fall 2018 · vol 86 · no 2
CURIOUS MINDS NOT ALL RESEARCH HAPPENS IN A LAB | PAGE 4
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
KIDNEY TRANSPLANT FOREVER LINKS ROOMMATES THE HOME ADVANTAGE FOR SPORTS MEDIA PROGRAM
Inside
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CURIOUS MINDS FACULT Y-STUDENT RESEARCH IS HIGHLY VALUED THROUGHOUT SUSQUEHANNA AC ADEMICS.
S E C T ION S DEPARTMENTS
2
First Word
ALUMNI NEWS
30 Message Board
16 People & Places
31 Class Notes
20 Scoreboard
Regional Chapter News · Weddings & Gatherings · Deaths
24 The ’Grove Q&A · Syllabus · Forward Thinking · Kudos · Bragging Rights 42 End Notes
ON THE COVERS: Front cover illustration by Augusto Zambonato; back cover photograph by Gordon Wenzel
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
10 K IDNEY TRANSPLANT FOREVER
LINKS FORMER ROOMMATES A four-year friendship in college is renewed through an immeasurable gift.
Contributing Writers KELLY BUGDEN ‘02 BRECKENRIDGE AMANDA O’ROURKE Digital Communications and Media Specialist KELLY VERGIN Director of Athletic Communications KATE 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 HOME ADVANTAGE
A robust sports media program with plenty of experiential opportunities launches students into successful careers.
Fall 2018, Vol. 86, Issue 2 ©2018 All publication rights reserved. Susquehanna Currents is published twice a year in the spring and fall by Susquehanna University, University Communications, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870. SUSQU.EDU/CURRENTS Susquehanna University is a proud member of
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WAYPOINTS SU SPLASH First-year students continue the tradition of serving the homeless locally and in Washington, D.C.
susqu.edu/Currents-SUSplash
Homecoming–Reunion Weekend It was a SUper-fun time Oct. 5–7! Check out our online photo gallery.
susqu.edu/homecoming
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, Pa.
First Word
Celebrating the Extraordinary
dear susquehan nans, It’s hard to believe that we are well into our second year at Susquehanna. When asked what I found most surprising during year one, my response has been the remarkable number of pleasant surprises. Almost daily, I would stumble across another great thing that the members of the campus community took for granted. Many of you have heard me say that Susquehannans are gritty and that they “punch above their weight,” but they are also too humble. This edition of Currents includes stories of extraordinary achievement. You will read about the rapid success of our sports media major, which is yet another example of the curricular imagination of our faculty, who continue to develop pragmatic programs deeply rooted in the liberal arts and at the intersection of our mission and the market. We often tell prospective students that they will form many of their deepest friendships at Susquehanna. Gwen Bodner ’16 and Erica Juliano ’16 exemplify this in their heartwarming story of former roommates sharing a literal gift of life.
“The whole is truly stronger than the sum of its parts.” — JONATHAN D. GREEN
Our cover story provides examples of faculty-student research. A recent GallupPurdue study showed a significant increase in career engagement and happiness during adulthood among individuals who, as college students, worked on a longterm project, had a mentor, had at least one faculty member who made them excited about learning, and had a faculty member care about them as a person. These factors have a multiplying effect when they occur together. The whole is truly stronger that the sum of its parts. These are experiences that naturally develop in faculty-student research. This was one of those pleasant surprises. Susquehanna University provides one of the richest arrays of undergraduate research opportunities in the nation. We are consistently among the top 10 colleges and universities in the country that send the highest number of students annually to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. That’s total student participants, not a percentage. The benefits of faculty-student research combined with internships and strong cocurricular activities provide an experiential constellation that the GallupPurdue study demonstrated maximizes a student’s future potential for an engaging and rewarding career, which they strongly correlate with increased
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happiness. Only 3 percent of graduates in the U.S. had all of these elements during their college careers. At Susquehanna, this is a typical student experience. This is something to crow about. Celebrating the extraordinary is a good thing. It helps us to realize how good we have it, and it helps others discover what could be theirs if they made the right choice. We are adding a regular feature of bragging points, which will include a selection of accolades and achievements we would like everyone to know about Susquehanna. That’s where you come in. If word of mouth is the best form of advertising, we have a public relations agency of over 19,000 to spread the word and celebrate. And we have so much good news to share. Help us put the SU gem in the jewelry store window.
you rs ev er,
Jonathan D. Green President
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Curiou BY AMANDA O’ROURKE
MIND
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ILLUSTRATION BY AUGUSTO ZAMBONATO
s
ND
NOT ALL RESEARCH HAPPENS IN A LAB
H
istory books are filled with familiar stories of founding fathers and war heroes. But Ed Slavishak is more curious about the many stories that go untold. “I’m interested in the rigorous academic study of the Everyday,” says Slavishak, associate professor and chair of the Department of History at Susquehanna. “I like to get at the fabric of everyday life that escapes our attention.” Curiosity has taken Slavishak and his students into the bowels of the Northumberland County Courthouse —scouring the public record for the stories behind the Everyday—marriage, divorce, palimony and death in the first half of the 20th century. And car crashes—lots of them. Senior history major Larry Herrold, of Sunbury, Pa., is helping Slavishak wade through newspaper archives and court records to find accounts of auto accidents and the legal action that followed—and there are plenty. By the 1930s, automobiles were no longer unattainable, leading to more accidents, many involving trains or trollies. This set the stage for copious lawsuits from victims seeking compensation for injuries, lost wages or car damage.
“The sheer glut of crashes that occurred between 1910 and 1940 make all but the most horrific of them fade into the background. But it’s that background that I’m interested in,” Slavishak says. “Car crashes bring some of the fabric of everyday life into view, because they often turned into struggles over blame and money.” Herrold has spent hours poring through court transcripts from trials involving pedestrians, primarily women, injured in automobile collisions. Within these records lies a wealth of information on early legislation pertaining to cars, medical practices and the experiences of patients in hospitals, and how gender and medicine were perceived in the courtroom. In the case of Emma Snyder vs. John P. Jones, Snyder was injured after being struck by a Buick driven by Jones. During the 1930 trial, Snyder’s inability to work due to continuous pain was appropriately highlighted. But the damage to her pelvis and possible complications in future childbirth were a major focus as well. “For the court, it was just as important that she was able to have children and take care of the home as it was for her to resume working as a farmer and maid,” Herrold says.
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SUSQUEHANNA DEVOTES APPROXIMATELY $800,000 ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT FACULTY AND STUDENT RESEARCH.
documents, a greater sense of community relationships emerges. “These trials reveal that while doctors were valued members of the community, the new methods of their work were openly called into question,” Herrold says. “Lawyers worked to sow the seeds of doubt in the jury, as modern medicine was pitted against common knowledge and traditional practice.” Slavishak and his students are using their research to build an interactive, online repository of local history that, frankly, appeals to the voyeuristic nature most of us possess.
Women at that time, however, had more dynamic roles in their communities than their domestic lives would indicate. Most worked outside of the home as administrators, nurses, maids, secretaries and teachers. “We have this idea that women didn’t do anything besides their home life, but the court records show their experiences were much more vivid and valuable than we might think,” Herrold says. Court records also reveal advancements in medical care. Doctors were scrutinized for their methods and their findings, backed by new technology that was always called into question. Through detailed testimony revealed in the
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“I like to get at the things that are swept under the rug, the low-level, everyday life events that the vast majority of us live through,” Slavishak says, “but really tell the stories of our hopes and dreams, challenges and triumphs.” Incidentally, their digging also turned up some familiar names—such as a 1914 crash that knocked unconscious a man who just two years earlier had opened a small grocery store, then called Weis Pure Foods, now a sevenstate grocery chain. Co-founder Sigmund Weis would, of course, go on to become the namesake of Susquehanna’s business school.
THE POWER OF CURIOSITY Slavishak’s research is just one snapshot of work going on across campus by
professors and their students. Though it varies greatly in focus, it is all inspired by the same instinct—curiosity. “Faculty become faculty because they are passionate about their discipline,” says Provost Linda McMillin, herself a medieval historian. “We expect them to be actively engaged in ongoing work to further knowledge in their field and to make that work available for public consumption.” Tenure, promotion and merit raises are contingent upon this work, whether it is research, performance, composition or professional consultation. McMillin believes that research and teaching, sometimes perceived to conflict with one another, are natural partners. “It allows faculty to model what it means to do research,” she says. “Our students would be cheated if they weren’t learning from people who are experts in their fields.” Susquehanna devotes approximately $800,000 annually to support faculty and student research. This includes support for conference travel and ongoing capital investments in equipment and instrumentation. An additional $4.8 million is held in various endowed funds. The university has both an Institutional Review Board and an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to provide important oversight.
THE DIARY OF ALBERT HUET Lynn Palermo, associate professor of French, and two of her students spent their summer painstakingly translating the diary of a World War I soldier. “WWI seems like such a remote part of history,” Palermo says. “Documents like this make it come alive.” More than 30 years after Albert Huet’s service in World War I, he finally put his experience down on paper, and 20 years later, family members found the abandoned diary in an attic. Because Huet was born in rural France at the turn of the century, his educational opportunities were minimal. His irregular grammar and spelling make translation difficult. “First we have to translate his French, which contains grammatical errors and misspellings, into a polished French version that we can then translate into English,” says junior Brianna Watson, a French education major from Plainsboro, N.J. What eventually is revealed are the remembrances of a man who earned commendation for valorously serving his country, but who often found himself wondering what all the violence and death would ultimately accomplish. “I’m sick and tired of this war, I tell it to everyone. I would rather go to prison,” Huet writes. “Who the hell would I go back to get myself killed for, when you
wise up to the life that all the profiteers are leading?” Huet delayed recording his wartime experience until 1955, 39 years after he was drafted into the French Army. He’d been recently diagnosed with cancer and, perhaps mindful of his own mortality, documented his experience for posterity. Despite the passage of time, Huet’s diary conveys the horror of war as if written in real time. He recalls seeing his comrades killed, mutiny among the troops and the misery of the trenches that were filled waist-high with mud and overrun by lice and rats. His misspellings of some towns and villages complicated efforts to pinpoint where Huet was located during the experiences he recounts in his diary. Additionally, some of the towns he may have fought in no longer exist, having been destroyed by the war. Sophomore French education major Nicole Grace, of North Wales, Pa., worked around this by plotting Huet’s known locations on a map, using the visual to help her decipher other towns mentioned in the diary. “One-tenth of the active French population died in World War I,” Palermo says. “Now it is no longer an abstract event that we can approach intellectually. This diary gives us a more human understanding of it.”
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HARD TO SAY “I’M SORRY” Harvey Weinstein. Matt Lauer. Kevin Spacey. Louis C.K. Each is accused of sexual misconduct. Each issued the obligatory apology statement. While the world responded with predictable disgust, curious minds
with women,” says Michael Thomas, assistant professor of philosophy. “It will be interesting to see how their theory predicts this behavior.” Weinstein opened his statement with an excuse, saying he “came of age in the 60s and 70s.” Spacey claimed to have
ANSWERING THE BIG QUESTIONS Not all students conducting research alongside their professors will go on to become researchers themselves. But through the act of research, McMillin says, they will learn how to ask questions, how to search for
THROUGH THE ACT OF RESEARCH, STUDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS, HOW TO SEARCH FOR ANSWERS AND HOW TO REACH THOSE ANSWERS IN WAYS THAT ARE INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE. in the Department of Philosophy wanted to get at something deeper. Junior Jennifer Fithian, a philosophy major from Philadelphia, Pa., saw an opportunity to put these statements under the proverbial microscope. “I guess I just got sick of it,” Fithian says of why she embarked upon this project. “There is very little accountability taken by these men, and I don’t see them getting called out for it. They keep going on with their lives, and the women they traumatize will never be the same.” Fithian is using the work of prominent philosophers like Kate Manne (who coined the term “himpathy” in her recent book, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny) to interpret the social, moral and political dimensions of the language used in these various apology letters, and how what the authors chose to include and exclude relates to issues of power and inequality. “We’re studying the ways in which misogynistic relationships play themselves out and how men communicate
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no memory of his alleged misdeeds and used his statement as an opportunity to reveal his homosexuality, while Lauer hedged his bets by accepting blame for some of his actions, denying others and being specific about nothing. Louis C.K. came close to an apology, Fithian says, but his repeated references to his esteemed position within the comedy community (four, to be precise) derailed it. “Once we analyze the language people use, or how they use language to claim or deflect responsibility, we can see how we are positioned socially through the language that we use,” Fithian says. “Who can say certain things and have people accept them?” Fithian also plans to analyze statements from music producer Russell Simmons and comedian Aziz Ansari, comparing how men of color address accusations against them compared to white men. “One of [Fithian’s] important questions is, what would a real apology sound like in terms of someone taking responsibility so you can move toward reconciliation,” Thomas says.
answers and how to reach those answers in ways that are innovative and collaborative. “Our faculty are challenging their students to answer those big questions by doing the spade work, knowing that their little piece will increase understanding overall,” she explains.
PERSEVERING THROUGH FRUSTRATING RESEARCH How you respond to frustration can determine a lot of things in life—whether you have children, buy furniture from Ikea, or even whether you become a scientist. While many of us may throw in the towel after repeated roadblocks, junior chemistry major Andrew Ressler sees only opportunity. “It’s fun,” Ressler says on his next-to-last day in the lab last summer. “A lot of it is playing with Legos on paper and trying to figure out why everything you have on paper isn’t working in practice.”
HARNESSING CURIOSITY TO ADVANCE SCIENCE Curiosity struck Matt Persons, professor of biology, when he was a child watching the ants in his backyard.
Ressler is working under the guidance of Geneive Henry, professor and head of the Department of Chemistry, to determine how effectively derivatives of thymol—the main component of thyme oil—act against pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus.
“I was watching them for hours trying to figure out why they did what they did,” Persons remembers. “I would do little experiments with food to see how they changed their behavior and was always rewarded by the ants in terms of what they’d do or how they’d respond.”
Previous studies have shown synthetic derivatives of thymol to have antibacterial effects. Ressler first mixed thymol with a second molecule, also with known antibacterial properties. He then attempted to enhance the mixture further by combining it with metal salts, with the hope of creating a better germfighting compound.
This laid the groundwork for his future work as one of a handful of arachnologists in Pennsylvania.
“The thinking was that the three would be better together than either two by themselves,” Ressler explains. However, while mixing the thymol derivatives with metal salts, which Ressler says should have “clicked together like Legos,” the compound fell apart. Translation: that’s bad. But according to Ressler’s coursework in organic chemistry, it should have worked. “It was pretty surprising to see that,” Ressler admits. This is where two roads diverge—the scientist and the non-scientist, those who persevere and those who walk away. Judging from the grin on Ressler’s face, it’s easy to see where he stands. “Yes, it’s frustrating, but there is also just enough hope to keep going,” Ressler says. He looks to Henry’s experience with expectation and admiration. “There is so much I don’t know that she knows,” Ressler says. “It’s so cool to see how a real professor does it.” Of course, there is a lot we don’t know, which is why curiosity and perseverance are such an essential part of academics. Without them, knowledge does not advance.
His most recent research, conducted with student research assistants, found that a wolf spider can tell when it walks into an area where other wolf spiders have been killed based on the pattern of silk deposition and feces. “As my son succinctly puts it, ‘Spiders can tell when they walk into a spider murder scene,’” Persons says. “They behave like humans would if they were to walk into an area showing evidence that someone was killed.” That is, they freeze. This research, while interesting, begs the question—why? Surely not because the world needs to know about spider behavior? Actually, yes, Persons says. “A single species of spider consumes up to 1 million insects per week, per acre of farmland here in Central Pennsylvania. Anything that effects that spider’s predatory behavior is going to have an impact on the insect populations upon which it feeds,” Persons explains. “Although it is important to understand spider behavior, and there are many economic and ecological reasons for doing so, I ultimately do it for the sake of knowing the unknown.” Which is really the point. The world needs people with the curiosity to ask questions and the perseverance to find the answers. “It’s how all knowledge is advanced,” Persons says. “Much of the important research that has aided humans in health or technology was studied for an entirely different reason or purpose. We lose a lot if we pursue only the well-worn paths with the assumption of an immediate and applied payoff.”
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KIDNEY TRANSPLANT by amanda o’rourke
FORMER ROOMMATES When college roommates Gwen Bodner ’16 and Erica Juliano ’16 met as first-year students, they surely had no idea how close their friendship would become.
A year-and-a-half ago, Juliano donated one of her kidneys to Bodner, who, as a sophomore at Susquehanna, was diagnosed with kidney disease. Bodner remembers feeling more fatigued than normal during midterms that year. Tests eventually confirmed a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy. “My professors showed such compassion and understanding while I tried to balance my schoolwork with all that was involved in confirming my diagnosis,” Bodner says. “I was amazed at the lengths my professors were willing to go to make sure I did well in their classes and still had the opportunity to take care of my health.” IgA nephropathy is a condition that occurs when a protein lodges in the kidneys, preventing them from functioning normally. Though the disease usually progresses slowly over many years, Bodner’s case was particularly serious. As her kidney function continued to decline, Bodner tried various methods of treating her condition, from medications to a special diet, all while enduring monthly kidney function tests. Despite this, she graduated on time in 2016, with
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summa cum laude and departmental honors for her degree in English and secondary education certification. But after graduation, her health began an even steeper decline, and in January 2017, Bodner was forced to accept that the only treatment option left was a transplant. “I remember taking comfort in the certainty of the success a transplant would provide,” Bodner says, “finally knowing for sure that we would no longer have to ‘try this treatment and see what happens.’” Incredibly, Juliano, by then a chemistry teacher in York, had no idea her best friend was so sick. Having been diagnosed at 10 with Crohn’s disease, Bodner says she became skilled at hiding her health crises. “Erica was aware that something was wrong with my kidneys and that I was leaving campus frequently to commute to Geisinger,” Bodner says. “I tried not to worry her with all the details of my diagnosis or my symptoms, not because I deliberately tried to hide it from her, but simply because this was how I always handled things.”
Gwen Bodner ’16 (left) and Erica Juliano ’16 (right) celebrate the anniversary of the life-saving transplant.
When Juliano saw a Facebook post from Bodner finally revealing the severity of her condition, she immediately reached out to help. “Why not?” Juliano says now. “I worried that if I didn’t step up to help one of my best friends that the process would go on for many years before she was near the top of the transplant list.” Within a few months, Juliano was confirmed as a viable kidney match, and surgery was set for June 8, 2017. “She made me feel really comfortable about it,” Juliano said of Bodner. “I love her for that.” Though Juliano was nervous the day of the operation, everything went smoothly. Besides dietary guidelines, she has relatively few restrictions on her life post-surgery, and Bodner is no longer on any medication to treat the effects of kidney failure. Though she takes three anti-rejection medications and must be extremely careful about germs, Bodner says she has more energy than ever.
In addition to changing the longevity of her life, Juliano’s gift has also changed the professional trajectory of Bodner’s career. Despite her passion for English and teaching, Bodner now has plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant in pediatric nephrology or gastroenterology. In the meantime, Bodner is working as a medical scribe in an emergency department, where she documents every aspect of the patient’s visit in his/her chart. She also works as a peer mentor for the National Kidney Foundation, where she mentors anyone with a chronic kidney disease. Finally, she is taking prerequisite classes to prepare to apply to physician assistant programs. “As close as Erica and I were by the end of our senior year at SU, our friendship was still relatively new, having begun only four years before,” Bodner says. “That’s why I was surprised. Somehow, in four years I had met someone who had come to care for me so much that she would be willing to give me part of herself.”
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“When SU students reach the press boxes and sidelines, they will be well-trained in everything from video and audio production to print journalism.”
—DAV I D K A S Z U B A
ADVANTAGE SPORTS M E DIA PROGR AM I M PRE S SE S STUDE NTS, PROFE SSIONALS 12 · Susquehanna Currents · fa l l 2018
E
ven before Giancarlo Stanton was introduced to the national media as the newest member of the New York Yankees, Sean Rodriguez ’19 saw him in pinstripes. Rodriguez, then a junior, was milling about the lobby of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando last December when Stanton, attired in his Yankee pinstripe jersey for the first time, walked past him on the way to a news conference introducing the slugger as the newest member of the Bronx Bombers. “It was awesome,” says Rodriguez, who was at the Florida hotel attending the Pro Baseball Winter Meetings with three other sports media majors from Susquehanna. “One minute, I’m walking around the lobby, and the next minute, there is Giancarlo Stanton right next to me.” Rubbing elbows with Stanton wasn’t the reason that Rodriguez and his classmates were at the Winter Meetings, though. Instead, they were there to rub elbows with potential employers as part of the annual Pro Baseball Job Fair. It was the second year in a row that four Susquehanna sports media majors attended the event, thanks to the support of Ken ’68 and Betsy Selinger and the late John Raab ’62. Their generosity enabled four students—Cory Fallon ’17, Alexa Gonzalez ’19, Kirsten Hatton ’19 and Dylan Smith ’18—to attend the Winter Meetings in National Harbor, Md., in December 2017, followed by Rodriguez and three classmates—Alex Kurtz ’19, Andrew Porzio ’18 and Mark Weaver ’19— who participated in the event in Orlando this past year. Of those eight students, the three who have since graduated have all landed positions in the sports media field: Fallon works for Major League Baseball Advanced Media; Porzio is a football production assistant for ESPN in Bristol, Conn.; and Smith is working in the Sports Information Office at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., where he is also pursuing a master’s degree in sports management. Participating in the Baseball Winter Meetings and the associated workshops gave students a taste of what it takes to succeed in sports media and influenced their subsequent job-search strategies. “It was an eye-opening experience, one that helped solidify what I wanted to do and gave me further clarity on what it would take to put my sports media degree to work,” Porzio says. Top Left: Several sports media majors take in the view from the Lincoln Financial Field press box as part of a stadium tour arranged by Philadelphia Eagles Vice President of Marketing Brian Papson ’99. Pictured are Rave’n-DaJon Coleman ’20, Kirsten Hatton ’19 and Rachael Cataldo ’21. Bottom Right: Sweeny Murti, Yankees baseball reporter for WFAN Radio in New York, takes a break after recording some WQSU promotional spots with Kirsten Hatton ’19, the campus radio station’s newest sports director.
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Adds Smith, “Whether it was attending the Winter Meetings or any of the other opportunities I had at Susquehanna, the fact of the matter is that Susquehanna is giving sports media students the best chance to succeed.” That includes bringing first-class speakers to campus. Last fall, both New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey and WFAN Radio Yankees reporter Sweeny Murti made separate visits to campus, where they took part in student-run video productions that highlighted their careers and their advice for aspiring sports media professionals. Murti also joined several WQSU Radio sports staffers on air for a sports-talk roundtable and spoke to several classes. “It was a wonderful learning experience interacting with Mr. Murti,” says Kirsten Hatton ’19, who this year becomes just the second female sports director in the 50-year history of WQSU. “He was very engaging and shared a ton of wonderful insights.” Murti, who has been in sports radio for 25 years, was equally impressed by his experience at SU. “What a thrill it was for me to see the program that has been built there and the excitement that these students bring to their coursework,” he says. “I can’t wait to meet these kids again at a ballpark or a newsroom down the road.” When SU students reach the press boxes and sidelines, they will be well-trained in everything from video and audio production to print journalism, says David Kaszuba, associate professor of communications and director of Susquehanna’s sports media program. “We’ve put together a curriculum that gives our sports media majors a foundation that will enable them to excel in a challenging and constantly evolving field. They will know how to tell a story, both visually and in writing. And, as is consistent with a liberal arts education, they’ll enter the field knowing that all work—even in an entertainment industry like sports—is enhanced by professional standards, ethical behavior and the forging of meaningful relationships.”
Kaszuba added that Susquehanna was just approved by the Association for Women in Sports Media to start a student chapter, in what was a highly competitive application process. Chapters help students learn how to succeed in the industry and grow awareness of the issues that women face in pursuing such careers. According to fellow faculty member John Foltz ’73, professional skillsets and points of view are developed by students not only in the classroom, but also as part of rich cocurricular activities, including working with WQSU radio, The Quill newspaper and the LensFlare video production team. LensFlare students, for example, produce livestreams of many SU sporting events each year, including all home football games and several other sports contests. Students interested in video production also have the opportunity to participate in weekly tapings of Coach’s Corner and River Hawk Spotlight, two interview programs that are shot and produced in the university’s state-of-the-art video production studio. “We may be smaller than some of the other sports media programs at other colleges, but we’re not taking a back seat with our equipment and facilities,” says Foltz, the founder of LensFlare. “Plus, our size gives students a real advantage; they not only receive one-on-one attention, but they aren’t asked to wait until their junior or senior year to touch the equipment or get behind the microphone. Students can get involved as much as they want, right from Day One.” Along the way, students are also making connections with SU alumni like Brian Papson ’99, vice president of marketing for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. In May, Papson hosted a group of sports media majors for a visit to the team’s executive offices and practice facility, as well as a tour of Lincoln Financial Field. Gian Fabian ’20 describes the experience as affirming. “Hearing Brian talk and seeing the Eagles’ operation really cemented for me that sports media is the major for me. I am very at home in this major.” The major is home, in fact, for 26 majors presently, including Rave’n-DaJon Coleman ’20, who also was on the Eagles trip. As she says, “To network with professionals, to be on radio, to work production for games ... it makes all the possibilities for a career in sports media feel real. It makes things feel within reach.” Left: Students serve as camera operators and studio audience members as Alek Washuta ’21, seated in orange chair at right, interviews longtime New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey for a studio production in Apfelbaum Hall.
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This year, Susquehanna University welcomed one of its largest incoming classes. MORE ON THE CLASS OF 2022, PAGE 18
DEPARTMENTS PEOPLE & PLACES
SCOREBOARD
THE ’GROVE
PEOPLE & PLACES
THE WHO, WHAT AND WHERE FOR ALL THINGS SUSQUEHANNA
Two Selected for Cultural Vistas Fellows Program Two Susquehanna University students spent their summers as Cultural Vista Fellows, completing an eight-week, fully funded, international internship. Aiyona Hayman, a senior creative writing major from Catawissa, Pa., was in Germany teaching English with the Refugee Academy in Berlin. “While I taught students English, I also learned a lot about culture, world politics and the many languages that come with being in an international city,” Hayman says. “One of my favorite moments was sharing a traditional Syrian dinner with one of my students and his family! It was delicious, and we enjoyed a great evening of discussion and socialization!”
Aiyona Hayman ’19
Donovan Gayles ’20
Donovan Gayles, a junior political science major from Budd Lake, N.J., interned at Youth RunOurCity (Youth.ROC) in Hong Kong, a program to challenge teenagers to train for distance running and achieve their goals while improving health and developing a positive attitude. “Being able to interact with the Youth ROC kids not only broadened my understanding of Hong Kong but helped them learn a little about the United States,” Gayles says. “One time I asked a young male runner, who is 15, what he likes to do on the weekend, and he told me he likes to go out with his friends at night and try to pick up girls! I thought this was a hilarious response and showed that some things do remain the same across different cultures.” “Donovan and Aiyona are two of only 12 students selected nationwide to participate in this program,” says Karen Mura, associate professor of English and faculty coordinator for fellowship advising. “This is a tremendous achievement for them and quite an honor that two of the participants in the prestigious program are students at Susquehanna.” Fellows enrich their academic learning through professional internship and immersion experiences focused on civic engagement and youth involvement. One cohort of up to four fellows travels to each international destination. Hayman hopes her experience in Germany will demonstrate to future employers her ability to adapt to change. “I believe I will be well-prepared to pursue future work teaching English abroad to refugees, migrants, newcomers and residents alike,” Hayman says. “This experience will greatly aid my English and writing career, as well as my personal development in being an active, participating member of the global community.”
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SU OFFERS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATION
This fall, Susquehanna began a Master of Education program to help meet the needs of area teachers. Susquehanna’s master’s program makes it convenient for working teachers to pursue their advanced degree through a hybrid teaching format that combines online coursework and some face-toface class meetings.
“ This is a tremendous achievement for them and quite an honor that two of the participants are students at Susquehanna.” — KAREN MURA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH
Students are paired with Susquehanna faculty members in classes that focus on curriculum design, research methods, critical media literacy and inclusive classroom strategies. “With the ever-growing population of English language learners in my school district, it is more important now than ever to better educate myself on the process of language acquisition,” says Oriana Long ’14 Auman, an elementary school teacher in Sunbury, Pa., who is enrolled in the program. To assist teachers financially, the university accepts a promissory letter from a teacher’s district of employment to directly compensate the university for tuition. “For most teachers in the Susquehanna Valley area, pursuing a master’s degree meant time away from home, paying tuition up front and waiting for their district to reimburse them,” says Valerie Allison, associate professor and chair of the Department of Education at Susquehanna. “Our program is created with their lives and financial constraints in mind.” A master’s degree can be completed within five semesters (34 semester hours). Add-on certification options are available in PreK–12 ESL and PreK–8 special education. “Beyond the satisfaction of becoming a better teacher, public school teachers usually see a significant raise in pay from their districts upon completion of their master’s degree,” Allison says. “We are very excited to offer this opportunity to our local educators who work so hard nurturing their students and mentoring their peers.” For more information, go to susqu.edu/master-education.
fa l l 2018 · Susquehanna Currents · 17
PEOPLE & PLACES
Welcome, Class of 2022! Susquehanna University opened its 161st academic year with 676 new students, one of the largest and most academically successful incoming classes in the university’s history. The Class of 2022 hails from 16 states and eight countries. Twenty percent of the incoming class come from historically underrepresented groups, and 32 percent are the first members of their families to go to college. At Opening Convocation, University President Jonathan D. Green urged students to remember why they are at Susquehanna. “Susquehanna University educates students for productive, creative and reflective lives of achievement, leadership and service in a diverse, dynamic and interdependent world,” Green said. “This is our mission. This is the creed of our community.” The Class of 2022 represents just 11 percent of a very strong applicant pool, according to Madeleine Rhyneer, vice president for enrollment and student financial services, the most competitive in Susquehanna’s history. The incoming undergraduates include 632 first-year students, 14 of whom are international students; 42 who are transferring from other colleges; and two foreign exchange students.
Susquehanna received approximately 5,700 applications for the fall. The median grade point average of the Class of 2022 is 3.6, and the average SAT scores are up 22 points over those of the Class of 2021. Additionally, 41 percent of the incoming class ranked in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class. Each year, a new university theme is chosen—this year’s is resilience—and the common reading for incoming first-year students relates to this theme. Green encouraged students to use their time at Susquehanna to develop a resilient spirit that will carry them through the inevitable challenges they will face as college students. “In anticipation of the myriad inevitabilities we all face, you are here to develop the tools to live your lives as fully as you can, to respond to challenges with grit and poise, and to lift up those around us whose resolve is spent,” Green said. “I am hopeful that in this place you now call alma mater, you will cultivate the wisdom and courage to provide the resilience needed to make and sustain the change you most wish to see in the world.”
Rhyneer shared some additional interesting facts about the Class of 2022, whom she described as leaders in academic and community engagement:
58% OF THE CLASS OF 2022 WERE ACADEMIC SCHOLARS IN HIGH SCHOOL
More than half participated in a varsity sport, and of those more than half played more than one sport
30% over
participated in band, choir or drama activities
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65%
in the School of Arts and Sciences
13
PERCENT PARTICIPATED IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL
MAJORS DECLARED
22%
within the Sigmund Weis School of Business
SCOREBOARD
NEWS FROM SUSQUEHANNA ATHLETICS
From Susquehanna to Super Bowl Team When Brian Papson ’99 was trying to choose which college to attend, he had more than a few options—but it was a visit to Selinsgrove that cemented his decision to enroll at Susquehanna University. He says it’s one of the best decisions he has ever made. “After visiting Susquehanna, I knew it was the right place for me. It had the right combination of quality academics and athletics that I liked, and I know this sounds odd, but the campus was clean and I really felt at home there,” says Papson, who is the vice president of marketing for the 2018 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Not only was the campus appealing to him, but the education and opportunities offered at the Division III level also helped him make his decision.
Brian Papson ’99
“I liked the small classes and the community feeling on campus,” says Papson. “I felt comfortable in class, and my confidence improved at the same time with the close-knit atmosphere on campus.” Papson points directly to his experiences as a student-athlete at Susquehanna as a reason for his professional success. The two-sport athlete was a pitcher for the baseball team and played several positions, including quarterback and wide receiver, before finding a starting role as a tight end in his senior year for the football team. “I was willing to play wherever I was needed in order to help the team,” says Papson. “I think I have done that in my career path as well. I wear several different hats but always give my best effort no matter what the task.” Papson still has many close friends who started as teammates for the Orange and Maroon. “I would tell students today that they should cherish these times in college and not take them for granted,” he says. “I would encourage them to not be afraid to take on new challenges and step up to the plate when it comes to trying something new.”
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Football’s Ring of Honor Inducts First Class The first class of inductees into football’s Ring of Honor—Dick Purnell ’58, Lou Santangelo ’50 and the undefeated 1983 team—were honored during halftime Sept. 15, when the River Hawks hosted Muhlenberg. Amos Alonzo Stagg Sr., Amos Alonzo Stagg Jr., James Garrett and Bob Pittello were inducted posthumously.
HAWK TALK Head coach Bob Jordan ’71 was named Landmark Conference Coach of the Year for men’s tennis in the spring. He led the River Hawks to not only their first Landmark Conference Tournament appearance but also the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Team Academic Award. The men’s tennis team had the highest team grade point average for men’s teams at Susquehanna last year.
“We are excited to begin a new process to honor and recognize the great players, teams and coaches that have been a part of the Susquehanna football family,” says football head coach Tom Perkovich. “Many of the key alumni supporters over the years started the discussion about the Ring of Honor, and they worked closely with the development office team to create the new honor for the football alumni. They did a great job, and we are excited to have a new tradition at Susquehanna.” The Ring of Honor recognizes the accomplishments of players, coaches, administrators and staff involved with Susquehanna University football over the years. The nominees are voted on by registered members of the football program and selected by the Ring of Honor Committee. The committee members include Jack Bishop ’57, Andy Sherwood ’73, Gerry Huesken ’77, Samuel Hoff ’79, Scott Heller ’82, Jim Brown ’86, Rob Sochovka ’87, Will Starace ’90, Corey Goff ’95, Tyrone Croom ’97, Marty Pinter ’99, Randy Hayes ’00, Ben Gibboney ’05, Trevor Terpening ’12, Ken Milano ’15, Ryan Starace ’19, Mikah Christian ’20, Steve Briggs, senior advancement officer, and Perkovich.
Diamente Holloway ’18 helped the football team to an 8–3 record and a win in the Centennial–MAC Bowl series, and was also selected as the Arthur Ashe Academic Achievement Award winner for 2018. He and teammate Cameron Ott ’18 were also selected as First Team Academic All-District award winners.
Kasey Bost ’20, a starter for both volleyball and softball, was a First Team Academic All-District selection for softball. She was also one of the Landmark Conference representatives at the national Student Athlete Advisory Committee meetings in the spring.
Successful fundraising campaigns in the last year have resulted in new scoreboards at both the
Dick Purnell ’58 and Lou Santangelo ’50
softball field and the swimming pool. The pool scoreboard, which features a video display, was dedicated in honor of Ged Schweikert, the first head coach for Susquehanna swimming and diving.
SCOREBOARD
RANDALL SWOPE ETHAN SENECAL
COLLETTE BENDER RYAN FELTY
New Faces on Campus The athletic department added four new head coaches to its staff over the summer.
RANDALL SWOPE has been elevated to head coach of the
COLLETTE BENDER is the head coach for cheerleading.
women’s lacrosse program after one season as interim head coach. Swope comes to Susquehanna after several seasons as head coach at Division I Bucknell University. She was a member of two National Championship teams as a player at the University of Maryland.
The former Penn State cheerleader worked as a kindergarten teacher for the past 10 years in the Mifflin County School District.
ETHAN SENECAL is the coordinator of men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams and comes to Susquehanna after three seasons as head coach for both track and field and cross country at Marywood University. He coached 85 all-conference selections at Marywood and also brings experience from The College at Brockport and Rochester Institute of Technology.
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RYAN FELTY has been named as the new head coach for men’s golf. The former professional golfer has extensive coaching experience at the high school level, most recently at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School in Coal Township. He also has worked as a sales manager in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is a procurement manager for Great Coasters International in Sunbury.
New Athletic Website Launches The new online home of Susquehanna athletics is SURiverHawks.com. The athletic department launched the new website in September.
HAWK TALK The athletic department announced in the spring a new partnership with BSN/Nike as the official provider for uniforms and other apparel for the River Hawks student-athletes, coaches and staff. The five-year partnership contract started July 1.
Four athletes were named All-Region selections in the spring—Cole Luzins ’18 from baseball, Dylan Abplanalp ’19 from men’s lacrosse, and Chris Petraskie ’20 and Robert Marks ’20 from track and field.
Robert Marks ’20 qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the javelin and finished 11th in the nation in the event.
Director of Athletic Communications Kelly Vergin worked with Sidearm Sports to create the new website that replaces gosusqu.com. The new site features larger and more vivid photography, a more robust social media presence and a special section for River Hawks of the Week.
Sidearm Sports supports athletic websites for more than 500 Division I, II and III colleges and universities across the country.
Samantha Thompson ’19 took sixth place and was named First Team All-Conference at the first Landmark Conference women’s golf championship held at the Susquehanna Valley Country Club.
THE ’GROVE
STORIES FROM AROUND CAMPUS AND AROUND TOWN
Q&A Matthew Rousu was appointed dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business in May, after serving as interim dean for one year. He joined the SWSB in 2004 and is also professor of economics. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from Iowa State University. His research interests include political economy, experimental auctions, agricultural economics, pedagogy and public health. He has published more than 50 scholarly articles, and his book Broadway and Economics: Economic Lessons from Show Tunes was published this summer by Routledge. Q: What do you think business students need in a business school education? A: Graduates need to be able to think critically, communicate well (orally and in writing), think globally and adapt to a changing business environment. That is the hallmark of a liberal arts education. They also need the technical foundations provided by an AACSB-accredited business school. Students who have these skills, along with a thorough grounding in accounting, marketing, finance and the other areas of business, will succeed immediately and throughout their careers.
Matthew Rousu
Dean, Sigmund Weis School of Business
Q: You’re a successful teacher and researcher. Why did you want to become a dean? A: I love teaching and enjoy my research. But at this point in my life, I think I can serve the university better and have greater value to society as a dean. A good dean can help make sure we have quality faculty who have the resources and support they need, that our majors meet the current demands of the workforce, and that we create new, life-changing opportunities for students. When I was serving in the interim capacity, I was excited to wake up every day and get to work. It is fulfilling (and fun) creating opportunities that will improve students’ lives. There are only a handful of private, undergraduate-only universities that have the prestigious AACSB accreditation, and I am honored to be dean at one of them. Q: What do you believe are the benefits of pursuing a business education at a small, liberal arts university? A: When you look at the top skills employers want, they include being able to examine a problem from multiple perspectives, to work well in teams, to communicate effectively, and to think globally. These are the hallmarks of what a liberal arts education provides and the focus of Susquehanna’s Central Curriculum. The Sigmund Weis School of Business is one of the top undergraduate business schools in the world because students get a top business education AND a top liberal arts education—a powerful combination. Q: What interests do you have outside of work? A: I love spending time with my family, enjoy theatre, and play trivia weekly with a group of friends. I used to play poker semi-professionally and have competed in the World Series of Poker six different times. Now I only play poker occasionally, but still enjoy it when I get the chance.
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SYLLABUS
GO Reflection Course Continues the Learning The 13 students who traveled to Louisiana for two weeks in January on the GO New Orleans program experienced highs and lows together. They saw the devastation still remaining from Hurricane Katrina—like building lots empty except for sets of exterior stairs leading nowhere. They planted grasses to help prevent wetland erosion and orange trees in community gardens. They bagged flour for a local food bank and drove through food deserts—urban areas where it’s difficult to find quality fresh foods— in the middle of this bustling city. And they continued their time together back on campus, taking part in a seven-week reflection course that culminates all of SU’s studyaway experiences. In fact, the cross-cultural requirement includes three course components: preparation, the cross-cultural experience off campus and reflection on campus. “While we were in New Orleans, we were on the go constantly. We didn’t have much time to debrief,” says program director Carl Faust, assistant professor of physics. “I think the students were excited to just be able to talk about the experience.” Kirsten Hatton ’19, a sports media major who participated, agrees. “We definitely all became friends, so we all felt comfortable sharing. It was nice to have an open conversation,” she says. GO New Orleans evolved out of Hurricane Relief Team, an annual service trip that began shortly after Katrina. Students volunteer with a range of organizations through Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans. Faust also required students to meet and take photos with 10 different New Orleans residents on the trip—and this was a big topic during their reflection course. “They got some really good insight into what the people there actually value and think about,” Faust says. “It was kind of out of my comfort zone to go talk to different people,” Hatton recalls. “But I really liked it because now I have these pictures of people and their stories written down—crazy stories that people have that you don’t hear on the news.” “I would recommend the trip to anyone,” she adds. “Even though we were still in the United States, it’s definitely a different way of life and a different point of view.”
FORWARD THINKING
W
hen students walk into Heather Lang’s Introduction to Modern Publishing and Digital Publishing courses, many are preparing for a career in a constantly changing publishing industry. Her goal is to teach the critical thinking skills the students will need to navigate their career challenges, no matter how frequently changes occur. “In designing my courses, I take a project-based learning approach,” says Lang, assistant professor of English. “This gives students the opportunity to apply the concepts we’re learning to projects that mimic real-world publishing projects, problems and questions. Whenever possible, I make use of new or emerging theories and technologies to help students identify and learn the industry standards.” The publishing industry has long been a source of fascination to Lang. “The books we write, publish and read impact our culture in so many ways, and I have always wanted to be a part of the critical conversations that focus on that impact. For me, digital technology amplifies that power by providing more people with the tools necessary to reach vast audiences.” Courses related to publishing and media production help students engage the power of writing in a variety of ways. “Digital publishing increases the ways people can tell stories by enlisting sound, motion and a variety of other methods to add depth or nuance to a story,” says Lang. “In that way, digital publishing opens up new opportunities for experimentation and storytelling that are really exciting and interesting.” By engaging with the history of publishing, students can see how the culture of the industry developed, how the industry has impacted American culture, and how that history set up a trajectory that the industry follows. “In helping students develop a critical awareness of this history, I hope that they’ll be poised to change the industry in ways that can make a difference,” says Lang. “By learning about how books and literacy were restricted to elite people, students understand how publishing can be used as a tool of oppression. “They might also understand why there is little racial diversity in the publishing industry, and they may come up with creative solutions that improve the publishing world and trickle into popular culture as well.” fa l l 2018 · Susquehanna Currents · 25
THE ’GROVE KUDOS
Susquehanna Alumni Among Top Earners in PA Within 10 Years Susquehanna was named among the top 35 colleges in the state whose graduates have the highest median annual earnings 10 years after enrollment.
The list was published recently by the Harrisburg Patriot News using data from the College Scorecard, a U.S. Department of Education website. It provides a variety of data about colleges and universities, including the median annual earnings of graduates 10 years after college enrollment, the average net cost to attend and other helpful information.
The university was ranked No. 25 on the list, with graduates earning a median income of $52,500 annually 10 years after beginning their college career—more than graduates of Penn State ($48,500) and the University of Pittsburgh ($50,700).
“The College Scorecard helps families decipher some commonly held misconceptions about ‘sticker price’ versus actual college cost,” says Madeleine Rhyneer, vice president of enrollment and student financial services at Susquehanna. “These numbers illustrate what we mean when we talk about value. A college education is one of the most important investments a student and their family will make. Fortunately, data-based tools such as College Scorecard can help families get the most bang for their buck.” In addition to earnings, the average net cost for a student to attend Susquehanna per year is $25,506—$3,720 less than the average cost to attend Penn State, which is $29,226. The University of Pittsburgh’s average net cost—$27,917—is also higher than Susquehanna’s.
Bragging Rights We all know how valuable a Susquehanna education is—and so do these national organizations. Help us CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY by spreading the word about SU’s achievements and successes!
AMONG NATION’S TOP 40 NATIONAL LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITIES For our contribution to the public good through promotion of social mobility, research and service —Washington Monthly
AMONG THE TOP 16 PERCENT OF COLLEGES NATIONWIDE For student success and learning
NO. 25 OF TOP 35 COLLEGES IN PA Whose graduates have the highest median earnings 10 years after enrollment
—Data from College Scorecard, 2018 (See story above.)
NO. 9 COLLEGE IN AMERICA—AND NO. 1 IN PA—FOR GETTING A JOB
—Zippia Inc., The Career Expert 2017
2018–19 BEST COLLEGES FOR YOUR MONEY A great education at an affordable price that helps students launch promising careers
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—Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, 2018
—Money magazine
Faculty Earn Awards
Nicholas Clark
Congratulations go to three faculty members who were honored at Commencement in May. This year, the John C. Horn Distinguished Service Lectureship was awarded to Nicholas Clark, assistant professor of political science, in recognition of his leadership, his skill as a teacher, his rich record of institutional service and his impressive professional résumé as both a practitioner and a scholar. Clark joined the faculty in 2013. Since that time he has built up an impressive record of scholarship focused primarily on the European Union. The Susquehanna University Donald D. Housley Teaching Award was awarded to Marcos Krieger, associate professor of music. A superior teacher, performer, scholar and university citizen, he has established himself among students and colleagues as a figure of authority and a meticulous and conscientious leader, possessing of great clarity and integrity. Krieger is the chair of the Curriculum Committee and director of the Honors Program.
Marcos Krieger
The Lawrence A. Lemons Distinguished Academic Advising Award was awarded to Jan Reichard-Brown, associate professor of biology. While a dedicated advisor to biology students, Reichard-Brown was recognized for her work as pre-health advisor, working with all students who are interested in health-related careers, including medical school. This complex and important job includes ensuring that students fulfill entrance requirements and prepare for entrance exams, supporting them through the application process, celebrating with them when they are successful, and continuing to help them well beyond graduation.
Jan Reichard-Brown
2018 BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK—NO. 50 OF 400 COLLEGES IN THE NORTHEAST —Washington Monthly
ONE OF AMERICA’S TOP COLLEGES 2018
—Forbes Business Magazine
NO. 16 AMONG TOP 20 MOST POPULAR STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
NO. 20 OF TOP 50 BEST PRE-COLLEGE SUMMER PROGRAMS Recognizing our residential summer programs for high school students
—Value Colleges, 2018
FOR OUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
STARS BRONZE RATING For our sustainability achievements —AASHE, 2018
—The Princeton Review’s “Best 384 Colleges 2019”
NO. 12 OF THE TOP 15 BEST COLLEGES FOR STUDY ABROAD —College Raptor, 2018
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS IN THE TOP 25 PERCENT NATIONWIDE —Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2018
NO. 9 BEST COLLEGE IN PA TO PURSUE A MARKETING DEGREE
—Zippia Inc., The Career Expert 2017
ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE COLLEGES —The Princeton Review Guide to 399 Green Colleges
2018 SIERRA CLUB “COOL SCHOOL” 1ST UNIVERSITY IN PA NAMED A BEE CAMPUS USA AFFILIATE
fa l l 2018 · Susquehanna Currents · 27
COMING TO A DEVICE NEAR YOU
F R I D A Y, M A R C H 1 , 2 0 1 9 TOGETHER LET’S MAKE THE 2019 DAY OF GIVING AN EVEN BIGGER BLOCKBUSTER THAN 2018. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS ON: Challenge gift opportunities • Student crowdfunding opportunities Live video feeds from campus • How you can help
Gretchen Anderson ’03 Brinza received a presidential teaching award last summer. STORY ON PAGE 36
MESSAGE BOARD
ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES
REGIONAL CHAPTER NEWS
DEATHS
MESSAGE BOARD
CLASS NOTES You Asked ... We Listened
Coming soon to a website near you is the new and improved alumni online directory as well as many more options for staying connected to our alma mater. In an ongoing effort to better connect us with each other, we are refreshing our alumni community. This is a one-stop shop for alumni events, alumni regional chapters, campus news, job postings, class notes and more.
“We remain one Susquehanna community, forever connected by the common bond of our Susquehanna education.” — BECKY BRAMER ’92 DEITRICK
Even though we all went our separate ways after Commencement, we remain one Susquehanna community, forever connected by the common bond of our Susquehanna education. We remember the “SU hello” and the smell of ginkgo trees in the fall. Together as Crusaders and River Hawks, we will continue to raise the orange and maroon. Our new online community will make it easier to stay connected across the globe, and we invite you to visit it today to see what it’s all about. And while you’re there, let us know what’s new in your life by leaving a class note or updating your profile. We look forward to catching up with you. Many of our pages are live, and the directory is coming soon. Check it out now at SUALUM.COM .
s i n c e r e l y, Becky Bramer ’92 Deitrick Assistant Vice President of Alumni, Parent and Donor Engagement
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. Email: Jodi Swartz, swartzj@susqu.edu Mail: Susquehanna University, Office of Alumni, Parent & Donor Engagement, Attn: Class Notes, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870 Spring 2019 issue submission deadline: January 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.
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1943
Jessie Walton ’43 Schmitthenner and Doris Haggerty ’44 Bass have rediscovered each other. They are so happy together and love to talk about their memories and college life at Susquehanna.
1951
Lynn Bailey ’51 D’Alessandro is constantly amazed that wherever she has lived over the years, there have always been what she calls the “threads of life” happily following her. For example, after her grandfather’s death, her grandmother sent her a silk American flag with 46 stars that had been woven in the silk mill her grandfather owned. She always cherished that gift and wanted to be certain it would remain in the family. She attempted to track down a cousin she hadn’t seen since age 3, and phoned him. Lynn was thrilled when the voice at the other end said, “I think you’ve come to the right place.” Shortly after, she was invited to Peter’s 90th birthday party when all the family was there, giving her the perfect opportunity to pass her cherished flag on to him and also meet his family. She also learned that all those years ago while she was attending Susquehanna, Peter was at Bucknell! Small world, many threads.
1954
65TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
1959
60TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
1960
The Office of Alumni Relations would like to sincerely apologize to Mrs. Helen Ferraro ’60 and her family for the misprint of Helen Ferraro’s death. She is well and living in Red Bank, N.J. Please find the correct obituary for her late husband, Ralph W. Ferraro ’60 (pictured above).
1964
55TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
1969
50TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
1974
45TH REUNION
Phil Rohrbaugh ’74 was named CEO of the Wenger Group. He was previously executive vice president and chief risk officer of Fulton Financial until his retirement last spring.
1978
John Oglesby ’78 released a new CD called The River on the Spirit Wind Records label, his seventh CD for
that label. The CD was inspired by decades of living near the beautiful Susquehanna River. It contains his own compositions, playing Native American–style flute, Shakuhachi, Bansuri and alto flute. Several of the tracks also feature the playing of local guitarist Pat Cioffi, who also wrote one of the songs.
1979
40TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
1980
James Moyer ’80, D.M.A., has received tenure and promotion to associate professor at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. As a result, he will move from interim status to permanent chairman for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, which includes art, music, theatre and dance. Art and music have a combined 190 majors, while theatre and dance involve some 130 students as minors. Moyer performs with both the Laredo Philharmonic and Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra.
1982
Larry Turns ’82, the director of overseas college guidance at The Koc School, received the CIS Peggy Templeton Strong Award. The award honors a member of the CIS guidance community who has made significant contributions to international school
cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 31
ALUMNI PROFILE
TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE TO REVIVE A NATIONAL FRATERNITY If there’s one thing that Tom Murphy ’94 can attest to, it’s that life has a way of opening unexpected doors. And sometimes those doors take you right back to your Susquehanna roots, requiring you to apply everything you know about achievement, leadership and service. When Murphy graduated from Susquehanna with a degree in biology, the Phi Mu Delta brother was bound for the master’s program at the University of New Hampshire to continue his studies. The open door he was headed for was a career in research biology.
Tom Murphy ’94
While at UNH, however, his loyalty to Phi Mu Delta flung a different door wide open. The fraternity traces its roots to three original chapters, one of which was at the college that would later become UNH. The chapter had since closed at UNH, and the opportunity to restart a chapter on campus presented itself. Murphy jumped at the chance, became involved, and would find himself eventually taking the reins as executive director of the national Phi Mu Delta organization in 2006. “My Susquehanna experience was very nurturing,” Murphy explained. “I learned how to effectively communicate, how to hold others accountable, and all sorts of other universal skill sets you only get through a liberal arts education. I didn’t leave Susquehanna as just a biologist.”
“
MY SUSQUEHANNA EXPERIENCE WAS VERY NURTURING. I DIDN’T LEAVE SUSQUEHANNA AS JUST A BIOLOGIST.
”
— TOM MURPHY ’94
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But the outlook for Phi Mu Delta back in 2006 was grim. At the time, the fraternity had dwindled to just nine active chapters, and the possibility of the organization folding was very real. Murphy ran the fraternity out of his own home for nine years until the organization was back on its feet. With Murphy at the helm, the fraternity not only celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, but it has the distinction of being the third-fastest-growing fraternity in the U.S. Murphy is exceptionally proud of his Susquehanna “home” chapter, which earned the 2013 Chapter Award of Distinction from the North-American Interfraternity Conference—out of 8,500 Greek organizations. He credits the strength of SU’s chapter to the quality of students Susquehanna is recruiting and their leadership abilities.
guidance. Peggy Templeton Strong, in a long and distinguished career, has promoted the needs of her students, mentored countless guidance counselors, university advisors and international admissions representatives, and was instrumental in establishing guidance and admissions organizations. Alumni and students are working together at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Tom Dressler ’86 is the director of traditional worship, Emma Kate Lander ’20 served as a summer intern, and Pam Marino ’81 Weiss is the director of adult spiritual formation.
1984
In mid-April, a large group of SU alumni, including members of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity (chapter no longer on campus), gathered in Selinsgrove to remember our friend and brother Peter Geyelin ’98. We lost Pete in late 2017 and gathered at Bots for a makeshift memorial to remember our friend who left us way too soon.
1999
20TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
1986
Ronald Kennedy ’86 earned his doctoral degree from Drexel University in April. His dissertation is titled A Qualitative Inquiry Into the Experiences of Transgender High School Athletes. He has been the athletic director at his alma mater since 1994 and is married to Denise Symonds ’86 Kennedy.
30TH REUNION
Trevor Henry ’89 assumed the role of assistant county executive for Albemarle County, Va. He directs, plans and organizes activities related to leading project and change management across the organization. His management duties include facilities and environmental services, parks and recreation, information technology and the project management office.
1994
1998
35TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
1989
mobile event fundraising and conference content video capture. With the acquisition, Cooper will stay on as senior vice president and general manager of Event Technology Applications of Community Brands.
25TH REUNION
Jeff Cooper ’94’s company, Expo Logic, was recently acquired by Community Brands, the leading provider of cloud-based software solutions. The addition of Expo Logic strengthens the Community Brands event management suite, which includes event registration,
2000
David Forbes ’00 is a partner with the Philadelphia office of Cipriani & Werner, P.C. Jason Mammen ’00 was promoted to the role of creative director, broadcast and multiplatform creative for SHOWTIME NETWORKS. He will oversee promotion for all Showtime Sports programming, including Championship Boxing, ShoBox and PPV events, series including Inside the NFL, A Season With, and All Access, as well as all Sports Documentary programming. In addition to sports, he will also be involved with select Showtime original series, theatrical and comedy campaigns.
2001
Melissa Ziegler ’01 Furman earned her doctorate of business from the J. Mack College of Business at Georgia State University. K. Casey LoRusso ’01 accepted an international teaching assignment in Doha, Qatar, beginning with the fall 2018 term. She is teaching elementary music at the GEMS American Academy.
2002
Adam Kavalsky ’02 returned from a 10-month deployment to Camp Morehead, Afghanistan. During this tour, he served as a special operations advisor to the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command. He had the honor of working with the leadership of Afghanistan’s military every day. Major Kavalsky was on a humanitarian support mission in Rish Khvor, where he took a moment to talk with a couple of new friends. He returned safely to his wife and two children in Maryland. Born to Beth Sullivan ’02 and Christian Daconta, a daughter, Valerie Marie, Sept. 14, 2017.
2003
Gretchen Anderson ’03 Brinza is the recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for the state of Illinois. On May 12, Jesse L. Eaton ’03 Sailer married Donald Sailer at Lower Allen Park in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Bridesmaids included fellow 2003 alumni Jennifer Witowski Kuhn, Ee Martin, Sara Mainhart Brown, Dani Keener MacGuire and Kate Herman Lamberton. Ben Lamberton ’03 and Kirsten Youse ’16, the bride’s cousin, were also in attendance.
2004
15TH REUNION
Share your life news with us. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
2005
David Antoniewicz ’05 was sworn in as the president of the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC). He is also the director of college counseling and head lacrosse coach at Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pa. PACAC is a nonprofit association of school counselors, college admission counselors, independent education consultants and other professionals responsible for
cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 33
guiding students through the important transition from high school to post-graduation options. His wife, Jenna Fredericks ’06 Antoniewicz, is the mayor of Royersford, Pa. Erica Lopatofsky ’05 Kryst was promoted to the position of senior assistant director, Campus Career Engagement, in the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development at Binghamton University.
2006
Born to Krista Gaffney ’06 and Mark Harris, a daughter, Clare Rosalie, June 6. Born to Megan Janssen ’06 and Peter Schroeder, twin daughters, Celia Ellen and Ruby Joanne, on April 3.
Erica Kidd ’09 is the watershed manager for Auburn Water District in Maine.
2010
Allie Bochicchio ’10 married Kevin Troyanos in Montville, N.J., on Oct. 14, 2017. (See photo below.) Allie is the literature editor at Palgrave Macmillan, commissioning scholarly monographs, textbooks and handbooks. She joined Palgrave in September 2016.
2011
2008
Tyler Austin ’08 is the founder and artistic director of the Maryland Wind Festival.
2009
marketing and events coordinator at Whole Life Center for Health in Drums, Pa. Sophomore roommates in Seibert Hall, Jen and Lisa represented their employers at the symposium and networked with girls in grades 9–12 from the Crestwood, Hazleton Area and Weatherly Area school districts.
10TH REUNION
Jen Cullin ’09 and Lisa Molendini ’09 ran into each other in April at the Greater Hazleton Partners in Education Women in STEM spring symposium held at Premier Catering and Events by Genetti’s in Hazle Township, Pa. Jen is an admissions counselor at Penn College of Technology in Williamsport, Pa., and Lisa is
Ashlie Crosson ’11 completed a Teachers for Global Classrooms fellowship, spending two weeks in Morocco with a dozen other educators. Before Morocco, she had been to 12 foreign countries, so she wasn’t worried about homesickness or culture shock. She should have been. From religion to lodging to restrooms, every day presented an unfamiliar cultural perspective. She didn’t miss her family per se, but being in the classroom made her quickly miss her students. She made a teacher Instagram and within minutes her kids were following. The cultural adjustments took considerably more grit. For the second week, Ashlie was stationed in Taza with a gifted teacher from N.C. Taza, set at the base of the
Atlas mountains, isn’t a tourist town; it felt like they were the only Americans in the city, and the environment was cold and stark compared to the coastal sunshine they had experienced in Rabat, Morocco’s capital. It was extra hard because they were only in pairs rather than with their large group. They did all they could think to do at the time, and leaned in to their discomfort. With a wonderful host and some perseverance, they made Taza their temporary home, and its people became their forever friends. She was proud of how incredible her district is, proud of the opportunities they give their students. At the same time, she was humbled by how much Moroccan teachers can do with so little and by how sincerely their culture shows gratitude and respect.
2012
Galen Blanzaco ’12 completed her M.A. in theatre from Villanova University. Kristina Lang ’12 (B.A. in music/M.S. in performing arts leadership and management from Shenandoah Conservatory) accepted a position at the Nelly Berman School of Music in Haverford, Pa. as the organization’s executive administrator. She will work directly under the executive director to further the school’s mission of providing high-quality, well-rounded musical training to its students.
2013
REUNION 2018
Lindsey Derstine ’13 and Matthew Hardner ’13 were married on Oct. 28, 2017, at St. Joseph’s Church
Allie Bochicchio ’10 and Kevin Troyanos married in Montville, N.J. In attendance were (from bottom left): Sondra Ferraro ’98 Leo, Dan Leo ’98, Alyssa Caracausa ’10 Gossman, Christine Crigler ’11, Leigh Levandoski ’11, Lauren Diehl ’10, Kelly Herscheit ’10, Martha Craine ’09, Alyssa Colaluca ’10 Sanzari, Kristen O’Rourke ’07 Rotherham, Lydia Bacon ’08 Hackenberg, Ashley Mill ’08 Engle, Silas Gossman ’07, Glen Staples ’11, Brooks Olphin ’10 and Michael Hackenberg ’07.
34 · Susquehanna Currents · fa l l 2018
UPCOMING EVENTS CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
DEC. 4, 2018 BREAK THROUGH
FEB. 15–16, 2019 SU SERVE CAMPUS EVENT
APRIL 27, 2019
A large group of SU alumni gathered in Selinsgrove to celebrate the life of friend and fraternity brother Peter Geyelin ’98, who died in 2017.
FAMILY WEEKEND
OCT. 4–6, 2019 HOMECOMING–REUNION WEEKEND
OCT. 25–27, 2019
Former SU roommates Jen Cullin ’09 and Lisa Molendini ’09 unexpectedly ran into each other at the Greater Hazleton Partners in Education Women in STEM spring symposium.
In May, Sandy Rocks ’75 graciously opened her Manhattan home to everyone in the New York City and New Jersey alumni chapters for an evening of wine tasting, led by a sommelier, appetizers and fellowship! This was a first-of-its-kind Susquehanna alumni soirée, and from what we hear, it certainly won’t be the last!
Susquehanna offered to take alumni out to the ballgame, and two alumni chapters said, OK! Both games were on June 9. In New England, after all the nor’easters alumni endured, Susquehanna was there to help! Alumni cheered on the Pawtucket Red Sox as they played the Indianapolis Indians. And because it just wouldn’t be an SU alumni gathering without food, dinner was served before the first pitch. Plus—double bonus—it was a Star Wars–themed game, and the fireworks display that followed was out of this world!
Adam Kavalsky ’02 was stationed in Camp Morehead, Afghanistan.
Not to be outdone, in Philadelphia, alumni spent the afternoon together cheering on their second-favorite baseball team (SU is everyone’s favorite!)—the Philadelphia Phillies—as they played the Milwaukee Brewers. They gathered pre-game at a local pub for food, beverages and, of course, fellowship!
ALUMNI PROFILE
GRAD EARNS PRESIDENTIAL TEACHING AWARD The third time was the charm for Gretchen Anderson ’03 Brinza. After being an Illinois semi-finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) twice, Brinza took home the 2016 award. The honor was announced in 2018. “This really validated the work that I do with students from a science perspective, and I feel so honored and humbled to have received it,” says Brinza, a fifth- and sixth-grade science teacher at Alcott College Prep in Chicago. She traveled to Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2018 with her husband, Nate, to accept the award. “It was absolutely incredible to be around other like-minded teachers,” Brinza says.
Gretchen Anderson ’03 Brinza
While there, Brinza and the other awardees participated in the State-Federal STEM Education Summit, hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Their voices will be part of the nation’s next five-year strategic plan for STEM education. “Our country needs to make it a priority that all people have access to STEM programs that meet the needs in their communities,” Brinza wrote in a blog about her experience.
“
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO STEM PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
”
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Since graduating from Susquehanna with a degree in elementary education, Brinza has been employed in the education field in Chicago. She also holds a master’s degree in public service administration from DePaul University. Brinza, who also received the 2017 Illinois STEM Educator Award, is committed to hands-on, student-led learning. “When kids take ownership that their ideas matter—even if they’re totally wrong or they fail—we’ve still gotten one step closer to figuring it out. Not all my kids are necessarily going to be in STEM-related careers, but every student can walk out of my room with a problem-solver approach,” Brinza says. Brinza is also an author, pilot teacher and research participant with her students in Next Gen Storylines (nextgenstorylines.org), a project dedicated to providing free, high-quality science curriculum materials for teachers.
in Coopersburg, Pa. The wedding reception was at the Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville, Pa. (See photo below.) Matt and Lindsey met in London while on their GO Program.
2014
5TH REUNION
On April 28, Mindy Danowski ‘14 played Bb clarinet in the Capital Wind Symphony and performed in the first-ever National Community Band Festival at George Mason University. The program included works by Menotti, Whitacre, Strauss, Franck and Hesketh. Emily Gorge ’14 graduated from Widener University Delaware Law School with a juris doctor in 2017. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, and is an associate at the law firm of Graham & Mauer, P.C. in Valley Forge, Pa.
2015
Andrew Parrish ’15 is the new junior data systems analyst for the Association of American Universities (AAU) in Washington, D.C. AAU is an organization of research universities concerned with maintaining a strong system of academic research and education. AAU members collectively help shape policy for higher education, science and innovation; promote
best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of research universities to society. The major activities of the association include government relations, policy studies and communications.
2018
Welcome to our newest alumni! Class Notes is a great way to keep up on the news from your SU family. Share your stories, accomplishments and other life events with us. We’re all excited to hear what you’ve been up to since graduation. Submit your class note to swartzj@susqu.edu.
ONLINE DIRECTORY ON ITS WAY YOU ASKED, WE LISTENED! Soon to make its return is the Susquehanna alumni directory. Keep an eye out for information on the red-carpet rollout. See what other new features await you in the online community at SUALUM.COM!
Celebrating the wedding of Lindsey Derstine ’13 and Matthew Hardner ’13 were Kristen and Ryan Zaharuk ’10, Steve and Steph Zaharuk ’04, Amanda Zaharuk ’07, Emily Stankaitis ’13, Christopher Emery ’13, Leah Gardiner ’13, Teague Emery ’13, Caitlin Byington ’13, Michael Terwilliger ’15, Colin George ’13, Brett Moyer ’13 and Richie Price ’13.
SU SERVE was all around us in the spring—students on campus and alumni up and down the East Coast— we were everywhere. Alumni and students continuously turn out in droves to roll up their sleeves and help, and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone’s generosity. The New England Chapter planned not one, but three events! They started with an event at Boston’s Cradles to Crayons, a wonderful organization providing basic essentials to needy children. They inspected, sorted and packaged all-new and like-new donations into customized “KidPacks,” which were donated to area children in need. New England also hosted two service opportunities in New Hampshire. In Nashua, they volunteered at the Nashua Soup Kitchen, helping with the dinner shift, as well as cleanup. In Manchester, they assisted the NH Food Bank package and distribute food to the less fortunate.
Earth Day, The Garden State and SU SERVE made for one impactful combination! The New Jersey Alumni Chapter was proud and excited to be a part of the 11th Annual Lenape Trail Clean-Up as part of SU SERVE. Before they got down to work, they fueled up with a complimentary breakfast. They dressed for success—sporting boots, gloves, trash bags and garbage grabbers—and the trail never looked better. In Philadelphia, what do Susquehanna alumni and the Philadelphia Eagles have in common? Cradles to Crayons! Alumni turned out in droves to help at our annual, and one of our most popular, events for the chapter. This year they sorted, bundled and packaged books for children of all ages.
To stay connected to Susquehanna University, please consider joining an alumni regional chapter. Chapters are volunteer-based organizations that 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. Alumni regional chapters help keep alive those connections that made you part of the SU family in the first place. For more information, please visit susqu.edu/alumni today!
ALUMNI PROFILE
MARTELL LANDS THREE-BOOK DEAL Nick Martell ’16 has achieved at 23 what most aspiring authors dream of—a multi-book publishing deal with foreign rights for his forthcoming epic fantasy series The Kingdom of Liars. The series is set in a city where a disgraced noble’s son must risk his own memories and deceive all around him to determine whether his father truly murdered the child prince. Although he can use magic to accomplish his goal, it comes at a price: it steals his memories. Ironically, Martell says he doesn’t remember how he came up with the premise. “I wanted something different than the normal stakes, which is usually dying,” Martell says. “So the question became, what other things can I do to introduce conflict?”
Nick Martell ’16
Martell, a native of Huntington, N.Y., has been drawn to fantasy since he wrote his first book as a fifth-grader—a self-described “horrible” Harry Potter knock-off that still taught him something. “After that one, I wrote another and another and another until I wrote the one that got me the deal,” he says.
“
... I’D COME HOME AT 8 P.M., EAT AND WRITE UNTIL MIDNIGHT AND THEN GET UP EARLY TO GO TO WORK.
”
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The former creative writing major says he came to Susquehanna because he wanted the whole college experience—academics, athletics and campus life. He joined Tau Kappa Epsilon and became a resident assistant. He also went out for the swim team. It was a lark, he says. He’d never even been on a swim team prior to college. Coach Jerry Foley let him on the team and Martell still considers him a mentor. Martell’s book deal has given him the ability to write full time, which he says is a dream come true. His advice to young writers? Find the time to write. “Even if you have a full-time job,” he advises. “I was writing at points where I’d come home at 8 p.m., eat and write until midnight and then get up early to go to work. And when I was commuting on the train, I’d be reading. You have to make the time.” The first installation of The Kingdom of Liars is due out in fall 2019 from Saga Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. Stay up-to-date on Martell’s writing at @macmartell on Twitter and @nickmartellofficial on Instagram.
DEATHS
1942
Ralph Stanley Baxter ’42, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., July 19, 2017. Ralph was a United States WWII Army veteran. He was a member of the American Legion Vieby Sutton Post #124 and a member of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Marlboro. Ralph was an office manager for Central Hudson Corp. Alumni survivor is his son, Daniel Baxter ’74.
1946
Claire Holcombe ’46 Fisher, Lower Paxton Township, Pa., July 27. Claire met the love of her life and married Bob Fisher ’48 in New York City after he returned from serving in both theaters of WWII. Bob attended medical school in Philadelphia and after becoming an M.D., relocated to Harrisburg to practice. Claire supported him in his practice and went on to raise two children. She was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Penbrook. She loved to read and could always be found enjoying a good book. She also loved collecting antiques and gardening, and most enjoyed spending time with the family she loved so much.
1949
Rachel Bergstresser ’49 Gray, Naples, Fla., June 16. Of her 27-year teaching career, her last 19 years were at Lake Park Elementary School from 1972 to 1991. She was an integral part of the ministry at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, serving alongside her husband from 1970 to 1989. She received numerous distinctions throughout her teaching career, including Outstanding Social Studies Teacher, due to her implementation of “mini trips.”
1954
Retired Colonel Frank David Richards ‘54, Colorado Springs, Colo.,
March 12, 2017, from complications of Parkinson’s. Frank was a 2-handicap golfer and had 14 verified holes-in-one. He taught his children, Gary of Denver and Julie Richards ’85 Ford of Colorado Springs, how to play at a young age and passed on the love (and frustration) of the game to them. Frank received his Bachelor of Science in math from Susquehanna University and his Master of Science in information science from Georgia Tech. He entered the Air Force after graduating from Susquehanna, married Jackie in Sacramento, Calif., then was stationed briefly in Indiana and Georgia before a 12-year stint at the Pentagon. During the Vietnam War, Frank was a navigator on the C119 Gunship. He also flew in the B-58 and the B-47 bombers. He was instrumental in starting the computer center at the Pentagon, then helped run the computer center at NORAD from 1976–1980, when he retired. He moved back to Selinsgrove to run the computer center at Susquehanna. After he retired for good, Frank moved to Palm Desert, Calif., to be near Gary and to play golf year-round. He traveled with friends to a variety of golf courses and ran the Skin’s game at his golf club. In 2013, Frank suffered setbacks from back pain and moved near Julie for assistance. He lived in the house behind Julie and Mark Ford for the last two years. He leaves behind two grandchildren, Brian Ford of Colorado Springs and Brandon Ford of Seattle.
1956
Frederick “Fritz” Frost ’56, Selinsgrove, March 5. Fritz was a 1952 graduate of Selinsgrove High School and a 1956 graduate of Susquehanna University, earning a degree in economics. He managed to work hard and cause trouble at the same time his whole life. He held positions at Weis Markets, PA Office of the Budget, New York Life and
Philadelphia National Bank, and finally purchased his father-in-law’s business, Valsings Jewelry Store in Selinsgrove, and became a jeweler. There, Fritz was known for his excellent customer service, providing local law enforcement with an endless supply of coffee and being a constant source of pranks and good humor. Alumni survivors are son Scott Frost ’84, grandson Ian Frost ’15 and brother-in-law Laurance Miller ’61.
1960
Ralph W. Ferraro ’60, Red Bank, N.J., Nov. 9, 2017. Born on March 19, 1938, in Jersey City to the late Ralph and Helen (née Gorman) Ferraro, he lived in Colonia for 32 years prior to moving to Monmouth County. Ralph earned his B.A. from Susquehanna University and master’s degree in business administration from Wagner College. He was captain of Susquehanna’s football team and a charter member of the Susquehanna Sports Hall of Fame, a two-time recipient of the Football All-American Pro Award and a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges. As president of Lambda Chi Alpha, he instituted the building of a new fraternity house. Ralph coached winning football and baseball teams at Wagner College. He touched many within his community through coaching Pop-Warner Football, while playing golf (his favorite pastime), and as a business owner of Action Sports. Ralph was a trusted friend, mentor to thousands, and a loving husband and dad. Ralph is survived by his beloved wife, Helen (née Harding), of 56 years; his loving children: Lisa Sarett (Todd) of West Orange, Michelle Koster (Eugene) of Little Silver and Don Ferraro of Port St. Lucie, Fla. Also surviving are his six adoring grandchildren: Matthew and Emily Sarett, Sophia and Anthony Ferraro, and Christian and Macallan Koster. Ralph was there for everyone’s
greatest moments, and although his guidance and encouragement cease today, his legacy, values and words will live on forever. We thank him for all that he has done. Ralph suffered numerous concussions playing football. Through the Concussion Legacy Foundation, the family chose to donate his brain and other fixedtissue samples to the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (BU-CTE) Center. It was definitively confirmed that Ralph suffered from CTE caused by these concussions, ultimately passing away from complications due to the dementia-like disease. BU-CTE supports the Concussion Legacy Foundation and the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank. They are committed to advancing the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups, through research, policy change and education. Memorial donations may be sent to Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center (BU-CTE Center Fund), Attn: Laney Evers, 72 E. Concord Street, B-7800, Boston MA 02118.
1968
Challis A. Niles ’68, Glen Mills, Pa. and Bayonet Point, Fla., April 19. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi and a lifelong English teacher at the high school level. At the time of her death, she was a writing tutor at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the oldest historically black college and university (HBCU). She is survived by her son, Jonathan Niles-Gill ’06.
1972
Linda Luttgens ’72 Combs, Miami Lakes, Fla., Jan. 26. Born March 18, 1950, she died of heart failure, having suffered a massive heart attack four years earlier. She is survived by her partner of 19 years, Dr. Stephen Kotzen of Florida, and her sister, Janis Hirsch
cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 39
DEATHS BRENDA MULL
1960–2018
Brenda Mull, Sunbury, Pa., June 30. A longtime member of the Susquehanna family, Brenda was surrounded by her loving family when she passed, following a five-month illness. She was 57. Brenda graduated from Danville High School and attended Bloomsburg University. She worked at Houtz Printing Company in Northumberland prior to joining Susquehanna University in 1990 as director of general services. In 2011, she was promoted to the additional role of event management director. Brenda’s official title was director of event management and general services, but a more apt title would have been “director of getting things done.” From arranging for Texas high school students to have lunch at the Red Rabbit on their way to campus from the Harrisburg airport for a summer academic camp, to coming in on a weekend to clean a residence hall for a basketball camp after a scheduling mishap, there was no length to which she would not go in order to provide a guest with a good experience. Brenda was the recipient of three university Whatever It Takes awards—in 2006, 2009 and 2010—and the coveted Signe S. Gates Award in 2014 for extraordinary achievement. It is hard to imagine anyone better suited for Brenda’s role than Brenda herself. When the university introduced Gallup strengths to the Administrative Leadership Team several years ago, her combination of signature themes came as no surprise to those who were fortunate enough to know and work with her—Activator, Arranger, Adaptability, Achiever and Analytical. Yes, Brenda certainly was a straight-A employee. She will be remembered as a force of nature, someone with an unshakably positive outlook who viewed her job and her life as a series of opportunities, never problems. She was the ultimate go-getter, and we will all sorely miss someone who gave so much to Susquehanna by using her gifts so fully.
40 · Susquehanna Currents · fa l l 2018
of New Jersey. Linda was risk manager at Mt. Sinai Medical Center of Florida (1989–2014). She kept in touch with many Susquehanna friends and is fondly remembered and sorely missed.
1973
Robert “Bob” Jones ’73, Lake Wynonah, Pa., Feb. 10. After college and between degrees, he travelled to visit family and friends out west. Bob settled down a bit to be a partner in a counseling firm in Pottsville with Ellen Platt. He was instrumental in starting the first home health hospice agency in Schuylkill County, the first hospitalowned ambulance service and the first comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility, known as Schuylkill Rehabilitation while working at the former Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic. He then moved on to work at the former Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, where he was director of planning and marketing, and was instrumental in recruiting numerous family physicians to the underserved Schuylkill County. Many of those physicians are practicing today. In 1992, Bob opened R.E. Jones and Associates and the first regional preferred provider network in Schuylkill County, the Blue Ridge Health Network. Over the next 20 years, Bob assisted numerous county employers and their employees with lower healthcare costs and the quality of care they expected. In September 2007, on a beach in Key West, Bob married his soul mate and life partner, Lisa. While a student at SU, Bob organized Project Kentucky, a campus and community-wide event that sent numerous truckloads of clothing and household goods to the needy in rural Appalachian Kentucky. For those who knew Bob, we will always admire and love his energy, the way he shared his gift for living with his family and friends, the integrity he brought to
his work, and the joy he found in the outdoors.
1981
Donna Marie Mancuso ’81 Scalzo, Bristol, Pa., July 25. She battled ovarian cancer onset with leukemia for the past three years. Donna never allowed cancer to define her and continued to live her life to the fullest throughout her fight. A lifelong Bristol resident, Donna graduated from Bristol High School in 1977, and Susquehanna University in 1981 as a business management major and a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. Donna began her career at First Pennsylvania Community Banks, following in her mother’s footsteps. Most recently, she held the title of vice president, retail market manager of Bucks County Bank. She loved being involved in the business community and gave her time and energy to numerous boards and organizations, including the Levittown-Fairless Hills Rotary (president), Silver Lake Nature Center (president), Snipes Farm, Levittown Business Association, Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce (chair of Business Education Partnership Committee) and Bristol Borough Raising the Bar. Outside of the business world, Donna most enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, especially at her “happy place,” Beach Haven, N.J. She loved painting and crafting for “Beach Rose,” kayaking, cooking for her family and fishing in Key West; Donna always caught the biggest fish.
2004
Isabelle Therese Brock ’04, Aug. 9. This world lost a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher, writer, gardener and runner, due to a very sudden illness. Isabelle was born in Bozeman, Mont., on Dec. 4, 1981, the third of six children born to Elaine and James Brock, former dean of
IN MEMORIAM
SAUL PUTTERMAN
1924–2018
S
aul Putterman, retired president of Milton Shoe Company and an emeritus member of Susquehanna University’s Board of Trustees, died Aug. 29.
Saul was born Feb. 29, 1924, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He served in the United States Army as an intelligence officer during World War II. He and his wife, Florence, married Dec. 19, 1946, and raised two sons, Lawrence and Joel. Saul was a successful businessman as the manufacturer of women’s and children’s shoes, with factories in Milton, Pa., and San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. He and Florence later retired to Sarasota, Fla., where Florence has remained active as an accomplished and well-known artist. Saul provided valuable leadership to Susquehanna University for many years, serving on the Board of Trustees from 1978 until 2006, when he was conferred emeritus status. He also served as a key member of the board’s finance committee and investment committee and was an active volunteer in the university’s successful Window of Opportunity capital campaign. He and Florence established the Florence and Saul Putterman Fund for the Visual Arts in 1986, and have donated numerous pieces of art to the university’s Lore Degenstein Gallery, including more than two dozen pieces of Florence’s work. Saul also served on numerous other charitable boards, including Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, Pa. We are grateful to Saul for his important service to Susquehanna and for his friendship over the past 40 years. Our sincere sympathy extends to his beloved Florence, Lawrence, Joel and their families. May they be comforted by the cherished memories of a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Susquehanna’s Sigmund Weis School of Business. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in creative writing, and earned her M.F.A. from Oregon State in 2008. Isabelle transitioned from student to teacher to senior instructor in the English Department at OSU. She was a passionate and talented writer, poet and educator.
Fierce and brave, Isabelle went out of her way to speak and act on behalf of anyone around her who needed support. The world is filled with people and creatures who benefited from her unflinching activism. Intensity marked her approach to life. She wanted to learn the guitar at 34, so she just did. She loved running and ran faster and
farther each day until she suffered an Achilles injury, at which point she rehabbed competitively until she could run far and fast again.
all. She is survived by the love of her life, husband Johnny, daughter Eliza Rain and son Raymond Daniel, and extended family members.
One of Isabelle’s great gifts was humor. She was quick-witted and clever, and she told hilarious jokes. Of all the ways that she will be missed, her family will remember laughing with her most of cl ass note s · Susquehanna Currents · 41
by mark heuer
End Notes
Is Fast Fashion Worth the Cost?
On April 24, 2013, garment workers reported to work at the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh as usual. But that day was anything but usual. The factory collapsed that morning, killing 1,100 workers. This tragic news directed my research to the world of fast fashion—and its high social and environmental costs. Fast fashion refers to “cheap chic” garments that are fashionable, yet affordable. Impulse buying is stimulated by glitzy social media campaigns by retailers such as H&M, Zara and others. Rapid product cycles speed garments from fashion shows to the clothing racks of retailers. This speed and affordability support a “make, take, waste” paradigm that epitomizes the chasm between retailers in developed countries and the lax labor, safety and environmental conditions of garment factories in countries such as Bangladesh.
“Textiles are the second-mostpolluting industry in the world, behind fossil fuels.” — MARK HEUER
I became interested in fast fashion in particular because of my broader interest in global supply chains. In my corporate career before Susquehanna, I managed a strategic business unit that entailed building and managing a supply chain. From that experience, I gained an appreciation for the importance of supply chains in the global economy, as well as the logistical challenges involved. Globalization has fundamentally changed the world economy since the 1970s. In many respects, supply chains deliver economies of scale but also exact social and environmental costs on developing countries. Following the Rana Plaza catastrophe, I focused more specifically on the social and environmental impacts of fast fashion. From my business career, I learned the importance of providing solid alternatives for practices or policies I criticize. Otherwise, criticism lacks substance and a sense of direction. With this practice in mind, I coedited Eco-Friendly and Fair: Fast Fashion and Consumer Behavior, published recently by Routledge. The book emphasizes consumer behavior as an approach to changing how consumers think about garments. For example, one chapter is titled “Knowing Better, but Behaving Emotionally: Strong Emotional Undertone in Fast Fashion Consumption.” Other chapters consider approaches for extending the lifecycle of clothing through sharing, renting and repairing clothing. Yet another proposes a bank for fabrics, where textiles can be traded and sourced easily.
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Textiles are the second-most-polluting industry in the world, behind fossil fuels. The pollution extends through the supply chain—from the use of pesticides in growing cotton to the rapid fashion cycles resulting in the “make, take, waste” paradigm. Much of it is unnecessary and can be addressed, potentially, through changing consumer attitudes. Fast fashion retailers successfully link fashion to self-esteem, so attitudinal change is a daunting effort, but necessary. The costs of fast fashion were brought home last year for students in my Global Business Ethics class.
“ GLOBALIZATION HAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE WORLD ECONOMY SINCE THE 1970S. IN MANY RESPECTS, SUPPLY CHAINS DELIVER ECONOMIES OF SCALE BUT ALSO EXACT SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.” They participated in externships involving garments by volunteering at used clothing and consignment shops in Selinsgrove. The teams presented research and marketing ideas that could be adapted locally and then linked their ideas to the global fast fashion industry. The next time they go shopping for clothes, I hope they remember the lessons they learned and make purchases that encourage sustainable social, environmental and economic well-being, both locally and globally. Mark Heuer, Ph.D., is associate professor of management in the Sigmund Weis School of Business.
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ANNE AMBROMOVAGE ’58 It's been 60 years since Anne Ambromovage ’58 graduated from Susquehanna University. SU laid the foundation for a master’s degree, a Ph.D., and a successful career in the Philadelphia area. With her estate gift, The Alexander W. and Anna O. Ambromovage Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund was created—named for her parents. Since its creation in 2008, 40 students have benefited from Anne’s generosity and vision, and because the scholarship is endowed, there will be countless more in the years ahead. Anne graduated 60 years ago, but her impact is felt on campus every day, and will be for generations to come.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEGACY YOU CAN LEAVE AT SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY visit susqu.giftplans.org or contact Tammy Ozlanski ’06, Director of Gift Planning, at ozlanksit@susqu.edu or 570-372-4618.
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