URSINUS MAGAZINE
PROFESSOR MATT LESLIE IS ON A QUEST TO SECURE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE WORLD’S HUMPBACK WHALES.
DEFENDER
OF THE DEEP
EMPOWERED BY OPPORTUNITY
I’ve grown as a student, a person, and a leader—thanks to my experiences and the incredible friendships I’ve built here. Without scholarships, none of these opportunities would be possible.”
— Payton ’26
For Payton ’26, the dream of attending college once felt out of reach. As a first-generation student, the road ahead was uncertain—but today, she’s not only thriving, she’s leading.
Now a standout member of the Ursinus community, Payton supports new students as a first-year advisor, champions well-being as an intern at the Wellness Center, and leads with confidence as captain of the golf team.
“I’ve grown as a student, a person, and a leader—thanks to my experiences and the incredible friendships I’ve built here,” she shares. “Without scholarships, none of these opportunities would be possible.”
Payton’s journey is just one of many made possible by generous donors. Last year alone, 99% of Ursinus students received some form of financial aid, with 68% coming from donor-funded scholarships and grants. These gifts don’t just help cover tuition—they empower students to make the most of every opportunity Ursinus offers.
When you give to the Ursinus Fund, you’re doing more than providing financial support—you’re opening doors. You’re helping students like Payton step into their potential, pursue their passions, and create futures they once only imagined.
Support scholarships. Invest in possibilities. Help make college dreams a reality.
Donate today through the QR code or send your gift using the envelope in this magazine.
URSINUS MAGAZINE
VOLUME #144 SPRING 2025
PRESIDENT
Robyn Hannigan
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Michelle Yurko
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Brianne S. Farris
URSINUS MAGAZINE STAFF
MANAGING EDITOR & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Steve Thomas
SENIOR EDITOR
Jennifer L. Post-Whisted
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Alyssa Kratz
Connor Donohue
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Lexi Macht
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jack Hopey
ONLINE MAGAZINE
Erin Hovey ’96
Ursinus Magazine is published two times a year. Update your contact information at ursinus.edu/updatecontact.
Copyright © 2025 by Ursinus College.
Editorial correspondence and submissions:
Ursinus Magazine
601 E. Main Street
Collegeville, PA 19426
610-409-3000 ucmag@ursinus.edu
Dear Readers,
Ursinus boasts a rich legacy of academic excellence, innovation, and leadership. Yet, as the world evolves, we recognize the need for higher education to adapt. That’s why, starting this fall, we will introduce APEX— applied, professional, experiential. Through APEX, students will engage in project-based courses, collaborate with faculty and peers to address global challenges, and develop career-relevant skills.
APEX will shape every student’s experience over four years, beginning with personalized support. Before students enter the classroom, we will pair them with an academic and career coach to guide them through their first year.
Innovation Centers will serve as hubs where students from any major collaborate on impactful projects. And we will offer an experiential learning grant to help offset the expenses of unpaid internships, study abroad, or faculty-led research.
Throughout this issue, you’ll find stories of APEX in action. Julia Dees ’26, winner of last year’s Bear Innovation Competition, turned to the U-Imagine Center to bring her entrepreneurial ideas to life. Kate Bormann ’18, an interior designer at Perkins Eastman in New York City, credits her study abroad and the Bonner Program for shaping her career.
Ursinus College has always excelled at combining applied, professional, and experiential learning with a strong foundation in the liberal arts. So, whether you graduated one, 10, or 50 years ago, we’d love to hear your APEX story.
Thank you for being an important part of the Ursinus community.
Warm regards,
Robyn Hannigan President
PHOTO: EDWIN WILLIAMS
enjoys a quiet moment on one of our Main Street porches in the Residential Village.
MADDIE ROGERS ’27
Interior
As
A MORE RESILIENT FUTURE: SPRING SYMPOSIUM
Made possible by the Barbara and John
the 2025 Spring
Ph.D., vice president for mission, diversity, and inclusion at
University
Darryl Christopher
and Alexandra Jorgensen ’96, senior vice president of human resources at Independence Blue Cross (center). Moderated by Provost Gundolf Graml, Ph.D. (left), the symposium focused on trauma, resiliency, and the toolkit incoming firstyear students will acquire through APEX. “Resilience and adaptability are core competencies we want students and employees to cultivate,” said Graml. “Dr. Mace and Ursinus alumna Alex Jorgensen offered such important insights.”
STUDENTS NAMED CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPIONS
Four seniors received recognition from the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium (PERC) as 2025 Campus Sustainability Champions for their work to advance a more equitable and circular food system at the college. Isabella Dolan, Greyson Fusco, Danielle Monaco, and Elwood Harney, members of the Community Engaged Research for Circular Local Economies (CERCLE) research group, worked for the past two years with Assistant Professor Brianne Berry, Ph.D., to understand and address food insecurity and food waste at Ursinus. Their work includes guidance for college leadership and a food redistribution program.
IT’S ON US GRANT AWARDED
Ursinus was awarded a $40,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education as part of the It’s On Us PA initiative aimed at combatting sexual assault on college campuses. Colleen Lelli, Ed.D., visiting scholar for Innovation in Health and Wellness Education, said the grant will allow the college to expand its current programming. “It will enable us to create additional training for faculty and staff beyond existing online modules, as well as develop specialized resources for at-risk student populations, including LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse students, who may face unique challenges and experiences related to sexual assault,” Lelli said.
APEX TO REDEFINE THE STUDENT JOURNEY
The college announced the launch of APEX at Ursinus, a transformative new learning framework. APEX—applied, professional, experiential—will prepare students to be forward-thinking leaders and problem-solvers. Starting in fall 2025, every incoming student will be paired with a professional academic and career coach who will offer guidance as they navigate a structured, four-year experiential learning journey.
TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS
Ursinus’s Board of Trustees welcomed six new members since January. Sherrell Dandy, Esq. ’07, Richard “Rick” Stipa ’81, David C. Brown ’94, Scott F. Flannery ’92,
PHOTO:
JACK HOPEY
Jordan Fund,
Symposium featured
Mace,
Alvernia
(right),
Alexandra Jorgensen ’96, and Derek A. Pickell ’83 will each serve four-year terms. In addition, trustees also approved resolutions honoring Michael T. Piotrowicz ’78 P'05 and Catherine M. Geczik ’84 for their distinguished service and appointing them as trustees emeriti.
NEW ACADEMIC OFFERINGS
Responding to market demands, the college recently introduced a new minor in artificial intelligence (AI) and a major concentration in graphic design. Associate Professor William Mongan, Ph.D., will oversee the AI minor, while Visiting Professor Jeanne Komp will lead the graphic design program.
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED FOR STUDY ABROAD
Kelsey Lyons ’27 was awarded the Bishop Scholarship and Trey Dykeman ’25 was awarded the Bruce Scholarship for study in Scotland. Awarded by the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia, this is the first time two Ursinus students have won St. Andrews Scholarships in the same year. Bryson Bugdon ’25 was awarded the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and plans to travel to several countries over the next year, where he will learn about alternatives to traditional medicines.
GORDON RAMSAY SPOTTED AT CAFÉ 2020
Ursinus got a surprise when celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay popped into Café 2020. Ramsay was biking near campus around the same time he and a film crew had reportedly been seen at a Berks County restaurant. There’s no official word yet on what they were filming. Ramsay is the star of Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, a show where he revamps restaurants across the nation.
VOICES SOAR IN THE BIG EASY
Over spring break, the newly formed Ursinus Singers traveled to New Orleans, where they performed at St. Louis Cathedral and Loyola University New Orleans. “Travel is something that changes and influences you, especially when you’re immersed in a different culture and way of life,” said group leader Professor Nicole Snodgrass, M.M. “New Orleans is a city so steeped in history, pride, and culture, and that mixture all culminates in music.”
PHOTO: NICOLE SNODGRASS
EXPLORING THE WORLD
Over winter break, Ursinus students explored Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula for the first time as part of a global health program, while biology students continued the college’s long-standing faculty-led trip to Costa Rica to study the Neotropics. Additional study abroad opportunities are being explored. See page 13 for more.
NEW GRADUATE PARTNERSHIPS
This past year, the college expanded its number of graduate partnerships, signing affiliation agreements with Neumann University and West Chester University, providing additional opportunities for
Ursinus students to pursue advanced degrees upon graduation. “This is yet another way Ursinus is helping to prepare the next generation of leaders in their chosen fields,” said President Robyn Hannigan. Neumann and West Chester are the eighth and ninth partners in Ursinus’s growing network of graduate collaborations.
URSINUS JOINS COST TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE
In late 2024, Ursinus joined the College Cost Transparency (CCT) initiative, a coalition of higher education institutions across the U.S. focused on providing clear, accurate, and transparent financial information. “Choosing the right college
ALUMNI AWARDS CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
is not only about academics, athletics, and social aspects, but also about finding a school that is financially accessible for students and families,” said Ellen Curcio, director of student financial services.
“By committing to the standards set by the CCT Initiative, Ursinus reaffirms its dedication to promoting accessibility and serving the needs of families.”
URSINUS VOTED A 2025 “PHILLY FAVORITE”
Earning a bronze in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s 2025 “Philly Favorites” competition, Ursinus is one of three local colleges and universities recognized as a winner in the “Best College/University” category.
Distinguished alumni and students were honored for their remarkable achievements and service during this year’s Alumni Awards ceremony on May 15. Representing a wide range of industries and contributions, each recipient exemplifies the values of the Ursinus community. Pictured left to right: Ellen Staurowsky ’77, Trish Barlow P’25, Kaci McNeave ’19, Nethmi Ediriweera ’25, President Robyn Hannigan, the Ursinus Bear, Aidan Nadell ’25, Robin Gow ’18, Jessica Smalarz ’04, and Lane Dubin ’90.
CLASS OF 2025
EMBRACING JOY AND AWE
“Life is hard, pain is part of the plan, but so is joy and awe. I implore you to leave room for the moments of joy and awe. It inoculates you to everything else that you might come across,” said Steven Forti as he addressed the nearly 370 graduates at Ursinus’ 152nd commencement ceremony on May 17. Forti, who received an honorary doctor of humane letters, is chief wellness and resiliency officer at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
The Rev. Dionne Boissière, chaplain of the Church Center for the United Nations, who also delivered the baccalaureate address, and Lenape Elder John Thomas, a key partner in the Welcome Home Project and a retired leader within the Delaware tribe, received honorary doctor of divinity degrees. English and media communications major Ze’ev Shaheen ’25 was the student commencement speaker and Ursinus Trustee Sherrell Dandy ’07 welcomed the class of 2025 into the alumni body.
PHOTO: JACK HOPEY
PHOTOS: MARGO REED (6)
RESEARCH | SCHOLARSHIP | INQUIRY
CHRIS TRALIE, PH.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MATH AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
THE POWER OF “WASTECRAFT” | Associate Professor Patricia Lott, Ph.D., spent last summer as a research fellow at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. This spring she was visiting associate professor at the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University. Both opportunities allowed her to immerse herself in writing and revising a forthcoming book, “After Ruin: The Crafting of Public Collective Memory of Racial Slavery in the NineteenthCentury North.” Lott’s research focuses on the struggle to discard or to preserve the collective memory of racial slavery among the region’s publics in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In her book, she argues that the U.S. North’s governing regimes exerted an obliterative force over public memory—“wastecraft” is how she describes it. “The power of wastecraft collided with the possibility of ending bondage with finality and engraving its memory,” she said. She conceptualizes this force through the term “wastecraft”—the art and science of laying to waste, especially for self-serving and wicked purposes.
PATRICIA LOTT, PH.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN STUDIES, AFRICAN AMERICAN AND AFRICANA STUDIES, AND ENGLISH
REVOLUTIONIZING DIGITAL MUSIC | Assistant Professor Chris Tralie, Ph.D., has combined his love of music and expertise in computer science to create software that is revolutionizing electronic music production. Tralie’s research is in musical information retrieval (MIR), the interdisciplinary science of extracting information from music. His work involves writing code that manipulates a collection of sounds to recreate everyday sounds. A process called “concatenative synthesis,” this technology enables music producers to transform sounds into elements for mixes and songs. Working with music producer Ben Cantil, Tralie’s code has been turned into a plug-in by Cantil’s company, DataMind Audio. The plug-in is designed to allow electronic musicians to use the technology without needing to interact with raw code.
THOMAS CARROLL, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS
DISCOVERING QUASI-PARTICLES | Professor of Physics Thomas Carroll, Ph.D., joined a team from Bryn Mawr College, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, and Colorado State University to examine nanoskyrmions, recently discovered quasi-particles that are one billionth of a meter in size, thanks to a $5 million National Science Foundation grant. The goal is to find a way to engineer nanoskyrmions with new properties that would behave quantum mechanically. The particles with new properties would be used in a critical part of quantum computing. While the research is fundamental in nature, it could lead to practical applications, such as in designing and creating material. “This research will teach me a lot of new physics,” Carroll said. The grant includes money for the research and will also support students and create a curriculum for this new research field. The chance to be on the cutting edge of scientific innovation is as important as how the research can be used to teach the next generation of scientists, Carroll said. He plans to include students in the research as early as summer 2025.
BRIE BERRY, PH.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
TALKIN’ TRASH | As part of a capstone class, “Waste in America,” taught by Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Brie Berry, Ph.D., Ursinus students partnered with middle school students from Perkiomen Valley to conduct a waste audit. Examining trash produced by the school’s cafeteria, the group measured the amount of meat, fruit, grain, vegetable, and liquid waste to determine what systems can be put in place to limit waste.
PAULA ÁLVAREZ TAMÉS DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
ADVANCING STUDY ABROAD | In March, Paula Álvarez Tamés, director of international programs, traveled to Taiwan thanks to a prestigious Fulbright U.S. International Education Administrators Award. The award allowed her to attend an intensive two-week seminar to learn about the country’s higher-education system. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for Ursinus to shine and establish itself as a forward-thinking institution that’s creating opportunities that
other colleges may not have,” said Álvarez, who was awarded a grant in 2023 from the U.S. Department of State’s Increase & Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) Program. That grant led to two study abroad programs in South Korea and Mexico. With its location at the center of trade, technology, and diplomacy, a program in Taiwan would offer students a look at the economic and cultural exchanges that shape the region.
PHOTO:
By
DEFENDER OF THE DEEP
Brad Drexler
Photography by Jack Hopey
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY MATT LESLIE, PH.D., LIVES AT THE INTERSECTION OF POLICY AND CONSERVATION, OF SCIENCE AND ACADEME, WORKING TO “SAVE THE PLANET’S WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES” WHILE FUELING HIS STUDENTS’ INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY.
Matt Leslie is an academic anomaly. Part gifted researcher, part professor, and part policy wonk, the self-described conservation biologist is a rare breed in the annals of higher education. He’s also a rising star in the world of humpback whale research, determined to make a difference for the denizens of the deep that he’s so passionate about.
With more than 20 years of training in science, education, and policy development under his belt, he’s well suited to make an impact. It’s a fact well borne out by his impressive 34 peerreviewed scientific publications.
In the process, he’s carving out a reputation for blending his passion for marine biology with
unique learning opportunities for his students who get hands-on experience in everything from analyzing data and participating in whale watching expeditions to joining him on research trips abroad.
CETACEAN SENSATION
The son of a computer programmer, Leslie was an unlikely candidate to end up chasing great whales around the world. Raised in a tiny town outside of Tulsa, Okla., smack in the heart of the Midwest’s tornado alley, where the biggest fish you’ll find is most likely to be a largemouth bass, his calling for cetology (the study of whales, dolphins, and porpoises) took hold and never let go. It was there in the great flatlands of the
PHOTO: MATT LESLIE AND PANACETACEA
As scientists I think we have a responsibility to bring our knowledge and perspectives to the policy world. It’s an obligation we have as conservation biologists … ”
— Matt Leslie
unofficial “oil capital of the world” that an 8-year-old Leslie, just a second grader, wet behind the ears when it came to anything oceanic, first got bit by the whale bug. And he can thank Sam Walton for that.
“I got hooked when I was about 8 years old and my mom took me to Sam’s Club to shop,” recalls Leslie.
“She told me to go look at the books while she picked up groceries. I ended up in front of an illustrated 14" x 18" hard-covered book called “Whales,” by Jacques Cousteau (a trophy that he keeps in his office to this day). The book came home with us. And I’ve never looked back.”
With a Ph.D. in marine biology from the University of California, San Diego (where he also earned a master’s degree in biological oceanography) and an undergraduate degree in zoology from Oklahoma State University, Leslie is one of those people you could chat with for hours.
I caught up with him on a cool, crisp early spring day in his office that abounds with artifacts that leave no doubt about his vocation. Sporting a wiry, graying beard, and a
A biopsy dart collects a small plug of skin and blubber as it ricochets off the back of a humpback whale in the Gulf of Chiriquí, Panama. Leslie and his students bring these samples back to Ursinus to extract DNA from the skin samples to determine the sex of each whale and study relatedness among these whales. Sampling is conducted under permits from the Panamanian Ministry of Environment (MiAMBIENTE) and Ursinus College’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
decidedly professorial look, he’s a flannel shirt and wellworn jeans type of guy.
His affable, easy-going style, comfortable conversation, and collegial demeanor makes him a natural to engage in long discussions about everything from artificial intelligence and spring break to hiking, camping, and of course, all things whales.
So perhaps you’d never guess that he’s an accomplished researcher, one of the region’s top cetologists, a talented policy developer, endeared professor, and proud father of two young daughters who share his love of the outdoors.
He’s as comfortable in the bow of a 20-foot research vessel bouncing on the high seas collecting data on humpback whales as he is teaching firstyear students in the college’s flagship Common Intellectual Experience program, where he exposes them to everything from Darwin to the Declaration of Independence to help them develop their own unique worldview. And he’s brilliant at both.
PHOTO: KRISTIN RASMUSSEN OF PANACETACEA
A WHALE’S TALE
Leslie has been involved in humpback whale research for more than a quarter century, traveling around the globe to study the majestic gentle giants’ migration patterns. For the past five years, his research has been based in the Panamanian Gulf of Chiriquí, working with an international nonprofit organization called Panacetacea.
Panacetacea is made up of marine biologists who conduct cetacean monitoring studies in both the Caribbean and Pacific waters. Their goal is to collect scientific data that can help shape conservation strategies and inform policy development to protect marine mammals.
“As scientists I think we have a responsibility to bring our knowledge and perspectives to the policy world. It’s an obligation we have as conservation biologists to bring that to the front of the discussion,” said Leslie.
As a board member of the organization, Leslie has been conducting surveys in the Chiriquí Gulf, monitoring different humpback whale populations that use Chiriquí as a wintering area. He and colleagues document habitat use and behaviors, take identification photos, record whale songs (the whales do the singing!), and collect biopsy samples.
“During the breeding season in Panama, you can’t go far out of the harbor before you’ll spot humpbacks,” said Leslie. “They are everywhere.
“Northern hemisphere populations were much harder hit by whaling, and they still are among the few endangered populations among humpbacks. They are struggling to come back, unlike the Southern Hemisphere whales, which are thriving.”
When in the field, Leslie and his research team live on land, but early in the morning they pile into boats with their gear, headed out to photograph whales and record their locations. “Humpbacks are great because you can identify individuals by unique patterns on their tails. We photograph so they can be tracked and have documented over 1,000 whales,” said Leslie.
“Because of the technology today, you can upload a whale photo from your cell phone while still on the boat and in real time see the places where the whale has traveled around the world using a global database that other researchers feed internationally.
“What used to take months can now be done in seconds. It’s pretty amazing.”
They also collect skin biopsy samples. Turns out Leslie is as skilled using a medieval-looking cross bow to fire at a speeding 30-ton humpback whale as he is training students to be future marine biologists. Yes, he’s hunting
CONTINUED ON PAGE 40
Washington (left) and Baessler observe a dolphin in the Gulf of Chiriquí, Panama, from the bow of a research vessel.
STUDY ABROAD
FOR TWO URSINUS STUDENTS, GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH A GROUP OF HUMPBACK WHALES IN PANAMA LAST SUMMER BECAME A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE.
Biology major Makayla Baessler ’25 and marine science major Nickolas Washington ’27 accompanied Professor Matt Leslie on his latest research expedition to track humpback whales that often winter in the waters of the Panamanian Chiriquí Gulf.
“We spent about six hours a day out on the boat, searching for whales and collecting data using research techniques like drone photogrammetry, suction cup tagging, and genetic sampling.” said Baessler, who plans to work in Namibia, South Africa, as a Peace Corps science teacher after graduating. After that she will pursue a career in marine biology research.
“The experience was undeniably rewarding and provided an unfiltered view of what field research is truly like. It was a reality check for me as an aspiring scientist because it gave me a deeper understanding of the hard work that goes into meaningful research,” she said.
For Washington, it was also a chance to see the complexity of marine conservation efforts up close and personal. “We islandhopped, studied whales, and helped design an arrow tool to collect biological samples for research,” said Washington.
“One of the biggest takeaways was realizing how complex marine conservation efforts are and not just from a scientific standpoint but also in terms of policy, ethics, and the involvement of different countries.”
Both Washington and Baessler agree that experiential learning opportunities offered at Ursinus, like their Panama research trip, are invaluable to students in building confidence, deepening understanding of subject work, and providing real-world experience that can’t be replicated in the classroom alone.
FOR MORE about Ursinus College’s study abroad program, use the QR code or go to ursinus.edu/studyabroad
DELIVERING
a dream
Julia Dees ’26 balances college classes and birthing classes as the owner and founder of Safe Haven Doula Support.
By Alyssa Kratz
Photography by Margo Reed
or a parent, the day their child is born quickly becomes the best day of their life—a moment filled with deep joy, wonder, and love.
The intimate moments surrounding a baby’s birth aren’t typically shared with many people beyond a mother and those she trusts most.
Julia Dees ’26 hasn’t given birth to a baby herself, but she has witnessed the miracle of life firsthand, and “it really is pretty magical,” she said.
Dees isn’t just a college junior. She’s also the owner and founder of Safe Haven Doula Support, where she works closely with clients going through pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see a lot of different situations, a lot of different types of medical interventions and types of people who are interested in having different kinds of births,” Dees explained. “It’s always a really big honor to be let in the room for someone’s culmination of, at the very least, nine months of work, if not their [life dream], especially when you don’t know that person very well.”
Over the last few years, Dees has learned that no two birthing experiences are the same. She has experienced births where the mother is supported by her partner and family members, to births where she and the mother were the only ones in the room, outside of medical professionals. Some mothers are able to get through labor without pain medication and others request an epidural.
“All of these different births come with different emotions, depending on what birthing parents were hoping to achieve and the unique personalities and experiences involved,” Dees said.
FINDING HER WAY
The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native says finding Ursinus was kind of by chance. Dees had been looking at schools in the Philadelphia region and Ursinus was one of the colleges her high school encouraged students to check out, due to other students finding success there.
It became a more serious option when she was chosen as a fellow for the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good, receiving a scholarship along with that recognition.
“I really loved the campus; I was looking for a small school,” she said, reminiscing on the first time she visited Ursinus. “I was looking for a real community and I think Ursinus offers something pretty unique. There aren’t a lot of liberal arts schools that have such an intense focus on STEM and medical careers, so that’s what ended up tipping the scales for me.”
When Dees started her undergraduate journey, she was interested in attending medical school after college and going into obstetrics. When she returned home to New Mexico the summer after her freshman year, Dees shadowed a midwife. It was an experience that ended up changing the trajectory of her path.
“I decided I liked the practice of midwifery more than the training of obstetricians,” she said, explaining that midwifery is a more holistic practice than the medical training obstetricians go through.
“I came back my sophomore year and was like, ‘Okay, this is what I want to do.’”
She continued, “OBs are trained to pathologize birth, which is absolutely the kind of careful treatment you want if you are a high-risk pregnancy. However, with low-risk pregnancies the attitude toward interventions can sometimes do more harm than good by introducing unneeded stressors and procedures rather than letting birth function as a normal physiological process.”
Dees decided she liked the idea of working primarily with low-risk pregnancies, along with the work-life balance that is a bit easier to achieve through midwifery.
Needing some help obtaining an LLC for Safe Haven, Julia Dees turned to Ursinus’ U-Imagine Center.
U-IMAGINE THAT
That experience back home in New Mexico was pivotal in Dees’ decision to pursue a path as a doula.
“I really fell in love with the work,” she said. “I do volunteer work in New Mexico, providing doula services to low-income families or families who weren’t aware they could get a doula. I wanted an opportunity to work with families more full-time and so that’s why I ended up starting my company.”
During her sophomore year, Dees started working with King of Prussia Doulas to get more experience in birth work.
“I had the training that I needed, I had somewhere to find clients, but I needed an LLC in order to practice safely,” she explained.
Dees turned to Ursinus’s U-Imagine Center, which provides students with resources, mentorships, and external programs that allow them to pursue entrepreneurial ideas.
Through the center, Dees was connected to a pro bono lawyer who helped her file the paperwork needed to obtain her LLC and start Safe Haven.
Knowing that I [have] helped birthing parents and families to feel safe, empowered, and connected makes me feel like I’m doing something with my life and career that is worthwhile and meaningful.”
— Julia Dees ’26
“Julia’s motivation and initiative, her clarity of vision for her future, and her passion for supporting women and families through a very significant stage of life are unparalleled,” said Visiting Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology Lauren Makuch, Ph.D., who also serves as Dees’ academic advisor. “It’s incredible that [she] came to Ursinus with the idea that she wanted to gain experience helping families as a birth doula, and, in her sophomore year, was able to turn that seed of an idea into a fully fledged doula business with the guidance and support of the U-Imagine Center.”
Dees was also encouraged by those who run the U-Imagine Center to enter her business into the 2024 BEAR Innovation Competition. It’s an annual contest among students with the chance to win cash prizes. Turns out it was a pretty good suggestion, as Dees took home first place. The victory provided a cash award that helped to finance her business venture.
“Julia’s story shows prospective students there are no limits on their potential to innovate at Ursinus,” said Makuch. “If they can dream it, the U-Imagine Center can help them bring it to fruition.”
BUILDING BONDS
Through her experiences as a doula over the last couple of years, Julia has seen the different stages of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum up close. So much of what she does is dependent on building trust with her clients.
“I had this client that I really did have more of a bond with. I knew them well,” she said. “I felt like she trusted me. I felt like I was there to help her and her husband, and I got to watch them welcome their first daughter. It was really amazing, and I was like, ‘I could do this for the rest of my life.’”
Dees says getting the chance to make a difference, either physically or emotionally, in the progression and experience of labor is both exciting and meaningful. She still gets texts and photos from some of the people she has worked with, updating her on their families and continuing to thank her for her help.
“I’m young and lack the experience that often comes with age, so for families to trust me during a vulnerable moment and let me in their birth room, sometimes as a complete stranger, is a huge honor,” she said. “Knowing that I was a part of their birth story and played a role in the start of a new family is something I can’t really explain the significance of.”
A BALANCING ACT
For most college students, there’s a lot to balance on a day-today basis. Class, homework, extracurricular activities, social life, along with applying for internships and eventually, jobs.
Dees tacks on owning a business on top of all the rest. She says it’s a balancing act that at times, can be “a bit intense.”
She also hopes to graduate a semester early, accelerating her Ursinus timeline even further.
“I’m finishing my neuroscience degree hopefully next semester … I’m working currently on building my nursing [school] applications for next year. On top of that I have all of my doula stuff,” she explained. “I think the hardest part is finding a schedule that works so that I can work...”
For Dees, Ursinus has been a place that has helped to make it all doable.
“It is, to be honest, an inconvenient decision for my educational path because we don’t have a nursing school here,” Dees said. “It would have been faster and cheaper for me to go somewhere else, and I still don’t regret it. I think that says a lot about the kind of education you receive at Ursinus and the kind of opportunities you receive.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 42
WHERE ART MEETS ARCHITECTURE
Kate Bormann on the High Line’s Plinth, one of the only sites in NYC dedicated to a rotating series of contemporary art commissions.
Inspired by the stark reality of prison architecture, interior designer Kate Bormann ’18 blends artistry and empathy to create beautiful spaces.
Inside the concrete walls of the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Kate Bormann ’18 had an epiphany.
“I witnessed firsthand the undeniable power that a built environment has on people’s mental health, on self-image, levels of productivity, and happiness,” she said.
During her time at Ursinus, Bormann volunteered at the prison as part of her participation in the Bonner Program. She spent two nights a week teaching classes to inmates. She quickly noticed the impact the building’s design had on her students’ ability to learn, as well as her own ability to teach.
“Cinder block walls, no natural light, flickering fluorescent light, stains on the ceiling, concrete floor,” Bormann explained. “It was so inhospitable that it was impossible for students to focus on what I was trying to teach them.”
She described many aspects of the experience as “uncomfortable” and “jarring.”
“It was really challenging,” Bormann said. “The conditions of the environment were extremely sad and pathetic. It disturbed me.”
In that disturbing moment, Bormann was also inspired. She recalls her time at the prison as one of several experiences that would eventually push her to pursue a career in architecture and design.
DESIGNING ABROAD
When Bormann arrived at Ursinus as a freshman, she quickly chose art as her major.
By Alyssa Kratz
Photography by Theo Anderson
“From as young as I can remember, fine art and art history were my main passions,” she explained. “I didn’t yet have any ideas of what I wanted to do careerwise, but the one thing I truly knew about myself is I wanted to study art.”
I feel like I learn every day on the job and I’m learning still today all the ways that my art degree from Ursinus is being utilized. I love to tell people that.”
— Kate Bormann ’18
classes.
graduate thesis.
Sketch of the prison where Bormann volunteered for four years and taught GED
This sketch was used by Bormann to apply for graduate school as well as being the basis for her
While at Ursinus, Bormann got the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy.
“I was living and traveling around Europe and experienced the way creativity could be artfully infused into every aspect of our daily culture,” said Bormann. “I was really inspired by this notion and began to see ways I could engineer my art degree into so many different career paths.”
That wasn’t the only time her path took her overseas. After graduating from Ursinus in 2018, Bormann continued her education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she received a master’s degree in interior architecture and design.
During her time at Drexel, she traveled abroad as part of her master’s thesis project, which had a familiar theme.
“I nestled that experience of teaching at the prison in the back of my mind and actually turned it into my [thesis],” Bormann said. “Part of my project involved traveling to other parts of the world to study prison architecture because the U.S. is notorious for mass incarceration and not tending to people in a rehabilitative manner.”
Bormann got the opportunity to visit facilities in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden, which she says are known for having some of the most “humane” prison systems in the world.
“I interviewed correctional officers, judges, wardens, previously incarcerated people, program directors—all angles of the whole system and then concluded it with my travels and witnesses of exploring alternate systems in the world,” she explained. “It was satisfying because my graduate experience came full circle after I submitted my thesis project. It just felt right, and I felt like I was doing what I was supposed to do with what I learned at Ursinus.”
BRIDGING ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Bormann’s path has led to her current position as an interior designer at Perkins Eastman, a global design firm in New York City.
“Everyone tells you New York is a very competitive, cutthroat, scary place, and now
that I’ve been here for a few years, I can confirm that’s true,” she laughed. “But I’ve had an incredible experience working in New York, and I don’t regret making the decision to come here at all.”
At Perkins Eastman, Bormann focuses on workplace design in higher education.
“I learn on the job every day, and I continue to see all the ways my art degree from Ursinus is being utilized. I love to tell people that,” she said. “I especially love to tell young students that because if they are ever hesitant about studying something that’s humanitarian, I’m like, ‘Do it, do it.’ You will use that mental approach and critical eye every single day. I rely on my artistic ability all the time.”
She has worked on projects across the Big Apple, including the MetLife Building at 200 Park Avenue. According to its website, the building is 58 stories tall and 3.1 million square feet, making it “among the tallest and most recognizable skyscrapers in the U.S.”
Bormann says the “prettiest” project she’s been a part of is “Brookfield Place,” located at 225 Liberty Street. It’s a 44-story building along the Hudson River waterfront that is “home to luxury retail, dining, extensive public space and world-class
amenities,” according to the property’s website.
No matter what project she’s working on, Bormann says she is constantly seeing the connection between art and architecture.
“Architecture and design are like other forms of portraiture for me, and portraiture is my favorite form of creating art,” she said. “I always felt my strongest portraits are of the people I understand with significant depth. In a way, architecture is another form of portraiture, because good design celebrates its inhabitants by demonstrating thorough knowledge and research of the people that will use the space.”
‘30 UNDER 30’
Bormann has recently added a new title to her portfolio—being named one of the top “30 Under 30” designers in New York. The recognition came from Interior Design Magazine. She says the honor took her completely by surprise.
“Especially in a place like New York City,” she explained. “It’s a tough world to be in because everyone’s better than you, like all the time. It’s very taxing because you are working as hard as you can every single day and still, everyone around you feels smarter
Kate Bormann stands in Manhattan’s Grand Central Station, surrounded by bustling daily New York City life.
Bormann’s rendering of a reception lobby for a project she worked on in the MetLife Building. Interior perspectives like this one are made by three dimensionally modeling the building in a computer software called Revit, where finishes and materials can then be applied to the model.
than you, but that’s a good thing. People say, ‘don’t ever be the smartest person in the room,’ and that is pretty easy advice to follow if you’re working in a competitive atmosphere.”
The recognition gave Bormann the chance to attend a ceremony in downtown Manhattan, where she was able to network with others across her field.
“I didn’t expect it at all and to be recognized in a group of people with varied backgrounds and skillsets, in this select few, was an honor. I felt really excited to be noticed at all,” she recalled. “It was really a proud moment for me.”
Bormann says her parents have encouraged her to pursue her passions from a young age and never miss an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, which she is grateful for. She also notes the impact of Christian Rice, then-director of the Bonner Program at Ursinus, as well as Danielle Masucci, a design
A view of the workplace pantry on the same MetLife Building project. Bormann was involved with architectural space planning, product selection, material application, and furniture selection for this project.
professional turned role model for Bormann.
“She first exposed me to the corporate architecture and design world,” she said.
Three years into her position at Perkins Eastman, Bormann often reflects on the experiences she had during her college years, from the time spent abroad in Europe to the time spent inside the cinder block walls of the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
It’s the lessons learned in these environments that guide her work each day.
“As a designer, I’m learning that the most important role I have is to really understand the identity of our client because my job is to engineer their stories and their identity into the built environment,” Bormann said. “I feel like I’m contributing to the world in the way that I know best and in large part, ‘It’s because of Ursinus.’”
By Connor Donohue
THE NEW PATH
As transfer enrollment rises nationwide, Ursinus transfer students find open doors, support, and success.
Photography by Jack Hopey
RAINAH DUNHAM ’25
MAJOR: BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
TRANSFER SCHOOL: GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY
THE HIGHER EDUCATION LANDSCAPE IS EVOLVING
Transfer enrollment now represents 13.2 percent of continuing and returning undergraduates, according to a 2024 study by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Impacting this number is the approximately 47,130 students who have been forced to transfer due to private nonprofit college closures since 2020, according to bestcolleges.com.
Ursinus College is rolling with the changes. This fall, 59 new students transferred to Ursinus from other institutions, a 118 percent increase from the previous year.
In addition to transfer agreements with institutions that have closed like the University of the Arts and Cabrini University, partnerships with area community colleges, and a newly announced transfer tuition discount have played a role in increasing the accessibility and affordability of an Ursinus education. Ursinus was also named to the 2024 Transfer Honor Roll by Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society at associate degree-granting colleges that recognizes “transfer friendly” schools.
Ursinus Magazine spoke with five current students who transferred from various institutions to learn about their experiences, the transfer process, and their time at Ursinus so far.
IMPROVING ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY
LAST SPRING, AUDUBON, PA., NATIVE Rainah Dunham ’25 made history as the first individual Ursinus Track & Field national champion, winning the long jump. But Dunham’s college journey didn’t start out as an Ursinus Bear. Her journey on the track and in the classroom began as a Gwynedd Mercy Griffin.
With a desire to stay close to home and attend a school with small classes, Dunham was drawn to Gwynedd Mercy, where her older brother played basketball. She spent several years there, studying business economics and competing in track, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her education.
“Most people thought online learning would be easier, but it was overwhelming for me, so I decided to take a break from school,” Dunham explained. “I initially planned for a gap year, but it ended up being three.”
Beginning in fall 2025, scholarships for eligible incoming transfer students will cover at least 60 percent of tuition. “An Ursinus education opens minds, builds confidence, and empowers futures,” said President Robyn Hannigan. “This tuition guarantee reflects our commitment to ensuring that transfer students can continue their academic journeys at a place where opportunity meets possibility—and where every step leads to transformation.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
Learn more
When she decided to return to both school and the track, Dunham heard about Ursinus from her former coach, who had taken a job in Collegeville.
“I wanted to get back into the swing of things, and Ursinus offered the perfect opportunity,” Dunham said. “It felt like a match made in heaven.”
The multi-year break gave Dunham a fresh
A TALENTED SAXOPHONIST at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, AJ Ranaglia ’25 was ramping up for his senior year when the news broke—his university, the place he called home for the previous three years—was closing effective immediately.
AJ RANAGLIA ’25
MAJOR: MUSIC
TRANSFER SCHOOL: UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS
“My senior year got stripped away—first it was COVID in high school, and now this,” said Ranaglia.
In the wake of the announcement, colleges in the Philadelphia area extended offers to students in need of a new home. A native of Limerick, Pa., Ranaglia focused his search on schools within commuting distance.
He didn’t have to search for long. Holly Hubbs, professor of music, knew he’d make a great addition to the Ursinus community. “I’m a saxophonist, and he’s a saxophonist, so once I learned that I wanted him to come here,” Hubbs said.
Hubbs and Associate Dean Kelly Sorensen reached out to Ranaglia and worked with him to align his credits and create a path that would allow him to graduate on time. “Everyone was so accommodating and helpful,” he said.
Since starting at Ursinus, Ranaglia has become fully integrated into the music program, working closely with Hubbs, who also serves as his advisor, joining the jazz band, and doing an internship with Pennsylvania State Representative Joe Webster, which he completed during the fall semester.
“My best advice is to not overthink it. It’s just a different school with different people,” Ranaglia said. “Be yourself, be nice, and you’ll be okay.”
FOR NORA GALLAGHER ’27, Cabrini University was the obvious choice.
“My sister went there, and it was the school I was most familiar and comfortable with,” Gallagher said.
Days after graduating from high school, Gallagher learned that her future school would be closing the following summer, leaving her with a difficult decision— should she attend Cabrini for her freshman year only? She chose to attend.
NORA
GALLAGHER ’27
MAJOR: GRAPHIC DESIGN
“My parents talked with me and asked if I still wanted to go to Cabrini,” Gallagher recalled. “At that point, I had made lots of friends and had already decided that I wanted to go.”
TRANSFER SCHOOL: CABRINI UNIVERSITY
When it came time to choose a new school, Gallagher was drawn to the schools that had partnered with Cabrini to accommodate students. Her main concern was ensuring she could still pursue a graphic design degree—something Ursinus didn’t offer at the time. That was until she spoke with Jeanne Komp, former director of Cabrini’s art program and now a visiting professor at Ursinus.
“She was my advisor, and she told me she was going to Ursinus to create a graphic design concentration,” Gallagher explained. “I was so grateful that Ursinus was open and willing to have Jeanne come in and create a course of study for students like me.”
Since arriving at Ursinus, Gallagher has hit the ground running. In addition to her studies, she is a member of the cheerleading team and works as an event coordinator in student engagement. Several of her
FOR WHITNEY HERSHEY ’27, the decision to attend Cabrini came down to one word: loyalty.
WHITNEY HERSHEY ’27
MAJOR: FINANCE
TRANSFER SCHOOL: CABRINI UNIVERSITY
Hershey had always wanted to play lacrosse in college, and after speaking with the coach at the time, attending a prospect day, and meeting her future teammates, she decided Cabrini was the right fit.
“My mom said it was the happiest I’d been on a college campus, so it made the choice an easy one for me in the end,” Hershey said.
It was at a friend’s high school graduation party on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay when Hershey learned that Cabrini would be closing. Despite the difficult news, Hershey knew she had to stay loyal and take the field with the teammates she had grown close to during the recruitment process.
“From the moment we had the meeting where we found out everything from the coach and admissions staff, everyone was determined to have one of the best seasons yet,” Hershey said.
The Cavaliers finished their final year with a 15-5 record, winning the Atlantic East Conference and making the NCAA Tournament, where they upset Haverford College in the first round. Hershey had a standout freshman year, scoring 23 goals and adding four assists.
Off the field, she was working to find a new college home.
“Our coach was helping us find new schools, and I wanted to reach out to Ursinus because I knew about the transfer partnership and it seemed
AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, Jacob Saadoun ’25 struggled to get good grades. Balancing his academics while working full-time at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia proved challenging, so when it came time to decide on college, Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) was the right choice.
JACOB SAADOUN ’25
MAJOR: BIOLOGY/NEUROSCIENCE TRANSFER SCHOOL: MCCC
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life, so I knew community college was the right choice for me,” Saadoun said. “I always planned to transfer after two years, though.”
After a successful two years at MCCC, Saadoun began the transfer process, considering schools in the Philadelphia area.
“I’ll be honest, Ursinus wasn’t really on my radar at first,” Saadoun admitted.
He even put down a deposit to attend Rutgers University, but his mind changed after receiving a postcard from Ursinus inviting him to visit campus.
“The note they sent was handwritten, and it was very nice and personal. It really encouraged me to at least check out the campus,” Saadoun said. “When I came to visit, my tour guide spoke about the connection you form with professors and the unique experiences that come with a small student body. From that moment, I was really drawn to Ursinus.”
As a senior on the pre-medicine track, double majoring in biology
arts. THE
New recording studio gives students a competitive edge.
This spring, Ursinus College unveiled a new Music x Design (MxD) Recording Studio in Bomberger Hall. The renovated space offers students a professional studio environment where they can gain real-world, hands-on experience with state-of-the-art studio equipment.
“Ursinus’ strong liberal arts framework helps students across all majors discover and nurture their creative talents, with many excelling in their academic fields while engaging in creative and performing arts programs,” said Assistant Dean Johannes Karreth, Ph.D. “The addition of the MxD lab further enriches these opportunities, offering a platform for students to develop professional
level recording skills, giving them a competitive edge in creative expression and communication.”
The studio includes an isolated vocal booth for singers and voice over artists, a larger live room for instrumental ensembles of four to five musicians, and a separate control room for mixing recorded materials.
In addition, the studio has an array of professional audio equipment, including studio microphones, audio processing hardware, and instruments and amplifiers suitable for studio musicians.
Students will gain practical experience manipulating the flow of audio signals within a recording studio and
Laisha Torres ’26, left, sings in the vocal booth while Gabriel Krolikowski ’28 plays the drums in the live room of the MxD Studio. They are recording an impromptu arrangement of “Summertime” by George Gershwin during the MxD Studio grand opening.
experimenting with different microphone techniques on a wide variety of instruments, with the goal of producing release-ready music and other recording projects.
“I’m immensely excited that students now have the opportunity to experience the multi-room recording process, both as engineers and musicians,” said Michael Quick, studio recording manager. “It’s a drastically different experience to record in a collaborative space like this compared to recording alone in your bedroom.”
A MxD Mac Computer Lab to support music technology and creation courses has also been added to the Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center.
ON VIEW AT THE BERMAN
JUNE 17, 2025 –NOVEMBER 26, 2025
'NEW NEIGHBORS'
"New Neighbors" is a celebration of the dynamic relationships between Ursinus College and the broader cultural landscape of the region. It brings together work by art faculty—David Aipperspach, Cari Freno, Sarah Kaufman, and Sarah Pater—in dialogue with four Philadelphia-based artists and creative collaborators—Sarah McEneaney, Chad States, Tony Bragg, and the duo Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib. Through diverse media and approaches, the exhibition explores themes of place, proximity, and the creative exchange that emerges when artistic practices intersect across communities.
'IN GOOD COMPANY': RECENT ACQUISITIONS TO THE PERMANENT COLLECTION
This exhibition highlights the Berman Museum’s commitment to collecting works that reflect diverse voices, artistic innovation, and cultural relevance. "In Good Company" features works by artists including José OrtizPagán, Ruth E. Berger, Mark Thomas Gibson, Donald E. Camp, Andrea Modica, and Judith Rothschild. Together, these artists represent a wide range of practices and perspectives, offering fresh insights into contemporary and modern art. The exhibition invites visitors to consider how new additions to the museum help shape its evolving narrative and deepen its connection to local and global communities.
athletics. UC
I want to be the best. “ ”
For women’s basketball forward Chinwe Irondi ’25, “good” has never been enough. “There’s never really a stopping point of good in my family, it’s always how can I be better, and I want to be the best,” Irondi said.
The stats back it up. After four years in a Bears uniform, Irondi will leave Collegeville as one of the best players in program history. But she’s not just a standout on the court. The Waldorf, Md., native is also a standout in the classroom, a lover of chess and Dungeons and Dragons, and a leader on campus.
Reflecting on four years with the star player, Coach Bobbi Morgan said, “Never underestimate that people come into your life for a reason… I told her we were going to win games, and look at what she’s done.”
For more, go to ursinus.edu/chinwe or use the QR code.
AWARDS
City of Basketball Love Division III Women’s Basketball Player of the Year (2025)
First Team All-Conference (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Centennial Conference Player of the Year (2025)
Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year (2022)
D3hoops.com First Team
All-Region V (2025)
D3hoops.com Second Team All-Region V (2024)
WBCA All-America honorable mention (2025)
D3hoops.com Fifth Team All-American (2025)
STATS
1,818 Career Points (2nd in program history)
1,015 Career Rebounds (2nd in program history)
102 games started
17.7 points per game
9.9 rebounds per game
PHOTO: DAVID MORGAN
1950s
CLASS
NELSON M. FELLMAN JR. ’52 writes, “At 93, [I] finally retired after a 70-year career in PR and advertising. I reside in Berlin, N.J., with [my] wife, Lisa, and keep active at the gym and traveling. Am I the last man standing from class of ’52?”
1960s
As a result of a unanimous vote at a March 24 school board meeting, an athletic field at Phoenixville Area School District has been named in honor of legendary athlete JUDY (SMILEY) WOLSTENHOLME ’65, a fouryear letter winner in field hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and softball, who went on to play field hockey and lacrosse for Team USA.
H. CRAIG HELLER, PH.D. ’65, has been selected for inclusion in “Marquis Who’s Who” for expertise in education and biology.
1970s
NANCY D. (MACRIS) RISDEN ’70 enjoyed her time at Ursinus, working toward her goal of teaching math. After graduation, she went on to teach middle and high school for 24 years.
JAMES A. WILLIAMS ’71 recently published “Oro Valley: The First Fifty Years.” He and wife, Ginny, have lived in Sun City Oro Valley for 18 years.
SENATOR GEORGE GEIST ’77 has been selected for inclusion in “Marquis Who’s Who.”
CLIFFORD D. REINERT ’79 writes, “After having an associate degree, it was a gift of my life for Ursinus to have me come for my college degree!”
1980s
RAINE (MACKINSTRY) FUSSNER ’85 qualified for Ironman 70.3 World Championships held in Taupo, New Zealand, in December 2024. Fussner and her KDK sisters enjoyed time together this past summer.
JOHN MARTINO ’87 has been named head football coach at Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, N.J.
1990s
KRISHNI PATRICK ’91 received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest award for teaching STEM education. Patrick has taught at Piney Branch Elementary School in Takoma Park, Md., since 2007.
DAN MULLEN ’94 has been named head football coach at UNLV, bringing with him a 103-61 career record and a legacy of coaching success, including leading 76 players to the NFL. In addition, PAUL GUENTHER ’94 was hired as UNLV’s associate head coach.
On March 20, Ursinus College hosted its Spring Symposium: A More Resilient Future, featuring ALEXANDRA JORGENSEN ’96, senior vice president of human resources at Independence Blue Cross.
NOTES
2000s
PAT CURRY ’01, vice president at P.C. Curry Floor Covering, visited the U-Imagine Center to film the From Sparks to Skyscraper podcast, a student production that highlights entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial thinkers.
Assistant Professor of Pathology and Research Neuropathologist at Boston University J ON CHERRY ’08 returned to campus in March as a featured speaker for the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good. He discussed the long-term consequences of sport-related repetitive head injuries.
Director, Startup Engagement at LIFT Labs, Comcast Universal KATIE TEUBER ’09 served as the keynote speaker at The U-Imagine Center’s BEAR Innovation Competition on Sunday, April 6. In addition, three alumni judges presided over the event: ROB GILFILLAN ’91, president, Cenero; JEN COHEN-CROMPTON ’05, president and founder at Something Creative, LLC; and CHRISTOPHER BIDDLE ’85, CEO at Dóchas Life Sciences.
2010s
MARK LASORDA ’10 was named to the 2025 Class of VISTA NextGen Superstars and was recognized at an awards reception in early May. LaSorda is owner and founder of Reinvented Health, a Direct Primary Care (DPC) and sports medicine practice in Exton, Pa.
A.J. WRIGHT ’13 and MARGARET KERINS ’13 announce the birth of their second son, Timothy Richard, on June 26, 2024. He joins brother, James Julian, age 2.
DAN SELECHNIK, PH.D. ’15, has been appointed director, Environmental Health & Safety, for the American Cleaning Institute. In this role, Selechnik manages projects addressing chemistries used in the cleaning product supply chain.
BEN ALLWEIN ’18 visited campus in April as part of a partnership with the U-Imagine Center, as well as the chemistry and biology departments. Allwein is a Ph.D. student at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and his team won first prize in the Weill Cornell Medicine Enterprise Innovation’s Accelerating BioVenture Innovation final pitch competition. They proposed the development of a new norovirus vaccine based on a recently invented novel mRNA delivery technology.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Love reading about what your classmates are up to? They want to hear from you, too! Send us your updates for the next edition of Class Notes—because every story matters.
Whether you’ve recently gotten married, changed careers, hosted an extern, or just returned from an epic trip, we want to celebrate it all.
Your update could include:
» Ursinus connections: Hosting externships, giving guest lectures on campus
» Career news: Jobs, promotions, retirements
» Family milestones: Weddings, births, anniversaries
» Life updates: Achievements, travel, alumni meetups
Don’t keep us guessing. Email your notes today to news@ursinus.edu!
As transfer enrollment rises nationwide, Ursinus transfer students find open doors, support, and success.
| CONT. FROM PAGE 29
perspective, and Ursinus provided the guidance and discipline she needed both in and out of the classroom. The curriculum also allowed her credits to transfer, keeping her on track to earning a degree. “Trust in yourself, trust in your abilities, and go somewhere that feels right—a place where you feel accepted,” Dunham said.
GALLAGHER | CONT. FROM PAGE 30
Cabrini friends even transferred to Ursinus with her. Although the start of Gallagher’s college career didn’t go according to plan, she’s making the most of her new opportunity.
“It’s a scary process, and you need to give yourself grace and time, and ask for help,” Gallagher said. “I’m grateful for the way it’s all worked out.”
HERSHEY | CONT. FROM PAGE 31
like a great program,” Hershey explained. “The athletic director helped get me into the transfer portal. I toured in October, and by December, my decision was made.”
The transfer process was made easier with credits that transferred to Ursinus, which also provided the perfect distance from her home in Lancaster County. Hershey quickly fell in love with Collegeville and the surrounding area. Her only concern—what would her roommates be like?
“I live with two softball players and five basketball players, and they’ve all been so nice and welcoming,” Hershey said. “The living situation really helped smooth out my transition.”
On the field, Hershey has bonded with her new teammates, participating in team-building exercises when she first arrived on campus.
“My advice to anyone transferring is to get involved and introduce yourself to your professors on the first day of class,” Hershey said. “Be open, and everything will work itself out.”
| CONT. FROM PAGE 31
and neuroscience and as a member of the HaMM Lab under Associate Professor of Health Sciences Stephen Kolwicz, he continues to work at the hospital in Philadelphia. Saadoun credits the welcoming environment of the student body, as well as his transfer advisor, Visiting Assistant Professor of Modern Languages Yvonne McCarthy, for helping to ease his transition.
DUNHAM
SAADOUN
PHOTO: JACK HOPEY
In Memoriam
1940s
Shirley (Isenberg) Buckwalter ’47 died October 17, 2024
1950s
Eleanor (Smiley) Heinzelmann ’50 died January 3, 2025
Alfred “Bud” M. Maser ’50 died December 25, 2024
Frederick A. Bowen, Jr. ’51 died October 9, 2024
Mary (Schoenly) Poff ’52 died September 10, 2024
Donald F. Hetzel ’54 died March 17, 2025
Evelyn (Scharf) Ross ’53 died January 16, 2025
Evelyn B. (Breuninger) Peck ’55 died September 1, 2024
Joan S. (Stahl) Pusey ’56 died January 29, 2025
Jean A. (Hunsberger) Hillegass ’57 died February 22, 2025
Nancy (King) Pope ’58 died January 28, 2025
Jerold H. Price, Ph.D. ’58 died September 5, 2024
John W. Tomlinson Jr., Ph.D. ’58 died November 4, 2024
Annabel (Evans) Fogal ’59 died February 15, 2025
Jerold H. Price, Ph.D. ’58 died September 5, 2024
1960s
Carolyn I. (Forry) Eckert ’60 died February 12, 2025
A. Lynne Graburn II, ’60 died October 20, 2024
Elmer Haigh Jr. ’60 died January 2, 2025
Joseph W. Lutz ’60 died September 19, 2024
Temple F. (Critchfield) Vokrot ’60 died October 27, 2024
Janet L. (Schnider) Hoferkamp ’62 died January 26, 2025
Marcia (Facchinetti) Shissler, J.D. ’62 died January 28, 2025
H. George Bonekemper III, Ed.D. ’64 died March 10, 2025
Judith E. (Hennessy) Curran ’64 died August 30, 2024
Rev. William F. Scholl Jr., Ph.D. ’64 died October 4, 2024
William J. Degenhardt ’65 died March 22, 2025
Judith A. (Esterline) Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. ’65 died February 24, 2025
Mary Ann (Wuenschel) Miller ’65 died December 1, 2024
Robert Wighton, Ph.D. ’65 died February 17, 2025
Thomas L. Binckley ’66 died September 11, 2024
Lynne S. (Shadle) Carter ’66 died January 13, 2025
Rev. David P. Horrocks ’66 died August 28, 2024
Thomas B. Swartley ’66 died September 24, 2024
Daniel M. Shearer Sr. ’67 died January 2, 2025
Dean W. Bankert ’69 died October 5, 2024
Tom P. Lapsa, M.D. ’69 died September 21, 2024
Susan U. (Lynch) Mooers ’69 died September 25, 2024
1970s
Clifford S. Labaw ’70 died January 30, 2025
Georgette M. (Griffith) Druckenmiller ’71 and retired employee died September 30, 2024
Barbara J. “Bejay” (Bray) Thornton ’73 died September 27, 2024
William K. Buck Jr. ’74 died November 7, 2024
David G. Spacht ’74 died November 14, 2024
Nancy J. “Nan” Soisson ’75 died September 30, 2024
Patricia Anne (Miller) Swartwood ’75 died January 15, 2025
Allen D. Moyer, J.D. ’76 died October 11, 2024
James W. Spivey Jr. ’76 died September 18, 2024
Jeannette M. Seigfried ’77 died December 28, 2024
Harvey A. Snyder ’77 died December 27, 2024
Dale (Goehringer) Toner ’77 died September 3, 2024
Kevin J. Gault ’77 died December 11, 2024
Jean E. (Eitel) Moroney ’78 died December 14, 2024
1980s
Jeffrey R. Quay, Ph.D. ’81 died December 29, 2024
Robert A. Williams ’83 died September 18, 2024
Michael S. Arcieri ’84 died September 21, 2024
Dawn (Bohrer) Palmisano ’85 died January 14, 2025
Jane E. (Cumpstone) Zamichieli ’88 died November 23, 2024
2000s
Michelle I. (Hofmann) Ciabattoni ’06 died December 21, 2024
2020s
Colin B. Monahan ’20 died October 21, 2024
Friends of the College
Bernard Poussot, Ph.D. 2004
Ursinus Honorary Doctor of Science and Friend of the College died May 2, 2024
Former Faculty and Staff
Albert C. “Curt” Allen, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus - Biology, died March 16, 2025
Deborah S. Economopoulos, Former Ursinus Lecturer, died September 7, 2024
Trustee
Patricia R. Cosgrave of Haverford, Pa., and Nantucket, Mass., died on April 22, 2025, at the age of 83.
Cosgrave served on the Ursinus College board from 2002 to 2014, was named a trustee emerita in 2014, and returned to the board in 2015, having last attended the February board meeting and Bear2Bear fundraiser in April. Although she was not an Ursinus alumna, Cosgrave’s connection and dedication to Ursinus was strong—it goes back to when her father, J. Permar Richards Jr., served as a member of the board. An avid supporter of the Berman Museum, Cosgrave served as chair of the Berman National Advisory Council and funded the J. Permar Richards Fund for the Outdoor Collection, which supports the conservation and preservation of the Berman’s unique outdoor sculpture collection of nearly 80 works.
Cosgrave passed on her affection for the college, too. Cosgrave’s son Michael is a 1991 alumnus and nephew Timothy is a 1985 alumnus.
DEFENDER OF THE DEEP | CONT. FROM PAGE 17
humpbacks, but only for a tiny piece of skin using a modified arrow with a biopsy tip.
“The biopsy dart collects a small piece of the whale’s skin and then bounces harmlessly off the animal,” said Leslie. Samples float to the top and are fetched by crew members or one of his Ursinus student research aides who have accompanied the team in the past.
“We collect the samples, put them in a cryovial and store them in a freezer to study the DNA to determine things like the whale’s sex and to analyze hormones to see if they are pregnant, or if they’re stressed by looking at their cortisol levels,” said Leslie. During a good summer, the team can collect more than 100 samples.
Another data stream they collect is acoustic. “Humpbacks are the canaries of whale world,” muses Leslie. “Males actually do most of the singing and they’ll ‘perform’ these super elaborate songs that last for up to 30 minutes.
“If you are close to a whale, and the boat engines are off, you can actually hear it sing through the bottom of the boat. Each population has a unique song. And when you are in the water, you can feel it in your chest…it’s pretty magical.
“When I have students with me, I tell the kids, ‘dunk your head in the water and listen.’ It’s like going to a rock concert. There’s just something very mystical about their dialogue.”
Biology major Makayla Baessler ’25, who was part of the August 2024 Panama research team, didn’t expect the emotional impact of being so close to such large creatures. “There are just no words to describe the feeling of being in the center of a group of humpback whales, hearing them sing and seeing their massive size,” she said.
HEART OF A CONSERVATIONIST
Among Leslie’s proudest achievements is his work to save Rice’s whales, one of the most endangered whales in the world. Once believed to be a type of Bryde’s whales, recent genetic research revealed that they are a distinct species.
“Rice's whales are relatively brand
new to science (first recognized in 2021 as distinct from Bryde’s whales), but already they are endangered. They are genetically unique from other humpbacks although physiologically they are nearly identical,” said Leslie.
Leslie says that through his Ursinus lab, they’ve analyzed part of the genome of Rice’s whales and estimate that at minimum, one million years separate Rice’s whales from their closest relative.
“Our work in Panama has involved analyzing the genome of the Rice’s whale and documenting their populations so that we can create specific conservation plans that will help protect them in the future.”
Today, there are likely fewer than 100 Rice’s whales left—some estimates place the number closer to 50—and they exist only in the Gulf of Mexico. With so few of the rare whales left, researchers say it’s imperative to take action now to preserve the species. In fact, says Leslie, some estimates suggest that losing even just one Rice’s whale every 15 years is unsustainable.
STUDENTS FIRST
While Leslie gets a great sense of satisfaction from his conservation work,
it’s his time with students that motivates him most. “Part of the reason I do what I do (conservation research) is to be able to get it in front of our students and then see the lightbulbs go off in them.
“I try to bring that energy into the classroom and research lab. It’s really fulfilling. It brings joy to me. I think it’s a privilege to spend time with students and see them grow.”
In his marine mammals class, he takes students on whale-watching trips to Cape May, N.J., providing them with hands-on experience using research equipment. “We take the same equipment we use in Panama, and for many of our students it’s their first time being on the ocean and first time seeing a whale,” said Leslie. “And that can be very transformative for them.”
According to Leslie, students who have never thought about marine conservation have started to consider it. “It’s amazing to see them begin to believe that they can have an impact in the world. And that there can be a profession for them in conservation science or environmental science. I try to use my experience to be an inspiration for them. That sustains me.”
However, Leslie’s talents go far beyond
Nickolas Washington ’27, left, and Leslie assemble and test a multi-sensor suction-cup tag used to study whale ecology and behavior.
the marine world. Using some of what his team has learned about whale acoustics, he’s been working with Ursinus students to apply those techniques to the local campus bat populations to study their patterns and populations.
“We’re taking the same acoustic methods we use on whales to study bat diversity at our college,” he said. “We had a large research effort last year with our summer interns who were out in the field recording bats so we could analyze their acoustic patterns.
“We used recorders to capture ultrasonic bat frequencies every dusk as bats emerged. So now we can use that data to compare parts of the campus to see which are more ‘bat friendly’ and get a sense of what Ursinus bat habitats are like.”
By now you probably get the sense that Leslie relies on the real world as an extension of his classroom. To that end,
he’s also starting to work with local groups to survey the area’s aquatic habitats so that students can “get their hands dirty” looking at stream invertebrates as indictors of water quality while teaching them basic natural history.
“Prof. Leslie’s approach to teaching is highly immersive, hands-on, and research-driven,” said marine science major Nickolas Washington ’27, one of two students who accompanied Leslie to Panama last summer to conduct whale research.
“Reading about conservation in a classroom is one thing, but actively participating in research, working in the field, and developing solutions firsthand is completely different. It builds confidence, deepens understanding, and provides realworld experience that can’t be replicated in traditional coursework,” said Washington.
A COMPELLING FUTURE
Although Leslie’s tenure at Ursinus is still quite young (he joined in fall 2023), he’s already made a big impact and has developed a deep appreciation for the college. “Ursinus has this strong sense of community that I love. I really see that as a unique strength,” said Leslie.
While marine biology is currently a minor at Ursinus, Leslie is optimistic that with growing interest in the program, and the program’s growing reputation with students, it can evolve into a full major of study in the coming years.
“I feel like I can have a positive influence here. I can educate folks about coastal issues and the need for conservation in the marine environment and beyond,” said Leslie.
And that makes Leslie a pretty rare breed. Just like Rice’s whale. THANK YOU!
We are profoundly grateful to receive multiple commitments for transformative gifts this academic year.
ARLENE ANDREWS MCCLEAN, PH.D. ’62
$4 million bequest to directly support student research, improved laboratory facilities, and hands-on learning experiences in the sciences.
$1.2 million to accelerate the Andrews Family Fellows program supporting students pursuing graduate degrees in STEM fields.
JOAN PARLEE ’57 AND DONALD PARLEE, M.D. ’55
$3.2 million gift, with $1 million dedicated to creating the Parlee Endowed Scholarship Fund and more than $2 million to support the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good.
THE CORSON FAMILY FOUNDATION AND JEF CORSON P’04, H’12 AND FLYNN CORSON ’04
$1 million to support curricular and co-curricular opportunities for Ursinus students that enhance career-readiness skills, as well as experiential learning through APEX.
DAVE KOVACH ’90, P’21
$500K to support APEX, a transformative new learning ecosystem that will redefine the student journey, beginning fall 2025.
Your generosity propels our community into a brighter future.
SAVE THE DATE!
HOMECOMING OCTOBER 25, 2025
This year we will celebrate class years ending in 0s and 5s.
DELIVERING A DREAM | CONT. FROM PAGE 21
LOOKING AHEAD
Dees’ goal is to bring Safe Haven back home with her to New Mexico after graduating. She wants to attend nursing school there and enroll in an accelerated BSN program. Doing so would allow her to get a nursing degree in as little as 12 months. After that, she hopes to obtain an advanced degree in midwifery.
“I want to complete training and practice as a practitioner with the attitude that birth is natural and both medical interventions and patience and non-medical approaches have value and should be considered in patient care,” Dees explained.
Her long-term goal is to work as a midwife.
“My ultimate dream [would be] to work outside of the hospital systems,” she said. “I think a for-profit health system is kind of innately always going to be something that is fighting against the better instincts of most people who work
within that system, and that can be an exhausting fight.”
Dees also dreams of opening a freestanding birth center, where she could help provide comprehensive care from prenatal all the way through postpartum.
“I would love to establish something somewhere rural,” she said. “In New Mexico, you have large city centers and really just in an hour, an hour and a half, you have areas that are so rural, they have no care,” she explained.
It’s a dream that would ultimately help so many families experience those magical, intimate moments that Dees has already learned to treasure so much.
“Knowing that I [have] helped birthing parents and families to feel safe, empowered, and connected makes me feel like I’m doing something with my life and career that is worthwhile and meaningful,” Dees said. “I’m hopeful to keep making that kind of difference.”
“Fun Home” Hits the Stage Alexa Daiuto ’27 is held aloft by Landon Conrad ’28 in a scene from the spring 2025 production. Daiuto played a young version of Alison Bechdel, whose graphic memoir, “Fun Home,” was the inspiration for the musical. Conrad played Alison’s father, Bruce. Bechdel’s original memoir is a part of the curriculum in Ursinus’ Common Intellectual Experience course.
PHOTO: JIM ROESE
“APEX is an innovative reimagining of college for today’s world and tomorrow’s opportunities.”
— President Robyn Hannigan
Read more on page 3