spr i ng 2019 · vol 87 · no 1
NEVER STANDING STILL INNOVATING FOR TODAY’S STUDENTS
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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE GO: THE BEST CLASSROOM IN THE WORLD PUSHING POLICY CHANGE DOWNSTREAM
Inside
spring 2019 · vol 87 · no 1
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NEVER STANDING STILL: INNOVATING FOR TODAY’S STUDENTS THE UNIVERSIT Y IS EVOLVING THROUGH INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM CHANGES, TEACHING METHODS, LIVING SPACES AND MORE
S E C T ION S DEPARTMENTS
2
First Word
ALUMNI NEWS
32 Message Board
16 People & Places
33 Class Notes
20 Scoreboard
26 The ’Grove Q&A · Syllabus · Forward Thinking · Kudos · Bragging Rights 46 End Notes
ON THE COVER: Front cover photograph by Gordon Wenzel
Regional Chapter News · Weddings & Gatherings · Deaths
Vice President for Marketing and Communications AARON MARTIN Assistant Vice President for Advancement BECKY BRAMER ’92 DEITRICK Interim Editor BETSY K. ROBERTSON Director of Digital and Print Communications Class Notes Editor JODI SWARTZ Administrative Assistant, Alumni, Parent and Donor Engagement
4 G O: THE BEST CLASSROOM IN
THE WORLD IS THE WORLD
In a time of geopolitical and economic complexity, cultural competency in the workplace is an essential skill.
Contributing Writers KELLY BUGDEN ’02 BRECKENRIDGE HOPE MARTIN ’19 NAIREM MORAN Director of Athletic Communications AMANDA O’ROURKE Communications and Media Specialist KATE ANDREWS ’03 WELLER Web Content and Social Media Manager Design JOSIE FERTIG Creative Director ERICA HOOVER Graphic Designer Contributing Photographer GORDON WENZEL Copy Editor KATHLEEN LARSON FLORIO
12 PUSHING POLICY CHANGE
DOWNSTREAM
Susquehanna’s Freshwater Research Institute is a critical partner in helping to protect the health of regional streams.
Spring 2019, Vol. 87, Issue 1 ©2019 All publication rights reserved. Susquehanna Currents is published twice a year in the spring and fall by Susquehanna University, University Marketing and Communications, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870. SUSQU.EDU/CURRENTS Susquehanna University is a proud member of
WAYPOINTS The Class of 2019 Is Soaring! See where these talented graduates are headed.
susqu.edu/Currents-Placements2019
Duceman and Herrold Chosen for Fulbright Awards Luke Duceman ’18 will teach English in Costa Rica and Larry Herrold ’19 will pursue his master’s and do research at the University of Kent in the U.K.
susqu.edu/Currents-Fulbrights
THE ANNAPOLIS GROUP
comprising approximately 130 leading national independent liberal arts colleges that have similar interests and concerns centering on the values of liberal arts education that inform their missions. The Annapolis Group provides a forum for member institutions to share best practices, seek higher levels of excellence, and advance the cause of liberal arts education on a national scale. Printed by Brilliant in Exton, Pennsylvania
First Word
Honoring Our Tradition of Innovation
dear friends, Radical innovation literally means making something new from its roots. This issue will focus on the spirit of radical innovation that defines Susquehanna. We are industrious and hardworking, but most important, we have always been innovative. The creation of SU was an act of inspired innovation. Local merchants and farmers agreed to support the establishment of the Missionary Institute if a classical curriculum would be added to our offerings to prepare their sons and daughters—those not called to missions—to become citizen leaders throughout the region. A century and a half before most colleges and universities were innovating their curricula to integrate preparation for careers and a broad-based liberal arts education, we opened, doing just that. We were on the vanguard of teaching and learning innovation in 1858.
“We are industrious and hardworking, but most important, we have always been innovative.” — JONATHAN D. GREEN
Benjamin Kurtz, our founder, wanted to provide a practical education for missionaries who would be working globally. Our Global Opportunities (GO) Program is a contemporary secular manifestation of that world vision. It is no mistake that the university’s seal features a globe. We have been developing cosmopolitan, global citizens for 160 years, and GO is setting the standard of excellence for meaningful, substantial global education. Susquehanna University is named for the river, which in turn is named for the Susquehannock people. These first peoples of the region turned their spirit of innovation into a thriving fishing operation that fed thousands around the Isle of Que. They were wise stewards of the river, its tributaries, and the watershed. We honor our namesakes as the university becomes a national leader in river ecology, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to restore historic ecosystems through the Freshwater Research Institute.
Join Us!
SUALUM.COM
We recently launched our new alumni online community, a one-stop shop to stay connected to your alma mater and to each other. At the new sualum.com, you can: » Search the directory to find » Request a transcript. classmates or other alumni. » Make a gift. » Post or search for jobs. » Update your contact information. » Register for SU alumni events. » Access The Lanthorn » Find an alumni chapter near you. digital yearbooks. » Submit a class note for » Read the latest editions of Currents magazine. SU’s student newspaper, The Quill.
Simply click “first- time login” to search for your name. To continue logging in, you’ll need your personalized ID that was mailed to you.
Questions? Call the alumni office at 570-372-4015 or email alumni@susqu.edu.
As you read about the impressive work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, I know you will be proud of the many ways they are fulfilling our mission and honoring the heritage of Susquehanna with imagination and a sense of legacy. Our mission is to “educate students for productive, creative, and reflective lives of achievement, leadership, and service in a diverse, dynamic, and interdependent world.” To do this, our graduates will need to be radical innovators who strive to make a new and better world from the roots of strength they inherit. They are ready for the challenge.
you rs ev er,
Jonathan D. Green President
THE BEST CLASSROOM IN THE WORLD BY AMANDA O’ROURKE
Ever wonder what’s at the end of the world? A group of Susquehanna students found out during the inaugural Global Opportunities (GO Short) experience to Patagonia over winter break. PataGOnia exposes students to Argentinian culture, biodiversity and natural beauty across more than 3,000 miles from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, commonly regarded as the southernmost city in the world. For senior Riley Mulligan, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I always really thought that Europe would be a place that could be attainable to me after graduation and it wouldn’t have taken me that far out of my comfort zone,” Mulligan says. “Patagonia—I don’t speak Spanish, and I knew it would challenge me, so that is what originally drew me to it.” Nearly 10 years ago, Susquehanna was considered to be the first college in the nation to require every student to have a meaningful cross-cultural experience, followed by scholarly
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reflection. Since then, GO has made study away accessible to 100 percent of Susquehanna students through many semesterlong options, and the faculty/staff-led GO Short programs, which are a minimum of two weeks. The GO Short programs have increased from a few in 2009 to a robust 30, with about 20 operating in any given year. What’s more, all business students studying in the semester-long London Program now complete internships while there. In a time of geopolitical and economic complexity, cultural competency in the workplace is an essential skill. PataGOnia introduces students to the unique historical, political, cultural, biological and environmental realities that characterize Argentina today. Latin America, including U.S. involvement in Latin American history and politics, is a focus of the preparation discussion. The experience
Tell us your story! How did your Global Opportunities experience affect your life? Perhaps it led you to a certain career choice. Maybe you discovered a greater understanding of yourself and others. Or did you learn to do something you didn’t know you ever could? We would like to hear how your GO experience changed your life. Submit your story to sualum.com/GO for consideration in the next Currents.
provides lenses through which students re-examine their values and roles as citizens of the U.S. and the world. Students began their experience in Buenos Aires, where they participated in a scavenger hunt that forced them to interact with the local citizenry. “It was fun interacting with people. They were very welcoming and open,” says senior Bradyn Natter. “It was a safe way for us to throw them into the frying pan,” program co-director Harvey Edwards adds. It was in and around Buenos Aires where students took tango lessons and learned about Argentina’s gaucho culture. They moved on to Bahía Bustamante, a village in the Patagonian region of the Chubut Province in southern Argentina. Though the village is tiny, it boasts amazing flora and fauna, including a petrified forest and colonies of more than 50,000 penguins. “I got to see the mom feed the babies—they still had a little bit of the fluffy fur on the babies,” Mulligan says. “I have never seen anything like it.” They also took part in a service project collecting litter from a beach—80 pounds of it in total, mostly pieces of microplastic. The experience was eye-opening for Mulligan and Natter, who both admit to being heavy plastic users. “There is more plastic in the ocean than there are fish, and if that keeps going, it will be catastrophic to our ocean environment,” Mulligan says. “It makes you rethink your own habits and realize what happens after you use plastics,” Natter adds. But it was their time in Ushuaia that may have been the most memorable. “The first time we arrived in Ushuaia, I was totally blown away,” says Natter. “It was such a beautiful and scenic place.”
Co-directors Harvey Edwards and Carlos Iudica led students in their PataGOnia experience.
Ushuaia is the capital of Tierra del Fuego—Land of Fire—and commonly regarded as the southernmost city in the world. “It’s the end of the world,” Mulligan says. “You’re 600 miles away from Antarctica. You can see the Andes Mountains, and they are absolutely breathtaking.” In Ushuaia, students boated and hiked throughout Los Glaciares National Park. “I’d never seen a glacier, let alone climbed on one,” says Natter. “When you’re right there, it’s amazing. Huge chunks would come down. You’d hear a loud crack and a loud thud and see huge waves.” Edwards hopes the experience took students out of their comfort zones and gave them a different perspective on the world in which they live. “The best classroom in the world is the world, so I advocate leaving your comfort zone and going somewhere else,” Edwards said. “Having a cultural experience changes how you look at the world, yourself and others.” Intentional programming ensures that students make the most of their GO Short programs. They study away with Susquehanna faculty/staff leading a small group of Susquehanna classmates, all of whom have participated in the program’s preparation course in the semester prior to departure. After an intensive, active program, there is a creditbearing reflection course in which students optimize their cross-cultural learning. GO Short programs run during winter or summer breaks for two to six weeks and are an alternative to GO Long or GO Your Own Way experiences.
“Having a cultural experience changes how you look at the world, yourself and others.” —HARVEY EDWARDS
NEVER
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STILL s
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INNOVATING FOR TODAY’S STUDENTS
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PAPER AIRPLANES SWOOP THROUGH AN APFELBAUM HALL CLASSROOM ONE FALL DAY IN 2018. A PASSER-BY MIGHT THINK A SPONTANEOUS AIRPLANE BATTLE HAS BROKEN OUT. INSTEAD, STUDENTS IN THE MACROECONOMICS CLASS OF PROFESSOR OLU ONAFOWORA ARE LEARNING ABOUT ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE—HOW RESOURCES HELP DETERMINE A COUNTRY’S EXPORTS.
In this case, the resource is paper. Representing two countries, one group of students makes paper balls and the other folds paper airplanes. At the end, they negotiate a trade of their products. “We learned about competition and specialization on a hands-on level rather than just out of the textbook. That was probably my favorite lesson,” says Hannah O’Hara ’22, a luxury brand management and marketing major. “It’s something they are going to remember,” Onafowora adds. “We already went through the theory, but now they’re putting it into practice and reinforcing what’s been taught.” Onafowora isn’t the only professor at Susquehanna finding new ways to engage students. As a new generation enters college—with a different way of learning than millennials and other generations that came before—Susquehanna is responding with innovative curriculum changes, teaching methods, living spaces and more. “I have won awards for my teaching, and I don’t think the way I used to teach is good enough anymore. Students are different even from five years ago,” says Matthew Rousu, professor of economics and dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business. Dave Ramsaran, associate provost of institutional effectiveness and student and faculty development, is keeping close tabs on the educational needs of this generation. “Learning styles are very different than the traditional lecture style. The majority of these students have operated only in the digital age, including all of their learning from kindergarten to high school,” Ramsaran says of the generation known as iGen or Generation Z. “We have to respond with swiftness and mobility, and we can’t just keep doing it as we’ve always done. Not everything we try will work, but we still need to try.” Ramsaran and other Susquehanna leaders have looked for guidance from many resources, including iGen by Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. It’s one of the first books to look closely at the generation born after the mid-1990s. Research on iGen—the youngest of whom are still in elementary school—is far from complete. But it can’t be disputed that, for better or worse, this is the first generation to grow up entirely in the era of smartphones, spending twice as much time online as teenagers a decade ago.
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LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD
Inclusive teaching incorporates practices to support accessible learning for all students. That means not only active learning but also strategies outside the classroom to create a supportive learning community. While academic standards remain the same, experimenting with new methods helps to reach all types of learners at different levels of readiness. “The higher education model assumes that we just pour more onto a high school education foundation, but the unevenness of that experience means they don’t all start at the same place. The curriculum needs to allow people to start at different places and end up at the same place,” Ramsaran says. “There’s a lot of research showing that working in teams, even on analytical subjects, can be enormously beneficial,” says Rousu. “When you have teams, a student isn’t going to get stuck for an hour on an algebra mistake. In a group,
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“
they might struggle for five minutes and be able to get past that together.” Students in introductory economics classes are now required to attend tutoring once a week. While they don’t need to engage with a tutor, they need to be present. Regular tutoring can help students through these make-or-break courses that many business majors, including O’Hara, find challenging. She credits tutoring with helping her maintain high grades in the class because she always knew where to turn with questions. While it’s too soon to tell if inclusive teaching will result in better grades —Onafowora is still crunching that data—he saw that studying together changed the classroom environment. His students were looser and livelier, willing to go out on a limb to try to answer a question. The tutors reported the same thing about the nightly study sessions. According to Twenge, members of iGen are sometimes hesitant to speak out and open themselves up to potential criticism—thanks to the often harsh nature of the social media they’ve been raised with. Teenage social life today is lived out mainly online for everyone to see, but being part of a familiar group, like a study group, provides a safety net.
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One of Susquehanna’s newest endeavors—and the reason Onafowora has incorporated paper airplanes into his curriculum—is already showing promise. The economics department is taking the unique approach of having its faculty collaborate on an inclusive teaching initiative across all sections of an introductory economics class.
The curriculum needs to allow people to start at different places and end up at the same place. —DAVE RAMSARAM, ASSOCIATE PROVOST
Left: Professor Olu Onafowora teaches an Intermediate Microeconomics class. Right: Hannah O’Hara ’22 majors in luxury brand marketing and management.
LIVING IN A LEARNING COMMUNITY Going away to college is often not easy, and it can be especially bumpy for a generation that is increasingly connected, yet more isolated. Today’s teenagers interact constantly, but often from the comfortable solitude of their bedrooms on their electronic devices. They spend twice as much time online as teenagers a decade ago, according to Twenge. Closer to their parents and more averse to common risky teenage behaviors, iGen members often encounter adult experiences for the first time as college students far from home. Living-learning communities are helping to smooth the transition and are a high-impact practice—those that have been widely tested and shown to be beneficial to college students, especially those from underserved backgrounds. While these communities are nothing new in higher education or at Susquehanna, next year’s first-year students, the Class of 2023, will see the most living-learning community options in the university’s history. During a trial of living-learning communities in 2018–19, some business
and honors students were housed together, with one group enjoying the experience so much that they requested to be in a class together the following semester. O’Hara was part of one such community, first meeting her Reed Hall neighbors when they were assigned to the same O-Team group and later sharing classes. Upon walking into her classrooms for Global Business Perspectives (GBP) and Macroeconomics, instead of the usual first-year experience of seeing only strangers, O’Hara was welcomed by a sea of familiar faces. “As soon as we sat down on the first day, we were talking to each other. We’re always out in the common room— because Reed has the best common room—playing pool, playing games and studying,” she says. “I’ve loved every bit of it.” In fact, she and a group of friends are choosing to form their own livinglearning community next year based on their interest in games, which she says they play every night.
I do makes it so that we all have something in common right away. I’ve found other business majors, and, since I’m going to be taking business classes throughout my time here, I’ll always know people going into them,” O’Hara says. The experience also brought a new dimension to GBP, a mandatory firstyear business class in which students do in-depth market research on a real company and cap it off with a team presentation to business executives. The company this year was fast-food chain Sonic Drive-In. Since many of the students had never been to a Sonic, their living-learning community took a field trip to Harrisburg to get a behindthe-scenes look. “If you’ve never been to Sonic, it’s kind of hard to imagine a drive-in restaurant and Sonic’s extensive customization options. We got to know, better than any other group, why our suggested improvements need to be made,” O’Hara says.
“College is a difficult transition for anyone. Living in a community like
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REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS, REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS This kind of real-world experience gives students a level of insight that can’t be achieved behind a desk. iGen members come naturally to a hands-on approach, in part because of the invention of YouTube. “High school students and younger teach themselves by going to YouTube and seeing whether they can do something themselves. Whether they know it or not, they’re learning by doing,” says Laurence Roth, Degenstein professor of English, co-chair of the Department of English and Creative Writing, and director of Jewish & Israel studies. The Office of the Provost sent a group of faculty to the WPI Project-Based Learning Institute to study how to encourage others to implement projectbased learning in their classrooms. The group, which included Roth, decided to define project-based learning as studying an issue for at least two weeks, developing a solution—often with a community partner—and presenting the solution in some sort of public forum.
“A few students were able to discuss the project with prospective employers and were hired because they already knew how to work with clients,” Fleck says. Project-based learning is only one way Susquehanna is helping students deepen their knowledge through active exploration. Real-world projects are integral to many liberal arts subjects—whether creating a journal in a publishing & editing class or leading a biology research project. Many departments also have a longstanding culture of active projects. For instance, the political science department has participated for years in a mock European Union in Washington, D.C., and often runs mock wars and peace negotiations on Smith Field. It’s not a big leap from this to a truly projectbased approach. Susquehanna is helping cultivate hands-on learning before college—
“Students immediately see the relevance of what they’re studying. It puts them into the world they want to be in,” Roth says. Emma Fleck, associate professor of management, matched her entrepreneurship students with clients and tasked them with creating something for the client, such as a website, marketing materials or financial projections for projects.
Above: Students collect data from an area stream for the Freshwater Research Institute. Right: Professor Roth and students work on a project in the Publishing & Editing pre-college program.
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enhancing its summer pre-college program offerings for high school students from five weeklong experiences to 13. High schoolers can now join the only pre-college publishing & editing program in the country, build a mini Mars Exploration Rover in SU’s popular engineering program, or spend a week splashing through the Susquehanna River and the area’s plentiful streams to study ecology. Several Susquehanna students have attended Stanford University’s Innovation Program to learn how to help inspire innovation back on their home campus. Their ideas have included seminars for women of color and celebrating internationalization. “It’s nice to see innovation that’s not purely from a perspective of technology. Instead we’re looking at how we can change what’s not working and think about the needs of the future,” Fleck says. The university’s award-winning GO program, about to celebrate its 10th anniversary, is the ultimate get-outin-the-world learning experience. But students don’t have to go that far—the Center for Environmental Education and Research, an 87-acre tract immediately adjacent to campus, gives students invaluable hands-on opportunities. They can help protect trout streams with the Freshwater Research Institute, grow food in the campus garden for donation to area food banks or learn about renewable energy at the 14-acre solar array. While capturing student attention in new ways, this more active learning also helps cultivate soft skills that employers seek. LinkedIn recently found that nearly 60 percent of employers look for soft skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration and time
management. A recent study commissioned by Cengage found that the most in-demand talent among employers was listening skills (74 percent), followed by attention to detail (70 percent) and effective communication (69 percent). “This kind of innovation is essential to maximize the benefit students get from a liberal arts experience. SU prides itself on delivering an extremely high-quality traditional liberal arts education, while also prioritizing practical, marketable skills for its graduates,” says Matt Duperon, associate professor of religious studies and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.
NEW PROGRAMS MATCH STUDENT INTERESTS A slew of new programs created in the last five years are targeted at connecting the traditional broad liberal arts education with clear career pathways. As children of the Great Recession, iGen members often look for clear career paths when choosing a college and a major, Twenge writes. These newer programs include biomedical sciences, sports media, environmental studies, business data analytics, public policy, publishing & editing, a master’s degree in education and a combined engineering program with Columbia University. Susquehanna offers some new applied minors as well: professional and civic writing, applied language studies, museum studies, public policy, arts administration and data science analytics, as well as minors in Africana studies and leadership. The biomedical sciences program points students at medical school, reshaping the science coursework of a traditional biology major by incorporating the breadth of learning that medical schools
are seeking—including psychology, sociology and writing. Though new students aren’t locked into this path. Overlapping requirements with biomedical sciences, biology, neuroscience and ecology make it easy for students to move between them if their interests change—and they’ll still be prepared for any number of sciencerelated careers, according to Peggy Peeler, professor of biology. Roth helms publishing & editing. One of the first of its kind at any undergraduate university in the nation, it bridges the gap between the traditional English literature major and Susquehanna’s booming creative writing program. “It was a challenge that I needed to turn into an opportunity. The English major was seeing a decline as the creative writing major increased. This area wasn’t being covered by anybody, and it was an obvious candidate,” Roth says. Since publishing & editing was introduced in 2015, the English programs have more than tripled the overall number of majors, who are often double majors in creative writing or other programs too. Roth credits being in the right place at the right time while making the right investments. The dedicated Letterbox lab is state-of-theart, and the high school publishing & editing summer pre-college program is creating a valuable pipeline of prospective students into the major. Susquehanna is strategically located near the trade publishing capital in New York City and the strong printing industry in southern Pennsylvania. “Publishing & editing is often thought of as just a career-oriented major. That’s because people understand what you do with it, and it’s true, there are so many careers in the business of literature, from book design to
publishing to library and information sciences,” Roth says. While Susquehanna is focusing on career-oriented choices, it’s not at the expense of providing a robust liberal arts education. “We’re merely innovating the delivery of it,” Roth says. “We still give students the theoretical and critical background to reflect deeply on what they’re doing and why.” Prominent education reformer John Dewey believed that teaching and learning should be matched to the educational needs of the time—and even if Dewey couldn’t imagine the rise of technology and smartphones back in the early 20th century, his words still ring true. “You don’t dumb it down. You don’t throw out things that have proved they work,” Roth says. “It’s a great time for innovation because everything about higher education is changing. We can either be afraid of that or create something that brings students here.” “This kind of education is incredibly empowering and all the more necessary for equipping our students to pursue the best kind of life for themselves and their communities,” Duperon concurs.
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BY AMANDA O’ ROURKE
GROWING UP, BRETT MILLER ’20 SPENT HIS SPRINGS FISHING FOR TROUT IN FRENCH CREEK NEAR HIS HOMETOWN OF PHOENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, AND HIS SUMMERS FISHING OFF THE COAST OF CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY. »
Susquehanna has surveyed 849 of the 7,000 stream segments assessed since 2010 as a partner of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Freshwater Research Institute director Jonathan Niles and students collect samples for analysis.
“F
ishing has always just been a way to relax while also striving for something,” Miller says. “And even in my own lifetime I’ve seen a decline in fish populations in certain bodies of water. It’s inspired me to make an impact.” When he came to Susquehanna as a first-year student, he knew he wanted to major in environmental sciences, but quickly concluded that real change happens at the policy level. Susquehanna, through its work with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s (PFBC) Unassessed Waters Initiative, provided him a direct line. Miller has worked alongside Jonathan Niles, director of Susquehanna’s Freshwater Research Institute (FRI), to survey creeks and streams to identify and protect wild trout streams throughout the state. The data they collect directly influences whether or not the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will place greater protections around a stream, thereby creating certain restrictions for proposed development. “Brook trout are an indicator species,” explains Miller, a double major in environmental studies and public policy. “They need cool, shaded water and a bank that isn’t eroded.” The Unassessed Waters Initiative was launched in 2010 as part of the PFBC’s five-year strategic trout-management plan. The original goal was to document wild trout streams in danger of increasing human encroachment, but the natural gas boom brought new urgency to the effort. As Miller witnessed, some streams are already lost.
“We saw some streams where it was too late,” he says. “They were orange, and the pH level was impossible for it to have living fish.” Surveying these streams is a huge undertaking. Nearly nine years into the effort, Niles says the “easy pickings” have been picked.
Continuing Research Critical to Trout Stream Protection Pennsylvania is home to more than 86,000 miles of streams and rivers, more than any state in the country except Alaska. Prior to the Unassessed Waters Initiative, the PFBC had been able to survey and implement management strategies on 24,511 miles of stream—or 29 percent of the state’s total stream miles. It’s a significant number, but of the waters remaining, many more likely support wild trout populations. With funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and boosted by additional funding from other granting agencies, Susquehanna has surveyed 849 of the 7,000 stream segments assessed since 2010—more than any other PFBC partner except Trout Unlimited, a national organization with about 300,000 members. “The external Unassessed Waters partners have been crucial to the success of the program,” says Bob Weber, fisheries biologist and Unassessed Waters coordinator with the PFBC. “Due to numerous other priorities, our own staff cannot sample the magnitude of streams annually that we feel are necessary to keep up with the pace of development and ultimately properly protect these streams from permitted activities. This is the overall goal of the Unassessed Waters Initiative, and partners such as Susquehanna University are critical to reach that goal annually.”
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“To know this stream we just classified will be protected from acid mine drainage or natural gas drilling; to know we can make a difference and save that stream and overall save the larger creek that leads to the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay, that, from my perspective, is amazing.” —BRETT MILLER ’20 Susquehanna shares its data with the PFBC, which in turn shares the information with the DEP. If appropriate, the DEP will designate streams as supporting the natural reproduction of trout, and developers will face greater restrictions when seeking permits to build in those watersheds. “Even if wild trout are not present during Unassessed Waters surveys, the data collected is important in the assessment and statewide distribution of non-game species,” Weber says.
Precision Conservation Improves Stream Health Chip Brown’s Centre County property marks the confluence of two unique efforts underway at Susquehanna’s Freshwater Research Institute (FRI) —precision conservation with the Chesapeake Conservancy and the Unassessed Waters Initiative with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Brown’s 109-acre property in Rebersburg, Pennsylvania, which he calls Pointer Haven, is home to an 1,800-foot segment of Elk Creek, a wild trout–supporting tributary within the Susquehanna River watershed. Brown, a retired Philadelphia police officer who has always enjoyed the outdoors, bought his property in 2005 to make it more welcoming for wildlife, particularly pheasants. Though Brown himself is not a farmer, the many farms surrounding his property were leaching agricultural runoff into his
segment of the creek. When he realized his stream was in need of some help, he set about getting it. Adrienne Gemberling, who is technical coordinator for the Chesapeake Conservancy and based at Susquehanna’s FRI, met Brown at a meeting of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Susquehanna, through the FRI, is one of several contributing partners in the Conservancy’s precision conservation program, “a new approach to restoration on agricultural land that uses high-resolution, geospatial analysis to better target and implement on-the-ground agricultural and conservation tactics,” Gemberling explains. “The program relies on landowners like Chip to open up their land to the Conservancy to implement restoration projects that will not only improve the health of small streams, but ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.” Through their work with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Unassessed Waters Initiative, which seeks to find and classify wild trout streams, Jon Niles, FRI director, along with students like junior
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Niles and his students are specially trained by the PFBC in the organization's quality controls and data collection and entry protocols. When they do find trout, they test for water quality and use the FRI’s electrofishing equipment to collect fish and record their species, length and weight. Students also sample aquatic insects. “We’ve been lucky to have both students who really get behind this and a designated research program,” says Niles. “Without those things we wouldn’t be able to make the impact we’re making.” At the PFBC’s January meeting, 26 stream sections in 14 counties were nominated for wild trout–stream designation. Following a 60-day public comment period, the recommended streams can be approved by the PFBC board. The board also approved the addition of 69 new waters to the commission’s official list of wild trout streams. “To know this stream we just classified will be protected from acid mine drainage or natural gas drilling; to know we can make a difference and save that stream and overall save the larger creek that leads to the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay,” Miller says, “that, from my perspective, is amazing.”
Brett Miller, visited Brown’s property several times over about two years. They recorded the creek’s water chemistry and the number and type of fish and aquatic insects to gain a baseline understanding of the stream’s health. This laid the groundwork for the heavy restoration work along Brown’s segment of Elk Creek. It included installing logs and boulders to stabilize the streambank and improve aquatic habitat and additional boulders to improve water flow. Thousands of seedlings and live stakes—willows, silky dogwood and redbuds—were planted to absorb additional runoff. All of this was paid for through a grant Brown received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Conservancy. “These are long-term projects, so over several years we’ll go back and monitor to see how the fish population and the water quality have changed after we’ve installed a stream restoration project,” Miller says. “We’re a Band-Aid. We’re doing 1,800 feet of a stream that goes miles and miles,”
Brown says. “But you already see the results of where silt is collecting and trout are in better numbers. But it doesn’t happen overnight; it takes some time.” Brown, who describes himself as a kind of pied piper, has also brought some of his neighbors into the precision conservation fold, including his Amish neighbor whose property borders the other side of Elk Creek. That farmer now plans to create a buffer inside his pasture that would absorb runoff from his fields and the downspouts from his barn. This kind of word-of-mouth encouragement is integral to the success of the project. “I had to convince him that what we were going to do was going to benefit him,” Brown explains. “He’s accepted me, and he’s introduced me to other Amish neighbors. “We’re pretty much rehabbing threequarters of a mile of Elk Creek, which is no small feat,” Brown says. “Will I ever get to catch trout in my own stream? Haven’t yet, but the idea is that after I’m dead and gone, the fruits of my labor will pay dividends for future generations.”
Aaron Billger ’91, Kristin Drabik ’15 and Leah Leahy ’16 present a session titled Public Relations, Advertising and Integrated Marketing Careers. MORE ON BREAK THROUGH 2019, PAGE 16
DEPARTMENTS PEOPLE & PLACES
SCOREBOARD
THE ’GROVE
PEOPLE & PLACES
THE WHO, WHAT AND WHERE FOR ALL THINGS SUSQUEHANNA
BREAK THROUGH 2019 Nearly 100 alumni, representing the classes of 1968 through 2018, returned to campus in February for the Break Through networking conference, offering helpful information and advice to more than 400 students who attended—to help them plan for life and success after graduation.
16 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
Working for a Tech Giant Hadley Elsenbaumer ’12, analytical lead-measurement specialist at Google, and Kegan Moesta ’16, cyber security portfolio strategic lead at IBM, hosted a panel about working for a large tech employer. Both alumni, who majored in business administration, shared how they transitioned into an industry they didn’t know much about. They agreed that students should focus on improving their soft skills—verbal and written communications, critical thinking and problem solving—because they are valuable in any industry. Training on specific products or technologies is acquired on the job; both were taught what they needed to know by their employers. “Training is pretty integral to any program you will be learning,” says Moesta. Moesta talked about his sales role at IBM, where he spends a lot of time traveling and representing the company to clients. Elsenbaumer interacts with clients in a similar role, working out of Google’s New York office. “You want to work for a company that takes their culture
Kegan Moesta ’16
Hadley Elsenbaumer ’12
seriously because it makes a difference,” says Elsenbaumer. She was asked about the positive workplace culture at Google. Both panelists reminisced about their years at Susquehanna, encouraging students to expand their horizons and prepare for their future careers by getting involved in the many civic engagement and service opportunities at SU. “Take a class out of your comfort zone, because you’re going to be thrown out of your comfort zone in the real world,” Elsenbaumer advised.
“ You want to work for a company that takes their culture seriously because it makes a difference.” —HADLEY ELSENBAUMER ’12
Managing Online Branding and Advertising Logan Sweet ’15, public relations and social media specialist at CreAgent in Corning, New York, and Pierce O’Hearn ’15, paid social media manager for Hint flavored water in San Francisco, hosted an online branding panel for students at Break Through. In addition to sharing advice about entering public relations careers, they discussed paid advertising strategies on social media. Both panelists work in various platforms to manage online presences for their clients and employer, from Facebook to Instagram.
“You have to stay as up to date as possible on all the [online] platforms,” says O’Hearn, who manages paid advertising for his brand. Sweet and O’Hearn also stressed the importance of students managing their personal social media presences, especially on LinkedIn, as they get ready to enter the workforce. They advised students to maintain appropriate LinkedIn profiles that play to their own experience and goals. Sweet encouraged students to tailor their résumés and online presences to match where they would potentially want to work. They also reminded students to use the power of Susquehanna’s extensive alumni network.
spr i ng 2019 · Susquehanna Currents · 17
PEOPLE & PLACES
Wellness Center Focuses on Self-Help The new Amy E. Winans Center for Wellness, which opened in the fall, is attracting students who want to learn about stress management techniques and personal growth initiatives. “Our Winans Center has the potential to change lives by giving students, faculty and staff the ability to enhance their well-being and bring additional positive energy to our campus,” says Stacey Pearson-Wharton, dean of health and wellness and director of the Counseling Center.
According to a 2017 American College Health Association survey of more than 63,000 students at 92 schools, nearly 40 percent of college students said they had felt so depressed in the prior year that it was difficult for them to function. The same survey found that 61 percent of students said they had “felt overwhelming anxiety” in the same time period. Susquehanna’s new, larger Winans Center allows the university to triple its staff of Koru Mindfulness facilitators—from three to nine—and to increase the number of Koru seminars to five per semester. Koru Mindfulness is an evidence-based program for teaching mindfulness and meditation to college students and other young adults. Located on the first floor of Seibert Hall, the Winans Center is also the home base for Susquehanna’s Take 5 Zones, where students can take a break when stressed. Satellite Take 5 Zones are in Fisher Hall and the Blough-Weis Library. Other Winans Center activities and programs include: • Stress management techniques • Suicide prevention • Healthy snacks
• Stress Less Week
• Yoga and meditation
• Adult coloring books
• Massage chairs
• Video games
Amy Winans taught in Susquehanna’s Department of English from 1998 to 2015. She cared deeply about each student’s well-being and during the years prior to her death had been doing work in the field of contemplative pedagogy. The Amy E. Winans Center for Wellness is possible through the generous support of Roger and Della Winans, Amy’s parents.
“Our Winans Center has the potential to change lives by giving students, faculty and staff the ability to enhance their well-being and bring additional positive energy to our campus.” —STACEY PEARSON-WHARTON
18 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAM FRONTINO
A flock of 20 sheep assist with grass management at the solar array.
Full Steam Ahead for Susquehanna’s Sustainability Initiatives The campus community continues to support many new sustainability initiatives. Plastic straws were removed from Evert Dining Room in spring 2018, and the university will transition to biodegradable straws in 2020, yet another step to reduce the waste created by single-use plastic straws.
Susquehanna is also removing trash cans from classrooms to increase on-campus recycling. The Terracycle Process, used to upcycle into new products traditionally non-recyclable waste—such as chip bags and similar packaging—has also been institutionalized on campus.
The longevity and abundance of plastic are just as worrisome as the manufacturing process, according to Derek Martin, sustainability coordinator.
With so much to celebrate, Susquehanna observed its first Earth Month in April, instead of the traditional Earth Week.
“It takes up to 1,000 years for plastic to break down. While plastic bottles and straws have received much attention, small plastic pieces known as microplastics are also a concern. Microplastics end up in the stomachs of animals and are absorbed into the blood stream. They travel up the food chain, finding their way onto our plates,” Martin says. The Hawk’s Nest in the Charles B. Degenstein Campus Center removed plastic water bottles as a drink option for meals, as another way to reduce single-use plastics, which Martin estimates will save more than 60,000 water bottles a semester.
Notably, a flock of 20-some sheep from nearby Owens Farm arrived that month to keep the grass trimmed throughout the university’s 14-acre solar array off of Sassafras Street. The sheep help to maintain the array’s efficiency by ensuring that grass and weeds won’t grow higher than the panels, which would create sun-blocking shade. Susquehanna President Jonathan D. Green calls the sheep “the most environmentally responsible lawn-mowing team of any college or university.”
WE ALSO CELEBRATE THESE ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOLADES:
Scholarly Grounds, the café in the Blough-Weis Library, will now fill personal mugs for customers. Mug fill-ups will be charged as a “large,” but with a 10 percent discount.
• N amed in the Princeton Review’s Green Schools Guide as one of 399 most environmentally responsible colleges
“In the past year I’ve seen sustainability gain a good deal of momentum. All around campus, people are talking about how they can integrate it into their work and their personal lives. With the inclusion of a sustainability focus in the university’s next strategic plan, the foundation is being laid to further foster a culture of environmental awareness on campus,” he says.
• The first university in Pennsylvania to be certified as an affiliate of Bee Campus USA
• A warded a bronze certification by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System
• N amed among the Sierra Club’s Cool Schools, marking the university’s first appearance in the green ranking
spr i ng 2019 · Susquehanna Currents · 19
SCOREBOARD
NEWS FROM SUSQUEHANNA ATHLETICS
Stadium Named in Honor of Doug Arthur ’49 In recognition of a $10 million gift commitment from Lucille Arthur, widow of Douglas Arthur, Class of 1949 and World War II veteran, the athletic stadium was named the Doug Arthur Stadium during halftime of the River Hawks’ final home football game of the 2018–19 season. Arthur played with distinction on the Crusader football team during his four years at Susquehanna for the legendary father-son coaching team of Amos Alonzo Stagg Sr. and Amos Alonzo Stagg Jr. Arthur later received the university’s Russell W. Gilbert Award in 1991 for longstanding loyalty to the university’s athletic program. In 2001, the football practice field was named in his honor. The gift will support:
• Enhancement of an endowed scholarship fund for students attending Susquehanna from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
Douglas Arthur ’49
• Operating and facilities needs for Susquehanna’s 23 NCAA sports teams. • Creation of an endowment to support the position of the university’s athletic director. “We are deeply grateful for the trust Lucille has placed in us and are honored to be able to recognize Doug for all he did for Susquehanna and his country,” said University President Jonathan D. Green.
“
WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TRUST LUCILLE HAS PLACED IN US AND ARE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE DOUG FOR ALL HE DID FOR SUSQUEHANNA AND HIS COUNTRY.
”
— JONATHAN GREEN
20 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
“This generous gift enables us to realize one of our most important aspirations, which is to make a Susquehanna education attainable for deserving students and to provide access to truly transformative experiences on and off campus.” Arthur, who died in 2006 at the age of 84, and his wife, Lucille, who attended the dedication ceremony during Veterans Day weekend, have a long history of philanthropy at Susquehanna. In 1987, they established the Douglas E. and Lucille Groff Arthur Scholarship for students from the Millersburg, Pennsylvania, area. A gift from Lucille in her husband’s honor also funded the Douglas E. Arthur Plaza on campus. Prior to Arthur’s graduation from Susquehanna in 1949, he served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He flew more than 20 missions, but it was during a final humanitarian mission that his plane was shot down. He was captured
Dick Purnell ’58 and Lou Santangelo ’50
Left: Director of Athletics Pamela Samuelson, Erich Majors ’10, Lucille Arthur and President Jonathan Green Below: SU Pep Band in the newly named Doug Arthur Stadium
In Memoriam WILLIAM “ROCKY” REES Former head football coach William “Rocky” Rees died Dec. 20 at the age of 69 after a short battle with cancer. Rees spent five seasons at the helm of the Susquehanna football program, from 1985 to 1989, helping return the Crusaders to national prominence. After a disappointing 3–7 record in his first season as head coach, the Morristown, New Jersey, native went 33–8–1 in his final four campaigns. He guided Susquehanna to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1986 as the Crusaders posted an 11–1 overall record and finished as NCAA quarterfinalists, falling to the eventual national runner-up, Salisbury
and held for 30 days as a prisoner of war at Camp Konan in what is now North Korea. For his distinguished service to his country, he earned the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with oak leaf clusters.
State University. He was inducted into the
After earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting, he continued his education at Dickinson School of Law, Franklin University’s law school, Temple University and Rutgers University. He had a distinguished career with Nationwide Insurance Company, retiring in 1986 as a vice president and regional manager after 37 years.
Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year with the
A tireless supporter of Susquehanna, Arthur served as a member of the Board of Trustees for 20 years before being awarded emeritus status in 1993. He was also the first person to receive the two highest awards given to Susquehanna’s graduates: the Alumni Association’s Achievement Award in 1985 and the Alumni Association Award for Service in 1994. In 1996, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his distinguished achievements in business and in service to others. In 2013, Lucille Arthur was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of her commitment to making a difference in the lives of Susquehanna students.
Susquehanna Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. Rees was a two-time Middle Atlantic Crusaders. The team won the MAC title outright in 1986 with an undefeated 9–0 record and were also conference co-champions in 1987 and 1989. He mentored 23 All-MAC selections as well as a 1989 CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team pick, David Battisti ’91. Rees was part of the longest streak of Homecoming wins—a 10-game run that started in 1986 and continued to 1995. He led Susquehanna to wins in the first four years of the winning stretch, including a thrilling come-from-behind 43–42 victory over Lycoming College to spark the streak in 1986. He was a well-respected member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), serving as the chairman of the AFCA Meeting Rooms Committee from 1986 to 2002. (Photo courtesy of Shippensburg University Sports Information Office)
SCOREBOARD
River Hawks Add to Landmark Conference Success As one of the eight founding members of the Landmark Conference, the River Hawks have grabbed 30 titles during the 11-year existence of the league, including nine championships in women’s swimming & diving and five in men’s cross country. And now three more started off the 2018–19 athletic calendar. Susquehanna field hockey and women’s soccer won the first-ever Landmark Conference championship titles for their respective programs. For field hockey, the win meant Susquehanna’s fourth NCAA Tournament berth, and the first since 2002, while women’s soccer made its second consecutive appearance in the national playoffs. The women’s soccer team capped off its successful campaign with a 13–3–4 overall record, just one win shy of tying the school record for most wins in a season. Women’s swimming & diving kept the winning streak alive during the winter season as the River Hawks once again dominated the field and won their ninth straight conference title, having bested second-place Catholic University of America by 117 points.
2019 Landmark Women’s Swimming & Diving Champions
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Additionally, 35 Susquehanna student-athletes tallied 59 All-Landmark honors, including 20 first-team selections. Five River Hawks also gained major Landmark awards this fall and winter. A.J. Smith ’22 of the field hockey team was voted the Landmark Rookie of the Year, becoming the third River Hawk to garner that distinction, while Anna Werner ’22 claimed the same honor in women’s soccer for the program’s first-ever such award. Eric Towse ’22 won three gold medals at the 2019 Landmark Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships to become the second male Susquehanna swimmer to be tabbed as Landmark Rookie of the Year. Krista White ’19 wrapped up her career as the 2019 Landmark Women’s Diver of the Year, claiming top honors in the three-meter diving event. This is the first-ever Landmark Diver of the Year award—male or female—for the swimming programs. Chris Petraskie ’20 was named the Landmark Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year for the third season in a row after capturing three events at the 2019 Landmark Championships.
HAWK TALK Danial Shelton ’20 picked up American Football Coaches Association All-America Second Team
RIvER HAwKs
honors after leading Susquehanna to an 8–3 record as well as a win in the Fourth Annual Centennial-MAC Bowl. Shelton and Cole Dixon ’20 also collected D3football.com All-South Region Third Team recognition.
Noah Schairer ’19 earned a spot on the Google Cloud Football Academic All-District First Team, selected by CoSIDA, as an accounting major and economics minor. He is also a member of the
NAIREM MORAN
BRANDON TIMMERMAN
DAVID KITCHEN ’14
Beta Gamma Sigma and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies.
Hunter Pitman ’20 was named to the
New Faces at the Hawk’s Nest
Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches
As the winter sports season revved up, the Susquehanna athletic department saw three changes in its full-time staff.
following a stellar junior campaign. Pitman paced
NAIREM MORAN joined the River Hawk staff in December as director of athletic
goals while ranking second with 14 goals and
Association All-South Atlantic Region First Team the Landmark Conference with five game-winning
communications and brings almost 20 years of experience to the position. She came to Susquehanna after 11 years in the same position at her alma mater, St. Mary’s College of Maryland. A 1999 graduate, Moran also served there as an advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was a member of the editorial board for the college magazine, The Mulberry Tree. She has also held assistant sports information director positions at Middlebury College in Vermont, The College of New Jersey and Presbyterian College in South Carolina.
31 points.
BRANDON TIMMERMAN has moved into the role of equipment manager, having
as a third team selection for the second
spent the last two seasons as assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator for that sport. He also served as the interim equipment manager from September until he was permanently hired for the position in December. The Seymour, Tennessee, native graduated from Carson-Newman University in Tennessee in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
DAVID KITCHEN ’14 returned to his “home waters” as the head strength and conditioning coach. He was a member of the River Hawk football program in 2010 and 2011, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in global management. The Wapwallopen, Pennsylvania, native came back to SU after an 18-month stint as the assistant director of football strength and conditioning at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Katie Beluch ’20 and Marley Clendenin ’22 were both selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Mid-Atlantic Region Teams, with Clendenin landing on the second team and Beluch repeating consecutive season.
SCOREBOARD
Winning Isn’t Everything
HAWK TALK
The true essence of college athletics and coaching is sometimes lost in the numbers, with wins and losses overshadowing what coaches really do for student-athletes.
Hannah Lyons ’20 became the fifth All-America
On January 26, in front of the home crowd at O.W. Houts Gymnasium and behind a dominating 63–43 conference victory over Goucher College, Jim Reed, head women’s basketball coach, collected his 200th career triumph. His 200 wins span 18 years of head coaching at Wilkes University (2001–05) and at Susquehanna, where 173 of those victories were produced.
the American Volleyball Coaches Association
Though Reed realizes that 200 is a landmark number, the milestone does not mean a great deal to him. College basketball, from his perspective, is about “… teaching kids, teaching student-athletes, giving them direction, showing them how to play, being a mentor, having a good culture ….” A 1985 graduate of Bucknell University, Reed has been coaching basketball for 30 years, with 27 of those at the collegiate level. He has been the head coach of the Susquehanna women’s basketball program for the past 14 seasons. During his tenure, Reed has mentored 18 all-conference players, including 16 All-Landmark Conference selections. He and his coaching staff were voted the Landmark Coaching Staff of the Year in both 2008–09 and 2014–15. In a past life at Susquehanna, Reed served as the head women’s golf coach (2005–12) as well as the head women’s tennis coach (1993–94). For Reed, it’s not about the wins and losses. “It’s about the student-athletes and what they are able to accomplish.” He looks at it as a process—if you’re able to do the right things day in and day out, you’ll eventually be able to play well, and if you’re playing well, “wins and losses take care of themselves,” he says.
honoree in volleyball program history as she garnered an honorable mention selection from (AVCA). Lyons and Lizzie Herestofa ’21 both earned AVCA All-East Region accolades. The River Hawks posted their sixth consecutive 20-win season, notching a 24–13 overall record.
Chris Petraskie ’20 was honored by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association with Indoor Track & Field All-Mideast Region laurels in both the heptathlon and high jump.
Maggie Palaski ’19 was named the 2018–19 Landmark Conference Women’s Swimming & Diving Senior Scholar-Athlete. Palaski is the fourth consecutive River Hawk to garner the Senior Scholar-Athlete award for women’s swimming & diving, joining Kelsey Lessard (2016), Ashlee Weingarten (2017) and Joann Butkus (2018).
RAISE THE ORANGE & MAROON! Show your Susquehanna spirit by making a gift to your favorite varsity sport between JUNE 1 AND 23.
23 TEAMS. 23 DAYS. BRING SUMMER IN HOT! Jim Reed, head women’s basketball coach
#SU23IN23 MORE TO COME!
24 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
DAY O F G I V I N G
1,802
MARCH 1, 2019
OF SU ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS AND VARSITY ATHLETIC TEAMS SUPPORTED
TOTAL AREAS SUPPORTED STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
R AISED THE MOS T SUPPORT AT
$16,131 $67
AV E R AGE GIF T SIZE
T O TA L DONOR S 745 ALUMNI | 492 PARENTS 210 FRIENDS | 188 STUDENTS 167 STAFF & FACULTY 226
2010s
171
2000s
99
1990s
87
1980s
111
1970s 1960s
51
ALUMNI DONORS
BY DECADE
$210,374 WAS RAISED, INCLUDING $97,000 IN CHALLENGE DOLLARS
THE ’GROVE
STORIES FROM AROUND CAMPUS AND AROUND TOWN
Q&A Linda McMillin will transition from her role as provost to return to the faculty at the end of this academic year, after serving Susquehanna for more than 29 years. She earned a Ph.D. in medieval history from the University of California and taught history at Susquehanna. As provost, she led the faculty’s development of SU’s learning goals and innovative Central Curriculum. She helped to hire more than two-thirds of the current faculty, a legacy that will strengthen the university well into the future. Following a fall sabbatical, she will become a Degenstein chair, teach in the leadership minor and continue assisting with professional development.
Linda McMillin
Provost
“
WE’VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT NEW IDEAS AND THE FLEXIBILITY TO WELCOME CHANGE.
”
— LINDA McMILLIN
26 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
Q: To what do you attribute Susquehanna’s culture of innovation? A: Susquehanna’s long tradition of combining a classic liberal arts focus with an emphasis on pragmatic education has allowed us to always think about both broad intellectual trends and practical ways to impact the world—to achieve, lead and serve. Our faculty and staff are always looking for new ways to meet the ever-evolving needs of our students. It’s impressive how the SU community embraces experimentation. We’ve been fortunate to have the resources to support new ideas and the flexibility to welcome change. Q: How do you see the university evolving to meet students’ and society’s future needs? A: We continue to hire diverse and talented faculty and staff. And then, we let them do their magic with students! A primary example of faculty- and staff-led innovation is our GO program in which students cultivate the ability to work and live in crosscultural environments. A second one is the Center for Environmental Education and Research, which is fast becoming a hub of collaborative work in sustainability. Additionally, our Center for Teaching and Learning supports ongoing innovation in pedagogy—from digital tools to project-based learning to expanded approaches for making classrooms as inclusive as possible. Q: How has your love of history influenced your role as provost? A: As a historian, I believe that the stories we tell each other about the past create our capacity to imagine the future. It is important that we understand our past— traditions stemming from a liberal arts core, a pragmatic spirit, a Lutheran heritage, a Pennsylvania river—and not forget the ways in which we have provided an outstanding education to countless alums. We want to pull those threads forward even as we imagine new ways to meet students’ needs into the next century. Q: What are you most looking forward to in your sabbatical and new role at SU? A: I’m looking forward to being back in the classroom and spending more time with students. I am excited about our leadership minor, created by my husband, Dr. Jeff Whitman, before he retired. In the fall, I’ll be working with the Office of Leadership and Engagement to integrate our classroom work with the many cocurricular leadership opportunities students have. I’m also looking forward to having more time to row on the Susquehanna River and to spending more time with my three— soon to be four—grandchildren.
SYLLABUS
Biology Course Ignites Minds and Taste Buds
FORWARD THINKING
Biomedical Sciences Program Tailored to New Med School Requirements When semesters of social sciences and critical thinking started cropping up as required sections of the mandatory Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Susquehanna’s biology faculty were quick to respond.
What do beer, bread and cheese have in common? Yes, a delicious culinary combination. But students in Professor and Head of Biology Tammy Tobin’s interdisciplinary course The Microbiology of Beer, Bread and Cheese can speak to the biology, chemistry and history of fermentation and the role that different microbial species play in the production of each item. Tobin and her students explore—in and outside of a lab— the incredible ways in which fermentation has shaped—and been shaped by—human history, politics and religion. They examine not only how scientific reactions make the foods delicious, but where in the world the food is made and traditionally by what cultures. Tobin was inspired to create the course as a fan of the Food Network, particularly Alton Brown’s series Good Eats, and also through a wine-tasting course she took as an undergraduate at Cornell University. “We learned about the wines that we would taste; the geology of the region where the grapes were grown; the genetics and characteristics of the grapes; the human cultural traditions involved in making the wines; and, ultimately, how all of these, together, made unique wines. Then we tasted them. It was perhaps the best class I have ever taken,” Tobin says. Students enrolled in Tobin’s course brew beer, make sourdough bread using homemade cultures, taste cheeses from around the world and even go on a tour of Selin’s Grove Brewing Company. “I absolutely loved this class because we learned challenging, complex and useful material in a really fun, engaging way. For me, one of the biggest takeaways is the use of hops in the wort boiling process of brewing beer and how these hops contribute to bitterness and aroma depending on their variety, alpha acid content and boiling time,” says Kara Eckert ’20.
Students who plan to work in health care often major in biology, and they were having a hard time fitting in courses needed for medical school and the MCAT that were not required for their major. In 2016—just a year after the new MCAT requirements—SU’s biomedical sciences major was born. It has all the required courses for entrance exams to medical, dental, optometry and other health care professional schools while eliminating some ancillary science course requirements often needed for attending graduate school in the natural sciences. “To have a natural science major like this that requires psychology and another social science is rare,” says Jan Reichard-Brown, associate professor of biology and director of health care studies. Such a program fits perfectly within Susquehanna’s liberal arts environment, where a wide range of social science and other courses are already offered. “Taking liberal arts courses is important as a future health care provider because you don’t know who you’re going to be talking with. You don’t just talk to other health care providers—you talk to patients, psychologists and social workers. You need to be able to talk to people in their professional language, and a liberal arts education makes you better able to do that,” Reichard-Brown says. Studying a broad range of subjects also gives students important tools for any field—such as how to find information on their own, assimilate it and make decisions about its value. “There’s been some push in all health care professions for more humanistic and less authoritarian care. Having those liberal arts courses, in my opinion, will make this approach easier for a health care practitioner to achieve,” Reichard-Brown says. “Studying in a liberal arts environment prepares you to better negotiate the world around you.”
spr i ng 2019 · Susquehanna Currents · 27
THE ’GROVE KUDOS
Expanding Educational Opportunities to Deserving Students Susquehanna University joined more than 100 colleges and universities in an alliance to substantially expand the number of talented, low- and moderate-income students at America’s undergraduate institutions with the highest graduation rates. The American Talent Initiative (ATI) brings together a diverse set of public and private institutions united in a shared goal of educating 50,000 additional high-achieving, lower-income students across the country by 2025. Each participating college and university identifies its own strategies to contribute to the collective goal. Susquehanna will develop action plans to recruit more students from economically diverse backgrounds, ensure that admitted lower-income students enroll and engage in campus life, and minimize gaps in progression and graduation rates between students of differing socioeconomic backgrounds.
“Susquehanna’s history of providing a transformative, world-class education to meritorious students with modest financial resources is a point of pride for me and remains one of our most important aspirations,” says University President Jonathan D. Green. “We are committed to supporting these students socially, academically and financially, from before they arrive on campus to graduation and beyond.” ATI, which welcomed its first members in December 2016, works with institutions across the country that graduate at least 70 percent of their students in six years—a threshold that just under 300 colleges, including Susquehanna, achieve. ATI institutions are creating a community of practice where members convene regularly to share best practices and contribute to research that will help other colleges and universities effectively serve lower-income students.
SU in the News Susquehanna students, faculty and staff continue to make headlines around the country and the world. Here’s a sampling of 2018 stories. Go to susqu.edu/Currents-News2018 for story links. THE BOSTON GLOBE, BBC WORLD NEWS, ABC NEWS + 100 OTHER MEDIA
BARRON’S
What’s Facebook Worth to You? How does a thousand bucks sound? Business school dean and economics professor Matthew Rousu, a co-author of the study, explains the research findings.
E-Cigarettes Don’t Help People Quit Smoking. Here’s What Does. Co-authored article by Matt Rousu about his e-cigarette research.
TIME, CNN ONLINE, CBS/PHILLY + 220 OTHER MEDIA
Opinion pieces by Jonathan D. Green: Proposed Cuts in Federal Student Loans Threatens American Dream I Deleted My Facebook Account and I’m Glad Questioning the Value of a Liberal Arts Degree? Wall St. Isn’t
We’re on the Lookout for a Honey Thief! Our tongue-in-cheek story about a bear stealing from the campus beehives, originally reported on WNEP-TV, went viral.
WASHINGTON POST The Higher Education Legacy of Our Presidents—And How to Carry That Forward An opinion piece by Jonathan D. Green
THE ATLANTIC Why Are So Few Male Students Studying Abroad? Dean of Global Programs Scott Manning provides perspective through Susquehanna’s GO Program.
THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION Don’t Stop Inviting Controversial Speakers. Just Prepare Prudently. The Chronicle of Higher Education showcases Susquehanna as a model for hosting controversial speakers on campus.
28 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
HARRISBURG PATRIOT NEWS/PENNLIVE
THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE Student Researchers Find Undiscovered Wild Trout Students sampled 88 stream sites in their ongoing research for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Unassessed Waters Initiative.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC How Older Widow Spiders Seduce Younger Males—And Eat Them This story quotes biology professor and arachnologist Matthew Persons.
Bragging Rights!
Help us CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY by spreading the word about SU’s achievements and successes!
98
98%
PERCENT
OF GRADUATING STUDENTS FINISH IN FOUR YEARS OR LESS
OF STUDENTS ARE EMPLOYED OR IN GRAD SCHOOL WITHIN 6 MONTHS
AMONG NATION’S TOP 40 NATIONAL LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITIES
—Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2019
REATIVE WRITING MAJOR RANKED C NO. 6 IN PENNSYLVANIA
AMONG THE TOP 16% OF COLLEGES NATIONWIDE
—Zippia, Inc., The Career Expert, 2018
For student success and learning —Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, 2018
A great education at an affordable price that helps students launch promising careers —Money magazine
018 BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK—NO. 50 2 OF 400 COLLEGES IN THE NORTHEAST
—Washington Monthly
ONE OF AMERICA’S TOP COLLEGES 2018
—Forbes Business Magazine
NO. 6 NATIONWIDE AND NO. 1 IN PA FOR BACCALAUREATE STUDY ABROAD
(10 years after enrolling)
ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT RANKS NO. 27 AMONG U.S. ECONOMICS DEPARTMENTS AT LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES
For our contribution to the public good through promotion of social mobility, research and service. —Washington Monthly, 2018
2018–19 BEST COLLEGES FOR YOUR MONEY
EARNINGS 53% HIGHER THAN THE MEDIAN FOR 4-YEAR COLLEGE GRADUATES NATIONWIDE
OUT OF 358 COLLEGE STUDENTS 4 WORLDWIDE NAMED STANFORD INNOVATION FELLOWS
—Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, 2018
NO. 20 OF TOP 50 BEST PRE-COLLEGE SUMMER PROGRAMS
Recognizing our residential summer programs for high school students —Value Colleges, 2018
NE OF THE NATION’S O MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE COLLEGES
—The Princeton Review Guide to 399 Green Colleges, 2018
—Open Doors 2018, Institute for International Education
Susquehanna University is a proud member of The Annapolis Group comprising approximately 130 leading national independent liberal arts colleges. The Sigmund Weis School of Business is among the top 5% of business programs worldwide—and one of the few undergraduate-only programs— to have earned AACSB accreditation, a marker of excellence.
Call your pet sitter ... Book your hotel room! FAMILY WEEKEND 2019
Oct. 4–6
Start your October with family time. Spend the weekend with your SU student and experience campus life firsthand. Explore downtown Selinsgrove and the surrounding area. Head to a Susquehanna athletic event, musical performance or one of the many events planned just for you.
HOMECOMING–REUNION WEEKEND 2019: THE POWER OF STORIES
Oct. 25–27
It’s a weekend honoring you and your Susquehanna story. Alumni from all class years are invited. We’ll celebrate reunions for the classes of 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. The fun-filled weekend will offer something for everyone: golf outing, Milestones reception, reunion lunches, Homecoming football game, Susquehanna Champions tent, all-alumni dinner, music, kids carnival, yard games and more.
We can’t wait to see you!
Ahmed Alkhateeb ’07 accepts the Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award. MORE ON ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS, PAGE 38
MESSAGE BOARD
ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES
REGIONAL CHAPTER NEWS
DEATHS
CLASS NOTES
MESSAGE BOARD
Thank you for paying it forward!
It’s been a tremendous year here at SU, and alumni continue to help make that happen. In the fall, we took almost 100 students to Philadelphia and New York City to meet with alumni to learn about career possibilities and get advice. In February, 100 alumni and 420 students participated in over 41 sessions during Break Through, our student-alumni networking conference on campus. That same weekend, our alumni of color advisory board had dinner with current students to listen, mentor and support them.
“It’s been a tremendous year here at SU!” — BECKY BRAMER ’92 DEITRICK
March brought our annual Day of Giving—OneSU—where 1,802 alumni and donors helped us exceed our goal of 1,500 donors in 24 hours, unlocking over $90,000 in challenge gifts for SU students. Later that month, nearly 30 women students participated in the Signe S. Gates and Dawn Grigg Mueller Women’s Leadership Symposium, where they were inspired and mentored by numerous alumni. On May 1, Orange and Maroon Day, alumni all across the globe donned their school colors and splashed them over social media and in their workplaces to showcase our brand to the world. Thank you to all who took part in enhancing the Susquehanna experience for our students. You are incredible ambassadors for SU, and we are so grateful. To learn more about how you can help pay it forward, visit our alumni website at SUALUM.COM . You will find helpful and informative links that keep you connected to Susquehanna for a lifetime.
yours in achievement, leadership and service , Becky Bramer ’92 Deitrick Assistant Vice President for Advancement
GET “NOTED”! We love hearing about what our alumni are up to! Class Notes are a great way to share your accomplishments, activities and updates with your Susquehanna family. Submit your news and updates however is easiest for you. Online: sualum.com/classnotes Mail: Susquehanna University, Office of Alumni, Parent & Donor Engagement, Attn: Class Notes, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870 Fall 2019 issue submission deadline: July 31 Susquehanna Currents reserves the right to edit Class Notes for space and clarity and to select the alumni-submitted photos that appear in each issue. Preference will be given to print-quality photos of weddings and other gatherings that include the most alumni.
32 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
1950
Harry Bobonich ’50 published his ninth book, Over Here, Over There: Schuylkill County in the Coal Region in WWI.
1954
65TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
1959
60TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
1964
55TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
1969
50TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
1974
45TH REUNION
The Rev. Harold Hand ’74 retired after more than 40 years in the ministry of the ELCA. He served churches in Nescopeck, Schuylkill Haven, Birdsboro and Pottsville, Pa., and Baltimore, Md., during that time. He was recognized for his ministry with citations by the City of Pottsville, the Schuylkill County Commissioners and the House and Senate of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Chris, will continue to live in Pottsville.
1975
Some friends from the Class of 1975 got together this summer at the home of Susan Gordon ’75 Johnson. Pictured above, left to right: Susan Johnson, Carol Graybosch LaCorte, Richard Tolsma, Molly Cochran and Sue Holt Delp. Lambda Chi Alpha alumni from the Class of 1975— Tony Miscavige, Ray Wanger, Susan Heyde ’76 Wanger and Dean Bowen—gathered for a September weekend at the lakefront home of Lambda Chi brother Bob Yenkner and his wife, Ginny, in East Hampton, Conn. Beautiful fall weather allowed the group to take a boat/lunch trip to Mystic, Conn., take in a local waterfront concert and enjoy fresh grilled swordfish under the stars.
1976
On Jan. 18, 2019, the Rev. Jimmie L. Schwartz ’76 was involved in a car accident that resulted in life-threatening injuries. He was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma, where brilliant staff saved his life. However, they were not able to prevent paralysis of his legs. Please check caringbridge.org for more information and daily updates posted by our son. Prayers welcome.
1978
John Oglesby ’78 was nominated for a 2018 NAMMY (Native American Music Awards) for his CD The River, released earlier this year.
1979
40TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
1980
Theta Chi and Lambda Chi brothers from the Classes of 1980–1983 got together in Jupiter, Fla. These were once rival fraternities ... it’s good to see them get together and laugh about the past. Joining the gathering were: Gary Newman ’80, Bob Jacob ’81, Frank Arena ’80, Ken Johnson ’81, Heidi Flack ’83 Jacob, Bob Bunsa ’81, Jeff Hauck ’80, Marty Walsh ’81, Rick Fike ’80 and Jimmy Stevens ’81. Robert N. Whitmoyer ’80 received the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Robert J. Rogers Lifetime Service Award. He has worked with SU’s Lambda Beta chapter since graduation in various capacities, notably as Province 21 Governor from 1992–2018. He’s retired and lives in Harrisburg, Pa., where he sings with the Harrisburg Choral Society and Market Square Presbyterian Church Choir.
cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 33
1982
Debbie Horvath ’82 Ericksen received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for the State of New Jersey during the summer of 2018 in Washington, D.C.
1984
35TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
1986
Joe Yalch ’86 and his partner/husband, Jean-Francois Dupont, moved to Philadelphia after 29 years in Washington, D.C. Joe sold his practice and is now a full-time advanced restorative dentist at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn has three offices that provide dental care to all of its faculty, staff and some students. Joe works at the downtown office. Moving to Philly brings them closer to family, friends and their “happy place,” their home in Avalon on the Jersey shore.
1989
30TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
20TH REUNION
Alison Griffie ’99 Parker received her Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree from Texas Tech University Health Science Center in December. She passed her NCLEX exam in January. She has accepted a position in the emergency department at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas.
2000
Laura Desrosiers ’00 Renauld celebrated the publication of her first picture book in October. Porcupine’s Pie is a story of generosity and friendship, where Porcupine and her woodland friends work together to create a new Fall Feast tradition. To learn about upcoming publications, sign up for Laura’s newsletter at laurarenauld.com. Born to Melinda Speidel ’00 and Andrew Smith, a daughter, Celia Joyce, July 12.
2001
Sara Sohlman ’01 Weand, LPC, opened her own psychotherapy private practice in Annville, Pa., earlier this year. She specializes in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, anxiety disorders and trauma.
2002
1992
Christine Johnson ’92 Bukowski is the director of community relations for the Schuylkill United Way in Pottsville, Pa.
1994
1999
25TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
34 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
Born to Megan McMullen ’02 and Greg Blue, a son, Isaac Douglas, Oct. 18.
2003
Lynn Burke ’03 was promoted to director of the SCH Fund at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia. Jennifer Witowski ’03 Kuhn, RN, OCN, passed the exam to become an oncology certified nurse.
Dr. Kimberly Tohill ’03 married Joseph Zelonis Jr. on Oct. 27, at Camelback Lodge in Tannersville, Pa. Other Susquehanna alumni in attendance were Andrew Armitage ’02, Lindsay Vose ’02 and Susan Kessock ’76. Dr. Zelonis is the director of student teaching and field experience at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pa.
2004
15TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to sualum.com/classnotes.
2005
Adam Orlacchio ’05 was elected partner at Blank Rome LLP, Philadelphia. With a focus on Delaware corporate litigation, Adam maintains a national litigation practice involving complex commercial, corporate and employment litigation matters. He has handled trials before Delaware’s Court of Chancery and the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, as well as appeals to the Supreme Court for the State of Delaware and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He also has extensive experience mediating and arbitrating cases to limit client expense and exposure. Adam serves on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and regularly represents pro bono clients in landlord/tenant proceedings. Adam previously served as chair for the Delaware State Bar Association’s Litigation Section.
2006
Jennifer Testa ’06 married Elliot Platt, June 30, 2018, surrounded by family and friends. Born to Christopher ’06 and Vicky Burgos ’06 DeMicco, a son, Lucas Alexander, Oct. 3.
2007
Mary Kate Wright ’07 married Matthew P. Knuttel on Dec. 8.
WEDDINGS, WEDDINGS & MORE WEDDINGS!
UPCOMING EVENTS FAMILY WEEKEND
OCT. 4–6, 2019 HOMECOMING–REUNION WEEKEND
OCT. 25–27, 2019
Celebrating the wedding of Elliot and Jennifer Testa ’06 Platt were Anthony Losorelli ’06, Melissa Cicchella ’06, Chelsey Puskaritz ’06 Diefenderfer, Bryant Upton ’06, Brian Pietroski ’06, Dana Vaughan ’06 Trout, Gina Testa ’03 Proy, Jackie Jensenius ’06 and Jenna Harlan ’10 Leib.
SAVE THESE 2020 DATES FAMILY WEEKEND
OCT. 2–4, 2020 HOMECOMING–REUNION WEEKEND
OCT. 30–NOV. 1, 2020
Rebecca Smith ’08, Lauren Manley ’07 Nalls, Sara Sciarello ’07, Brian Nalls ’07, Ahmed Alkhateeb ’07 and Mark Dascher ’07 helped celebrate the marriage of Mary Kate Wright ’07 to Matthew P. Knuttel.
As if chapter events aren’t sweet enough, two very special guests, President Jonathan Green and his wife, Ms. Lynn Buck, have been popping up to show their support and meet you and your families. They and the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter made December extraspectacular with the Philadelphia POPS: Sounds of the Season Holiday Spectacular, lunch and Susquehanna friends. And they aren’t limiting their visits to the U.S. This couple is going global! President Green and Ms. Buck hosted a gathering at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in London with alumni, faculty and students from the Sigmund Weis School of Business London program. Everyone enjoyed canapés and nibbles while visiting with each other and celebrating everything Susquehanna. Where will the presidential couple turn up next? Stay tuned …
Christine Pulice ’08 married Larry Roy in Quakertown, Pa. In attendance were: Scott Cruff ’08, Jessica Aitken ’08 Cruff, Mandie Cangialosi ’08, Lauren Camp ’08, Madeline Shores ’09 and Kelly Grimmel ’08.
ALUMNI CHAPTER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR (Cruises, museum visits, lectures, garden tours, sporting events, concerts and more) Visit sualum.com/events for an updated list!
2008
Born to Erin Dinsmore ’10 and Eric ’10 Stahlnecker, a daughter, Penelope Anne, Jan. 28.
Christine Pulice ’08 married Larry Roy in Quakertown, Pa., on Aug. 4. Christine is a general pediatrician with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In attendance were Scott Cruff ’08, Jessica Aitken ’08 Cruff, Mandie Cangialosi ’08, Lauren Camp ’08, Madeline Shores ’09 and Kelly Grimmel ’08. Born to James ’08 and Sara Jane Luly ’08 Baublitz, a daughter, Rosalie Cosette, August 14.
2009
10TH REUNION
Jen Cullin ’09 was promoted to the position of coordinator of admissions events and communications at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Born to Margeaux Katz ’09 and Rich Sgrignoli, a son, Roman Solomon-Bentley, on June 25, 2018. Margeaux teaches middle and elementary school orchestra at Cumberland Valley School District and is a soprano with the Harrisburg Singers. She is the concertmaster of the West Shore Symphony under the direction of SU professor Dr. Jennifer Sacher Wiley. Roman has already met several of the SU music faculty! Rich is an attorney at a Harrisburg law firm and is an adjunct professor at Widener Law School. Born to Mike ’09 and Jennifer Ubbens, a son, Michael Edward Jr., on Sept. 11. Mike has accepted a new district administration position at Kennett Consolidated School District as the supervisor of special education.
2010
Lauren Diehl ’10 married Jeptha Barbour on Sept. 8, in Bethlehem, Pa. SU alumni in attendance were Kristen Prozialeck ’10 Killian, Danielle Kiess ’10, Christine Crigler ’11, Sandra Altman ’11, Allie Bochiccio ’10 Troyanos, Rachel Villano ’10 Sauerzopf, Kelly Herscheit ’10, Jessica Adams ’09 Broccio, Kelli Holota ’10 Mazzie and Dave Mazzie ’10.
36 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
2011
Nora Olsewski ’11 joined the law firm of Rubin Fortunato & Harbison, P.C. in Paoli, Pa. She focuses her practices on matters involving restrictive covenants, trade secrets, employment discrimination, retaliation and other employment claims.
2012
Miranda Killian ’12 married Kyle Kelley, June 16, 2018, in Tunkhannock, Pa. They live in Chandler, Ariz. Collin and Liz Clark ’11, Jon Snyder ’12, Kelsey Snyder ’13, Ashley Bianchi ’12, Dani Johnson ’12, Marcos Krieger and Charlay Yates ’13 attended the couple’s celebration. Emily Grabenstein ’12 married Michael Wheaton, Sept. 28, in Mountain, Wis. Born to Sarah Bryski ’12 and Vic Frederick V ’12, a son, Victor Frederick VI, Sept. 28. Sarah accepted a position as a school counselor for the Reading School District.
2013
Heather Napp ’13 de Rivera joined the office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog as a paralegal and legal secretary in their Wilmington, N.C., office. Chris Howard ’13 married Julie Brown ’13 on June 23, 2018, in Deptford Township, N.J. SU alumni in attendance were Keisha Neidrich ’13 Ross, Ally Palmer ’13, Josh Allen ’13, Steven Bucsok ’13, Nicole Redinski ’13, Sara Kern ’13, Collin Littlefield ’13, Alex Guarco ’13, Abby Hess ’13, Dylan Furlano ’14, Alex Ranck ’14, Kara Brammer ’13, Mandi Vivacqua ’13, Lenny Morales ’13 and Jazmin Medinas ’15. Amanda Nichols ’10 photographed the wedding. Last summer, Rebeka Torlay ’13 studied new frontiers in community-driven education while
co-developing an eco-leadership program with Para La Tierra, a local conservation organization in Paraguay. Rebeka, a bird and mammal keeper at Downtown Aquarium–Houston, lives in Houston, Texas, and is a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program. Born to Jamie Platt ’13 and Gage Cooper ’13, a son, Trace Alan, Nov. 9.
2014
5TH REUNION
Whitney Walsh ’14 and Ian Quinlan ’12 were married Nov. 3, at the Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville, Pa. Joining the happy couple were Matt George ’14, Brian Maehl ’14, Dr. Ahmed Lachhab (environmental science), Colby Brindle ’14, Bilyana Panayotova ’14, Joe Zamadics ’12, Luke Trama ’11, Dan Martin ’12, Renata Malionek ’14, Brandon Mash ’14, Cory Edwards ’14 and Emily Leboffe ’17.
2015
Liam ’15 and Rachel Franz ’15 Curtis were married in October at Holly Hedge Estate in New Hope, Pa. They met in Aikens Hall in 2011. SU alums in attendance to celebrate Liam and Rachel were Kyle Semmel ’15, Alyssa Vanin ’15, Sara Renfroe ’15, Leah Leahy ’16, Samantha Selders ’16, Lindsay Wisser ’15, Emily Verneiro ’15, Mary Scalici ’15, Matthew Buck ’15, Shannon Lavelle ’15, Shannon Slaff ’15, Jessica Elston ’15, Matthew Knerr ’15, Jacob Dolan-Bath ’15, Jesse Marsella ’15, Brent Rothermel ’15, Jacob Lapierre ’15, James Grillon ’15, Jonathan Lewis ’15, Chelsea Connelly ’15 and Alyssa Fikaris ’15.
2018
Jenna Danyew ’18 is the onsite coordinator for marketing and public relations for Circus Smirkus, a traveling circus.
Kristen Prozialeck ’10 Killian, Danielle Kiess ’10, Christine Crigler ’11, Sandra Altman ’11, Allie Bochiccio ’10 Troyanos, Rachel Villano ’10 Sauerzopf, Kelly Herscheit ’10, Jessica Adams ’09 Broccio, Kelli Holota ’10 Mazzie and Dave Mazzie ’10 gathered to celebrate the marriage of Jeptha and Lauren Diehl ’10 Barbour.
The Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter celebrated the true meaning of being a Susquehannan by hosting social and service events at the end of 2018. In November they met at the Capitol Cider House for a cider tasting, food, fun and fellowship. In December they took a break from the holiday hustle and bustle to raise a glass with fellow Susquehannans while helping those less fortunate. They met at Penn Social, where they collected food and donations for Bread for the City.
The New Jersey and New York City Alumni Chapters supported Susquehanna students in February by cheering on the Susquehanna men’s basketball team as they took on the Drew University Rangers. They also celebrated the Susquehanna University Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Amy Voorhees, at a performance at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in Manhattan.
Emily Grabenstein ’12 and Michael Wheaton married in Mountain, Wis., celebrating with Alyssa Lynd ’12 and Sarah Myers ’12.
Congratulations to Ian Quinlan ’12 and Whitney Walsh ’14 Quinlan who married in Fogelsville, Pa. Matt George ’14, Brian Maehl ’14, Dr. Ahmed Lachhab, Colby Brindle ’14, Bilyana Panayotova ’14, Joe Zamadics ’12, Luke Trama ’11, Dan Martin ’12, Renata Malionek ’14, Brandon Mash ’14, Cory Edwards ’14 and Emily Leboffe ’17 were in attendance.
STAY CONNECTED TO SU! Consider joining an alumni regional chapter. These volunteer-based organizations build ties between alumni, students, parents and the university through professional networking, social networking, events and mentoring. There are so many ways to be involved: SU SERVE, admission events, networking trips and Break Through, to name a few. Regional chapters help keep alive those connections that made you part of the SU family in the first place. For more regional chapter information, visit susqu.edu/alumni.
2018 ALUMNI
AWARD WINNERS Each year, Susquehanna University honors alumni of distinction at an awards banquet during Homecoming–Reunion Weekend, a tradition that dates to 1956. University President Jonathan Green and Devin Rhoads, director of alumni relations, addressed attendees during the luncheon and ceremony, while Becky Bramer ’92 Deitrick, assistant vice president for advancement, presented the 2018 awards. We proudly present our 2018 alumni award winners.
WILLIAM McCULLOUGH ’91 Achievement Award
THE HON. ABIGAIL C. MYERS ’01 LeGROW Leadership Award
Bill McCullough’s creative mind has made the Los Angeles resident’s résumé a compilation of entertainment industry heavy-hitters like CBS, ESPN, HBO, GoPro, NBC, QVC and, most recently, NFL Media. With 11 Emmy Awards to his name that span a host of categories, he’s industry-renowned as a director, producer and composer.
Sworn in as a Delaware Superior Court judge in 2016, Abigail Myers ’01 LeGrow credits the close attention she received at Susquehanna for the early success in her judicial career. A political science major, she chose Susquehanna because of the small class sizes. “It forced me to come out of my shell and have to take a position and voice my views on things, because you can’t hide in those classes.”
Now vice president and creative director of NFL Media, McCullough credits his success in part to the hands-on opportunities afforded him at Susquehanna, where he gained realworld experience as station manager of WQSU Radio and played football. McCullough also owned and operated his own production company, Wonderland Productions, which he started as a one-man operation in 1991 in midtown Manhattan. Within five years, he grew it to an Emmy-winning shop landing work from McDonald’s, Pepsi, Land Rover, Jaguar and PBS. McCullough’s proudest achievements are his three children, and marrying his best friend and wife, Vanessa. The lifelong musician and his wife enjoy performing covers at parties and bars. (Check out @spidy25 on Instagram.) For those just breaking into the industry, McCullough stresses the importance of remaining open to all opportunities, treating others with respect, and focusing on making your own path.
38 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
Judge LeGrow graduated valedictorian of her class from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in 2004. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jack B. Jacobs on the Delaware Supreme Court, and afterward she practiced law at Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, where she was a litigator. In 2011, she was appointed to serve as master in chancery on the Delaware Court of Chancery, a position she held until her current appointment. Originally from West Chester, Pa., LeGrow imagined she would pursue her law career in Philadelphia, but she was attracted by Delaware’s small bar association and rich corporate atmosphere. Having goals is important, she says, but flexibility to pursue unexpected opportunities is key. “If I had followed my own path, I would never have ended up here,” she says.
J. DONALD STEELE ’73 Service Award
MARGARET ANNE “MEG” FINLEY ’85 FLOURNOY Service to Susquehanna Award
AHMED ALKHATEEB ’07 Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award
There is no doubt that Don Steele ’73 is a significant asset to the community. Serving 23 years as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Northumberland National Bank, he is no stranger to prominent positions, both professional and volunteer.
Meg Finley ’85 Flournoy was inspired to stay connected to Susquehanna by the words of Trudy Cunningham, wife of former SU President Joel Cunningham. “She said, ‘You can learn to love new places. It’s always good to grow, but you can always stay involved with Susquehanna,’” Flournoy recalls.
As a student at Susquehanna working alongside Professor of Biology Matthew Persons, Ahmed Alkhateeb ’07 was able to perform basic research using advanced tools—a rare opportunity for most undergraduate students.
While at Susquehanna, Steele was a tutor at Selinsgrove Area High School and performed service as part of his fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, but it wasn’t until after graduation that his involvement truly ramped up. Education is especially near and dear to Steele’s heart. A member of the Early Learning Investment Commission, he has presented on the statewide initiative for improved preschool education, and he sits on the preschool board at his church. He also served as a Weis Partner at Susquehanna, volunteered for the university’s Business and Industry Campaign, and is a former alumni board member. Steele has served in leadership roles with numerous other Susquehanna Valley organizations. He has been awarded the Adam Smith Honor by Economics Pennsylvania, the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Susquehanna Council of the Boy Scouts, and the Pat Toole Leadership Award from the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way. He encourages everyone to get involved in volunteerism as the most effective way to help a community advance.
And so she has. Flournoy was active with the alumni board, serving as its president from 2003 to 2007, and volunteered for many years with the Alumni Parent Admission Network (APAN). She was also a member of the Alumni Career Team and the National Committee on Annual Giving. Since moving to North Carolina in 2004, Flournoy has given long-distance career advice to Susquehanna students during the annual Break Through networking event and stayed in touch in other ways. At Susquehanna, she majored in political science and minored in Spanish and became an active student leader, working in admission and with the Association of Women Students club. She received Susquehanna’s Outstanding Senior Woman Award in 1985. After graduation, Flournoy earned a Master of Education degree in counseling psychology from Lehigh University. She has worked at Muhlenberg College, Lafayette College, the University of Maryland College Park and Duke University. She is now sector director in the Career Management Center at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.
This experience gave him entrée into a Ph.D. program in cell and molecular biology at the Penn State College of Medicine, where he worked under the mentorship of Professor James Connor, investigating tumor-immune interactions in breast and pancreatic cancers. While there, Alkhateeb published six peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals; he has also been published by Scientific American and The Atlantic. He completed his Ph.D. with high honors, studying the role of the ironstorage protein ferritin in cancer biology. After Penn State, Alkhateeb joined Harvard Medical School as a postdoctoral fellow. In addition to performing research at Harvard, he worked at a biotech venture capital firm and founded a startup that uses analytics and artificial intelligence to address the irreproducibility problem in biomedicine. Alkhateeb transitioned from academia to the private sector in 2017 and now runs corporate strategy and business development at Palleon Pharmaceuticals, a venture capital–backed biotech developing next-generation immunooncology therapies. His role requires both scientific skepticism and entrepreneurial creativity, skills Alkhateeb says he first developed as a student at Susquehanna.
cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 39
Susquehanna Champions make Susquehanna stronger, one student experience at a time. It’s easy to become a Champion by completing five areas of volunteerism for SU—service, advocacy, giving, success and spirit.
WHY BECOME A CHAMPION? • Experience the fun of staying connected and involved after graduation. • Feel good knowing you have a direct, tangible impact on student success. • Enjoy perks like free admission to certain SU events and invitations to VIP events like Milestones and the Champions tent at Homecoming. • Be recognized on the website and in the Honor Roll of Donors. • Be eligible for incentives like keepsakes for each year of participation and additional incentives for consecutive-year participation.
Our most recent Champions include: Charlie McLeskey ’68 • Keith Costello ’73 • Scott Heller ’83 • Meg Pierce ’96 Frantz Megan McMullen ’02 Blue • Teague Emery ’13 • Colleen Scanlon ’16 To see all of our current 2019 Champions or to become a Champion, go to
SUSQU.EDU/CHAMPIONS.
Thank you, SU Champions!
DEATHS
1933
Amelia Krapf ’33 Williams, Bluffton, S.C., Dec. 29. Following her formal education, she worked as a high school teacher for many years, teaching history and German, as well as piano lessons at home.
1940
John W. Hoffman ’40, Newport News, Va., Jan. 6.
1948
Dexter Weikel ’48, Gettysburg, Pa., Nov. 1. Alumni survivor is his brother, Gail Weikel ’58.
1949
Phyllis Swartz ’49 Derr, Garden Spot Village, Pa., June 20. She was a teacher and principal and taught English as a second language. But more importantly, she was a fighter against Parkinson’s disease and had a strong will to help others. She learned tolerance and acceptance at an early age and taught both, serving as a great role model in today’s global world. She was a life member of the PSEA and NEA; member of the PASR, LCCPASR, American Guild of Organists (past dean), PA Music Educators Assoc., organist and choir director for many years; she also studied at Temple and Millersville universities. She completed her master’s work at Pennsylvania State University. Edith M. Wegner Hebel ’49, at The Oaks at Pleasant Gap, Oct. 21. Preceding her in death was her husband, Rev H. Lee Hebel ’48. Edith graduated from New Brunswick High School in New Jersey and served 22 months in the U.S. Navy (Women’s Reserve) during World War II. She graduated from Susquehanna in 1949 and served on its Board of Directors from 1981 to
1986. On May 29, 1949, she wed Lee Hebel in New Brunswick, N.J. They lived in the Karthaus area, in addition to Bedford County, Hagerstown and Perkasie. While living in Perkasie, Edith held administrative positions with the Pearl S. Buck Foundation in Adoption and Support Programs for Amerasian children during the Vietnam War. As a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, she served in various capacities in the congregations, conferences, and synods in each place she lived, especially in Lutheran Women’s organizations. Among her special interests were the promotion of Christian peace and justice, care of creation and nature with special concern for the Susquehanna River, church camping and world hunger, and serving as coordinator of the Allegheny Synod Hunger Appeal for a number of years. She also coordinated the Quehanna Area Trails Club from 1993 to 2005. Alumni survivors are daughter (Ruth) Ann Hebel ’82 Bruner and her husband, Thomas Bruner ’82, and son Donald ’75.
1950
Charles “Mud” Grund ’50, Elmira, N.Y., Nov. 14. Having a nickname like “Mud” certainly was a conversation starter. “Your name is Mud?” asked by a stranger was an open invitation for Mud to tell his stories—91 years’ worth. His crystal blue eyes caught your attention, especially when he styled his wardrobe in the same sky blue. “So, you like my blue eyes?” Mud would ask. A man of small stature, he housed a huge giving heart with a body and mind overflowing with experiences, a life library filled with books that told the stories of nine decades. Let’s look at the library sections and start at the beginning. The Army: The Genius is a standout, with pages worn thin
describing how the army lost his records three times at Ft. Meade. Mud had to retake the same tests and get the same shots four times. Having memorized all the answers, he ranked as a genius. Consequently, when in 1947 he was shipped out from New Jersey to California to Honolulu, the geniuses were dropped off in Hawaii to become teachers at Scofield Barracks as the rest of the men headed to Korea. The Captain Doesn’t Like Me, But the Major Does: Late in 1947 Mud’s ship was heading from Honolulu to Ft. Lewis in Seattle. The captain did not like Mud and ordered him to type hundreds of discharge papers. The major did like him, and with the major’s approval, Mud typed his own discharge papers first and left. Work: Mud, a financial analyst, retired at 83 from Morgan Stanley as a senior vice president. Alumni survivor is his wife, Lois Seybrecht ’51 Grund. Alvin Henderson ’50, Pickens, S.C., June 18, 2018. He was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment during WWII, where he made multiple jumps. He was captured in Holland while helping a fellow soldier who had been shot. He was a prisoner of war for nine months and received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, POW medal and the Presidential Citation. At the end of WWII, he returned home and earned his economics and accounting degree from Susquehanna University. He married the love of his life, Bonnie Manning, in 1952. They have lived in Pickens, S.C., since 1954 and have been lifetime members of Pickens Presbyterian Church. Elaine Faddis ’50 O’Gara, Nov. 26, Middletown, N.J. Elaine was a teacher and science specialist in Middletown schools for 25 years, retiring in 1990.
She was a 1950 graduate of Susquehanna University and received a Master of Education degree from Kean University. She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Alpha Delta Kappa and Phi Delta Kappa. She was also a member of MCEA, NJEA, NEA and the affiliates for retirees. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s RC Church, New Monmouth, and a member of the Rosary Altar Society. She enjoyed wintering in Stuart, Fla., and was a member of Ship Ahoy Beach Club for almost 60 years.
1951
Grace McKeever ’51 Newman, Fairfield, Pa., June 26, 2018. Grace was a member of St. John Lutheran Church of Fairfield, where she served on the altar guild. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi sorority. She was a teacher in the Fairfield School District for 20 years and a Girl Scout leader for over 10 years. In her free time, she enjoyed reading, baking, painting and traveling.
1953
Richard Stout ’53, Harrisburg, Pa., July 18. He was a graduate of Carson Long Military Academy. A retired insurance salesman for the former Albert L. Allen Insurance Company, Harrisburg, he was a member of Hershey Free Church and a U.S. Army veteran.
1954
Gilbert Davis ’54, Everett, Pa., Oct. 20. Gib graduated from Conemaugh Township High School, where he excelled at football and wrestling. As a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, he was a member of their undefeated football team and also was undefeated in wrestling. He played lineback and fullback at Susquehanna
cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 41
DEATHS University on an undefeated football team under the legendary coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Gib served in the U.S. Navy as a press person in the cruiser destroyer force Pacific Fleet attached to the fleet admiral staff, where he earned several awards, including the American Spirit Award. Gib was employed as news bureau manager for The Johnstown Tribune Democrat, a teacher and wrestling coach at Windber High School, a teacher and guidance counselor at Johnstown High School, coordinator for region H for Bedford, Somerset, Cambria and Blair counties prior to the beginning of IU 8, psychologist and director of special education for Bedford and Fulton counties, IU 8 coordinator, supervisor and psychologist, and after retirement he had a private practice for 10 years. Gib was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church at Hollsopple and attended Mt. Union Christian Church at Mench for the past 24 years. He enjoyed singing solos at church and working out at Summit Quest Gym. He loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all his cats from Tom to Buck. Joann Mosholder ’54 Layman, Somerset, Pa., Nov. 30. Joann was a 1950 graduate of Somerset High School and later graduated from Susquehanna University with a bachelor’s degree, and also Arizona State University with a master’s degree. She then had a career as a science teacher in Chandler, Ariz., before returning to Somerset upon retirement. She was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in New Centerville. She loved Pug dogs, feeding birds and nature in general. Richard N. Young ’54, Selinsgrove, Pa., Feb. 4, 2019. Rich was a 1947 graduate of Northumberland High School and was a true “Pineknotter” at heart. During his high school career, he was a standout athlete, playing
football, baseball and basketball. Rich attended Temple University for a year; then in 1948, he joined the Army Airway Command System, which later became the Air Force. He was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, becoming an MDS air traffic final controller. Following his military career, Rich enrolled at Susquehanna University. He continued to serve as an Air Force Reserve member for six years. At Susquehanna, he continued his standout athletic career and was voted Little All-American and All-State Quarterback for Pennsylvania. He was an inaugural member of the university’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was a member of the first Susquehanna football team coached by legend Amos Alonzo Stagg Sr. and Stagg Jr. He maintained a close connection with the Stagg family and consequently was gifted with Coach Stagg Jr.’s famous football hat. Rich in turn gave the hat to Susquehanna University. The hat was bronzed and is used yearly as the Stagg Hat Trophy in the Susquehanna rivalry game versus Lycoming College. Upon graduating, he taught science and coached football and golf. His teaching took him to Morristown, N.J., Selinsgrove, and back to Northumberland High School and later Shikellamy High School. He retired from public teaching in 1982 but continued working in a variety of settings. He taught at the Watsontown Christian Academy, worked in the refrigeration unit at Townsend Chicken, and also worked retail both at Wal-Mart Tire Lube and W&L Subaru. He enjoyed broadcasting Sunbury High School football games for many years on WKOK Radio. He also helped to design and build Cherokee Golf Course in Riverside. As a young man, he was awarded the Boy Scout Medal of Honor for saving a drowning woman in the Susquehanna River. Most importantly,
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Rich was a devoted husband, loving, supportive father, and a devoted Christian. Alumni survivors are his son-in-law, Ronald J. Miller ’93, and grandson, John Vovakes ’09.
1957
Leonard Quick ’57, Newmanstown, Pa., Jan. 3, 2018. He was employed by Travelers Insurance for over four decades, officially retiring in 2000. He was also a veteran of the United States Air Force, 375th Air Police Squadron.
1960
Barbara Shilling ’60 Klepper, Mount Joy, Pa., Dec. 23. One of her professional accomplishments was establishing the Resource Center for the Central Pennsylvania Synod of the Lutheran Church. Barbara was foremost a partner in ministry with her husband and a loving mother to her four children and nine grandchildren. She was a strong, faithful servant of God, who did not hide her faith but lived it, shared it and believed in the promise of a heavenly Father for life eternal. Family was very important to Barbara, including her many church families. She was a surrogate mother to many children and youth with whom she related as neighbor and Sunday School teacher. Throughout her life, Barbara enjoyed vacationing with family, reading, sewing, knitting and other crafts. She loved music, singing in the church choir, playing the piano and French horn. Her legacy of love and caring will live on through her children, grandchildren and her many friends. Alumni survivors are brother Stanley Shilling ’57 and cousin Paul Haffly ’50. Larry Wingard ’60, Macungie, Pa., Dec. 13, 2017. Larry had a career as a Boy Scout professional, United Way executive, professional fundraiser,
development officer and stewardship leader for congregations and agencies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He joined Rotary at age 24 and was on the faculty of the Rotary Leadership Institute and a member of the International Fellowship of Rotary Musicians. He was president of the Emmaus Rotary Club in 2007-2008. He loved playing tuba and the string bass, and was president of the Macungie Band. He was a member of the Association of Concert Bands. Larry was an active member of the Friends of Flight 93, which supports the Flight 93 National Memorial near where he grew up in western Pennsylvania.
1961
Marian Handley ’61 Edwards, Delhi, N.Y., July 16, 2017. Marian grew up in Yonkers, was a cheerleader at Roosevelt High School and attended Susquehanna University. Post-graduation she worked as an administrative assistant at Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pa. In 1976 she met Elliot Edwards ’62 playing the piano at a Poconos resort, found he had also graduated from Susquehanna University, and that they had mutual friends. Elliot became the love of her life and enduring cherished partner. They formally married in 1995, with a pastoral country wedding in the Catskills. Marian Saint Edwards was the beloved creator of Saint’s Nicks, custom handmade Saint Nicholas Christmas collectibles. She started them in Tunkhannock, Pa., and later established her “Santa’s Workshop” in rural Delhi. Her husband survives.
1962
Rosemary Losch ’62 Beaver, Harrisburg Pa., and Fort Myers, Fla., July 31. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She did graduate work
DEATHS at Bucknell University, Penn State and Temple University. She taught science at Reading, Montoursville, Cumberland Valley and Harrisburg. Rosemary also spent countless hours as a volunteer, including a stint on the Greenwood School Board. She was a licensed REALTOR® and worked in real estate for many years in the greater Harrisburg area. She lived in Hershey for 20 years and was an active member of All Saints Episcopal Church. Ned “Blaze” Coates ’62, Jan. 6, Cogan Station, Pa. Ned was educated in Bloomsburg public schools and Susquehanna University, where he earned a B.A. in English. He taught at Hughesville High School, then earned a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Arkansas, leading to a 40-year career at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, where he earned a Master Teacher Award. Ned was an active member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Williamsport, where he served on several committees. He also served on the Environmental Task Force of the Upper Susquehanna Synod of the Lutheran Church, the Social Concerns Committee of the United Churches of Lycoming County, the Diversity Committee of the Williamsport Area School District, and was a tutor/ mentor through the program established by the First United Methodist Church of Williamsport. Additionally, he served on boards of the J.V. Brown Library and the West Branch School. Ned was a founding member of the Williamsport Running Club, the Eddie Roberts Boosters Association, and the Tommy McDonnell Fan Club. In addition, he was a founding partner of two local businesses, Ye Olde Cycle Barn in Hughesville and Lifetime Deliverance Sports in Williamsport. During their 25 years together, Ned and Gayle shared many fun and exciting
adventures, such as trips to exotic places like Seventy-Six and Mountain View, Arkansas. They also traveled to gatherings with Akwesasne Mohawk friends, zip-lined above a Mexican jungle, and helped hurricane victims in a huge Red Cross evacuee shelter. Ned maintained involvement in athletics and outdoor recreation throughout his life. He lettered in football at Susquehanna University. As a runner he took several age-group awards and completed at least 20 marathons. Ned wrote poems for Gayle, as well as short stories and plays for family and friends. He was a member of an Irish book club and enjoyed Irish literature, poetry and his Eagles football group. He was a frequent “featured” performer at “tributes” (roasts) of friends and relatives on special occasions. He loved his family and sharing mirth with friends. Alumni survivors are his son, Andrew Peters ’06, and cousin, Jim Wilde ’64.
1963
James Gallagher ’63, San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 26. He was raised in Centralia, Pa., in the heart of the coal regions, and met the love of his life, Darlene Strockbine ’63, his senior year at Ashland High School. He received a scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Science in math from Susquehanna University as well as a Master of Science from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1967. In 1962, Jim and Darlene started their life together and moved to New Jersey, where he worked at Bell Labs as a computer programmer. His work life journey continued on to RCA, Memorex, the Social Security Administration and Datapoint, which finally took him and his family to San Antonio. In 1983, Jim joined TRW as the program manager for the Air Force Logistics Command program
to modernize their computerized information systems for the 1990s. As the director of systems integrations, he led large LAN installations as well as operations and maintenance of these systems until 1996. Afterward, he led the initial cyber security design and deployment for the Air Force CITS Program and cyber support for the Department of Homeland Security at their first headquarters. While TRW was purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2003, Jim maintained the ethics, morale and employee focus instilled by TRW until his retirement in 2007. Jim and Darlene were charter members of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. Throughout the 38 years of their membership, they supported the church in many ways, giving of their time and talents. Jim was the first lay president of the congregation, headed up capital campaigns, and served on the building committee for the first building and subsequent builds. Both Jim and Darlene laid the foundation for making APLC a place of grace. William Moore ’63, Turbotville, Pa., April 5, 2018. He was a 1950 graduate of Shamokin High School, where he was known as a basketball legend. He lettered all the years he played and broke the scoring record. He was inducted into the Anthracite Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Bill attended Susquehanna University from 1965 to 1969 on a basketball scholarship and, at age 33, was affectionately known as “the Old Man of SU” because he was married with four children, as well as holding a full-time job. He co-captained for three years and was a four-year letter winner. He became the first player to pass the 1,000 mark in both scoring and rebounding. His rebounding record has yet to be broken. He was inducted into the SU Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He coached SU JV men’s basketball from 1974 to 1976, as well as girls’ tennis.
He also coached for Spring Grove High School girls’ basketball and PA College of Technology boys’ basketball. He had been employed as a salesman for Firestone Tire Company and was an insurance salesman for many years. Bill most enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He considered them to be his “greatest accomplishment.” He told them all, “My command to you as a father and grandfather–you be there!” He was a member of the Watsontown Alliance Church and had served on its board for many years. Alumni survivors are daughter Gale Moore ’73 Tuomisto and granddaughters Emily Foresman ’06 Ayers and Molly Foresman ’04 Kearney. Ann Corson ’63 Pignatore, Horseheads, N.Y., Dec. 19. Sixty years ago, Ann met John, her husband-to-be, in their freshman year of college. In the four years that followed, their relationship grew such that in their senior year they were nearly inseparable. At graduation, Ann received two offers: one of employment with the Aetna Insurance Company and the other a marriage proposal from John. She accepted both offers. On April 4, 1964, Ann and John were married in the Little Church Around the Corner in New York City. They later renewed their vows with their dear friend, Fr. Cyril Guise of the Carmelite Monastery in Waverly, N.Y. Ann might best be described as a shy lover of life. She had a marvelously genuine laugh that was most contagious. Always cheerful, she was always kind and thoughtful. She loved music and playing her piano. She was challenged by crossword puzzles and adopted the Yankees and the Cowboys with a passion. She thoroughly enjoyed nature, physical fitness and animals during her daily walks in the Corning hills, conversing with many two- and four-legged friends. One of
cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 43
IN MEMORIAM
SUSAN BOWERS 1941–2019
S
usan Bowers, associate professor emeritus of English and co-founder of Susquehanna University’s Women’s Studies Program, died Jan. 21, 2019. She was 77.
Susan was born Dec. 2, 1941, in Oregon. She earned a B.A degree in political science and philosophy from Willamette University in 1963, and an M.S. in political science and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon in 1974 and 1981, respectively. Prior to her teaching career, she worked for a brief time as a reporter in Coos Bay, Ore., and as a staff writer at the University of Oregon. When Susan first came to Susquehanna in 1984, she described herself as “the token feminist” among only five female faculty members. Over her subsequent 30-year tenure at Susquehanna, the faculty evolved into a far more diverse group that, as Susan once said, “allowed for greater diversity of perspectives” and reflected “how our society and workplace have changed.” Just three years into her tenure at Susquehanna, Susan’s commitment to students and student learning was recognized by the Distinguished Teaching Award she received in 1987. Upon her retirement in 2014, the faculty issued a resolution recognizing her for her distinguished teaching and research in the Department of English and Creative Writing; support of the Honors Program; and enrichment of the curriculum and campus by founding the Women’s Studies Program and serving as its first director. Susan also served as a faculty member on the university’s Board of Trustees from 1993 to 1999; as chair of the English Department for nine years; director of Diversity Studies; and as a long-time faculty participant in the Presidential Fellows Program. She also participated in numerous faculty and university committees. The joy Susan wrought from teaching is perhaps best summed up in her own words, published in a 2015 Currents story: “I’ve worked with wonderful colleagues throughout the university, and I’ve loved working with my students. It’s so fulfilling to be in the classroom; it’s one of the rare opportunities that humans have to interact freely and to think together.” Our heartfelt sympathy goes to Susan’s family members, former colleagues and friends. Her legacy at Susquehanna endures in the lives of the many students she touched and in the meaningful programs she founded, which continue to provide students with the transformational education Susan so valued.
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DEATHS Ann’s lifelong friends summed up her knowledge of Ann by saying, “She was always a giver, never a taker. Besides, she always had a spare dinner plate for someone who might unexpectedly stop by.” She is survived by her loving husband, John Pignatore ’63.
1967
Stephen Petro Jr. ’67, Pottstown, Pa., July 30, 2018. Stephen was a graduate of Pottstown High School, Phillips Andover Academy, a magna cum laude graduate of Susquehanna University, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa National Academic Honor Society and was an interpreter for the Franklin Institute EPA project. Stephen enjoyed collecting postcards. He also volunteered for Cat Angel Network and loved being a caregiver to those in need. Stephen always thought of his friends and family and would send them cards for every birthday and holiday. Alumni survivor is his brother, Tommy Petro ’72.
1968
Alexander Nash ’68, Naples, Fla., Aug. 7. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, N.J. Alex began his career working for the public accounting firm of Main LaFrentz and Company in New York, N.Y. He had a long and successful career for Public Service Electric and Gas in Newark, N.J., until his retirement to Naples in 2004. His hobbies throughout life included camping, fishing, biking, gardening and restoring antique trucks and cars. During his retirement he was a member of the Naples-Marco Antique Automobile Club of America. He participated in many car shows where he often displayed his two prized
possessions, a 1953 MGTD and a 1991 Lotus Elon. Both won several awards, including some Best in Shows, which gave him great satisfaction. He also took great pride in displaying his father’s collection of WWI posters and donated many of his WWI posters to various museums throughout the country.
1971
Robert Krafft ’71, Nottingham, Md., March 25, 2018. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.
1981
Rebecca Edmunds ’81, Selinsgrove, Pa., Jan. 5, 2018. While at Susquehanna, she was named best female athlete in softball and basketball. She was the catcher for softball. She was also a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Beck spent most of her professional career as a manager at Verizon in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Beck loved music and sang at many weddings and in numerous choirs throughout her life. She loved her home in Selinsgrove, where all were always welcomed and she hosted her annual cousins and girlfriends reunions! People who knew her will likely remember her biggerthan-life laugh, her love of athletics and being a great friend.
1984
Eric Cherego ’84, Kenilworth, N.J., Sept. 13. He was employed by Wakefern Food Corp as a global standards specialist for many years, and prior to that he worked at Prudential Financial in Newark as a programmer. Eric graduated from Union Catholic High School, Scotch Plains, obtained a B.S. from Susquehanna University and his M.A. from Seton Hall University. He enjoyed helping coach Kenilworth Youth Softball and was an assistant scout
master for the Boy Scouts of America. He loved spending his weekends at the beach in Long Beach Island.
1986
April Wilson ’86 Swisher, Shamokin Dam, Pa., June 26, 2018. April was a Sunbury High School graduate and then earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Susquehanna. She was last employed as a business office manager with ManorCare.
1989
Karen Caputo ’89 Stokes, South Orange, N.J., Nov. 12. Karen was a graduate of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth; Susquehanna University, with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism; and Seton Hall University, where she received a master’s in education. She had an enormous heart and loved those close to her without condition, especially her children, Peter and Pia, to whom she was a fierce and devoted mother. Karen never missed an opportunity to spoil her children or their cousins. A wonderful listener, she was always there in time of need and had a wonderful wisdom about her. Karen had lifelong friendships that she treasured deeply, a smile that looked like sunshine, and a sense of humor that would make even the most solemn laugh. She was as stubborn as she was creative in the kitchen, making the best meatballs in a family where meatballs are a matter of serious business. She was never happier than when in Nantucket, on the beach surrounded by her family, looking forward to dinner out.
2001
2004
Cathleen Jones ’04 Haas, Downingtown, Pa., May 24, 2018. Cathleen graduated from Pennsbury High School in 2000 and then received her bachelor’s degree from Susquehanna University in 2004, and her master’s degree in speech and language pathology from West Chester University in 2008. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed cooking, singing, listening to music and watching the Philadelphia Eagles with her husband. Alumni survivor is her brother, Charles Jones ’01.
SU FRIENDS
Wallace Growney, former professor of management and mathematical sciences at Susquehanna, died Feb. 1, in Tampa, Fla. Dr. Growney taught at Susquehanna from 1965 to 1999, influencing the career paths of the many students he taught. He was an innovator who focused on curriculum, advising and student development. He taught at least 30 distinct courses, over half of which he created or initiated. Additionally, he supervised hundreds of seminars and individual study projects. Administratively, Dr. Growney founded and directed the University Computer Center and initiated computerization of nearly all administrative offices. A memorial fund has been established by his family at Susquehanna University. Donations in his memory may be made at susqu.edu/makeagift or mailed to Susquehanna University, Attn: Development Office, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870.
Julene Jarosky ’01, Harrisburg, Pa., Nov. 25.
cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 45
by coleen zoller
End Note
Reaching Common Ground Through Cooperative Reasoning
One of the exciting innovations in my pedagogy is teaching students to talk with each other when they disagree or even feel offended by someone’s beliefs. Students, faculty and staff hunger for a way to work through the divided times in which we live. American philosopher Maureen Linker offers a method to help us have better conversations when we disagree instead of attacking each other or totally disengaging. The key is engaging what Linker calls “cooperative reasoning,” meaning that two people listen to each other with the goal of understanding why people believe what they believe. Most of us rely instead on adversarial reasoning, and Linker invites us to let our defenses down to collaborate with others instead of trying to persuade or defeat them. This collaboration involves the effort to establish “conditional trust,” first by being willing to listen openly to and consider relevant counterevidence.
“One of the exciting innovations in my pedagogy is teaching students to talk with each other when they disagree.” — COLEEN ZOLLER
The other aspect of developing trust is to reassure those we disagree with that we do not mistrust or dislike them for asking critical questions or raising the possibility that some beliefs are driven by implicit bias. This type of reassurance helps connect people, hopefully enabling them to continue their discussion long enough to reveal some common ground about which both interlocutors agree. However, the cooperative reasoning method does not ask that we affirm the other person’s beliefs or that we compromise to “meet in the middle,” which are common misperceptions of Linker’s project. To encourage my students to practice talking across disagreement, I have assigned projects in courses such as “Race, Class, and Ethics” and “Feminist Philosophy” that invite students to seek out people they disagree with about something important to them and to practice the skills Linker advocates. This assignment calls for students to reflect upon where they succeeded in using cooperative reasoning; where they faltered despite trying to avoid adversarial reasoning; what it felt like to disagree with their interlocutor; whether they uncovered any common ground, and if so, what that felt like; and finally what they could do in the future to improve their cooperative reasoning.
46 · Susquehanna Currents · spr i ng 2019
My students took up conversations on various topics pertaining to their course work, including questions such as “Is industrial food production unethical?” “Is mass incarceration unethical?” “Should cannabis be legalized at the federal level?”
“COOPERATIVE REASONING AND INTELLECTUAL EMPATHY ARE NOT TO BE PRACTICED BECAUSE THEY ARE POLITE OR ‘P.C.,’ BUT BECAUSE THEY ENABLE US TO DO HIGHQUALITY, CRITICAL THINKING ...” “Should the Equal Rights Amendment finally be ratified?” and others of their choosing. Students had these conversations with their friends on campus back home and from their GO program destinations, with their siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and with people they didn’t know very well. Students reported that these conversations were never easy but that they benefitted from a tremendous improvement in their leadership roles on campus as well as in their personal relationships. Cooperative reasoning and intellectual empathy are not to be practiced because they are polite or “P.C.,” but because they enable us to do high-quality, critical thinking instead of attacking or merely disengaging when we disagree with others. Coleen Zoller, Ph.D., is professor and head of the Department of Philosophy and program director of GO Greece.
spr i ng 2019 · Susquehanna Currents · 47
REBECCA SHADE ’54 MIGNOT In 1983, Rebecca Shade ’54 Mignot chose to honor her mother by creating the Alice Pope Shade Fund at Susquehanna. It enables the university to sponsor an annual lecture series that brings renowned religious scholars and leaders to campus. Rebecca Mignot’s niece, Rebecca Knight, did not attend Susquehanna University, but she recently established a Global Opportunities scholarship in honor of her aunt. Both of these funds will be endowed at the university through planned gifts, ensuring they will benefit generations of Susquehanna in perpetuity.
What would you do if you had the power to do something REMARKABLE today, while making an IMPACT that would last FOREVER? In the past year, Susquehanna has been fortunate to welcome 21 new members into our legacy society, the John App Circle. There are many ways to become a member of the App Circle, and even more reasons for doing so.
Learn more at SULEGACY.ORG
– FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE REACHES GOAL THREE YEARS EARLY –
$3 Million Raised to Create Women’s Leadership Fund A multimillion–dollar fundraising challenge has been met three years ahead of schedule to establish the Signe Gates and Dawn Mueller Women’s Leadership Fund at Susquehanna University. Gates ‘71, chair of the university Board of Trustees, and Mueller ‘68, board vice chair, launched the fundraising campaign in 2017 with a combined $1 million pledge. Their commitment was contingent on a challenge to other donors to contribute an additional $2 million. The challenge raised $3 million. The new endowed fund: • Supports a robust, four-year preparation plan for every female student—nearly 1,300— that includes career treks to major cities and job-shadowing experiences that connect them with Susquehanna alumni. • Provides opportunities for students to attend professional conferences and to secure summer
research, internships or other experiential learning opportunities. “We know that women have for decades outpaced men in overall academic achievement, yet lag in terms of pay and leadership positions in the workforce,” says University President Jonathan D. Green. “The generosity of Signe Gates, Dawn Mueller and all those who contributed to this women’s leadership fund will enable Susquehanna to do more to address this societal disparity for generations.” In recognition of Gates’ and Mueller’s major gift, the annual spring Women’s Leadership Symposium in New York was renamed in their honor. “We are extremely delighted by the swift support this fundraising challenge received,” Gates and Mueller note. “It speaks to the passion many feel at Susquehanna and beyond in seeing women
achieve the ultimate success in their professional and personal lives. We look forward to seeing the promising women students of Susquehanna benefit from this impactful program for years to come.” The fund includes significant gifts from Judy Hanson Mathis in memory of her mother, Marjorie C. Hanson ‘39, as well as from Mary Cianni, Ph.D., member of the Board of Trustees, former Susquehanna associate professor of management, and senior client partner at Korn Ferry, New York City. “Though our challenge has been met, the Women’s Leadership Fund remains an opportunity for donors who share our interest in encouraging Susquehanna’s women students,” Gates says. “More support means more programs for more students.”
For information on contributing to the Women’s Leadership Fund, contact Kim Andretta, assistant vice president for advancement, at andretta@susqu.edu or 570-372-4042.
514 University Ave. Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164
SUMMER
PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS in 2019 for High School Students
LEARN THINGS. MAKE FRIENDS. SAMPLE COLLEGE LIFE. ALL AT SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY!
Actor’s Institute Experience professional theatre training. July 21–27 • susqu.edu/actors
Choral Institute Improve your vocal technique and choral performance skills. July 7–13 • susqu.edu/choral
Exploring Legal Careers Develop analytical reasoning abilities. Prepare and present a mock trial.
i-Engineer Strengthen your mental muscle and improve your problem-solving skills. July 21–27 • susqu.edu/i-engineer
July 21–27 • susqu.edu/writersworkshop
Leadership Institute for Entrepreneurship (LIFE) Develop a business idea in an entrepreneurial setting.
Sustainability 101: Building a Resilient World Explore sustainable practices through hands-on activities.
June 23–29 or July 7–13 • susqu.edu/LIFE
July 21–27 • susqu.edu/resilient
Publishing & Editing Institute Produce and market a book.
Wall Street Susquehanna Experience an exciting introduction to business and investing.
June 23–29 • susqu.edu/legalcareers
June 23–29 • susqu.edu/publish
#GOMedia Create a digital portfolio; produce a radio broadcast.
Stream Ecology Institute Investigate stream systems firsthand.
July 7–13 • susqu.edu/gomedia
Summer Writers Workshop Live the life of a practicing writer.
July 7–13 • susqu.edu/SEI
Strings & Keyboard Institute Learn new repertoire in private lessons, master classes. July 7–13 • susqu.edu/strings-keyboard
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER TODAY AT
susqu.edu/summer-programs
June 23–29 or July 7–13 susqu.edu/wallstreet
Wind Ensemble Institute Immerse yourself in music. June 23–29 • susqu.edu/windensemble