West Chester University Magazine, Fall 2014

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West Chester University magazine

RESEARCH

IN BUSINESS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

On the cover

Contents 2 | University News 8 | Sports 10 | Cover Story 18 | Class Notes 22 | Chapter News 24 | Q&A with Bryna Makowka ’04 28 | Q&A with Kate Cipriano ’00 and Melissa Hays ’01

This summer, the quad was transformed into an elliptical open lawn and central gathering space.

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President Greg R. Weisenstein

Vice President for Advancement and Sponsored Research Mark Pavlovich

Editor, Executive Director Communications Pam Sheridan

Design and Layout JoAnne Mottola

West Chester University Council of Trustees

The West Chester University Foundation Board of Trustees

Barry C. Dozor ’71 Thomas A. Fillippo ’69 (chair) Christopher Franklin’87 Jonathan Ireland ’95, M’03 Christopher A. Lewis J. Adam Matlawski ’80 (vice chair) Marian D. Moskowitz Eli Silberman Christine Costello ’04 (secretary) Robert M. Tomlinson ’70

Officers Keith Beale ’77 (president) Thomas E. Mills, IV ’81 (vice president) Christopher J. DiGiuseppe ’89 (treasurer) Sandra F. Mather ’64, ’68 (secretary) Richard Przywara (executive director) Trustees James P. Argires ‘56 Frank Branca ’70 J. Alan Butcher ‘88, M’92 Matthew Bricketto, ex officio Millie C. Cassidy Deborah J. Chase, ’76 Kate Cipriano ’00 Thomas A. Fillippo ’69 (Council of Trustees representative) Cheryl Fulginiti ’80 David A. Gansky ’88 Carol Gersbach ’70 John A. Gontarz

Maury Hoberman Charles A. Knott,Jr. Kathleen Leidheiser Donald E. Leisey ’59 Emily Jane Lemole Donald R. McIlvain Mark P. Mixner, ex officio Michael O’Rourke John R. Panichello ’83 Michael Peich Mark G. Pavlovich, ex officio Paula D. Shaffner ’80 James Shinehouse ‘80 John Stoddart ’93-’99 MBA Christine Warren ’90 ’99 Greg R. Weisenstein, ex officio

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9 West Chester University Alumni Association President Rick Loughery ’06, M’10

Vice President Kerry Acker ’05

Treasurer Michael DePrisco ’92, M’95

Secretary Andrea Murray ’07, M’12

Immediate Past President Jeffrey Stein ’91

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Directors

Emeriti

E-mail Addresses

Kerry Acker ’05 Thomas J. Ciaccio ’91, M’03 Michael DePrisco ’92, M’95 Sara Franco ’86 Bill Friedmann M’09 Dean Gentekos ’07 Jamie W. Goncharoff, Esq. ’82 Heidi Hawkins ’07 Matt Holliday ’09 Melanie Holwood ’08, M’10 Jonathan Long ’03 Rick Loughery ’06, M’10 Robert Malone ’08 Maria Milkowski ’09 Andrea Murray ’07, M’12 Christy Nau ’06 Amy Miller-Spavlik ’90, M’92 Jeffrey Stein ’91 Denise Bowman Trigo ’98

Carmen Evans Culp ’52, M’64 Janice Weir Etshied ’50 (deceased) Karl Helicher ’72, M’82, M’87 Richard D. Merion ’59, M’69 John F. Murphy ’43 (deceased) Luther B. Sowers ’49

For Class Notes and other alumnirelated information, e-mail Diane Everett at alumni@wcupa.edu. Letters to the editor can be sent to: psheridan@wcupa.edu or Pam Sheridan, Director of Public Relations and Marketing and Editor of the West Chester University Magazine.

The West Chester University Magazine is published three times a year for the alumni, families, students and friends of West Chester University of Pennsylvania. We welcome letters concerning magazine content or issues pertaining to the University. Letters must be signed and kept to one typed page.

Please include address and daytime phone number. We reserve the right to edit. Send correspondence to: Editor, The WCU Magazine, West Chester University, West Chester PA 19383

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

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univ ersity news

UNIVERSITY STUDENT HOUSING OPENS NEWEST RESIDENCE HALL Members of the campus community were joined by federal and state officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating this fall’s opening of Commonwealth Hall, the latest major student residence on the University’s north campus.

The new student residence is located on the former site of Sanderson Hall, which was demolished in 2009.

Designed by Voith-MacTavish Architects and completed this summer by P. Agnes Builders, the 653-bed building is similar to three other campus residence halls with suite-style living and semi-private bathrooms —Allegheny, Brandywine, and University Halls.

Various floor plans are offered in the community, from single occupancy suites to shared living environments with up to six residents. The building is replete with a fitness center, yoga studio, study lounges on every floor, and a full residence life program. In addition to residential suites, the University’s Student Health Services and the Counseling Center are located in the building’s lower level.

The $47 million project is the latest phase of the Housing Renewal Initiative – a long-term plan to renovate student housing on the University’s campus. Both construction and operation of the units are the responsibility of University Student Housing LLC. (UHS), the subsidiary of the West Chester University Foundation that has constructed, and currently operates, 2,962 beds in six communities on the University’s campus.

Participating in the ceremony were (l to r): Executive Director of the WCU Foundation, Richard Przywara; West Chester Mayor Carolyn Committa; Rural Housing Service (RHS) Administrator, Tony Hernandez of the US Department of Agriculture; West Chester University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Linda Lamwers; Thomas Williams, Rural Development State Director; Keith Beale, Chair of the Board of USH; Carl Gersbach, board member of USH; Steve Keener, project manager of P. Agnes Inc.; and Reception area for Student Health Services, including the Wellness Michael Ward with USDA. Center, the Counseling Center, the Office for Alcohol, Tobacco and “By providing additional on-campus housing, the new student resiOther Drug Programs, and Nutrition Services. dence will help to build a vibrant student community and encourage more students to live on campus,” says Przywara.

“Reaction from students and parents has been enormously positive,” added Housing Director Michael Selby. “They love their new home on campus.”

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“Active Minds” Chapter Achieves 5-Star Status West Chester University’s chapter of Active Minds has achieved five-star status from the national organization, Active Minds, Inc. Con-

cerned with young adult mental health, the student advocacy group helps students change the perception about mental health on college campuses nationwide, with suicide as a main focus.

Among last year’s activities that earned the WCU chapter their status were a “LivLive” concert to raise funds and awareness about suicide; a “Post Secret” event that allowed students to write down and share their problems anonymously; and “Stress-Less” week, before each semester’s finals, in which the chapter provided students with “child’s play” activities to encourage them to destress. The chapter plans to repeat these events this year.

The 2013-2014 Active Minds officers responsible for achieving the five-star status were Hannah Metzger, president and treasurer; Luke Beale vice president; Maria Blumberg secretary; Liz Chiocco, PR; and Makeba Cameron, liaison to the Social Work Department.

“It’s fitting that Active Minds’ officers and members should be recognized for all of their hard work and dedication to educating others about mental health and working collectively to effectively stomp out the stigma,” says psychologist Julie Perone, who directs the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Perone, along with Associate Professor of Undergraduate Social Work Claire Dente, serves as the chapter’s faculty advisor.

This month, the chapter is being recognized at the Active Minds national conference at the University of Maryland College Park.

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univ ersity news

Scholarship winner’s determination pays off Determination could be Matthew Williams’ middle name.

Winner of a GlaxoSmithKline Opportunity Scholarship, Williams has had a steep climb from homelessness toward success.

He credits his mother for instilling in him the determination to succeed.

Williams was studying accounting at Kutztown, when family circumstances forced him to drop out. After a five-year hiatus, he resumed his education at WCU, but made a major change in his career path, switching to nutrition and dietetics.

Sylvia Spivey, Development and Scholarship Manager for The Philadelphia Foundation which awards the scholarships, said Williams’ determination was inspiring. “Matthew embodies the purpose of the scholarship fund,” she says.

Even though he was forced to drop out of college the first time around to help take of his homeless mother and brothers, he did not give up his pursuit of higher education and returned to school as a non-traditional student.

The GlaxoSmithKline Opportunity Scholarship offers residents of Philadelphia County, who have overcome significant adversity, the opportunity to pursue their dreams and improve their lives through higher education. “The committee is confident that Matthew will do just that,” says Spivey.

Williams’ maturity is evident in his voice. He has a plan and has charted the sometimes difficult steps he’ll take to achieve his goal, which is to launch his own nutrition business tailored for underprivileged communities.

“Because I came from that background and I have been in those shoes, I can understand what that community needs in terms of nutrition education and guidance”, he says.

Williams so impressed Jeffrey E. Harris, Professor and Chair of WCU’s nutrition department, with his “perseverance and optimistic spirit” that Harris recommended him for an internship at Chestnut Hill Hospital as a dietary aide in the summer of 2013.

Williams now holds that position as a part-time employee.

“As a student in my nutrition research course, Matt Williams exhibited a refreshing inquisitiveness about nutrition evidence. His critical thinking skills and analytical skills are first-rate,” recalls Harris.

Alumni Relations Joins Foundation in New Center

This semester, renovations at 202 Carter Drive resulted in spacious new offices and meeting rooms with over 5,500 square

feet available for events. Joining the West Chester University Foundation in this new facility are the University’s Alumni Relations office, Troops to Teachers program, and staff with The Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research Foundation.

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BECOMING MORE CAMPAIGN UPDATE Since this past spring’s public launch of the Becoming More Fundraising Campaign, $5 million

in new gifts and pledges have been received. This brings the total raised to date (10/31/14) to $25.8 million or 51 percent of the Campaign’s $50 million goal. For more information please visit the Campaign website at http://www.wcufoundation.org or contact Meredith Sossman at the WCU Foundation (610.436.2868).

Campus commemorates shut-down of coal burning plant

Every October, universities around the country celebrate and recognize the successes, challenges and innovations of sustainability on their respective campuses. The highlight of this year’s Sustainability Day at WCU was the

decommissioning ceremony for the University’s coal-fired power plant.

Thanks to its geothermal initiative, the University no longer burns coal to heat and provide hot water for many of its buildings. Most of the North Campus academic buildings and residence halls, which had depended on the coal-burning plant for steam heat, have been converted to the more efficient method of heating and cooling.

Shutting down the central heating plant eliminates all coal and most fuel oil burned on campus. When the entire geothermal system is completed, the cost of heating will be reduced by 40% and cooling by 20% - a savings of approximately $1 million a year.

The decommissioning is the first event overseen by the University’s new Sustainability Coordinator, Joy Fritschle, Associate Professor of Geography and Planning. Fritschle is building on efforts by the University’s first two sustainability coordinators. Her goals are “to facilitate implementation of the University’s “Climate Action” plan, and to further integrate sustainability into every aspect of the University-- from facilities and purchasing to classroom and extracurricular activities and everything in-between.”

She has already worked sustainability into her courses in various ways, including using her recently published text, Envisioning Sustainable Development in World Regions, the first introductory world geography textbook to deal specifically with sustainability. “In the spirit of sustainability,” notes Fritschle, “it’s available only as an e-book.”

She sees students as central to her mission. “They bring energy and new ideas, and they are why I am optimistic about the future.”

Fritschle ensures that students are connected with the University’s environmental efforts, from the well-established E.A.R.T.H. (Environmental Association for the Repair of the Habitat) Group, to Net Impact, a new sustainability initiative coordinated by students in the College of Business and Public Affairs. The Office of Sustainability also has three interns who track data on WCU’s sustainability efforts; manage the Outdoor Classroom, Laboratory, and Demonstration Garden; and work on the office’s web and social media presence while developing a campus sustainability map.

At the decommissioning ceremony, members of the E.A.R.T.H. Group planted trees along North Campus Drive. In addition to “greening” the campus, there is a more subtle meaning in the gesture: Coal was once vegetation, and the University is symbolically replacing some of what was taken from the earth. fal l 2 014

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univ ersity news

Joining Dean Michelle Patrick and President Greg Weisenstein at the groundbreaking are the new center’s campaign co-chairs: James Hamlet’82 (left), May Van, MBA’89, and Gerard Sweeney’79.

Groundbreaking for new Business and Public Affairs Center In mid-October, groundbreaking ceremonies took place at the future site of the College of Business and Public Affairs.

Demolition began earlier this fall on McCarthy Hall, a student residence along Sharpless St., to make way for the new 90,000 square foot facility.

“This new building is critical to the College’s ability to continue attracting quality faculty and students,” says Christopher Fiorentino, WCU’s Vice President for External Operations who, during his 20-year tenure as dean of Business and Public Affairs, oversaw much of that College’s expansion.

Given the College of Business and Public Affairs’ unprecedented growth over the last few years, larger and more up-to-date facilities had become one of the University’s key goals for its second largest college. The new building will offer larger and more centralized classrooms, including an educational concept known as a “dinner theatre” classroom.

The facility will consolidate the College’s 10 departments, whose faculty are currently scattered throughout the campus, often sharing one office among two or three faculty members. Individual faculty offices will occupy the top two floors, which will be designed to encourage faculty collaboration. The first three floors will house classrooms, lecture halls, student lounges and meeting rooms to foster student-faculty interaction.

The new building’s exterior and interior will reflect state-of-the-art, design, materials, finishes and technology with a goal of achieving LEED Platinum classification. In some enhanced classrooms, faculty who choose to teach a course collaboratively with a WCU colleague will be able to use new technology to team their class with other students online in a different campus location.

“This new facility will really be more than just a new building,” says College of Business and Public Affairs Dean Michelle Patrick. “We are deliberately designing spaces to create a sense of community and encourage greater interaction among faculty and students.”

Designed by the architectural team of Voith-MacTavish Architects and Moody-Nolan Ltd., the five-story, $39 million building also will feature seminar and conference rooms. Its archway entrances on South Church St. will resemble the Collegiate Gothic style of Philips Memorial Building.

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WCU partners with Irish college The “luck of the Irish” must have been with West Chester University during the development of its latest international partnership with Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland.

“We went from the conceptual stage to the signing of a formal memorandum of understanding in just six months,” notes West Chester’s College of Education Dean Kenn Witmer, who was instrumental in developing the collaboration. Witmer was a visiting professor at the college for one semester earlier in his career and as a result of his contacts, he was able to jump-start discussions and help the process move expeditiously.

This summer, WCU President Greg Weisenstein and Mary Immaculate College President Michael Hayes signed a formal memorandum of understanding at a ceremony in Limerick.

Founded in 1898, Mary Immaculate College offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in its College of Education and the Liberal Arts and is academically linked with the University of Limerick.

There are approximately 3,000 students at the city campus enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The college also partners with universities in more than 15 countries.

WCU’s relationship with Mary Immaculate College opens the door to student and faculty exchanges plus collaborative research. The partnership will involve many WCU departments, with initial programs presented by the College of Education.

“We will welcome the first Mary Immaculate College student to

(L to r): Nancy Witmer and Ken Witmer, WCU Dean of Education; Sandra Weisenstein and WCU President Greg Weisenstein; Michael A. Hayes, President of Mary Immaculate College; and Holly Cowman, Director of the College’s International Office

WCU in January, at the start of spring semester,” Witmer notes. The 20-year old student, Hollie McDonnell is in her third year of Mary Immaculate College’s liberal arts program and is studying to be a secondary teacher of history and English.

“I’m very eager to learn more about the history of the U.S and this is one of the main reasons why I was so drawn to West Chester,” says McDonnell.

In a competitive process, four WCU students were selected to head to Limerick next spring. Eventually, cohorts of 12-to-16 WCU students will study in Ireland annually, while The College of Education also plans faculty exchanges and research collaborations.

Meanwhile, the University also is in discussion with two other Irish institutions about possible partnerships: St. Patrick’s College and Trinity College, both in Dublin.

WCU Alum Emmy -Award Winner ®

For communication studies majors who dream of making it to the top, what could possibly be bigger than winning an Emmy® award?

Well, how about two Emmy® awards? On the same night?

That’s the latest achievement of Steven Fisher, who took the top awards for Video-Journalist and Best News Feature at this year’s NATAS MidAtlantic Emmy® Award Ceremony in Philadelphia.

Fisher’s path to television news success hasn’t been a particularly long one – he only graduated WCU in 2011 - but it’s been action-packed.

During his undergraduate years, he crammed as many media-related courses into his schedule as possible while taking full advantage of on-campus clubs related to his major: Steven was a staff member of the university’s radio station (WCUR), newspaper (The Quad) and the newly-formed television station (WCU-TV, pioneered by Dr. Mike Boyle). He credits Dr. Phil Thompsen with being particularly influential, challenging him in the classroom and creating opportunities for him on the campus. Steven also interned at CBS3TV before earning his diploma. “WCU has a lot to offer any student, it’s just up to them to seek out opportunities to get as much out of the college experience as they want,” he says. “The point is, WCU is second to none.”

Fisher’s extensive college experience helped him land his first job out of school, as the mid-shore bureau chief reporter at WBOC in Salisbury Maryland. Media industries move fast, however, and like most professionals, it didn’t take Steven long to find a second job in a larger market.

In May of 2013 he moved up to WHTM in Harrisburg, where he now researches, writes, shoots and edits stories and occasionally anchors the broadcasts. “I strive to share stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary things,” he explains.

Ultimately, the award-winning broadcaster would like to make his way back home, breaking into the Philadelphia market. With a resume that features a WCU degree and a wide range of professional experiences, Fisher is well on his way, and with a pair of Emmy® awards, his chances just got even better.

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SPORTS

Q&A with Frank Zanin’99 Frank Zanin is in his fifth year with the Brooklyn Nets and his second as assistant general manager, assisting Billy King with all personnel and

scouting matters, including draft preparation and free agent/trade analysis.

A three-year starter on WCU’s basketball team, Zanin graduated from West Chester in 1999 with a degree in business management. He began his NBA career that year as a video intern with the Philadelphia 76ers. From there, he was hired as the team’s video coordinator, eventually was promoted to advance scout and assistant coach and finally as the team’s pro personnel scout.

How did your experiences as a men’s basketball player at West Chester University help to prepare you for your profession and the real world?

Playing basketball at West Chester University was a tremendous help for me when it comes to working in the real world. The process of getting 15 people from different areas to come together as a team with a common goal of winning is something that takes time. It teaches unselfishness for the good of the team.

I encounter this every day in the business world. We learn to work together as a team and everyone has to understand their roles for us to have success.

My experiences playing men’s basketball at WCU helped me learn about making quick decisions under pressure. You have to trust your instincts and the preparation that you have put into the game to react. This happens for me now in our NBA draft room.

There have been multiple occasions during the NBA draft that we have to make quick decisions in a short time frame. There is no time for debate, a decision has to be made right away.

Towards the end of my career at WCU, I also learned a lot about leadership. We had a good team my senior season with a lot of different personalities. Helping to lead that group was a challenge, but it taught me that you have to trust the people that you are working with to do their jobs and you cannot micro manage them. The same thing goes for being a leader of a team. You have to trust that your teammates understand the game plan and their responsibilities so that you can go out and win the game as a team. Having good people around you always helps.

What are some of the most interesting challenges to your position as the Assistant GM for a professional franchise?

I would say the biggest challenge of the position of Assistant GM is the NBA draft. You have to evaluate athletes that are ages 18-22 and project their careers out 10 years. Besides just their physical talents we have to look into their personalities to try establish if they have the make up for long-term success. We put a lot of emphasis on character because we feel that high character people give themselves a better chance to be successful.

Another challenging aspect is the travel the job requires. I am responsible for scouting all NBA, college and international players. I spend most of the season traveling throughout the country and abroad watching various prospects and evaluating them for our team. I would say that on average I am traveling 5 out of 7 days a week. During the season it is a seven-day-a-week job. It can be a very stressful process.

As with most jobs we also have to plan for the future. We are constantly going over our 3-5 year plans for the organization and adjusting them based on different circumstances, such as player injuries, or trades that come along unexpectedly. Financial ramifications impact all of our decisions.

What are some of your fondest memories of West Chester University?

I really loved my time at WCU. I was very fortunate to have my brother, TJ, there with me on the basketball team for three years, which was a thrill for me. I also had one of my closest friends there with me as well –Scott Heinerichs who’s now on the faculty and keeps me up- to-date on everything going at the University. I also was lucky to have a great roommate in Chuck Hiller. He was also on the basketball team and we became fast friends. We still talk once a week and love to reminisce about our days at WCU. There are so many games and practices that bring back great memories: a very exciting home victory over Cheyney my junior year; a come-

8 West Chester University

from-behind win against Millersville my sophomore year. It really showed the heart of our team that season. Those rivalry games always meant so much to the team.

What advice would you give to individuals trying to break into the professional sports industry?

The sports industry is highly competitive and opening that first door is key. Anyone wanting a career in the sports industry should do an internship while in college. It will give them a chance to network and really figure out which direction they want to take. This is how I got my start.

I was fortunate to get an internship with the Philadelphia 76ers in their video room. It was not a glamorous job but it was my start. I worked a lot of hours, committed myself to the job, and it paid off at the end of the season when they offered me a full time position.

I see a lot of young people coming into this industry, who want instant success and promotions. They should stay patient and learn as much as they can. Once you get the opportunity make sure you go the extra mile so that you get noticed.

PSAC’s CHAMPIONS IN MEN’S GOLF

(L to R): Head Coach Harry Hammond, Ryan Fogel, Drew Patterson, Corey Smith, Zach Boe and Eric Slawter

West Chester University’s men’s golf squad climbed three spots in the team standings on the final day, shooting a tournament round low score of 294, to win the 2014 PSAC at Hershey Links East Course.

The team walked home with its first PSAC title since 2006 and fourth overall as a result of its stellar round on October 19, despite the dropping temperatures on the links. The Golden Rams knocked 16 strokes off of its round one score of 310 and finished the tournament with a 604 – three strokes better than Indiana, Pa., which shot a 607, and finished runner-up.

The Golden Rams placed three golfers in the top six individually, led by senior Eric Slawter, who scored a 148 over the 36-hole tournament and finished one stroke off the lead. Gannon’s Matt Barto parred the first playoff hole to take home the PSAC individual championship.

Millersville’s Robby Rowe was runner-up, after tying Barto for first place following 36 holes.

West Chester did not count a score over 75, led by Slawter’s oneunder 71. Zach Boe shot a 73 and finished in a tie for sixth place with a 152. Teammate Ryan Fogel carded a 75 and also finished the two-day

tournament with a 152. Drew Patterson also signed for a 75 to finish with a 156 and tie teammate Corey Smith for 18th overall.

The women’s team also competed at the 2014 PSAC Championships, finishing sixth overall. However, freshman Lacey Bensing, placed second individually.

West Chester shot a 664 as a team for the two-day, 36hole tournament, carding a 331 on Sunday. That was two strokes better than the Golden Rams’ day one total of 333. The news of the day for West Chester’s purple & gold contingent was freshman Lacey Bensing shooting a 157 and tying for second place on the individual leaderboard. She was the only Golden Rams player to shoot under 80 in either round.

Lacey Bensing

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cover story

RESEARCH

IN BUSINESS and PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Every year, dozens of faculty throughout the University’s five colleges are engaged in research – some are working with WCU colleagues and students, while others are collaborating with faculty from other institutions around the country.

In the following pages are examples of research being conducted by faculty from the College of Business and Public Affairs.

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THE HEALTH CARE MARKET Where expenditures are highly skewed

Economics The health care field, like much of the world, is data-rich and information-poor, says economist Simon

Condliffe. It’s one reason he enjoys his role as a West Chester University professor and researcher: “I look for meaningful relationships in data.” His research involves using recent health care data to examine important policy issues such as health care expenditures and utilization of the population.

For example, one goal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is to increase access. This has pulled more people into the health care market. What happens to the health care utilization and expenditures of the newly insured? How does a person’s attitude towards risk influence their health care spending?

Condliffe identifies consumers by how much risk they are willing to accept. They are either risk-averse or risk-tolerant.

“The risk-averse individuals get all their checkups. They may find out earlier about a condition or disease and avoid costlier treatment; they may have the option to be an outpatient rather than be admitted to a hospital.

“The risk-tolerant individuals roll the dice. They might simply not like going to a doctor, but leaving a condition untreated may allow it to develop into something worse.” He identified risk-tolerant patients as those “who self-finance health care, appear to have lower total health care expenditures, and could be foregoing needed care.”

Says Condliffe, “The early evidence, considering their expenditures, shows they will still spend less than the risk-averse.

Those previously uninsured may continue to not be heavy consumers of health care.”

Condliffe examined consumers’ risk tolerance and how it impacts health insurance and health care expenditures. Using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), he and student Gregory Fiorentino ’11 analyzed eight years of U.S. data to draw conclusions about how much risk various segments were willing to take on. Their work was published in the spring 2014 issue of Applied Economics Letters.

“Health care is quite different from other markets because there’s a third party involved that will pick up part of the cost,”

says Condliffe. “And that could influence a consumer’s behavior.”

Expenditures are highly skewed, he also found.

The top one percent of spenders account for more than 20 percent of all health care expenditures. The top five percent of spenders account for approximately 50 percent of all health care expenditures.

Who are these people who are the highest spenders of their own or insurers’ money?

“This cuts across both ends of the spectrum of risk-takers,” Condliffe says. It can be partly explained by the type of health insurance carried by someone in one of these segments: a generous plan or a deep plan will cover more treatments, drugs or specialists. And even if they have a number of out-ofpocket expenses, options such as state-of-the-art treatments, new technology or drugs may not be out of reach for some in one of these categories.

He notes that hospitals account for the majority of consumer spending – about one-third of our health care costs. “Look at what we do there: we are born, we die, we have emergencies, we have serious health issues treated.

“Pharmaceuticals are a growing part of health care costs – approximately 10 percent of all costs – but that could be because people are being treated with prescription drugs rather than a hospital stay. In the long run, drugs may be more cost-effective,” he suggests.

This is not Condliffe’s first research in the health care field. In a 2012 study, he examined diabetes patients’ impact on health care spending, noting that in 2007, more than 38 percent of diabetes patients were both hypertensive and obese. Patients with all three conditions put a significant strain on health care resources, and had greater associated costs than diabetes patients with only one of the other conditions.

“Our analysis indicates that diabetes patients are placing increasing strain on public health care resources. Diabetes patients who are hypertensive and obese, on average, have more than twice as many ER visits, office-based visits, inpatient visits, and four times as many prescriptions, compared with the general adult population.”

Simon Condliffe earned his doctorate in economics from University of Delaware, where he was an economist for the Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research from 1999 to 2008. He has conducted research related to health care and economic development for the state of Delaware. His research on health care, environmental regulation, and economic development has been published in the American Economic Review, the Journal of Regulatory Economics, and the Municipal Finance Journal, respectively.

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cover story

social work CHILD VICTIMIZATION

Disrupting a young adult’s “pro-social” development Research has long established the negative impact of child victimization on a young person’s physical, emotional and

cognitive development.

Throughout her academic career, Wan-Yi Chen has been interested in the long-term effect of personal victimization on individual developmental outcomes. In a recent study, Chen examines if victimization disrupts a young adult’s “pro-social” development as an engaged, concerned citizen.

“Prior literature suggests that young adults who grow up in a family where there’s a good relationship with the primary caregiver, are more likely to become engaged in the community as a young adult,” says Chen.

What she has found, however, is that a positive parent-child relationship which should promote the likelihood of an individual’s civic engagement during young adulthood, did not have a buffering effect against the negative influence from a victimization experience during adolescence.

Chen believes her findings for adolescents in this regard may be related to their developmental stage. “Adolescence is really a time when young people start to venture out and find their own place beyond the supervision of school and parents. Socially, they try to establish their own network.

“Parental influence starts to lessen, and one’s peers become more influential. We see that their perception and experience in the community becomes linked to whether they eventually participate in community life,” says Chen.

For this initial research, Chen used data from the 1994 to 2002 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in order to control

for adolescents who were never victimized versus those who experienced violence during adolescence.

She then examined both groups’ family dynamics and their volunteer behavior during young adulthood.

“This study examines how exposure to community violence during adolescence could affect an individual’s subsequent engagement in civic activities during their young adulthood,” explains Chen.

Noting that victimization not only refers to direct victimization such as being jumped, stabbed, shot, or held at gun point or knifepoint, but to witnessing violence as well, she believes her findings in this study further confirm the importance of providing a safe and secure environment for young generations. “Family and school experiences are critical to children’s development and well being, but society itself has a responsibility to rid violence in the community,” says Chen.

“We need to provide adolescents an environment outside their home and school where they can see meaningful opportunities to be engaged in public life.”

A graduate of Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan, Chen earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice and from Columbia University’s School of Social Work, and her Ph.D. from Columbia as well.

In 2012, she joined WCU’s graduate social work department as a faculty researcher.

marketing THE VALUE OF INTERNSHIPS

The effect of undergraduate internships on early career success If you’re in your last two years pursuing an undergraduate business degree

and want to better market yourself to potential employers, participate in an internship before you graduate.

That’s the advice of Jack Gault, chair of West Chester University’s Marketing Department.

As director of the department’s paid intern program since 1994, he’s placed nearly 1,500 mostly undergraduate marketing majors from the College of Business and Public Affairs with well over 200 intern employers.

12 West Chester University

For more than 20 years, one of Gault’s main research streams has been the effects of undergraduate internships on early career success. His empirical research quantifies what other researchers anecdotally conjectured based on surveys of how students thought an internship might benefit them.

Gault’s investigations have discovered: 1. Interns enjoy higher starting salaries and job satisfaction than non-interns.

2. Interns find jobs in less time and receive more job offers than non-interns.

3. Higher performing interns earn higher starting salaries than interns who only met their employers’ expectations.

4. Employers’ perceptions of the internship program and the university are affected by the performance level of their interns.

“These employer survey results corroborated my earlier published empirical research of intern vs. non-intern alumni,” he notes, referring to his 2000 study, published in the Journal of Marketing Education, that offered the first hard evidence that an internship contributed positively to early career success.

In this seminal article, cited in more than 200 subsequent publications, he surveyed alumni business majors who had completed internships and those who had not.

He found those interns’ starting salaries were 9.3 percent higher than their nonintern counterparts; the time for interns to obtain their first job was two months versus 4.5 for non-interns; and at two years in the

workforce, interns were earning on average 17 percent more than their non-intern counterparts mostly due to earlier promotions.

Interns also reported significantly higher levels of job satisfaction than non-interns. In his study, Gault also discovered that women graduates with internship experience earned pay equal to that of their male counterparts.

In his most recent research, Gault and his WCU colleagues Evan Leach, an associate professor of management and Marc Duey, an adjunct marketing professor and member of the advisory board of the University’s Pharmaceutical Product Development program, surveyed more than 600 managers of U.S.based corporations to determine how they perceived the value of internship experience, including the relevance of the internship to a full-time entry-level job description.

Their main preliminary finding adds to their main findings, indicating that highperforming interns whose experience was relevant to the entry-level position of interest, earn significantly higher starting salaries than all interns and non-interns.

Gault also notes that his most recent study corroborated that “high intern performance results in an enhanced perception of the value of the internship program to employers.” “But,” he adds, “the research also shows that intern programs must be validated by clear academic objectives, well organized with integrated educational content and standardized evaluation methods.”

The study further revealed that managers reported internships of about four-to-six months in length as optimal for students to gain sufficient professional experience.

“These students get hands-on, direct industry experience,” Gault concludes. “Smart hiring managers know that asking for a prospective employee’s internship evaluation will provide a better indicator of their future performance than any letter of recommendation.”

Further evaluation of the data is giving Gault and his co-investigators insight into what other types of collegiate activities matter to prospective employers of entry-level applicants. The team looked at how employers rated participation in 34 collegiate activities including student government, athletics, social groups, service, and of course, internships. Early evaluation of the data shows that recruiters rated “relevant internship experience” at the top of the list when making decisions to hire and pay increased compensation. Gault and his colleagues will complete their analysis for this study over the winter.

Gault joined the West Chester faculty in 1991.

He is the marketing intern coordinator and a faculty advisor for WCU’s Pharmaceutical Product Development program. He earned his bachelor of science at the U.S. Naval Academy, his M.B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania, and his Ph.D. at Drexel University.

Economics

CHINESE ENTREPRENEURS

Researching what motivates and challenges them Most of the world’s economies today credit small businesses with creating the majority of their country’s jobs. What motivates entrepreneurship, however, can differ from one part of

the world to the next – even between specific areas within a country.

Prior studies on the motivations of entrepreneurs have revealed, for example, that Americans’ need for independence was the key factor for starting one’s own business. Their counterparts in Australia and Great Britain cited money as the primary reason, which Scandinavians considered the least significant factor.

Over the past two decades, Orhan Kara’s research interests have included various aspects of international economies, most recently, Chinese entrepreneurs. In a paper published in the Journal of Chinese Entrepreneurship, Professor Kara, his WCU colleagues Hung M. Chu and Xiaowei Zhu, and Kubilay Gok from the University of Lethbridge in Canada, examined the specific motivations, success factors, problems and business-related stress of small business owners in China.

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cov er story At the time of Kara and his colleagues’ research on Chinese entrepreneurs, prior studies predicted that the number of small and medium-sized enterprises in China’s fast-growing economy would total 50 million by 2012, compared to 12 million that existed at the end of the 1990s. They noted that following China’s policy of economic reforms in 1978, the development of private sector industries had become critical for maintaining China’s economic growth and meeting the job demand of an ever-increasing labor market.

The research team surveyed 196 randomly selected entrepreneurs in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to determine their motivations, success factors, problems and business-related stress by gender. The subjects’ average age was 32 years; sixty-eight percent were male; and fifty-six percent were married. Besides wanting to become their own boss, the Chinese entrepreneurs, similar to earlier findings, were motivated by a desire to increase their income and prove they could succeed. They believed that having an honest reputation, good management skills, and providing good customer service were critical to their success.

While their respondents expressed intense competition and a lack of management training as challenges to their success, the

most critical problem the entrepreneurs claimed to encounter was unreliable and undependable employees.

Their findings, while confirming some past studies, also provided practical implications for Chinese policy makers. “Policy makers can strengthen China’s small business entrepreneurs by supporting management training, including human resources management,” concludes Kara.

In addition to his interest in entrepreneurship, Kara has also studied the economics of education, and the contents, trade flow, exports, imports and the effects of exchange rates on China, Korea and his native Turkey.

Kara’s research can be found in numerous scholarly journals, including the Journal of International Finance and Economics, the Journal of International Finance Studies, the International Journal of Business Research, the Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, and Education Economics, among others. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received two Ph.D. degrees and a master’s degree, Kara joined WCU’s Department of Economics and Finance in 2003.

criminal justice STREET GANGS Debunking the myths

From the 1961 musical West Side Story to John Singleton’s 1991 film Boyz in the Hood, street gangs have

long been the subject of stage and screen productions. Gang expert Chris Przemieniecki, however, will argue that most portrayals of the gang lifestyle are far from reality.

Since his first encounter with members of a street gang in Davenport, Iowa almost two decades ago, he has studied street gangs up-close and will argue that much of how gangs are represented in the media is either exaggerated or simply not true.

An assistant professor in WCU’s Department of Criminal Justice, Przemieniecki is currently working on a book about the state of gangs in America. In it, he writes about gangs in prisons; how the U.S. combats gangs through legislation and law enforcement efforts; and how gangs utilize social media and the internet.

“Most young people don’t join gangs because there’s a sense of ‘coolness’ in being part of a gang,” says Przemieniecki. However, he explains that this ‘coolness’ is the motivation that is often perpetuated in the media. “Do kids find gang life appealing because of what the media portrays? Absolutely, but most kids who get involved with street gangs do so because they are hanging out with the wrong crowd, dealing drugs, come from a broken home or live in a dangerous neighborhood,” says Przemieniecki.

“For many youth, it is about surviving the streets.”

14 West Chester University

According to Przemieniecki, the media’s portrayal of gangs is most influential on kids from rural or suburban neighborhoods – areas generally not exposed to the challenges of inner-city life where most street gangs thrive.

“The presentation of the gang world in the mass media is very different from the reality of gang life,” he says.

The media’s portrayal of gangs, however, has influenced pop culture from the youth’s style of dress to music, video games, toys, literature and movies.

“What was once considered inappropriate taste is now a part of youth culture,” says Przemieniecki. “These kids embrace it and parents are often unaware of this cultural phenomenon. Sometimes kids dress like a gang member, and they are the furthest thing from being a gang member.”

Another myth advanced by the media, according to Przemieniecki, is that gang members take care of each other. “Generally, gang members are out for themselves, and not the group,” he says. Przemieniecki claims that while there are rules set in place to join a gang and loyalty is an important characteristic for gang members, they do not necessarily follow these rules.

“Even the Latin Kings’ manifesto with strict codes, rules, and expectations for their members to follow, is not actually followed by all its members, particularly today’s Latin Kings.”

In his conversations with older gang members, Przemieniecki has found that many are frustrated over the lack of respect they receive from younger gang members. “Social structure within gangs used to be more important,” he says. “However, today’s gangs are very disconnected, and there’s constant turnover within the membership and leadership.”

As part of his research into the media’s influence on perceptions of gangs, Przemieniecki is analyzing the impact of three books with anti-gang messages: The Cool Cavin series by Ralph Burgess, which includes No Bandanas for Me/Staying Gang Free, the only illustrative anti-gang book of its kind in the world for children in primary grades; a book by Barbara Joosse that tells the story of a young boy who views gang activity through his window and chooses to remain out of the gang lifestyle; and a controversial series by the cofounder of the LA Crips, Stanley ‘Tookie’ Williams, entitled Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence, that includs eight books exploring the dangers of joining a gang.

“All these anti-gang children’s books show the destructive lifestyle of being in a gang, families breaking up, prison and even

death,” he explains, “None of these books portrays the individual succumbing to the gang life, but do these kids really get the message?”

Przemieniecki’s analysis of anti-gang literature is the first study of its kind to examine the effectiveness of children’s books in discouraging youngsters from assuming the gang lifestyle. “We know films, video games, music, social media and the internet have an influence on kids’ perceptions of street gang life,” says Przemieniecki. “Perhaps, a children’s book with an anti-gang message can make a difference.”

Przemieniecki earned his undergraduate degree in sociology and criminal justice from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, his master’s in criminal justice sciences from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, and his Ph.D. at the University of North Dakota.

His research is published in a number of scholarly journals, including The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences TODAY Journal, the Journal of Gang Research and the Journal of Creative Social Discourse. He joined West Chester’s department of criminal justice in fall 2013.

UNCOVERING HISTORIC ECOSYSTEMS

In the California coast redwoods and Philadelphia neighborhoods Joy Fritschle grew up in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, but, for the

bulk of her career, the West Chester University geographer has worked among the tallest trees in the world. Since her undergraduate studies at Humbolt State University, Fritschle has researched the coast redwood forest. “The coast redwoods forests are endlessly interesting,” she says. “I always have a research project going on that involves them. It’s one of the most beautiful places on the planet.”

Utilizing 19th century land surveys, Fritschle is interested in identifying what the forest communities were like before logging occurred there.

“Surveyors systematically walked the land, noting the resources that were there, including the types and sizes of trees, streams they crossed, cultural features, and when they entered a different ecosystem,” explains Fritschle.

“These surveys portray what the forests really looked like before EuroAmerican western settlements.”

Today, Fritschle notes, all of the old-growth coast redwood forests that have been possible to preserve – less than 5% if their original extent - remain mostly in parks and preserves. “The next generation of coast redwood forest preservation will require restoration of logged-over forests,” she says.

From the thousands of data records she has collected in her geodatabase, she is attempting to establish what kinds of species could be reestablished and thrive in restored coast redwood forests.

geography Fritschle is conducting similar historical research in Philadelphia. Working with an historian in the city’s water department and a biologist at the Academy of Natural Sciences, she and her colleagues are reconstructing wetlands that existed in the city from the mid-19th to the early 20th century, when the most extensive filling of those wetlands occurred.

Part of Philadelphia’s goal to become one of the greenest cities in the U.S., involves wetland restoration. In lieu of spending millions to replace its aging sewer and storm water infrastructure, the city is attempting to reduce its storm water runoff, in part, by reconstructing wetlands. “This means identifying the historical geography of wetlands in the city, their location and quality,” says Fritschle.

To do so, she is collecting ecological information using historic maps and herbariums specimens, located in the Academy of Natural Sciences. “Our big finding, thus far, has been that the historic wetlands were located extensively throughout the city,” says Fritschle.

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cover story “Our GIS (geographic information systems) analysis shows that there once were extensive tributaries throughout Philadelphia, buried or now incorporated into the sewers or storm water infrastructure.”

Beginning with her undergraduate studies at Humboldt State University in northern California, Fritschle has continued to study various aspects of sustainable development, particularly in the coast redwoods. Following her graduation from Humboldt, she earned a master of science degree in geography at the University of Memphis and her Ph.D. degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2007. A member of WCU’s geography and planning faculty since 2007, Fritschle currently serves as the University’s sustainability coordinator. Her research appears in numerous scholarly journals, including a 2013 book she co-authored, entitled, Envisioning Sustainable Development in World Regions.

political science PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS

Comparing state and national voting trends West Chester University political scientist John J. Kennedy thought Pennsylvania was on the verge of making history in the fall – after all, he

wrote the book on Pennsylvania Elections.

“We are on the precipice of an historic event, with a real possibility that an incumbent governor will be defeated. It will be the first time in the state’s history that has occurred,” Kennedy noted a few weeks prior to election day.

While it wasn’t until 1970 that Pennsylvania governors had the chance to vie for a second term, even prior to that, control of the executive mansion has alternated between the two major parties every eight years since the early 1950s — at least until now.

For 20 years, Kennedy has been researching what drives the Pennsylvania electorate while comparing state and national voting trends. He’s researched such linkages as those among the state’s widely different regional economies, candidates’ use of media, and partisan alignment. This fall’s new edition of his book includes elections from 1950 through 2012, covering 32 election cycles, analyzing 106 individual statewide races, and compiling election data within each of the state’s 67 counties. It also includes 2010 census data.

In the preface to his book, Kennedy writes that he became interested in the Commonwealth’s politics not only because of the national importance of the state but because it “provided a significant relevancy

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historically while also possessing a tradition of colorful politicians that are unrivaled anywhere else.”

Why start the project beginning in 1950? “Because that’s when we became a two-party state,” he explains. Prior to 1950, Republicans controlled Pennsylvania politics as well as its major commercial interests, manufacturing, railroads and oil.

By the late 1940s, voters finally had had enough of the back-room deals and puppet officials that had come to characterize the state’s Republican Party machine since the Civil War, when the GOP initially took control. When the Democrats finally captured Philadelphia in the early 1950s, 20 years after “The New Deal,” they were now in a position to compete statewide.

In fact, “Philadelphia is today the most Democratic city in the U.S.,” says Kennedy. “A Republican hasn’t been elected mayor since 1947, and they haven’t won any election city-wide since 1985.”

In recent years, the most important political development has been the realignment in suburban Philadelphia: Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties have seen a dramatic increase in the number of registered Democrats. In fact, the Democrats now have a plurality in all but Chester County. Kenney believes that’s an important fact for two reasons: electorally, since the GOP depended upon the suburban vote to counterbalance Philadelphia’s Democratic margins; and mon-

etarily, since the Republicans’ financial strength has traditionally been in the Philly suburbs.

“However, the realignment occurring in the southeast isn’t the only change occurring in Pennsylvania,” says Kennedy. Though the numbers are insufficient to totally counterbalance what they’ve lost in the southeast, Republicans have made steady inroads in the more culturally conservative southwest, the bedrock of the Democratic party’s base since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In fact, of the nine counties in what Kennedy considers to be the southwest, President Obama only carried Allegheny (Pittsburgh), albeit the biggest and richest, voter-wise.

Another interesting observation, notes Kennedy, is that canvassing has once again become a popular method of attracting voters.

“It appeared to be an anachronism about 30 years ago with the proliferation of television advertising but began making a comeback in the last decade,” he says. “It has once again become the most effective way for both parties to get their voters to the polls.”

It’s now been over a quarter-century since the Republicans carried Pennsylvania at the presidential level, six straight contests in all.

“In order for them to turn the state red again, they must halt the hemorrhaging of votes in the Philadelphia suburbs,” says Kennedy. If these current trends continue, Kennedy predicts that Pennsylvania’s status as a bellwether state will become even more of a distant memory as its once purple tint will appear even more solidly blue.

An associate professor at West Chester, Kennedy also wrote The Contemporary Pennsylvania Legislature. He is on the executive board of the Pennsylvania Political Science Association and is a charter member of the Pennsylvania Policy Forum.

Economics SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIPS Linking location and financing to startup’s success Anyone who’s bought or sold property has heard the phrase “location, location, location.”

West Chester University economist Matt Saboe has found that not only is location important to entrepreneurs -- even those without a bricks-and-mortar presence – but that the likelihood of a startup finding financing depends on where they locate.

His latest recent research links location and financing to a startup’s success.

Most research so far has focused on the survival and growth of new businesses, and much of the research is anecdotal. But if you go back to basics, says Saboe, not one entrepreneur would be on their feet without financing. He has completed several studies on new firm emergence, financing and survival by examining data collected on approximately 300 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas from rural areas in Texas to New York City.

He used the Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS), a national panel study that tracked 4,928 businesses founded in 2004. The survey followed the startups over their first eight years of operation, focusing on the nature of new business formation activity; characteristics of the strategy, offerings, and employment patterns of new businesses; the nature of the financial and organizational arrangements of these businesses; and the characteristics of their founders.

Saboe explains that his research “accounts for heterogeneity in financing methods and repeated transactions; explores how local industry conditions affect new

firm financing; and considers how the determinants of financing differ for high-tech and low-tech firms.”

In various regions, there are distinct entrepreneurial ecosystems. Several wellknown regions include Silicon Valley’s high-tech hub; North Carolina’s Research Triangle region; and the Philadelphia/ New Jersey concentration of pharmaceutical companies. All the business services required by a startup in any of those industries, from employees to mentors to financing, can also be found in those regions. And each region develops an entrepreneurial culture that supports and encourages more startups.

“Once you identify the key industries, you can also identify who the banks are financing,” Saboe confirms. He says it’s not just the concentration of businesses in one industry in a particular region (like Silicon Valley) that may spell the success of a new startup, it’s the heterogeneous mix of financing options: business loans, angel investors, venture capital, etc.

“The region in which a firm operates significantly affects the funding chances of new firms,” Saboe says. “New firms are at a greater risk of external equity and debt infusions in regions that specialize in certain industries... .”

New firms that locate near successful similar startups are more likely to be funded in the same ways as their predecessors. Firms benefit from each other by locating near each other. The phenomenon is called agglomeration, says Saboe.

It’s confirmation of the adage “like breeds like.” He found that a concentration of entrepreneurs in any city would encourage more startups to take the risk. Also, former entrepreneurs become the next generation’s angel investors.

“While the chance of equity financing is greater in regions with an entrepreneurial culture and small supplier network, the probability of debt financing is greater in regions with concentrated clusters and lower university research expenditures,” he notes. “Interestingly, these effects are mirrored for low-tech startups, while high-tech startups are only affected by the industry’s wage and region’s specialization.”

Saboe also used KFS data to study how local industrial conditions affected high-tech and manufacturing startups to gauge the probability of shutdowns and “positive exits” such as mergers and acquisitions.

“The city doesn’t determine a startup’s failure,” he found. “Hard data prove that the characteristics of the individual and the firm determine whether or not it succeeds.”

Matt Saboe’s research interests are at the intersection of urban, industrial organization and innovation economics. He joined West Chester’s faculty in 2013.

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cl ass notes

A Message from The Alumni Association President

1940s

Stanley Weintraub ’49 recently published A Christmas Far from Home: An Epic Tale of Courage and Survival during the Korean War via Da Capo Press. It will be a Main Selection of the Military History Book Club and a choice of three other book clubs. He will be speaking about it at the Navy Memorial and at the National Archives in Washington, DC in early December.

1950s

Joan Murray Moore ’52 taught three years of Physical Education, was a school librarian for 22 years, and an elementary library resource person for eight years in the Cape Henlopen School District.

She also received the Teacher of the Year award.

Homecoming 2014 has come and gone, and memories from the big weekend will certainly last a lifetime! From the kickoff celebration, to the beloved parade, the football game, the numerous reunions, and everything in-between, a great time was had by all. Check out all of the pictures from the weekend by visiting wcualumni.org.

We’re looking for alumni to join committees, speak to students in classrooms and on panels, host interns, and much more.

Are you interested in getting involved as a volunteer for your alma mater? Find out about the numerous volunteer opportunities available by visiting: wcualumni.org/ volunteer, or, get in touch with the Alumni Office by emailing alumni@wcupa.edu or calling 610-436-2813.

Have you heard the news? The Alumni Office has moved into its beautiful new home at the brand new Alumni & Foundation Center! Next time you’re on campus or in the area, stop by 202 Carter Drive – we will give you a tour. The memories we share from the Veterans Memorial Alumni House will live on in all of our hearts.

The Alumni Relations Office, WCUAA Board of Directors, Chapters, and Committees are in the process of planning exciting events in town, across the region, and around the nation – stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, mark your calendar and save these dates in 2015 (which will be here before we know it): Alumni Weekend is May 15-17, Rams in the Sand is July 18, and Homecoming is October 23-25.

GO RAMS! Rick Loughery ’06, ’10 President West Chester University Alumni Association

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Rudolph Cusumano ’56 was inducted into the Norristown Area High School Hall of Fame in 2006 for Outstanding Achievements in Teaching American History. He was honored in 1991 by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey for his distinguished service to the Methacton School District.

Semiannually, members of the Class of 1957, 1958, and 1959 meet with their classmate, Dr. Don Leisey ’59, during his attendance at the West Chester University trustee meeting. This lunch gathering brings classmates, former teammates, and friends together to reminisce and catch up on the latest news. Front row (seated): Jack Beeson, Dick Yoder, Jon Ford, Ed Novak, Bob Warner, John Culp, Jim Reichert. Second row: Ed Green, Frank Tusak, Bob Coward, Bill Gerstemeier, Don Leisey, Joe Motta, Ken Leister. Third row: Jim Williams, Terry German, Bob Miller, John Rocco, Jim Varrato, Andy Kelly.

Other Classmates/Teammates in the group, who were unable to attend this luncheon: Dick Borkowski, Charles Chiccino, Dick Cosgrave, Charles Kane, Jack Kuchinsky, Bruce Shenk and Roy Skiles.

1960s

Roger Sanders ’64 was inducted into the Bloomsburg University Athletic Hall of Fame on October 18.

George H. Walls, Jr. ’64 has been named to Black Enterprise Magazine’s 2014 Registry of Corporate Directors. Those listed in the registry are directors selected from the 250 largest companies of the Standard & Poor’s 500. He serves on the boards of PNC Financial Services and The Lincoln Electric Company.

Tina Sloan Green ’66 was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philadelphia Sports Congress for her work with the Black Women in Sports Foundation and for her 30-year career as a lacrosse coach at Temple University.

Stephen Frederick ’68 was honored posthumously with a Lansdale Lifetime Achievement Award for his positive impact and influence on students in the North Penn School District.

Barry Houser ’68 was inducted into the West Chester University Athletic Hall of Fame on September 13.

Robert Boney ’69 moved his law office from Somers Point to Mays Landing, NJ. A Seton Hall Law School graduate, he has spent 39 years practicing criminal and family law, handling cases in NJ, DE, MD, FL, and CA over that time span.

1970s

Kim Holston ’70 published teen time-travel novel Attila’s Sorceress as an eBook. The paperback version will be available soon via New Libri Press, Mercer Island, WA. Alexander Murphy Jr. ’71, an entertainment lawyer, served as the course planner, moderator, and a presenter for a Pennsylvania Bar Institute continuing legal education program titled “Entertainment Law in the 21st Century” that took place on October 2nd at the CLE Conference Center of the Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia. The program faculty from the entertainment industry addressed and presented a real-world analysis of emerging issues and challenges in film, music, fair use, entertainment litigation, and entertainment ethics. Mr. Murphy partnered with Timothy D. Chambers, film producer, writer and director, and reviewed the legal and business issues involved in the making of the motion-picture, “The Mighty Macs”. Murphy currently is also an

adjunct professor at Widener University School of Law (DE) teaching entertainment law, where he is also an advisor for the Sports and Entertainment Law Association (SELA). Murphy now maintains his primary office in West Chester, PA after many years being based in New York City where he maintains an affiliate office.

Michael Dougherty ’72 was inducted into the West Chester University Athletic Hall of Fame on September 13.

Evelyn Swensson M ’72 will be awarded a 2014 Governor’s Award for the Arts by Delaware Governor Jack A. Markell. Swensson’s accomplishments include writing 12 musicals for OperaDelaware, receiving many awards, and being the first woman to conduct several Delaware music organizations. Commonwealth Books of Virginia released Swensson’s memoir in September, which was entitled Music Notes: My Life with Music.

The Pennsylvania Football Coaches Hall of Fame will induct Joe Walsh ’72, defensive line coach at WCU, into its Hall of Fame for his work at Henderson High School.

Bruce Kistler ’73 won first place in the Men 6 (ages 60-65) Trick event at the 2014 National Water Ski Championships in San Marcos, Texas on August 14, 2014. Kistler returned to competition in 2013 after a 28-year hiatus.

Formerly Executive Director of the American Water Ski Association, he retired this year after 26 years as an urban planner. He resides in Winter Haven, FL with wife Susan.

Jim Capolupo ’74 was named the 2014 Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents.

The 1975-78 West Chester University Women’s Field Hockey Teams were inducted into the WCU Athletic Hall of Fame on September 13.

David Sheaffer ’76 MA’90 retired from the Eastern Lebanon County School District after 35 years as a Classroom/Choral Music Educator at ELCO Middle School.

During his career, his choral groups were

selected to present concerts at the PMEA State Conferences in 1992, 1994, 2004, 2009, and 2012 as well as at the 2008 American Choral Directors Association’s Eastern Division Convention. He was selected as the 2006 ELCO Teacher of the Year and for a 2007 WGAL TV8/ Rotary Teacher Impact Award. Sheaffer was awarded a 2009 PMEA Citation of Excellence for his work in the music classroom. He is now a full time independent musician, playing bass and guitar. He also sings with the tenor section for the choir at Lancaster’s St. James Episcopal Church and the chamber choir in residence, MiContraFa. Tony Sparano ’76 was named the 2014 PAESSP National Distinguished Principal.

He has been an active principal for 22 years at Candlebrook Elementary School in Upper Merion Area School District. He was President of the class of 1976 at WCU and selected as the student commencement speaker. He was chairperson of the Food Service Committee and served on IGA and as treasurer of the Friar’s Society.

Foundation Board President Keith Beale ’77, who serves as CFO for CLC Ministries, recently returned from a mission trip to Sierra Leone, Africa where he helped renovate two bookstores as well as cleaned/organized an additional building.

Stanley Cieplinski M’78 was hired as the first coach of the newly established women’s soccer program at Penn State Schuylkill. He was formerly the coach of teams at Albright College and Longwood University.

Trent Crable ’78 has been named CEO for Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, OH. Dorothy Jaworski ’79 published Just Another Good Soldier- The Story of Pfc. Stephen W. Jaworski. This book is about her uncle who was killed in action in Europe in 1944.

Theresa Loscalzo, Esq. ’79 co-managing partner at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP and a Drexel Hill resident, was recently elected to the board of directors of The Forum of Executive Women, a membership organization of more than 400 influential women representing diverse businesses in the Greater Philadelphia region.

1980s

Neil Beahan ’81 was named the Delaware Association of School Administrators Principal of the Southern Delaware School of the Arts in the Indian River School District as Delaware’s Middle Level Principal of the Year for 2014. This national program annually recognizes school leaders who have succeeded in providing high quality learning opportunities for students. These principals are acknowledged by their peers for the exemplary contributions they have made to the profession. This program is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Antoinette Rath ’81 has been named Burlington County Superintendent of the Year by the Burlington County chapter of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.

Dr. Paula Sammarone Turocy ’82 was one of six individuals inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame on June 27.

Norman Brennan ’84 was recently named the California State Science Fair Teacher of the Year for 2014.

Eric Jensen ’84 has been hired by Cutwater Solutions of Wilmington, DE as sales account Executive.

Andrew Fasy ’87, who owns two realty firms at the Jersey shore, has announced that the firms will be joining Long & Foster Real Estate in the fall.

Lydia Martin ’87 has been named to a list of “15 Notable Art Professors in Boston” by the Art Career Project. Martin teaches at Suffolk University.

Susan Kern ’88 has been named the executive director of William & Mary’s Historic Campus, a position charged with the preservation and interpretation of the university’s most historic buildings and with research, writing, and teaching about the early history of the College.

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cl ass notes Gregory P. LaMonaca, Esq. ’88 was rated number one in both the “Family Law” and “Divorce” categories in the August 2014 “Top Lawyer” edition of the Main Line Today Magazine.

Edie Page ’89 has joined the Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate firm, in Lewes, DE.

1990s Patricia Harrington ’90 has been named

Executive Director of the Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels.

Jana Law ’90 earned three gold medals and gained Masters All-America honors in track and field while competing in the Can-Am Fire and Police Games in York, PA. Michael Pascarella M’90 has been named Associate to the Vicar for Clergy for Permanent Deacons for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Anthony Altomar ’91 started a franchise of cheesesteak restaurants named Wit or Witout.

Chris Reenock ’91 has joined Evesham Mortgage in Marlton, NJ. Victor Liberi ’92 has recently attained tenure at Adrian College as a professor within the 5 year Athletic Training Master Program. In addition, he is a consultant for Books of Discover, most known for the text Trail Guide to the Human Body. He lives in Adrian, MI with his wife Karen of 19 years and daughter McKenzie (12) and Pender (9).

Todd Richman ’92 received the prestigious Robert S. Boas Award for his philanthropic and community leadership from the UJA–Federation of New York. Todd is the Managing Director/Financial Advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities in Manhattan.

Stephen Spragale M’92 has been appointed as the new regional sales manager for the Northeast region at MMFX Steel Corporation of America.

Michael Kretiv ’93 has been named Vice President and Client Distribution Leader at SL Group’s Dallas, TX office.

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Robin Minehart ’93 was inducted into the West Chester University Athletic Hall of Fame on September 13.

Robert Sentz ’93 was promoted to director of the Lebanon County Planning Department.

Maria T. Hoover ’94 has been hired as principal of Mountville Elementary School in Mountville, PA.

2000s

WCU Foundation trustee Kate Kalogris Cipriano ’00 (center) Kates’ mother and a former Foundation trustee, Lis Kalogris; and Rachel Dratch, star of the off-Broadway comedy Tail!Spin!, which was co-produced by Cipriano.

Sean Kennedy ’95 has been nominated for the Grammy Music Education Award by the Grammy Foundation for making a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education. He is one of 222 educators chosen from 7,000 nominees.

Robert Devers ’00 was named the new athletic director for Upper Merion Area High School.

Anne McHenry ’95 has joined Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach of Media as a Sales Associate.

Kenneth Paulino ’00 has been named Senior Director of Finance and Business Operations at Vaxserve/Sanofi Pasteur.

Frederick Hubler Jr. ’96, President of Creative Capital Wealth Management Group, has earned his Certified Wealth Strategist designation. He is one of only twenty-six advisors in Pennsylvania to hold this distinction.

Jeff Heaney ’97 has been named Principal of Woodland School, a K-2 school in Morristown, NJ. Amrik “Rick” Singh ’97 has opened Mumbai Bistro Indian restaurant in West Chester, the second of two locations.

Eric Worley ’98 established the Triple Threat Foundation with three others in 2007. The Foundation is committed to serving youth in and around the Philadelphia area in three distinct arenas: education, athletics, and life. When they first started the foundation they were only serving two girls’ teams which had about 20 students. Today they have over 500 students participating in programming throughout the northwest section of Philadelphia.

Shawn Dutkiewicz ’00 has been named principal of Chadds Ford Elementary.

Jessica Barth ’01 is starring in the Ted movie sequel, Ted 2, alongside celebrities Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis.

Kelly Walton Reider ’01 was inducted into the West Chester University Athletic Hall of Fame on September 13.

Paula Junker Simmons ’01 was named principal of Galloway Township Middle School in Galloway New Jersey. She has served her entire career there as an assistant principal and special education teacher.

Charles Berhardt ’02 is serving as Interim Chief Financial Officer for the Board of Directors of Echo Therapeutics, a medical device company.

Richard Essig ’02 has joined Nolan Financial as VP of Business Development and Corporate Strategy.

Aubria Nance Phillips ’02 M’07 was elected head of the Counseling Department at The Community College of Philadelphia.

Shawn Roney ’98 was awarded the 2014 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year for the entire state of Florida.

Christine Seeley ’02 has been named acting principal of Indian Lane Elementary School in the Rose Tree School District.

Rita Carey-Nita ’99 is now an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Misericordia University.

Joseph Weichert ’02 has been named Professor of Political Science at Albright College beginning this fall.

Christopher Fiore ’03 joined Classic Properties in Clarks Summit, PA as a fulltime real estate agent.

Robert Hahn ’06 was named Teacher of the Year in the Indian River School District in Selbyville, DE.

Kiera Manlove Wooden ’03 was inducted into the West Chester University Athletic Hall of Fame on September 13.

John M. Leary ’07 has been named Supervisor at Gunnip & Co CPA’s in Wilmington, DE.

Dori Lawson ’04 received the Delaware County Community College’s 2014 Alumni Professional Achievement Award. The award recognizes graduates who are accomplished in their profession, having demonstrated a significant level of distinction within their chosen field. Lawson also served as the keynote speaker at the College’s commencement ceremony in May.

Chris Podsobinski ’07 has been named head coach of the Lansdale Catholic men’s basketball team.

Jonna Pento ’04 was hired by SPRI Products as Eastern Regional Sales Manager.

Andras Schonek ’04 was inducted into the West Chester University Athletic Hall of Fame on September 13.

Scott Bucey ’05 has been named top assistant for the Shenandoah (VA) University’s men’s soccer program.

Christopher Buzby M’05 will join the music faculty at Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin, MD. Emmy Izykowski ’05 has joined DMW Direct, a direct response advertising agency, as Senior Account Executive.

Ryan Tobin ’05 has been hired by the Hopewell Valley Regional School District as a special education teacher at Central High School.

Seth Birch ’06 recently returned to campus as Digital Content Specialist for the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). Seth supports the School of Music, Department of Art + Design, and Department of Theatre and Dance by overseeing the development and management of their social media presence and new websites (launching January 2015). Follow the College of Visual and Performing Arts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by searching “WCU CVPA.”

Justin Flamini ’08 has accepted a position teaching social sciences at Rolling Hills Prep/Renaissance in Los Angeles.

Stephen Galletta ’08 has joined the Tredyffrin Township Police Department as a patrol officer.

Lauren Good ’08 is currently a licensed clinical social worker at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.

Amy Martin M’09 has been selected as the new principal for East High Elementary School in the Elizabethtown Area School District.

Katie Naber ’09, who works primarily in 3-dimensional art mediums, including clay and plaster, showed some of her work at Galer Estate in Kennett Square on August 28.

Brenden Lee ’10 was promoted to Manager of Football Information for the National Football League.

Track for the 2nd annual West Chester University Business Idea Pitch. His company is a social enterprise that is developing renewable energy systems for subsistence farmers in developing countries like Liberia and Togo. The system will provide irrigation for crops, a freezer for food conservation, a solar cooker to eliminate carbon emissions, and free electricity for devices like phones and computers. The company hosted a crowd funding campaign in July 2014 on Indiegogo.com to raise funds for their humanitarian projects.

Stephanie Scogna ’13 performed with the Kennett Symphony of Chester County in August at Longwood Gardens and was the winner of the 2013 Kennett Symphony Vocal Competition.

Zac Shull ’14 currently works with multiple companies in various industries including: the music industry, social media, and the food industry via “A Better Cake.”

A Better Cake is a dairy free and egg free snack cake that promotes a healthy life style on the go. His business is located in Bucks County, PA and caters to college students. Visit the website for more information www.abettercake.com and like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ abettercakebebetter. Their slogan is “Be Better” because that is what we all should strive for.

Lawrence Davidson ’11 M’14 has been named Chester County Director of Veterans Affairs.

Brittany McCarthy ’11 was honored by the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare for her exceptional successes in the respiratory care community. She is a part of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at CHOP. Katy Pringle ’11 has opened a yoga studio in Philadelphia called Center City Yoga.

Stephen Ryan ’12 was appointed as a police officer for Radnor Township.

Alfred Hyamo Bedell Jr. ’13, owner and CEO of Thermigate LLC, won first place in the WCU Graduate and Alumni

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al umni chapter news

ABBÉ SOCIETY ALUMNAE CHAPTER

Save the date! The annual Abbé Society Alumnae tea will be held Sunday, March 22. Time and location will be announced soon. For more information on this event and other service projects approaching, please email abbealumni@gmail.com.

ALUMNI DANCE CHAPTER

The Alumni Dance Chapter is in the process of working on its 7th Winter Dance Festival, “Raising the Barre.” The chapter is presently accepting audition pieces from alumni choreographers and outside groups in the surrounding community. It is also in the process of choosing a Flashback Dance that represents a favorite dance from the past performed

by Dance Production Workshop, the University Dance Company or the University Dance Team. Alumni rehearsals begin on Nov 19. This year’s festival will once again be held in Asplundh Concert Hall on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling the Sykes Ticket Office: 610-436-2266. In addition to ticket sales, the chapter is also seeking sponsors for its program. Please contact our Vice President for Advancement, Lisa Replogle (LisaMReplogle@gmail.com), if you are interested in being a program sponsor.

Proceeds from the tickets and sponsor ads will be used to benefit the Barbara J. Lappano Dance Scholarship Endowment Fund. If you were a member of any of the previously mentioned dance groups and are interested in becoming a member of this chapter, contact our Associate Treasurer, Sara Pyfer Rupert (sarapyfer.adc@ gmail.com).

BALTIMORE-METRO ALUMNI CHAPTER Interested in getting involved with this chapter? Email the WCU Alumni Office: alumni@wcupa.edu.

BAND ALUMNI CHAPTER Inter-

ested in getting involved with this chapter?

Email the WCU Alumni Office: alumni@ wcupa.edu.

BLACK ALUMNI CHAPTER

In 1965, the Black Alumni Chapter (BAC) was established to keep black alumni con-

22 West Chester University

nected with West Chester University. The chapter continues to do so by extending reconnection opportunities to current black students and alum through networking events. Aubria Nance Phillips ’02 M’07, former BAC President, was elected head of the Counseling Department at The Community College of Philadelphia.

Mark Barnes, Ph.D., former BAC President, assumed the role of interim President of BAC. Learn more about the WCU BAC via Facebook: WCU BAC.

GRADUATE STUDENT ALUMNI CHAPTER

BOSTON ALUMNI CHAPTER

On July 27, the Greater Seattle Area Chapter met at Madrona Park in Seattle to enjoy some picnic food and sunshine.

Upcoming events will be announced soon.

Seattle area residents interested in joining the chapter are encouraged to email Brett Cooper: BrettAustinCooper@gmail.com

Hello everyone! We had our first chapter event at Jillians Lucky Strike in Boston in September. It was a great success with 12 alumni in attendance. We are very excited for our future events as we grow this chapter! If you are in the Boston area, please contact us.

CHESTER COUNTY CHAPTER

Interested in getting involved with this chapter? Email the WCU Alumni Office: alumni@wcupa.edu.

COMMUNICATION ALUMNI NETWORK

For the latest happenings and how YOU can get involved, send us an email (WCUcomalumnet@gmail.com), find us on LinkedIn (WCU Communication Alumni Network), and friend us on Facebook!

DELAWARE COUNTY CHAPTER

The Delaware County Chapter had a fun event at Linvilla Orchards and plans to coordinate a wine tasting in the spring.

Our tradition of collecting food before the holidays was at Barnaby’s. If you would like to be added to the chapter contact list for more updates, please send an email to nbaulis@verizon.net or call Nancy Baulis at 610-543-2117.

FLORIDA GULF COAST RAMS AND SNOWBIRDS CLUB Interested in getting involved with this club? Email the WCU Alumni Office: alumni@wcupa.edu.

FRIARS SOCIETY ALUMNI CHAPTER

Interested in getting involved with this chapter? Email the WCU Alumni Office: alumni@wcupa.edu.

The Graduate Student Alumni Chapter was established this year to help graduate alumni connect through social and professional networking events. If you are an alumnus of a WCU graduate program and would like to get involved, please email: gsac.wcu@gmail.com. Follow the chapter on Twitter: @GSAC_WCU.

Greater Seattle Area Chapter

HONORS COLLEGE ALUMNI CHAPTER

The Honors Alumni Chapter was officially established in May of 2014 and is committed to engaging alumni of the Honors College by inviting them back to the University to participate in social and service events on campus. It is our hope that Honors Alumni may network with each other as well as provide valuable insights to the current students.

INTERNATIONAL MILITARY ALUMNI CHAPTER (IMAC)

The success of the IMAC scholarship program was evident at the Military Appreciation Breakfast on Nov. 1st where 6 ROTC and 2 veteran scholarships were presented by their sponsors. Recipients and sponsors praised the program. The program is ongoing and scholarships are available to honor veterans. Contact a Chapter member for details on sponsorship.

LAW ALUMNI CHAPTER

Are you an alumnus employed in a legalrelated field? Get involved with the Chapter by emailing wcu.law.alumni@gmail.com.

LGBTQA ALUMNI CHAPTER

The LGBTQA Alumni Chapter is starting to plan for the 40th Anniversary of the LGBTQA in 2015. It’s never too early to begin planning a blowout party to celebrate one of the oldest universityrecognized LGBTQA Student Groups in

Pennsylvania. Rumor has it that only one other university in Pennsylvania had a recognized group before WCU, so this is an amazing milestone for all of us! Email contact@wculgbtqaalumni.com if you are interesting in assisting with this event.

We have launched a campaign to raise $40,000 by the 40th Anniversary for our LGBTQA Administrative Fund. Please contact Sarah Botes at the WCU Foundation or Spencer Pyle to request more information about how to pledge or give.

We will be contacting all our alums and allies regarding this fundraising goal soon, so keep an eye on your mailbox. As always, stay connected by joining our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/wculgbtqaalumni/.

POLITICAL & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ALUMNI CHAPTER The Political & Government Affairs chapter hosted a reception and awards ceremony during Homecoming on October 18th to honor three extraordinary

alumni with awards: Alumnus of the Year - Thomas Chiomento ’93, Honorable Elected Alumnus - Sen. Tommy Tomlinson ’70, and Emerging Alumnus Leader - Rick Loughery ’06 M’10.

Washington, D.C. Chapter

In September, the Washington, D.C. Chapter hosted alumni at the Nationals/ Phillies baseball game. During Homecoming weekend, we hosted an event at Port City Brewery in Alexandria, Virginia.

WCU alumni and friends enjoyed a tasting and “grain to glass” private tour of the brewery, and teddy bears were collected for WCU’s annual Bear Fair. To help us plan future events in the D.C. metro area, please take our survey (https://www. surveymonkey.com/s/Z2J36G2) to let us know the types of events you’d be interested in attending. Thanks in advance for your participation! Follow us on twitter (@WCUAA_DC), find us on Facebook (West Chester University Alumni Association, Washington, D.C. Chapter), or

subscribe to our Yahoo listserv (WCUCAPAREA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com).

YORK COUNTY CHAPTER

The York County Alumni Chapter has welcomed a variety of new participants thanks to its first networking happy hour at the Mudhook Brewing Company in York. Open to graduates and friends of all ages, our happy hours are a great opportunity to meet and network with local, WCU alumni professionals. To learn more about the longest-running WCU Alumni Association, participate in community outreach, or attend future happy hours and events - contact the WCU Alumni Association or join the York County WCU Alumni Association group on LinkedIn.

Annual Holiday Program, December 6 WCU's annual Holiday Concert is a delightful tradition featuring festive music of the season by the School of Music's Concert Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Criterions, Percussion Ensemble, Brass Quintet, Flute Ensemble, and more. Music will include selections by Bach, Rutter, Lauridsen, and Tchaikovsky.

Ticketing information: 610-436-2266

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Q & A with Bryna Makowka ’04 What is a typical day like at GENLUX?

She reached for the stars, and now she walks among them. Voted “most likely to move

to Hollywood” in high school, Bryna Makowka ’04 pursued her passion, followed her dreams, and moved across the country to live and work in sunny California. She is currently employed as the associate publisher at GENLUX, a fashion and philanthropy-focused magazine. The Alumni Office recently caught up with her to find out more about what she’s doing and how she got there.

What are your responsibilities at Genlux?

GENLUX is known as the “Vogue of the West Coast.” As the associate publisher of GENLUX Magazine, I work alongside the editorial team to create marketing partnerships with luxury fashion and beauty brands and help promote various charities. I initiate, promote, and maintain the presence of the advertisers’ visibility throughout GENLUX’s unique multiple marketing platform – like our events, editorial placements, and digital solutions.

What made you get into the magazine business?

I went with my gut and put in a lot of hard work! Having a political science background, as well as a child, I have always been passionate about giving back and creating awareness. I sought out to work for this magazine because of their charity platform, and after seeing that they did not have an associate publisher, I requested and received an interview and was hired on the spot.

24 West Chester University

My typical day at work is never typical! I think that’s why I love it so much. When you have a gorgeous product that people want to be a part of, it makes what I do fun and a lot easier. Two weeks ago, I had lunch meetings every day at the Luxe Rodeo Hotel. A week ago, I was preparing for our Katie Cassidy cover party. This week, I’m creating proposals and working on getting in front of the national advertisers that are setting their 2015 budgets.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy being outdoors at the beach, spending time with my son Julean, chatting with my mom and friends back East, traveling when I can, hiking the canyons, making dinner, meeting new people, and laughing a lot.

What’s your favorite memory from your time as a student at West Chester?

Definitely the time spent with my Phi Mu sorority sisters!

How has WCU contributed to your success?

WCU gave me the tools to believe in myself. College is a necessary part of your development into adulthood, and I’m thankful that I stayed local and attended a university that has such a great reputation. I was able to follow my dreams and move to California, where I always wanted to be. I’m so thankful for my experience at West Chester.

What advice would you give to a current WCU student?

Listen to your gut - everything is a sign or a piece to the puzzle in life, so pay attention! Don’t get hung up if something in life doesn’t fit into what you planned or hoped for, because there is a reason why it’s happening and it’s usually to teach you a lesson or help you grow. There really isn’t anything in life that you can’t do as long as you put in the time and hard work for whatever it is that you want. No one will do it for you. You are blessed to receive a fantastic education from WCU, which will help guide you for the rest of your life. Always be grateful and humble – that will get you far in any town.

I n M emoriam 1940 1942 1943 1944 1950 1950 1950 1958 1958 1959 1964 1967 1970 1970 1978 2002

Charlotte Michener Beam Alice Zeldin Marcus Dorothy Green Lukens Elaine Luckenbaugh Kaufman C. Donald Henry Gloria Moore Harrison Robert Kerper Jr. Carson Carr Abby Knauer Harris Nancy Howard Kiefel Bobby Fong Richard Mullin David Burke Anthony McCool, Jr. William Boandl Terra Janine Foust-Smith

Retired Faculty/Staff John Redington Thomas Reed

Death Notification Procedure To notify West Chester University of the death of an alumnus or alumna, please contact the Alumni Relations Office via email: alumni@wcupa.edu or via US Mail: 806 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA 19383. The notification must include a copy of the decedent’s obituary from a newspaper or the internet, or, a copy of a letter or email from a family member of the deceased. Please note: death notifications will not be accepted via telephone.

M arriages

Nicole Kennedy ’10 to Bryan Raudonis ’10

Criston Carroll ‘04 to Trenton Farmer ‘04

Chrissy McHugh ‘10 to Dan Pardo ‘10

E ngagements

F uture A lumni

Joe Santanello ‘09 to Kaylee Black ‘12

Sara ‘09 and John Hannum ‘07 welcomed Emily in June

Kelly Ostan ’96 to Dan Fox Jacqui Petock-Kelly ’08 to Michael Kelly ’07 Jennifer Hoke ’12 to Derick Allen

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homecoming 2014

Hundreds of WCU alumni, students, friends, and family members celebrated a fun-filled Homecoming Weekend from October 17-19. A great time was had by all at the kickoff party and ribbon cutting ceremony at the brand new Alumni & Foundation Center, the parade, the R-Lot Tailgate Party, the numerous reunions held on and off campus, and at every other event inbetween! Here are a few of the photos from the special weekend. Check out all of our pictures on our photo gallery by visiting wcualumni.org

26 West Chester University

Review

Save the Date: Homecoming 2015 will be held October 23-25!

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Q & A with Kate Cipriano’00 and Melissa Hays’01, co-producers of the Off-Broadway comedy Tail!Spin!

I first learned of Flying Bulldogs Productions in 2012 when I interviewed Kate Cipriano’00 as part

of a University magazine article on young alumni entrepreneurs. Working with a composer, lyricist and photographer, she had helped to create a multi-art production, “In My Body Project: Uncovering the truths about how we really feel about our bodies.”

That initial project consisted of a four-month photography exhibit of female nudes, a musical and dance performance, and a roundtable discussion at the Wexler Gallery in Old City Philadelphia.

This fall, Kate, her mother, Lis Kalogris, and Kate’s college roommate and long-time friend, Melissa Hays’01, co-produced an Off-Broadway comedy, Tail!Spin!, which opened in September at the Lynn Redgrave Theater to hit reviews.

In the following Q&A, Kate and Melissa describe the genesis of Flying Bulldogs Productions, Tail!Spin!’s immediate success, and their future plans.

How did Flying Bulldogs Productions come to be, and where did you come up with the name?

Kate: Flying Bulldogs Productions was started in 2011. My mom, Lis Kalogris, and I are partners in the company, and Melissa Hays is the creative director. There are only the three of us. We work together to conceive, create, develop, produce, promote and market multi-arts projects that focus on universal issues in the 21st century. Our projects are designed for education, exhibitions, events, and media based and live performance.

The company also makes small loans to creative people in support of their projects.

The three of us love dogs, and having French bulldogs and Boston terriers, we felt they exhibited many traits that a good company should possess: compactness, high energy, and persistence. Both breeds fly through the air with determination when they are running…hence the reference to flying.

One of our next projects, “In My Body,” focuses on the concept of body image in today’s society, which has always been of particular interest to me. In this musical, the characters come together to share their personal body stories through song and spoken word. By sharing their inner selves, the characters move closer to finding home in their own bodies and to understanding the body experience of others.

How did you become involved in the development of Flying Bulldogs Productions?

Melissa: I have been working with Lis for the past 12 years on various projects as an independent contractor. When Kate and Lis approached me and asked if I wanted to serve as the creative director of FBP, I was thrilled and honored, and, of course, jumped on board. I have had an interest in production since I was a student at WCU. My major was Communication Studies, and when I graduated I started working in film and TV production. This is my first foray into theatre production, and I am loving it!

Who wrote the play, and how did you both become involved in its production?

Kate: Mario Correa, the host of Sirius XM’s Entertainment Weekly Radio Show and contributor to NPR and WNYC, wrote Tail!Spin! The director is Tony nominee Dan Knechtges, who directed and choreographed the Broadway play Lysistrata Jones, and was choreographer for 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 28 West Chester University

One of the other lead producers introduced us to the show and Mario. We read his script, fell in love with it, and knew in our hearts that it was a gem. Not only is the topic important, but it is written in a creative, witty and engaging way. Being an American Studies major and political science minor at WCU, I have always been intrigued by the state of our government and the political landscape. The way Mario was able to weave together the serious nature of some of the topics into an entertaining comedy is amazing.

What’s the next step for the play?

Melissa: We hope that the play has an extended run for as long as audiences are interested in seeing and buying tickets to the show. If our politicians keep getting into hot water then we will have plenty of material for Mario to write a Tail!Spin! 2 and keep the play current for years to come.

What’s the next step for Flying Bulldogs?

Kate: We plan to keep producing projects and shows that relate to the mission of the company. Moving “In My Body” into a production phase is definitely a huge goal of ours. We hope that the projects we choose will always have meaning and be well received by others. We hope this momentum continues.

At the time of this printing, Kate and Melissa learned that Tail!Spin!’s run has been extended into February. For more details about the play, its story line and cast, go to http://www.tailspinshow.com/

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West Chester University West Chester, PA 19383-7401 The West Chester University Magazine is published three times a year for the alumni, friends and family of West Chester University of Pennsylvania by the Office of Public Relations, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383-7401.

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