial intelligence implementation.
Alexia Catalone ’25 is attending a dual-degree program to simultaneously earn a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Arts in International Relations at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse (N.Y.) University.
Bailey Fedak ’25 is pursuing a Master of Management at the Katz School of Business
at the University of Pittsburgh.
Madison Hartman ’25 will be teaching mathematics in grades 9-12 at the AlleganyLimestone (N.Y.) Middle/High School.
Blake Pretash ’25 is the first Pitt-Bradford graduate to successfully complete testing and background investigation and secure a place in the Pennsylvania State Police Academy while still an active student.
director for Betts Industries Inc. He loved hunting and was an active sports booster in the Warren community, raising money for War Memorial Field and spending many hours watching his children play basketball and football.
Patrick Schott ’67-’75 of Bradford died in January at his son’s home in Meadville, Pa. He served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman 2nd class from 1956 to 1960 and was employed with Federal Government Quality Control for many years.
Dr. Bill Shields, interim president of Pitt-Bradford during the 2002-03 academic year, died from cancer March 25 in Surprise, Ariz.
Jessica Smith ’24 died in February as the result of a motor vehicle accident. An emergency room nurse at UPMC Kane (Pa.), she enjoyed fishing, hunting, reading, walking and spending time with her husband, Travis, and their five children.
Elaine Wickwire ’87 died in Venice, Fla., where she was a specialist with the Housing Choice Voucher program of Sarasota County Housing before her retirement in 2023.
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She wasn’t supposed to be a doctor Betsey Eggler got her start thanks to an anonymous donor
Dr. Betsey Abbey Eggler ’66-’67 doesn’t know who changed her life — but today’s Pitt-Bradford chemistry students know she is changing theirs.
A 1965 graduate of Smethport (Pa.) Area High School, Eggler was smart and especially good at science. After graduation, she accepted a job offer to work in a lab in Bradford. But just before she began, she got a call from the fledgling University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Someone — she never found out who — had arranged for her to receive full tuition, room, and board. She accepted the university’s offer.
That anonymous gift set her on a path toward a long and impactful medical career. Now, more than 50 years later, Eggler and her husband, Dr. David Eggler, have made a $100,000 gift to establish the Betsey Abbey Eggler Undergraduate Chemistry Research Fund at Pitt-Bradford. Unlike her own experience, students supported by the fund will know exactly who believed in them.
The Egglers’ daughter, Dr. Aimee Eggler, associate professor of biochemistry at Villanova University, helped shape the idea, suggesting that the gift focus on research.
“I wanted to support education in rural areas,” Betsey Eggler said. “I think the opportunity should not just be confined to big academic institutions.”
The fund will pay chemistry students while they conduct research, allowing them to gain valuable experience without needing to take other jobs. It’s a gift rooted in Betsey Eggler’s own academic journey — and in gratitude.
As a first-year student at Pitt-Bradford, she took classes in one of just two academic buildings at the time: Hamsher House. There, she met Dr. June Pfister, a chemistry professor and one of the first women she had met with an advanced degree. Pfister became a role model, sparking her interest in chemistry and providing encouragement at a time when female students in the sciences were few and far between.
At that time, students regularly took two years’ worth of liberal arts general education requirements at PittBradford, then transferred to the Pittsburgh campus to finish their degrees.
“I really liked being in the sciences,” Betsey Eggler said. “I liked that the problems had answers.” That clarity helped her see she was just as capable as the men in her classes —sometimes more so.
But when she approached the pre-med advisor about medical school, he dismissed her ambition. She took the MCAT anyway and scored very well. Eventually, she was accepted to the new Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, becoming a pioneer in more ways than one — including becoming a mother while still a student.
Over the years, Eggler has worked in hospitals, veterans’ care, and prisons. She’s treated patients during the HIV/AIDS epidemic and continues today to help people recovering from addiction. Her chemistry background remains central to her work, especially in understanding pharmacology and developing new treatment protocols.
“My life seems a bit unlikely to me,” she said. “But I’m grateful for it.”
Dr. Betsey Eggler ’66-’67 talks with Cassidy Elton, a chemistry major from Landenberg, Pa., about Elton’s research on how ultraviolet light can be used to reduce potentially harmful compounds in milk products during a visit to campus in April.
ALUMNI & FAMILY WEEKEND ALUMNI & FAMILY WEEKEND
SEPTEMBER 26-28, 2025
Celebrate and reconnect during Alumni and Family Weekend at Pitt-Bradford! Join alumni, students, families, and friends for a fun-filled weekend of campus pride and exciting events. Enjoy Light Up the Quad and the big Panther mascot name reveal, sing karaoke at After Hours with Student Affairs, and experience exclusive tours and Pumpkin Fest. Toview the weekend schedule of events, visit www.upbalumni.org/afw25 or scanthe QR Code.
Office of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement
300 Campus Drive Bradford, PA 16701
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
