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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S President’s Message........................... 05 Feature Stories................................. 07 Evolving to Excellence................................. 09 Acclaimed Speakers, Diverse Perspectives............ 13 Turning Information into Insight..................... 17 Exceptional Students, Exceptional Opportunities. 21 Wilkes Capital Campaign............................ 25
Research, Scholarship, ...................... 29 & Entrepreneurship Campus Enhancements..................... 35 News at Wilkes................................. 41 Fundraising...................................... 47 Community Impact.......................... 53 By the Numbers............................... 57 University Leadership....................... 60
DEAR FRIENDS: Each year, the President’s Report provides me with an opportunity to reflect on the highlights and accomplishments of the past 12 months at Wilkes University. In this issue, my final as President of Wilkes, I am proud to share with you a snapshot of the 2018-2019 academic year. As you will see, we have made significant investments in academics, research, and the campus, all in an effort to achieve a goal outlined in the University’s strategic plan – to become one of the finest small universities in the nation. When we developed this vision for Wilkes in 2012, we were intentional about placing equal emphasis on small and university, rather than viewing the descriptors as mutually exclusive. You see, at Wilkes, we offer a unique experience that celebrates the integration of the words small and university – one that blends a close-knit, mentoring culture with academic opportunities often found at much larger institutions. Our undergraduate honors program, featured on page 21, is just one example of this combination. In addition, Wilkes is encouraging more discovery than ever before. Faculty members are engaged in scholarly research that tackles the most pressing issues of our day, including cancer detection, reducing infant mortality in Third World countries, and the opioid crisis. Furthermore, the entrepreneurial spirit is strong both on campus and in our community, resulting in the University’s first 11 patent applications. In many cases, our faculty members work alongside undergraduate students in these endeavors, providing excellent opportunities for hands-on learning and experimentation. Read more about these efforts on page 29. Unprecedented investments totaling a remarkable $100 million have transformed our campus.The beauty of Wilkes has never been more apparent, and improvements in labs and classrooms have enhanced the learning environment. As you will see on page 35, we celebrated the completion of the Mark Engineering Center and the Campus Gateway Project last fall and work on Bruggeworth Field at the Ralston Athletic Complex is well underway. In January, these efforts culminated in a milestone achievement for Wilkes University – earning doctoral university status from the Carnegie Classifications. Wilkes is now part of a list of the finest universities in the country, and we are one of the smallest on that list. I invite you to read about this accomplishment on page 9. Over the past seven years, it has been a privilege to play a small role in the evolution of this incredible institution and I am confident that the best days at Wilkes lie ahead.
Sincerely, Dr. Patrick F. Leahy President
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F E AT U R E STORIES
F E AT U R E O N E
E VO LV I N G TO EXCELLENCE
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Achieving Doctoral University Status From its founding in 1933 as a two-year junior college, to its designation as a doctoral university in 2019, Wilkes University has taken its place among the most prestigious institutions in the country.
80 PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS in Pennsylvania
14 IN THE DOCTORAL/ PROFESSIONAL university category
One leading in access and excellence:
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The final year of Patrick F. Leahy’s presidency also marked one of the most notable: Wilkes University was categorized as a doctoral university in the revised Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the highest classification for institutions in the country. Of approximately 80 private institutions in Pennsylvania, Wilkes is now one of just 14 with this designation. This puts Wilkes in the same category of excellence as institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, Drexel University, Duquesne University, Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania, without sacrificing a commitment to access. “The change in classification places Wilkes University in the company of some of the finest universities in the nation, completing our evolution from a two-year junior college to a national doctoral university,” said University President Leahy. “Our unique mix of academic programs and robust degree conferrals across bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels sets us apart from other private institutions, both regionally and nationally, while continuing to serve a large population of first-generation students.”
The new status reflects a growing population of doctoral students and an increased focus on research and scholarship. Wilkes has strategically grown its master’s and doctoral programs in recent years, launching the University’s first Ph.D. program in 2017. Wilkes now offers four doctoral degrees and nearly two-dozen master’s-degree programs in fields like education, nursing and pharmacy. Most programs are offered in online and low-residency formats, attracting a national audience. Impactful research has also occurred in the last seven years, resulting in the University’s first 11 patents. A $1 million fund supports the scholarly work of faculty members, who work hand-in-hand with students in pursuit of solutions to the most pressing questions of the day. Wilkes is also serving more students than ever before. In the 2018-19 academic year, the University conferred 1,600 degrees, including 160 doctoral degrees. This is nearly three times the doctoral degrees of any other institution in northeast Pennsylvania. Yet this growth has not changed the University’s commitment to its founding values: more than 50 percent of students are the first in their family to earn a degree. Combined with a 96 percent job-placement rate, it is clear: Wilkes is a doctoral university leading in access and excellence.
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F E AT U R E T WO
AC C L A I M E D S P E A K E R S, DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES
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University Speaker Series Wilkes University brings visionary leaders to campus, continuing a decades-long tradition of presenting groundbreaking viewpoints.
MORE THAN 2,000 CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS attended free lectures at Wilkes University in 2018-2019.
Every lecture offers opportunities for students to interact directly with speakers. Lawyer and activist Brian Stevenson participated in a private question-and-answer session with criminology majors and members of the Honors Program. Author Dave Eggers presented a special session for Wilkes education students. He also met in a workshop with English students, who had a chance to share their writing and receive feedback. Other endowed speakers’ series, such as the Catherine Bone Lecture in the Chemistry Department and the Kimball Lecture in biology, bring some of the country’s most distinguished scientists to campus.
Annual speakers’ series, such as the Max Rosenn Lecture in Law and Humanities and the Allan P. Kirby Lecture in Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, bring iconic figures to campus representing fields as diverse as athletics, social activism, law, politics, literature and film. Their presence enriches the academic experience for students and contributes to cultural offerings in the community. Lectures, offered free to audiences on- and off-campus, historically have spotlighted the leading social, artistic and political leaders of the day. During the 2018-2019 academic year, speakers represented diverse viewpoints and fields, including: KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, Basketball Hall of Fame
center, author and activist, was interviewed by Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy for the Max Rosenn Lecture in Law and Humanities. The conversation between Leahy and Abdul-Jabbar encompassed key highlights from the athlete’s life. They included reflections on growing up in Harlem, his time playing at UCLA with legendary coach John Wooden and his eventual transition from being the NBA’s highest scorer to his current role as writer and humanitarian. The event was attended by more than 800 people, one of the highest for an on-campus lecture in recent University history. JAKE WOOD, co-founder of Team Rubicon, delivered
the Allan P. Kirby Lecture in Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. Wood, a former Marine scout sniper and University of Wisconsin football player, spoke about “The One and the Nine: Building Teams and Organizations That Win.” Wood applied those lessons in the formation of Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization that has responded to more than 250 disasters and has more than 80,000 volunteers. Wood received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2018 ESPY Awards.
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DAVE EGGERS, bestselling author and founder of
the independent publishing company McSweeney’s, opened the Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writers Series, sponsored by the English Department. Eggers is the author of ten books, including A Hologram for the King, which was a finalist for the 2012 National Book Award and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He also is the co-founder of 826 National, a network of seven tutoring centers and writing labs around the country. BRYAN STEVENSON, attorney, human rights activist,
executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and author of Just Mercy, delivered the Max Rosenn Lecture in Law and Humanities on April 14. He spoke about, “American Injustice: Mercy, Humanity and Making a Difference.” Stevenson is one of the most acclaimed and respected lawyers in the nation. Stevenson, a MacArthur Genius Grant winner, started the Equal Justice Initiative, a law practice dedicated to defending some of America’s most rejected and marginalized people. JIM WHITAKER, Hollywood producer and filmmaker,
delivered the Allan P. Kirby Lecture in Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. “The Business of Film: A Conversation with Hollywood Producer and Filmmaker Jim Whitaker” featured Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy interviewing the 25-year veteran of the motion picture industry. Whitaker is president of Whitaker Entertainment and previously served as president of motion pictures for Imagine Entertainment. He has been lead producer on films including A Wrinkle in Time, Cinderella Man, Friday Night Lights and 8 Mile, among others. He was producer and director of the Peabody Award-winning documentary film Rebirth, chronicling the physical and emotional rebuilding after the attacks on the World Trade Center.
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F E AT U R E T H R E E
TURNING I N F O R M AT I O N INTO INSIGHT
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The Institute at Wilkes The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development at Wilkes University provides research that drives the creation of new jobs, new initiatives and new legislation that enhances the quality of life in northeast Pennsylvania and beyond. Data from its myriad of research studies spur economic development, providing ways for the University to expand its mission of being a private university with a public purpose.
Since its formation, 272 students from member colleges and universities have been trained and mentored at the Institute through internships and graduate assistantships.
THE INSTITUTE COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR 28 CLIENTS IN 2018 The Institute created the concept for Wilkes-Barre Connect, an economic development effort aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and business development, launched with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry. It brings together the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center, Wilkes’ Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, the Family Business Alliance of Wilkes University and Penn State Scranton, the Diamond City Partnership and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeast Pennsylvania.
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Founded in 2004, The Institute is a partnership of 13 colleges and universities in the Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Hazleton metropolitan area. It has been led since its inception by executive director Teri Ooms. Wilkes played a leadership role in its founding.The impetus for The Institute’s formation began with a grant secured by former Wilkes president Joseph “Tim” Gilmour. Fifteen years later, Wilkes continues as its managing partner and its offices are housed on campus. In 20182019, University President Patrick F. Leahy served as chairman of its advisory board. Volunteer task forces in seven areas, including education and workforce development, housing and health care, help to identify topics for communitybased research that ultimately helps to improve the region. Task force volunteers include representatives from business, government, non-profits, economic development and institutions. Although its primary focus remains community-based research, businesses and organizations also can contract with The Institute to conduct research studies on a fee-for-service basis. Types of research include market and feasibility analyses, site selection research, program and grant evaluation, community health needs assessment, arts, culture and tourism studies and more. The annual Economic Indicators event provides valuable insights to community leaders and business owners about economic trends in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. The quarterly Economic Tracker newsletter shares information throughout the year.
Studies conducted by The Institute have been the basis for initiatives with significant long-term impact on the community. Examples include: • A regional community health needs assessment showed that a lack of transportation significantly impacted patients’ ability to access health-care services. The information led the Geisinger Health System to launch a pilot program providing patients with rides to appointments, the pharmacy and even the grocery store. • An Institute study that revealed that childhood poverty is a significant issue in the region led the United Way of the Wyoming Valley to develop its Poverty to Possibility focus, which concentrates the organization’s investments on programs impacting education, health care and financial stability. • A transportation research study commissioned by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is driving the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s NEPA Moves initiative to develop more equitable transportation options for citizens. • A 12-county housing study conducted in 2011 included a recommendation to establish land bank legislation in Pennsylvania. Land banks enable communities to convert vacant, abandoned, and tax delinquent properties into productive use. The legislation was enacted in 2012. Subsequently, a land bank was established in Lackawanna County in 2015 and in Luzerne County in 2017. • Recommendations in the 2017 Health and Healthcare Task Force report on “Oral Health Challenges in the Region” led to the creation of a regional dental council focused on fluoridation efforts and providing education and dental care for the uninsured and underinsured.
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F E AT U R E F O U R
EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS, EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
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Wilkes Honors Program Four years after its founding, Wilkes University’s Honors Program is achieving its goal of offering an exceptional academic experience for highly motivated and talented students. The program includes honors classes and extracurricular and co-curricular activities that provide unparalleled academic opportunities.
ABOUT 200 STUDENTS FROM FRESHMEN THROUGH SENIORS representing all academic majors were enrolled in the honors program during the 2018-2019 academic year.
HONORS PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT GRANTS FUNDED 73 STUDENT COCURRICULAR EXPERIENCES, including internships, research, attendance at conferences and study abroad.
Incoming first-year students are invited to apply for admission to the Honors Program if they meet a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 and an SAT score of 1190 or 26 on the ACT. Students complete a separate application process to enter the program, which includes an essay and submitting a portfolio.
At the heart of the Wilkes honors experience is a residential component in which students are housed together in a living-learning community during their first year. Wilkes honors students also receive enhancement grants, unique in higher education, which students can use to help fund study-related experiences such as study abroad or research. Students in the program also are invited to meet with renowned lecturers visiting campus, to take special field trips and to engage in service learning projects with others in the program. The 2018-2019 academic year saw the addition of the program’s first permanent director, Christine Muller. Previously Muller was dean for one of Yale University’s residential colleges, and was an administrator in the Honors Program at Villanova University. At Wilkes, Muller works with an Honors Program Advisory Council made up of representatives of the University’s schools and colleges, and administers program operations ranging from curricular planning to grant funding for students’ co-curricular opportunities to community events. Academic rigor is stressed. Students enrolled in the Honors Program take a special honors section of First-Year Foundations, complete a one-credit interdisciplinary senior research seminar and are required to take 18 honors credits, six of which must be in a course at the more advanced 300 level. Honors classes carry more challenging course requirements which may include research projects or scholarly analysis. It’s a requirement welcomed by the honors students.
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Reflecting on his time in the program, senior electrical engineering major Michael Vanchieri noted, “I definitely enjoyed the more rigorous classes…. The honors professors really cared about their content.” Students especially praised the growth they found in research, internship and study abroad experiences. In the most recent academic year, honors enhancement grants funded internships at organizations as diverse as the United Nations and Live Nation, the international entertainment company. Research into rock structure, microbiology, geochemical analysis and paleoenvironmental change also received funding.The grants also paid for students to travel and study abroad in 11 foreign countries. Christine Walsh, a senior marketing major in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, recalled attending the 2017 University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Bangkok, Thailand, as a valuable opportunity funded by a grant. “My favorite memory from being in the program was that I got to travel to Bangkok, Thailand, and meet 900 student delegates from all over the world.We got to collaborate on how we would work together as future leaders and make this earth a better place. It’s an experience that I’ll never forget,” Walsh said. With the graduation of Walsh, Vanchieri and their peers in the first honors class in May 2019, the program has reached a milestone but not an end. Its core values of leadership, integrity, self-awareness and academic excellence are ready to help shape the Wilkes experience for a new first-year honors class each fall.
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F E AT U R E F I V E
BUILDING T H E G AT E WAY TO THE FUTURE
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Gateway to the Future Capital Campaign Taking its cue from the strategic plan of the same name that mapped institutional priorities since 2014, the Gateway to the Future Campaign is the most ambitious and comprehensive fundraising initiative in Wilkes history.
MORE THAN $2.9 MILLION IN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROGRAMS WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2018-2019 to support students and academic initiatives.
The dedication of spaces named in honor of donors has reflected the realization of the campaign goal to fund campus enhancements. Spaces named in recognition of generous donors have included Bruggeworth Field at the Ralston Athletic Complex, the Mark Engineering Center, the Cardell Financial Center in the Sidhu School of Business, the Miller Office Suite and the Melberger Courtyard in the Stark Learning Center.
The campaign’s public phase launched in October 2018 at a special event during homecoming weekend. At the kickoff, Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy announced that the campaign goal was increased to $55 million – reflecting the early, positive response to fundraising efforts. In announcing the new campaign goal, President Leahy recalled the words of American architect Daniel Hudson Burnham – words that had also inspired him in charting an ambitious course for the University’s future: “Make no little plans, for they have no power to stir the soul…Make big plans; aim high in hope and work.” As Wilkes steps into its new position as a doctoral university, the Gateway to the Future Campaign is providing the resources necessary for the University to reach the next phase in its remarkable evolution. The goals of the campaign are: • Fuel ambitious capital improvements that will transform campus – and, in the process, downtown Wilkes-Barre – into a vibrant living and learning community. $25 million of the total campaign goal supports capital improvements. Many have already been completed or are launched including the Mark Engineering Center, the Campus Gateway Project, Ralston Athletic Complex and more.
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• Grow the endowment to strengthen the University financially for years to come. $20 million of the campaign total supports this goal. The endowment supports scholarship and research, including endowed faculty positions and research funds. It also provides tuition assistance to serve Wilkes students. Among the programs supported by the endowment are the Honors Program, the First Generation Scholarship Fund, endowed scholarships and more. • Raise significant support for the annual fund, which provides unrestricted resources supporting myriad initiatives across campus. These initiatives may include academic departments, athletic teams, student clubs and arts programs. Annual support gives the University flexibility to respond to changing needs.The campaign is raising $10 million in support of the annual fund.
WE ARE BUILDING THE GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE BRICK BY BRICK, OPPORTUNITY BY OPPORTUNITY, STUDENT BY STUDENT.
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RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
THE FINAL WORD ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS AS A HOLISTIC PROCESS Members of the campus community attending the O’Hop Final Word Lecture found an unexpected gift on their chairs: colorful plastic eggs. Dana Manning, associate professor of pharmacy practice, used the eggs to engage attendees in her presentation “Beyond Medication: Health and Wellness as a Holistic Concept.” The lecture concluded the University’s third annual Research and Scholarship Symposium, held from April 1-4. Inside the eggs, audience members found descriptions of recent wellness trends – from the outrageous to the impractical. The examples, Manning told her audience, illustrate exactly how far the health and wellness industry will go to take advantage of people who are desperately seeking a source of wellness in their lives. The result is a global wellness economy valued at $4.2 trillion in 2017. Manning, who has been a dietitian for 20 years and a pharmacist for 10 years, says that the myriad of products and studies that attempt to answer the question of what constitutes wellness falls short. Many approaches, even those followed by trained health-care professionals, fail to treat patients as persons and don’t take into account the personal, social and cultural influences on health. In her lecture, Manning stressed that there are social and physical determinants of health that must be seen, discussed and valued. It is a lesson that she shares with her current student pharmacists at Wilkes. Those determinants include socioeconomic status, social support, education, culture, community design, personal beliefs, genetics and more. All must be considered when addressing health and wellness issues. Manning said that taking pharmacy students to practice health care in Uganda in the last several years has dramatically changed her philosophy. There, under what health care professionals in the United States might call substandard conditions, she saw an approach that stressed a strong relationship with, and understanding of, the individual patient. It was an approach grounded in the patient’s community and beliefs. Manning said, “We need to recognize that we have failed our patients if we do not understand the wholeness of their needs.” She concluded her lecture by summarizing ways she will help to bring health and wellness practices to her work at Wilkes – from offering a cross-disciplinary nutrition class for students to leading more student pharmacists on trips to other countries.
NEW TECHONOLOGY FOR MEDICAL DEGREES Abas Sabouni, associate professor of electrical engineering, is directing research projects using microwave technology that could revolutionize the diagnosis of three different health conditions. Sabouni, who already has developed a technique for diagnosing breast cancer using microwave tomography, is working on a project that would use the technology for diagnosing melanoma. Assisted by bioengineering graduate student Vince Patriarco, he is developing a pen-like device that assesses the difference between the density of healthy and cancerous tissue. In a second study with bioengineering graduate student Kyle Stanek, microwave technology would be used to measure the severity of skin ulcerations and bed sores. It uses a hand-held device to assess damaged tissue by measuring the contrast between inflamed and normal tissue. In a third study, Sabouni is working with electrical engineering undergraduate Kristopher Smetana to develop a method that would use microwave technology to measure bone density.
STUDYING ATHLETE ACTIVISM IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY Samuel Schmidt, assistant professor in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, studied how athlete activists and the social movement organization Athlete Ally supported each other in reaching the goal of ending homophobia and transphobia in sport. Using qualitative interviews with members of Athlete Ally and athletes, Schmidt assessed how the two groups shared moral, social-organizational and material resources. He found that athletes provide Athlete Ally with human resources, while Athlete Ally provides the athletes with cultural resources. Those resources ranged from things like providing legitimacy to engage in activism and a safe space for activism to more tangible support in the form of fundraising and t-shirts and merchandise.
PREDICTING SLOPE FAILURES IN PENNSYLVANIA
The late Paul O’Hop established the Final Word Lecture to foster the exchange of ideas and dialogue among Wilkes faculty, staff and administrators and to showcase the talents and scholarly abilities at the University. O’Hop retired from Wilkes in 2001 after serving 16 years as vice president of business affairs and auxiliary enterprises.
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Bobak Karimi, assistant professor of environmental engineering and earth science, jokes that his research might be summed up with the word “failure.” Karimi studies mass movements of earth – also known as slope failures – that cost the United States over $3 billion and cause between 25 and 50 deaths annually. To mitigate the loss of lives
and costs associated with slope failures, maps that describe the relative likelihood of slope failures – known as susceptibility maps – are useful tools. In northeastern Pennsylvania, they were able to identify over 1,300 mass movements. They developed a predictive model by comparing the distribution of slope failures to other factors such as slope angles, geologic bedrock and other information. Bobak and his team found that factors thought to be strongly linked to slope failures were not as influential as previously thought. Funded by a Provost’s Research and Scholarship Grant, he and his students are expanding their work to the rest of the state and are experimenting with more advanced and informed models of slope failure prediction.
INTERDISCIPLINARY ART ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE Heather Sincavage, director of the Sordoni Art Gallery and assistant professor of art, was one of seven artists and artistic organizations in the United States recognized for artistic achievement with a grant from the Tanne Foundation. Sincavage used her award to perform a piece entitled “The Burden of This” in London. Sincavage is an interdisciplinary artist. Through process, performance and installation, she uses the body as a tool of measurement from which to consider questions of being, exploring the nuanced facets of raw emotion and how they evolve as we experience them. During the 2018-2019 academic year, Sincavage presented nine performances of her work in the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden. They included performances at the Queens Museum in New York and Tempting Failure in London, a biennial event for experimental sound and performance art that accepts only 15 percent of artists worldwide.
ASSESSING REVEGETATION NEAR NATURAL GAS PIPELINES Kenneth Klemow, professor of biology, and his student research team studied the impact of a natural gas pipeline on native plant species. Using a site where the Williams Transco Pipeline traverses property owned by Wilkes, student teams monitored plant growth over a four-year period. Using a one-foot-by-one-foot frame, the students viewed plants in 120 plots, monitoring them three or four times a week from May to August. Klemow and his students – juniors Jillian Weston, Scott Heffelfinger, Amber Gruhosky and Casssidy Hyde – presented a poster on their findings at
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the Ecological Society of America’s August 2018 conference in New Orleans. Their poster, “Natural Revegetation on natural gas pipelines in NEPA (Surprise: Natives Win!),” explained that although the understory – a layer of vegetation beneath the canopy of the forest – was destroyed, alien species did not take over. Instead, native species took the place of plants that were removed.
IMPROVING SURVIVIAL RATES FOR TANZANIAN NEWBORNS Linda Winkler, professor of anthropology, reduced infant mortality rates at Nyakahanga District Hospital in rural Tanzania through the introduction of kangaroo mother care. The practice is a World Health Organization-endorsed method of caring for low birth weight and premature babies. Winkler was part of a team that introduced the practice at the hospital in summer 2015. It was found that infants whose mothers used kangaroo mother care had a 70 percent survival rate. After the first 24 hours, when most neonatal deaths occur, the survival rate was 92 percent. An article outlining the success of the project is being published in the journal African Health Sciences. Wilkes nursing graduate Shana Noon ’17, who worked with Winkler on the project, is one of the article’s co-authors. Winkler is launching a new study in summer 2019 that aims to improve survival rates among newborns in Tanzania by introducing the use of Vitamin K for newborns to promote clotting and reduce neonatal hemorrhaging.
STUDYING THE ROLE OF STROMAL CELLS IN CANCER Linda Gutierrez, associate professor of biology, and Valerie Kalter, associate professor of biology, are collaborating on research studying the role that stromal cells play in colorectal cancer and Crohn’s disease. The research focuses on the ways in which stromal cells may promote or inhibit tumor growth. Fibroblasts are cells located in the stroma. These cells are able to modify the stroma favoring the invasion of cancerous cells.They also produce a variety of growth factors, which may promote tumor growth and metastasis. However, fibroblasts could also restrain tumors by encapsulating the lesions, as happens in benign tumors. Fibroblasts were isolated from intestinal cancers developed in mice. The researchers characterized the mutational and metabolic profiles of these cells and their derived tumors. These studies might lead to more effective therapies for preventing and treating cancers.
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DEVELOPING THE WORLD’S FIRST UN-STRIPPABLE SCREW NevRStrip Screws, a client company of the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, has developed the world’s first un-strippable screw. Machine screws come in all shapes, sizes and materials, from micro screws in small electronics to high-quality precision screws for aerospace or medical use. The one thing common to all screws in all uses is the need for them not to strip during installation or extraction. Company owner William Norton has developed a patentpending driver and screw that will not strip. The product has applications in multiple industries, from construction and doit-yourself users to automotive, aviation and the medical field. The specially designed screw and driver requires little to no pressure to install.
STUDYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEMINISM AND ACTIVISM Associate professors of psychology Jennifer Thomas and Ellen Newell continued their ongoing research examining whether identifying as a feminist can spur activism or collective action among young women. In one study, “From Education to Action: What Motivates Young Women to Fight Sexism?,” the two faculty considered whether education and critical reflection can lead to activism among young women who strongly endorsed a feminist identity and had greater internal gender efficacy. They concluded that educating young women to recognize and think critically about sexism and encouraging them to embrace a feminist identity may be effective strategies to empower them to work toward social change and reduce sexist-based oppression. A second study, “Anger and Collective Action Among Feminist Women,” provided further insight about role of anger and activism sparked by inequality.They examined whether activism and anger stemming from perceived sexism would help protect well-being among feminists. They found that only among selfidentified feminist women will anger and subsequent activism improve or protect their sense of well-being.
TESTING A NEW CLASS OF AUTOMOBILE FUEL Mohsen Ghamari, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, conducts research on thermal properties of nanofuels. Nanofuel is a new class of fuel that is produced by adding nanoparticles to traditional liquid fuel. Nanoparticles bring enhanced optical and thermal properties to the fuel which translates into faster
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evaporation and combustion as well as shorter ignition delay. Faster combustion could result in building smaller and lighter engines eventually leading to a reduction in fuel consumption. Shorter ignition delay can also help in alleviating engine knock and reduce harmful emission. Ghamari and his team try to characterize these effects through measuring nanofuels’ thermo-physical properties such as thermal conductivity, surface tension and viscosity as well as their evaporation and burning rates.
TREATING THE OPIOD EPIDEMIC Eugene Lucas, assistant professor in the graduate nursing programs in the Passan School of Nursing, presented an overview of the opioid epidemic in the state of Pennsylvania in a presentation at the 2019 Research and Scholarship Symposium. Lucas noted that overdose deaths in the state from opiates increased 44 percent from 2015 to 2016, surpassing deaths from motor vehicle accidents as the cause of death among 26- to 64-year-olds. His presentation reflected his clinical practice in addictions treatment at Huntington Creek Recovery Center in Shickshinny, Pa. Lucas also supervises students in the Passan School’s psychiatric/ mental health nurse practitioner program who complete clinical requirements at the site. A nurse practitioner who has specialized in addictions treatment, Lucas is licensed to prescribe suboxone, a drug used to help people reduce or quit their use of heroin or other opiates, such as pain relievers like morphine. Special training is required to be a prescriber and Lucas is one of a select group of health-care clinicians in the United States authorized for its use.
STUDYING CANCER PREVENTIVE PROPERTIES OF PLANT-DERIVED MATERIALS Ajay Bommareddy, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, is continuing his research on the cancer preventative and anti-tumor properties of alpha-santalol, a derivative of sandalwood oil. Initial studies support that the natural compound may be effective in protecting against the development of prostate cancer by significantly reducing the growth of cancer cell lines. Pharmacy students John Oberlin, Kaitlyn Blankenhorn, Erica Mabry, Sarah Hughes and Aaron Knopp and biology student Isaiah Pinkerton assisted Bommareddy. Additional pre-clinical and clinical studies will continue on this promising research.
THE FUTURE OF ROBOTICS Yong Zhu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, opened the 2019 Research and Scholarship Symposium with the lecture “The Future of Robotics: Fantasy, Reality and Ethics.” His presentation provided an overview of the ways that robotics are used in a variety of fields and explored the ethical concerns about the use of robotics and artificial intelligence. Questions about how well humans are in control of the technology were also addressed. The lecture reviewed the ways robotics is used in fields as diverse as manufacturing, health care, defense and space exploration. Stressing the ways that robotics improves productivity and the quality of life, he shared examples of how the technology is used in a variety of settings. Examples included use of robotics in manufacturing, the DaVinci robotic surgery system used in more than 1,700 health-care facilities worldwide, and the unmanned systems used in defense operations and space exploration. Rapidly emerging technologies such as drones and self-driving vehicles were also explored. Zhu’s presentation outlined the positives of robotics – including saving lives and reducing accidents. But he concluded that robotic technologies that allow artificial intelligence to make decisions related to such things as medical complications or sparing civilian lives will call for regulations and ways to keep technological aspirations in check. A prolific researcher, Zhu also presented a session at the symposium on a project to develop an intuitive robot control strategy using vision. Zhu’s other research projects include developing a heart-monitoring system for early detection of potential atrial fibrillation in real time and developing a device to assess ankle stiffness in patients with diabetes.
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CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS
CAMPUS GATEWAY TRANSFORMS WILKES
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A $100 million campus enhancement plan continued to transform Wilkes during the 2018-2019 academic year, helping the University to achieve a decades-long dream of building a traditional, residential campus fully integrated into the City of Wilkes-Barre. In November 2018, the campus celebrated the completion of the Campus Gateway Project, a system of pathways and gathering areas that extend from the Henry Student Center to the heart of the Fenner Quadrangle, to the East Campus Gateway, unifying campus. CA MPUS ENH A NCEM ENTS
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MARK ENGINEERING CENTER The Mark Engineering Center officially opened with a dedication ceremony in September 2018. The dedication culminated a 16-month, $8 million renovation to the engineering facilities in Stark Learning Center, creating flexible lab and learning space in disciplines that include nanotechnology, additive manufacturing and bioengineering. The center equips Wilkes engineering students with the skills relevant in the 21st century and allows faculty to incorporate the fundamentals of leading-edge research into undergraduate courses. The center is named in honor of Randy ’81 and Robin Mark, who made a leadership gift to support the project. Randy Mark is the owner and president of Pulverman, a global manufacturer of precision metal components located in Dallas, Pa. He has served on the university’s board of trustees since 2013.
VETERANS MEMORIAL COURT The 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy in World War II provided the perfect occasion for Wilkes to dedicate Veterans Memorial Court. The court, honoring those who have served our nation in the military, is located near the flagpoles on the Campus Gateway in the Fenner Quadrangle. Flags of the United States, Pennsylvania and the University overlook memorial plaques and benches that create a contemplative space in the heart of campus. Speakers at the dedication included Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy, Jonathan Kuiken, assistant professor of global cultures, and Kelly Egan, a 2019 Wilkes graduate and Army veteran. The Air Force ROTC color guard presented the colors.
RALSTON ATHLETIC COMPLEX Wilkes University is investing nearly $8 million in new athletic fields at the Ralston Athletic Complex. The project includes a multi-purpose turf field that will be used for men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse and women’s field hockey. It also includes a new turf baseball field. Due to a leadership gift from Wilkes alumnus Robert Bruggeworth ’83, the new fields will be named Bruggeworth Field at Ralston Athletic Complex. The project will enhance the complex for student athletes and improve the fan experience. Additions include two press boxes, two spectator areas and a scoreboard. In the future, new lighting, expanded parking and enhanced pedestrian walkways will complete the multi-year initiative.
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N E W S AT WILKES
PARTNERSHIP WITH MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL ENHANCES COMMITMENT TO FIRSTGENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS Wilkes University expanded its commitment to educate first-generation college students in a new partnership with Milton Hershey School. Under the agreement, the two institutions are partnering to improve retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation college students. Qualified students from Milton Hershey School are guaranteed a spot in the University’s Educational Gateway to Excellence program, WilkesEDGE, which aids students in their transition from high school to college.
SIDHU SCHOOL STUDENTS PLACE THIRD IN NATIONAL CQA INVESTMENT CHALLENGE Students in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership placed third in the fifth annual Chicago Quantitative Alliance (CQA) Investment Challenge. The Wilkes team, called Wilkes Gold, competed against 50 teams, beating students from The University of Chicago, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon MBA, Duke University, Cornell University, University of Michigan, Washington University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Wilkes team received $1,000 for their third-place finish.
“Wilkes University has a long history of educating students from Milton Hershey School. It is the success of these students that inspired a more formalized partnership that honors our tradition of supporting first-generation college students,” said Skleder.
WILKES UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZES FACULTY AND STAFF WITH 2018 PRESIDENT’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Milton Hershey School® is one of the world’s best private schools, offering a top-notch education and positive home life to children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade from families of lower income at no charge.
Support services continue into the second semester, when a personalized learning plan is designed to accommodate each student’s academic progress as their course load grows. Personnel from Milton Hershey School’s Graduate Programs for Success Division also support students once at Wilkes. The division provides Milton Hershey students and alumni with a multi-tiered system of support that addresses their individual needs while fostering independence. Dedicated career counselors, teachers and transition specialists support students and alumni of all ages beginning in middle school and continuing to their time in college, technical programs, the workforce or the military.
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Pryle has shared her passion for teaching by authoring seven books, six of which are with Scholastic, Inc. Academic writing isn’t her only forte, as she was also named the Mulberry Poets and Writers Association Annual Poetry Contest Winner in both 2004 and 2005. The state Department of Education and the state chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year sponsor the Teacher of the Year program. The program honors kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in public education who have made outstanding academic contributions.
Anne Skleder, Wilkes provost and senior vice president, and Tanya Baynham, Milton Hershey School vice president of graduate programs for success, signed the agreement on Oct. 3, 2018, at Milton Hershey School. It formalizes the relationship between the institutions, streamlining the admission process for any interested students, including those qualified for the Wilkes honors program.
As part of the agreement, Wilkes will reserve a minimum of 10 spots in WilkesEDGE for students from Milton Hershey School. Introduced in 2017, WilkesEDGE supports the transition from high school to college. Students in the program take fewer courses during the first semester. Combined with increased advisement and support services, it creates a pathway to a bachelor’s degree. Program mentors and academic advisors work with qualified students on their class schedule, dedicated study time and specific support services including personal financial aid counseling and campus employment, which is proven to help the transition to campus life.
Pryle is an English teacher at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit, Pa. She can also be found teaching English at the Lackawanna Children’s Library in Scranton, Pa. She started an English Conversation Group two years ago for refugees from Congo and Uganda.
The challenge is an equity portfolio management challenge that offers students the opportunity to learn and apply stock selection and portfolio management skills in a simulated, reallife hedge fund experience. The challenge ran from the end of October 2018 through the end of March 2019.
Five Wilkes University faculty and staff members were honored with the 2018 President’s Awards for Excellence. The awards, which were presented by Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy at the University’s fall convocation, recognize individuals who reflect excellence in their work based on the University’s five core values. This is the third year for the awards program.
The Wilkes team consisted of Sidhu School senior students Kyle Gattuso, Sam Eyler, Nicole Harmer, Noah Durnin, Austin Hackenberg, Jorge Gonzalez, Brady Wing and Michael Hauck.Team leader Kyle Gattuso attended the CQA Institute’s Advanced Investment Management Course. The institute, held at Wilkes in May, is a two-week course for undergraduates that is taught by the experienced professionals who are CQA members.
The 2018 recipients and their areas of excellence were:
ED.D. STUDENT IS PENNSYLVANIA TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Community: Melissa Howells, director of student development, for her efforts in collaborating with others on campus with mutual respect to foster a sense of belonging.
A dedication to education in both traditional and community settings earned Wilkes University doctor of education student Marilyn Pryle the 2019 Teacher of the Year achievement. Pryle was honored during the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s annual professional development conference in Hershey. Now she’s in the running for the national teacher of the year which will be announced in April 2020.
Scholarship: Zbigniew J. Witczak, professor and chair of pharmaceutical sciences, for advancing knowledge through discovery and research to better educate Wilkes constituents. Innovation: Kathleen Hirthler, associate professor and chair of graduate nursing programs in the Passan School of Nursing, for promoting programs, ideas and sustainable practices.
Mentoring: Deborah Tindell, professor of psychology, for her efforts in nurturing individuals to understand and act on their abilities while challenging them to achieve great things. Diversity: Evene Estwick, associate professor of communication studies, for her efforts in embracing difference in uniqueness through sincerity, awareness, inclusion and sensitivity.
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PASSAN SCHOOL OF NURSING PASS RATES EXCEED NATIONAL AND STATE AVERAGES Recent graduates from the University’s Passan School of Nursing accelerated baccalaureate nursing program achieved a pass rate that exceeds the national and state averages on the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Accelerated program nursing graduates who completed the exam in the fall 2018 semester achieved a 100 percent pass rate. This exceeds the 2018 national average of 73.11percent and the Pennsylvania average of 92.84 percent. This also marks the highest pass rate of bachelor’s-degree granting nursing programs in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.The accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing program requires one year of intensive study, leaving students prepared to take the licensure exam and become a registered nurse. The Passan School of Nursing graduates in the traditional four-year format also achieved a pass rate that exceeds the national and state averages. Wilkes bachelor of science in nursing graduates taking the test between October 2017 and September 2018 achieved a 95.12 percent pass rate.
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY SCORES SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL SEASON Wilkes’ men’s ice hockey team scored a successful inaugural season, ending regular season play firmly in a top-six playoff position coming in fourth with an 11-5-2 record and 37 conference points. Head coach Brett Riley led the team to an outstanding season as the Colonels finished 16-8-2 overall. The men’s ice hockey team was picked to finish fourth in the conference but completed the season with a 6-2 record to place second in the conference. Wilkes received national recognition on Feb. 4 as the Colonels earned votes in the D3hockey.com Men’s Top 15 poll.
The season was marked with honors and recognitions for Riley and his players. Riley was named the UCHC Coach of the Year on Feb. 27. First-year student and computer science major Donald Flynn was named the United Collegiate Hockey Conference Rookie of the Week four times. Wilkes won the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Offensive Player of the Week award seven times with five different players this season. Flynn earned the award twice. Colonels also were recognized as the MAC Defensive Player of the Week six times.
WILKES AMONG TOP PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOLS FOR GRADUATE EARNINGS Wilkes University is among the top colleges in Pennsylvania whose graduates have the highest income 10 years after enrolling. Wilkes was ranked number 30 on the list, published by Lehigh Valley Live, using data from U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.The list looks at the 213 colleges in Pennsylvania, highlighting the top 50 whose students go on to earn the most. On average, Wilkes graduates earn $50,300 annually 10 years after beginning their college careers.The dollar amount reflects the median salary of former students who received federal financial aid. When considering the average annual cost to attend, Wilkes is 10th on the list for affordability – at just $22,975 per year – making it the most affordable school in the region included in the top 50. “This report illustrates that a college education is the best investment one can make,” said Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy. “It also addresses what makes Wilkes so unique: we are a private school with a public purpose, offering an affordable education to all who show potential, and our graduates, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, thrive in rewarding and well-paying careers.”
CENTER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNSHIPS SUPPORTS STUDENTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Wilkes students are receiving a more comprehensive approach to career development and internship experiences with the opening of the Center for Career Development and Internships. The Internship/Co-op Program, formerly housed in the Henry Student Center, and Career Services, formerly in Conyngham Hall, combined to form a single location offering services to support students’ professional career development. The center aims to help students clarify goals, assess skills and find the internship experiences that will build their resume
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and launch their careers. Services include internship and career fairs, career coaching, resume assistance, practice, interviews, career development workshops and networking opportunities.
The Center offers a Career Gateway Program with a different emphasis each year as students advance in their education. The program offers career counseling, experiential learning and networking opportunities that promote self-discovery and connections to potential employers. Programs and resources include career coaching/mentoring, workshops, site visits to regional employers, networking events, competitive internships and career conversations with industry experts. A Career and Internship Fair brought more than 100 employers to campus for students seeking job and internship opportunities. The center also launched two speakers series to expand students’ career awareness. The Career Café brought to campus speakers from a variety of fields for informal conversations offering career insights, networking and advice. Career Conversation, offered in the Henry Student Center, brought alumni to campus to discuss their career paths.
WILKES UNIVERSITY’S SIDHU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PARTICIPATES IN BARRON’S UNIVERSITY PROGRAM Wilkes University’s Sidhu School of Business and Leadership students have more opportunities to heighten their financial literacy skills through participation in the prestigious Barron’s University Program. The program provides students and faculty in the business school with free access to Barron’s online content and with activities designed to ensure that future business leaders are equipped with financial literacy skills. Barron’s is a leading weekly newspaper and online news site covering financial news and market developments. The Sidhu School’s participation in the program is made possible by a sponsorship provided by Michael Hirthler, founder, president and chief executive officer of Jacobi Capital Management. Experiential learning activities provided in the Barron’s in Education program include opportunities to visit the Dow Jones headquarters in New York City, tour the newsrooms of Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch and participate in webinars with Barron’s representatives and experts from Jacobi Capital Management.
WILKES TEAM EARNS SECOND PLACE AT STATE “DRAW THE LINES” COMPETITION A Wilkes University student team in the political science department earned second place in Pennsylvania’s Draw the Lines competition. The competition tasked teams to remake the map of the state’s legislative districts. The students earned a prize of $250 for second place in the regional category and $2,500 for second place statewide in the higher education division. “Team Wilkes” included sophomores Gregory Chang and William Billingsley and senior Geraldine Ojukwu, who drew their redistricting inspiration after reviewing the infamous Pennsylvania gerrymander, “Goofy kicking Donald.” The team was one of 318 map submissions for the competition.
PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT TRANSITIONS TO PRIVATE CAMPUS POLICE Wilkes transitioned its public safety operation to a private campus police department. The Wilkes University Police Department will serve as the primary law enforcement authority at the University. Officers have full law enforcement powers, including the authority to make arrests for criminal violations. In addition to arrest powers, the creation of a campus police department allows the University access to a variety of databases, grants, and training typically restricted to sworn agencies. “The safety of our students is our highest priority. Introducing a campus police department will enhance our already safe campus with increased security,” said University President Patrick F. Leahy. The private police department is led by Chief Christopher Jagoe. Jagoe first joined Wilkes in 2014 as director of public safety after 30 years of service at the University of Maryland Police Department where he supervised over 100 sworn officers. Since 2005, the percentage of public and private colleges using armed officers nationwide has increased from 68 percent to 75 percent. In 2014, Wilkes University armed its officers in response to a recommendation included in a comprehensive campus safety study conducted by Margolis Healy, a nationally recognized consulting service firm specializing in campus safety, security and regulatory compliance for higher education.
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FUNDRAISING
$1 MILLION GIFT WILL ESTABLISH ETHICS PROGRAM IN SIDHU SCHOOL
FOUNDERS GALA 2019 RAISES $750,000 FOR FIRST-GENERATION SCHOLARSHIPS Wilkes’ Founders Gala 2019 supporting the First Generation Scholarship Fund raised $750,000 to provide scholarships for students who are the first in their family to attend a four-year college.That total brings the amount raised since the event’s inception to more than $3 million. Held for the sixth time at the Westmoreland Club, the event drew 400 alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University. Eugene Roth ’57 was presented with the President’s Medal at the event. The honor is given to an individual whose personal and professional life reflect the highest aspirations of Wilkes University. Roth is an attorney at Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald, LLP, in Wilkes-Barre, where he has the distinction of being the longest-serving attorney at the firm, rising through the ranks from law clerk to partner during his 60-year tenure. At Wilkes, Roth served under each of the University’s six presidents during an association that began when he was a student. He first served as vice president of his undergraduate class, then as president of the alumni association and eventually as a member of the University’s board of trustees, a role in which he continues to serve. He was the chairman of the board from 1993 to 1998, helping to establish the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. Roth’s philanthropic support is apparent across campus, especially in Lawrence W. Roth Hall, a standout residence for first-year students, and the Max Roth Center, home to the Center for Global Education and Diversity. In memory of their son, Roth and his wife, Connie, established the Lawrence W. Roth Memorial Scholarship. It is granted annually to a deserving Wilkes student with an interest in the law, politics or community service. The event marked University President Patrick F. Leahy’s last Founders Gala. It was announced at the event that a First Generation Endowed Scholarship has been established in honor of him and his wife, Amy. More than $125,000 has been raised for the scholarship. President Leahy established the Founders Gala in 2014 as the University’s premier fundraising event. He envisioned an event that would raise money for the first-generation college students who are an integral part of the institution’s history. Raising money for those students has resonated with many constituents, contributing to the event’s success.
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An anonymous donor has contributed $1 million to establish an ethics engagement program in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership. The program will be taught in a developmental series, beginning during a business student’s first year and will continue throughout the Sidhu undergraduate and graduate curriculum. The program is expected to start in the 2020-2021 academic year. Under the new program, ethics will be incorporated into courses for all undergraduate students during their first and second years in the Sidhu School. As students transition to upper-level courses, they will complete an ethical leadership certification created by the Student Center for Public Trust (NASBA). As students complete the program, they will form business ethics case teams that will debate real ethical dilemma cases in presentations to the University campus.Winners of the campus debates may be eligible to compete in national business ethics competitions. Students in the Master of Business Administration program will enroll in an ethics seminar at the start of their program.The ethics engagement program meets the ethics, social responsibility and environmental sustainability objectives of the Wilkes MBA program. The ethical leadership certificate program modules will be incorporated into the core curriculum at the MBA level, specifically in the leadership and ethics course areas.
JOHN B. GUERRA ’51 LEAVES $1.3 MILLION BEQUEST A generous $1.3 million bequest from John B. Guerra ’51 will establish an endowed scholarship and benefit academic programs in business and digital design and media arts. About $900,000 of the gift will be used to establish an endowed scholarship named for Guerra. The digital design and media arts program will receive $200,000 from the bequest for programmatic support. In addition, the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership will receive $200,000 to support accreditation efforts.
BESLER SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTS SUMMER RESEARCH Alumni Carolann (Gusgekofski) Besler ’76 and Philip A. Besler ’76 have established a scholarship to support students conducting scholarly summer research projects. Overseen by a faculty member, each student will be supported with a $3,000 summer stipend. Students from any discipline may apply. Students engaged in summer research under the tutelage of faculty is a unique part of the Wilkes experience. These opportunities are funded by the University in the form of free housing and other support and by private gifts such as the one provided by the Beslers.
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SHINE PROGRAM RECEIVES $2 MILLION FROM PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION The Luzerne County SHINE Program at Wilkes University has received $2 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program for 2019-2024. The grant will allow the program to continue to provide quality STEM-based after-school services at SHINE’s existing sites. It will also allow the program to expand services to two new sites: Kistler Elementary Center in the Wilkes-Barre School District and an elementary program at Pittston Area School District. SHINE, which stands for Schools and Homes in Education, served students in seven centers in the 2018-2019 school year. Wilkes is the higher education partner for the program which was brought to Luzerne County by state Sen. John Yudichak and former Congressman Lou Barletta. School districts served by the program are Hanover Area, Greater Nanticoke Area, Wilkes-Barre Area and Wyoming Valley West.
• The John S. ’72 And Renate Dargel ’72 Kerr Scholarship is awarded to a first-generation college student who is an active participant in campus activities or clubs. • William And Donna Schwab Endowed Scholarship. • Charles A. And Linda E. Sorber Scholarship In Engineering was established in 2018 by Linda E. Sorber, Esq., to be awarded to students majoring in environmental engineering. • The Frank And Geraldine Witt Endowed Scholarship For Veterans is awarded to a student attending Wilkes University on the GI Bill, with preference given to Pennsylvania residents.
CARDELL FINANCIAL CENTER
MILLER OFFICE SUITE
The Cardell Financial Center on the first floor of the University Center on Main was dedicated in recognition of Dan Cardell ’79’s generosity and years of service to Wilkes University. Cardell has been a member of the board of trustees since 2008 and currently serves as its chair.
The office suite in the lobby of the Sordoni Art Gallery was named in recognition of Bill Miller ’81 and his 30-plus years of service to his alma mater. Miller joined the University’s board of trustees in 1999 and currently serves as the board’s vice chair. He was instrumental in the recent reinvigoration of the Sordoni Art Gallery and provides leadership as a member of the gallery’s advisory commission.
Pictured at the dedication, from left, are Fred Herrmann ’79, Brigette (McDonald) Herrmann ’78, Dan Cardell ’79, Anne Marie “Puddy” (Booth) Cardell ’79
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS More than $1.9 million in new endowed scholarships established by generous donors in the 2018-2019 academic year will support educational opportunities for Wilkes students. New endowed scholarships include: • The Jane Carpenter Borr Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District majoring in education with a preference for elementary education majors. • The Cynthia A. (Lenahan) Bradbury Scholarship is awarded annually to a female student pursuing a degree in a STEM-based major. The student should have a 3.0 GPA minimum, reside in Luzerne or Lackawanna County, and demonstrate financial need. • The Emilie Roat Gino Scholarship awarded annually to a first-generation college student majoring in education preferably with a concentration or minor in the sciences.
THE BORZELL CLASSROOM President Patrick F. Leahy and Jack Borzell, Mary Claire Borzell, Julianna Borzell and Prahlad Murthy, interim dean of the College of Science and Engineering, dedicated the Borzell Classroom located in Stark Learning Center, room 259. The room is dedicated in memory of John Anthony “Beno” Borzell who graduated in 2011 with a degree in environmental science. During the ceremony, the Borzell family presented Wilkes with a check for $10,000 which supports an endowed scholarship in John Anthony “Beno” Borzell’s memory. Each year, the Borzell family hosts a golf tournament which provides the scholarships to students at Wilkes and at Wyoming Area High School.
• The John and Ethel Kashulon Foundation Scholarship created by a gift to the University from the John and Ethel Kashulon Foundation, is awarded to a sophomore or junior majoring in business administration or a business-related field.
CROMWELL THOMAS COLLABORATION LAB
THE MELBERGER COURTYARD
The industry collaboration lab in the Mark Engineering Center was dedicated in memory of Professor Cromwell Thomas, a longtime member of the department of engineering and physics at Wilkes. The recognition was made possible through the generosity of John ’70 and Jane Thomas Cefaly. Jane Cefaly is the niece of Professor Thomas. The lab features impressive views of the newly renovated Campus Gateway and provides students with the opportunity to engage in collaborative projects.
The courtyard at the center of the Stark Learning Center was dedicated in honor of Clifford and Ruth ’62 Melberger in recognition of their many contributions to Wilkes. Their philanthropy includes The Ruth Boroom Melberger ‘62 Scholarship, an endowed scholarship that has supported many Wilkes students in their educational journeys.
Pictured at the dedication, from left, are President Patrick F. Leahy, Jane Thomas Cefaly, John Cefaly ’70 and Mike Wood, assistant to the president for external affairs.
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COMMUNITY I M PA C T
COMMITTED TO BEING A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY WITH A PUBLIC PURPOSE A commitment to the community has been a part of Wilkes University’s mission and values since its founding. Today Wilkes is a positive force for economic, social and cultural development through initiatives that support and grow the regional economy, enhance educational opportunity and provide hands-on community service by students, faculty and staff. Wilkes’ substantial, positive impact in 2018-2019 programs provided both financial and in-kind support.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SUPPORT
FAMILY BUSINESS ALLIANCE
County and city governments are supported with over $155,000 in direct contributions from the University.
The Family Business Alliance supported 39 member businesses this year in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.
Wilkes faculty, staff and students provided 122,581 hours of service last year. The organization Independent Sector, which advocates nonprofit organizations in the United States, values this time spent in service at $3,117,235.
• The alliance held several programs geared to unique family business issues. Mitzi Perdue from Sheraton Hotels and Perdue Chicken Farms presented on “How to Make Your Family Business Last.” Gerard Donnellan of Boston College was the keynote speaker addressing attendees at a half-day program examining “Improving Family Business Communication.”
5,600+ elementary and high school students in the region benefit from programs sponsored by Wilkes including Science in Motion, Women Empowered by Science, Adventures in Science, Earth and Environmental Science Day and art and reading camps.
• The Alliance’s educational programs for family businesses are open to Wilkes students, affording them the opportunity to hear and learn about issues facing businesses today and to network with area business owners.
SCIENCE IN MOTION Wilkes is part of a consortium of 10 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania that brings the Science in Motion program to school districts. The program provides middle- and highschool students with access to advanced science experiments, equipment, and instruction for enhanced STEM learning – all at no cost to schools. Mobile educators bring all supplies needed for a variety of science experiments. The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
SHINE TRANSFORMS CHILDREN’S LIVES Wilkes University serves as the higher education partner for SHINE of Luzerne County. Since its inception, SHINE in partnership with Wilkes plays a role in transforming the lives of more than 500 elementary and middle school students from six school districts. The after-school program embraces the “third learning space,” the valuable time that falls between the end of the traditional school day and before students return home to their families. Using a STEAM-based curriculum, focusing on science, technology, engineering, the arts and math, experiences provided by SHINE foster the development of 21st century skills. Those skills – communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity – prepare students for success in school and later in the workforce. In addition to providing in-kind administrative support year-round for the program, Wilkes hosts an annual College for a Day program for SHINE each summer where elementary and middle-school students sample higher education first-hand.
ALLAN P. KIRBY CENTER FOR FREE ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP The Center supported 47 client businesses – 27 run by Wilkes students, faculty and staff and 20 led by community clients. • 11 U.S. patents and one trade secret have been issued to clients of the center. • $15,820 in pro bono services from professionals such as attorneys and insurance specialists was provided to clients.
UPWARD BOUND AT WILKES UNIVERSITY Upward Bound complements Wilkes University’s commitment to educate first-generation college students. The U.S. Department of Education-funded program supports low-income students and those in their family who may be the first to attend college.
• $755,000 was obtained via grant and other funding in support of the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and its clients’ businesses. This included a $5,000 grant from Ben Franklin Technology Partners for the Center and $750,000 in capitalization investment by clients.
• 129 students from 14 Luzerne County high schools participated in the program in 2018-2019.
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
• 39 students graduated from the program in 2019, with 38 entering college and one joining the military
The Small Business Development Center assisted clients in securing $18,298,701 in financing. It is the highest amount achieved by the center since its formation in 1980.
The following numbers convey SHINE’s impact during the 2018-2019 academic year:
• The Center helped 36 clients start or purchase a business.
501 students participated in SHINE at seven after-school centers. 620 family members attended monthly Family Nights. 36,180 meals were served. 940 home visits were conducted for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. 455 hours of homework help was provided among SHINE’s seven centers.
• The Center held 14 training programs drawing 279 attendees in the five counties that it serves. In addition, Center staff provided 3,026 hours of one-on-one consulting to business owners.
• • • • •
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In 2018-2019, Wilkes Science in Motion mobile educators in biology and chemistry reached 4,839 students in 35 schools in 24 school districts in nine counties in northeast Pennsylvania.
• Alliance members receive reduced tuition for business owners, their family members and all employees.
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C O M M U N I T Y I M PA C T
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BY THE NUMBERS
$100M
96%
I N CA M PU S EN H A N C E M EN T S
O F W I LK ES UN DER GR A DUAT E
A RE T RA N S F OR M I N G W I L K ES
S T UDEN T S A R E PLACED I N JO B OR
I N TO A T R A D I T I ON A L
GR A DUAT E A N D PRO F ESSI O N A L
RE S I D EN T I A L CA M P U S.
DEGR EE PRO GR A MS.
$3M+
1,600
RA I S E D F OR T H E
BACHELO R ’S, MA ST ER ’S
F I RS T G EN E R AT I ON
A N D DO CTO R A L DEGR EES W ERE
S C H OL A R S H I P F U N D.
CO N F ER R ED I N 2 018- 2019.
$2.9M
51%
RA I S E D I N EN D OW ED
O F ST UDEN T S A R E T HE
P RO GRA M S A N D S C H OL A R S H I P S
F I R S T I N T HEI R FA MI LI ES TO EARN
P ROV I D I N G N EW OP P ORT U N I T I ES
A F O UR -YEA R DEGR EE.
F O R W I L K ES S T U D EN T S.
PRESIDENT’S CABINET
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dr. Anne Skleder Senior Vice President/Provost
Daniel Cardell ’79, Chair William R. Miller ’81, Vice Chair Dr. Daniel Klem Jr. ’68, Secretary/Assistant Treasurer Laura B. Cardinale ’72, Treasurer/Assistant Secretary
Dr. Paul S. Adams ’77, M’82 Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Abel Adekola Dean of the Jay S. Sidhu Business School Dr. Jonathan D. Ference Pharm.D. ’03 Associate Provost for Student Success Joseph Housenick Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Bridget Giunta Husted ’05 Executive Assistant to the President Dr. Prahlad Murthy Interim Dean of the College of Science and Engineering Janet M. Kobylski Assistant Vice President of Finance and Treasurer Loren D. Prescott Jr. Vice President of Finance and General Counsel
Carolann Besler ’76 Rev. Michael Brewster Terrence Casey ’81 Dr. Cynthia Charnetski ’97 Charles F. Cohen Jeff Davidowitz Raymond Dombroski ’78 Randa Fahmy ’86 William Grant M’86 Jason Griggs ’90 Ellen Stamer Hall ’71 Seymour Holtzman ’57 Melanie Maslow Kern John Kerr ’72
Milan S. Kirby Dr. Patrick F. Leahy Gregory MacLean ’78 Randall Mark ’81 George J. Matz ’71 Gerard McHale Jr. ’67 George Pawlush ’69, M’76 Thomas Ralston ’80 Hedy Rittenmeyer ’72 Eugene Roth ’57 Steven Roth ’84 Dr. Elizabeth A. Slaughter ’68 Matthew Sordoni
FACULTY AFFAIRS COUNCIL Dr. Andrew P. Miller, Chairperson Associate Professor of Political Science
Dr. Rhonda Rabbitt Dean of the School of Education Dr. Paul Riggs Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
UNIVERSITY STAFF ADVISORY COUNCIL
John C. Stachacz Dean of the Library and Information Technology
Jacqueline Lukas ’11, Chairperson Manager of Alumni Relations and Advancement Special Projects
Margaret Steele Chief Development Officer Dr. Scott K. Stolte Dean of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy
STUDENT GOVERNMENT Hunter Hughes Student Government President
Dr. Terese M. Wignot Associate Provost for Enrollment Michael J. Wood Assistant to the President for External Affairs Dr. Deborah A. Zbegner Dean of the Passan School of Nursing
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