York College Magazine 2020 Volume 3 by York College of Pennsylvania

COLLEGE MAGAZINE 202 0 VOL. 3

STUDY IN SCULPTURE ART IN THE CLASSROOM

CO N T EN TS

COMMUNITY 4 Around Campus

Innovative Spirit

5 Meet Charles MacVean

York College’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation major feels like the “perfect fit” for student and business-owner TeAsia Lewis ’21.

9 Overheard 10 Engaging York 12 Spartan Sports

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PURSUITS 14 Research

Data Analysis Helps Employers Prevent Spread of COVID-19

15 Hands-On

Associate Professor of Psychology Perri Druen, PhD, collaborated with a team of researchers to review data that would predict an employee’s mindset about COVID-19. < PAGE 14

FEATURES 16 Model Teacher

Learning From Crisis

In Focus: 20 Socially Distanced Intramural Sports

Dr. Nick Delener says for businesses around the globe, leadership, imagination, and execution will be of great importance in navigating life after the coronavirus pandemic.

22 Learning From Crisis

From day one, Abby Foxwell ’21 has taken full advantage of the state-of-the-art chemistry labs and hands-on research available at York College. As President of the Chemistry Society, she enjoys encouraging other young women to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

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CONNECTIONS 26 Alumni News

John Wilkens ’02

29 Alumni Spotlight

Agency Principal, Robert Wilkens Insurance Agency, John Wilkens uses his success as a springboard to give back to his community and to his alma mater.

33 A Glimpse of Our Past

< PAGE 29

STORY ON PAGE 4

Photo by Our York Media

Cover photo of Wyatt Kennedy ’20 and the new steel teaching sculpture taken by Our York Media.

YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 0 V O L . 3

VIE W FRO M M Y WIN DOW

YORK COLLEGE

President Pamela Gunter-Smith, PhD

FO RU M

Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs Laura Niesen de Abruña, PhD

My fall column normally focuses on the College’s plans and priorities for the coming year: new initiatives, new programs, new buildings, or services. However, given the unprecedented times in which we now find ourselves, my thoughts turn to preparing our graduates for a “new normal.” I for one could not have predicted the concurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. Both will mark the year 2020 as a defining point of a generation. Issues underlying the Black Lives Matter movement are not new. Recent protests and demonstrations speak to the injustices recognized by the Black community and increasingly understood by people of all races. However, not since 1968, another tumultuous time in our nation’s history, have the inequalities and pain of racism been so vividly exposed. No, violence and the destruction of property cannot be justified or condoned. However, it is hard to turn a blind eye to injustices resulting from systemic racism in our country.

Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Mary Dolheimer Vice President, Enrollment Management Daniel Green, DMA Vice President, Campus Operations Kenneth Martin, PhD Vice President, Business Affairs and CFO C. Matt Smith, CPA Dean, Center for Community Engagement Dominic DelliCarpini, PhD Head of School, York Country Day School Christine Heine, EdD YORK COLLEGE MAGAZINE

York College is not immune to TO racism. E the past several months, I have COMIn

Director of Editorial Services Gail R. Huganir

on our campus. York College can do better and I am committed to fostering a

Director of Creative Services Lance A. Snyder ’05

had conversations with our students of color and others regarding the climate serious dialogue about racism on our campus. As they say, talk is cheap, but I am working with students and colleagues to develop an actionable agenda to promote change. We are also committed to change in our York community. The College’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE) in downtown York expands the dialogue surrounding social issues faced by our community. For example, the CCE’s Glatfelter Institute for Public Policy recently hosted a webinar with the York City Police Commissioner to discuss public policy decisions’ impact on the current state of policing. The CCE is also engaged in the effort to garner support for local minority-owned businesses by York’s large employers. This is just one of the educational platforms the College provides for students outside of the classroom that helps them develop empathy for the plight of others. Finally, a key element of a York College education must be the ability to think critically. Nothing speaks more to this than the information and disinformation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The three Rs of education should be more than “reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic.” It needs to include seeking and finding truth—research and reflection—before reacting. Our students must incorporate verifiable facts and scientific data into their decision-making. And in doing so, understand that the consequences of their actions affect us all. York College has been educating students since 1787, evolving to meet the challenges of a changing world. This is an important time in our history and we will continue to do just that.

Pamela Gunter-Smith, PhD President, York College of Pennsylvania

Vice President, Development Troy Miller

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Design Consultant Skelton Sprouls Photographer Mike Adams Writer Colleen A. Karl Senior Administrative Assistant Colleen M. Adamy CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send address label along with new address to: Division of College Advancement York College of Pennsylvania York, PA 17403-3651 717-815-1410 or email yorkmag@ycp.edu York College Magazine is published three times a year (May, August, December) by the Division of College Advancement, York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA 17403-3651. Periodicals postage paid at York, PA, and additional mailing offices. Permit No. 174. © 2020 York College of Pennsylvania. Printed in U.S.A. We welcome your news and comments at yorkmag@ycp.edu. York College of Pennsylvania does not discriminate because of race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, sex, or age in employment or in recruitment and acceptance of students.

HOW DO WE ENGAGE AND MOTIVATE K-12 STUDENTS TO LEARN WHILE PROTECTING THEM FROM COVID-19? Kimberly Kode Sutton, PhD Chair, Dept. of Education, Director of Special Education Programs, Associate Professor of Education One of the things we learned with the abrupt shift to virtual instruction was that some of what we associate most with today’s schools—like standardized testing and grades—actually proved to be not that important after all. We discovered, instead, the value of the more intangible elements of school: structure, predictability, security, access, relationships, and a sense of community. Teachers are amazing people—magicians, really—who do remarkable things under extreme pressure for the good of their students. They will continue to use all of the tools available to them to help their students learn. However, for students to be truly engaged and motivated during this challenging time, they need a continued emphasis on those intangible elements that we all realized are actually foundational to learning.

Nicole Hesson , EdD Assistant Professor of Education, Director of Middle Level, Secondary, and K-12 Education Programs Engaging and motivating students is difficult in a regular classroom environment. In today’s world of COVID-19, this task becomes more daunting. The best way for caring adults to motivate students is by providing as much flexibility and choice as is feasible. Teachers can be flexible with due dates and give students choices in how to complete assignments. Parents can allow their children to design their own flexible schedule by asking them the order in which they would prefer to work on their various subjects or extending lessons in which children seem particularly invested. Even limited choices go a long way for young people. Creative flexibility can engage students in a safe and structured way so they feel motivated to learn in these uncertain times.

Josh DeSantis, DEd Director of Graduate Programs in Behavioral Sciences and Education, Associate Professor of Education All teachers are in the attention business. Like movies, YouTube, and Instagram, we compete for the eyeballs of America’s young people. In many ways, teaching in the twenty-first century feels like selling Brussels sprouts at an ice cream parlor. One of our great advantages, pre-COVID, was the ability to leverage the physical interconnectedness of the school experience to connect with our students. We showed them we cared by giving fist bumps on their way to class, wishing them good morning in the hall, and breathing passion and life into our classroom instruction. Fortunately, educators now have many highly effective tech tools that can help us get kids to “eat their vegetables.” By leveraging these tools, we can reproduce some of the same types of engagement that inspired kids pre-COVID and motivate them to continue to engage until we can all return to our classrooms.

“ Teachers are amazing people— magicians, really—who do remarkable things under extreme pressure for the good of their students. They will continue to use all of the tools available to them to help their students learn.” — KIMBERLY KODE SUTTON, PhD

YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 0 V O L . 3

A RO U N D CA M P US

COMMUNITY

M EE T CH A RL ES M. M ACV E A N, P h D Dean, Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology

A STEP AHEAD Abby Foxwell ’21 chose York College after touring the campus. The state-ofthe-art chemistry labs and hands-on research would be open to her even as an undergraduate, something Foxwell saw only graduate students doing at larger universities. “That one aspect— getting to use equipment in the lab— can put you a step ahead,” she says. But she wanted to do more than just go to classes. She wanted to encourage

“We can see our world changing every day, and I want my work to make an impact.” — ABBY FOXWELL ’21 While she’s still not certain on the exact career path she’d like to take, Foxwell has found her interests developing in environmental work. She’s considering animal conservation research and habitat reconstruction, as well as animal pharmaceuticals. “We can see our world changing every day, and I want my work to make an impact,” she says. “York College has encouraged me to explore whatever path interests me, and I know they’ve given me a good foundation to succeed.”

GIVING A GOOD ACCOUNT

E V EN TS

Accounting major Jasmin Layne ’21 is quick to point out her favorite spots on campus and share how a professor has helped her succeed. As a Student Ambassador and Orientation Leader, Layne shows prospective students how much York College has impacted her life.

to the close relationships like the ones she found at York College, Layne is excited to embark on a career that counts. “No matter where I end up, I know I’ve gained valuable experiences that will set me up for success,” she says. “I’m excited for that future.”

other young women to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). She found that opportunity in the Chemistry Society, where she is now President. Here, students and faculty not only dive into their passions related to chemistry, but they visit area schools and invite students to the YCP campus. Foxwell finds ways to explore realworld application for chemistry—which she thinks would be easy entry points for younger students.

PRESIDENTIAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP Getting involved on campus is one of the ways she developed strong connections at college. She’s a member of the Accounting Club and spent the past two years as treasurer for UNITY, a multicultural club. She also spent the past two years as a member of the YCP Road Crew, visiting alumni in different states through networking events. While COVID-19 has changed some of her interactions with first-year students, Layne still finds ways to connect with people through virtual tours or alternative events. “Things are different, but it’s been good to know that the College cares,” she says. “I think we can still have positive experiences despite what’s going on in the world.” Last fall, Layne decided to enroll in YCP’s Early Entrance Accounting Graduate program. By 2022, just one extra year of school, she will receive her Master’s in Accounting. It was an opportunity Layne’s advisor brought to her attention when she decided she wanted to pursue becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). With her heart set on working for a small firm, one that might lend itself

MUSIC DEPT. SHOWCASE THREE

JESSI HARDESTY: BEYOND THE VEIL

December 5, 2020, 4 p.m., virtual

Exhibit open until December 5, 2020 1st Floor, Marketview Arts

December 7, 2020, 7:30 p.m., virtual

Call 717-815-1354 for information.

YO R K C O L L E G E O F P E N N S Y LVA N I A

STUDENT PIANO SHOWCASE: THE MUSIC OF LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

The York College Presidential Research Fellowship (PRF) Program is designed for exceptional students who want to engage in a four-year detailed study of a specific question using a variety of research methods. Research Fellows receive a fulltuition scholarship that enables them to develop and conduct a multiyear project that contributes new knowledge or new expression to a field of study. During the first year, Research Fellows discover their interests by attending scholarly lectures, meeting internationally renowned experts, practicing information literacy and research skills, planning the York College Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, and discussing shared readings with the PRF faculty advisors. The second and third years are focused on defining and investigating their research question under the guidance of a faculty mentor in their discipline. One of the most rewarding processes for our faculty is witnessing the evolution of learning when they mentor our students individually. During the Research Fellows’ senior year, they make their findings public by giving lectures, presenting at professional meetings or Continued on page 6

What is your area of expertise and how do you use that knowledge with the students in your department?

What are your plans to build upon the Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology?

My area of expertise is applied entomology, which includes understanding the role insects play in agricultural ecosystems, how they can be managed, how to take advantage of beneficial species, and how indigenous cultures utilize insects. I have taught courses in entomology and involved many students in my research. As dean, I use this experience broadly to support faculty in developing research with students, across our various fields of science, engineering, and technology.

The Kinsley School has wonderful and talented faculty who are committed to a hands-on, fully engaged experience with their students. I wish to build on the success of individual departments and faculty for increased interdisciplinary projects, new programs, and very importantly, to maintain a high degree of enthusiasm and dedication.

What led you to higher education and what are you most passionate about? I was initially driven to a career in higher education by a passion for research, and my first 15 years were spent in Central America and Mexico in research-intensive faculty positions. I also taught undergraduates and always believed fervently in the value of the hands-on research experience. I’ve developed my career in supporting both teaching and research in mostly undergraduate programs for the benefit of students’ capabilities and for faculty professional satisfaction.

“I always believed fervently in the value of the hands-on research experience.” — CHARLES M. MACVEAN, PhD

With the current pandemic, how has your school specifically pivoted to meet the needs of students? I couldn’t be more proud of the responses my faculty have devised to deal with the pandemic. They are making remarkable use of the available resources and teaching methods to handle both remote and in-person teaching. They are keeping their students engaged and connected despite the odds. In addition to maintaining their usual effectiveness and rapport, they have become IT experts and Zoom wizards! — C.K. YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 0 V O L . 3

EDUCATION BUILT FOR IMPACT

A RO U N D CA M P US

research symposiums, and publishing articles in student research journals. Undergraduate researchers have the broad perspective, enthusiasm, and energy that leads to improved skills in critical thinking and communication. This high-impact practice promotes students to emerge as leaders in multiple professions after graduation. Currently 16 students are in various stages of research on a variety of topics such as perspectives of the American Dream, detecting compounds from CBD oil in human hair, long-term health outcomes of living in poverty, how nonprofits consider input from the people they serve, the relationship between media bias and political bias, and information security during the Middle Ages. — C.C. Editor’s Note: Read about research on the American Dream in literature by Presidential Research Fellow Sophie Barnes ’22 (below) on page 14.

INNOVATIVE SPIRIT

E V EN TS

After graduating from the York County School of Technology with a license in Cosmetology, TeAsia Lewis ’21 wasn’t ready to start work for someone else. “I wanted to be my own boss,” she says. For Lewis, the only program she sought in the area existed at YCP. “That sealed it for me.” The Entrepreneurship and Innovation major felt like the perfect fit. She was close to home and could keep costs down by commuting. As a recipient of a merit scholarship administered by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Young Entrepreneur Foundation in honor of York businessman Richard Reinhardt, Lewis didn’t have to choose working over taking on extra projects and all that the College offers.

While the pandemic certainly threw the young entrepreneur some curveballs, she’s learned much about adapting. And in business, that’s a necessity. In January of 2020, Lewis launched her first business, Looked At Beauty, a beauty-accessory company that makes keychain accessories that can hold lip gloss, eyelash tools, or even door openers. While the pandemic certainly threw the young entrepreneur some curveballs, she’s learned much about adapting. And in business, that’s a necessity. “I could have decided to wait,” she says, “but I’m also looking for innovation. That’s what I want to follow.”

WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS

ASSEMBLAGE

Exhibit open until December 12, 2020 3rd Floor, Marketview Arts

Exhibit open until January 2021 Center for Community Engagement

Call 717-815-1354 for information.

YO R K C O L L E G E O F P E N N S Y LVA N I A

A photographic representation of Black togetherness.

CONNECT YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS WITH REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES. ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH A YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA GRADUATE DEGREE. Discover our full graduate program portfolio: ycp.edu/graduate

” I have been able to build lasting connections with staff that support, encourage, and believe in me to try things outside of my comfort zone. Each class, I walk away with renewed excitement for my career and the endless possibilities it holds for my learners.” Brianna Weaver, MEd candidate 3rd Grade Teacher, York, Pennsylvania

A RO U N D CA M P US

LEADING AND LEARNING

E V EN TS

After a campus tour, David Eckhart ’21 and his parents met Stephen Kuchnicki, PhD, Chair of the Mechanical Engineering program. Kuchnicki showed Eckhart the high-tech labs and state-of-the-art classrooms, and spent nearly two hours showing him the course guide, discussing scheduling, and talking about career opportunities. Eckhart says, “That one-on-one attention and the personal relationship was important to me. I knew that I’d found something unique here.” “Mechanical Engineering has really taught me how to approach a challenge,” he says. “We’re often given a concept and that’s it. It’s up to me to create the next steps that get me to an end goal.” Developing his skills in engineering was just one of Eckhart’s goals. He also wanted to find opportunities to stretch himself and become a leader. As a first-

#YCP GIVES

February 18, 2021, All Day Virtual Formerly known as YCP Day of Giving Go to www.ycp.edu/ycpgives for more information.

YO R K C O L L E G E O F P E N N S Y LVA N I A

“It’s up to me to create the next steps that get me to an end goal.” — DAVID ECKHART ’21 year student, he joined the Campus Activities Board and helped plan events for students. Soon after, he ran and was elected to Student Senate, on which he served for almost three years. Eckhart joined the SpartaNation Road Crew and sat on the Student Welfare Committee. He also worked to introduce other prospective students to the opportunities they might find in the Kinsley Engineering Center. As an Orientation Leader and later an Orientation Coordinator, Eckhart helped visiting high school juniors and seniors explore the possibilities of a York College education. “It meant a lot to be able to show students the engineering opportunities, but also everything else that York College offers,” he says. “There is no shortage when it comes to learning here. If you want to push yourself to grow, York College will help you do that.”

OV ERH E A RD

Normally he works in the Emergency Room, but since WellSpan set up testing sites outside the ER, he has been reassigned to collect samples from suspected coronavirus patients. Though the ER has slowed down, Cohenour is busier than ever on the frontline testing and treating patients. What helps him get through is the camaraderie among his colleagues. He laughs and says he’s teased for telling too many “dad jokes.” “I know it’s important to keep our spirits up, even though things can be pretty serious,” he says. “We’re all working through this together.”

“It’s seen as a dog whistle. It’s not just about crime. It is a politics of fear, I think, rather than a politics of fighting crime. I don’t think until after the election will we know if it worked. It doesn’t need to work among the population in general, it needs to work amongst very targeted populations in very targeted states.” Peter Levy, Professor, History, York College, was quoted in an article, “Trump Revives Nixon’s Law and Order Message—Here’s Why It May Not Work This Time,” published online with Newsweek, September 8, 2020.

EMPATHETIC EMT Biology major Trevor Cohenour ’22 is no stranger to emergencies. As an EMT at WellSpan York Hospital, he’s experienced firsthand the symptoms and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus. After being tested, he waited a week to see if he’d tested positive. Cohenour, who resides with his parents, worried over exposing them. He isolated himself to one room of his home as his mother is considered a high-risk patient due to her lupus. “The stress made it really challenging,” he says. “What if my exposure made my mom sick?” Cohenour’s test results came back negative, but he used his experience to return to work and make a difference.

YCP SENIOR STUDENT EXHIBITION

January 5– February 20, 2021 Center for Community Engagement December graduates showcase their senior portfolios.

“Intelligence relations matter. If one doesn’t think so, they just need to revisit the 9/11 commission report from a decade-and-a-half ago. The report highlighted the issue of stove piping whereby intelligence agencies more interested in protecting what they saw as proprietary information, failed to share it with other members of the intelligence community (IC).” John Weaver, Associate Professor, Intelligence Analysis, in the article, “Relations between intelligence agencies matter—this is why,” published online in the Opinion section of the PennsylvaniaCapital Star, September 8, 2020.

“So many things have happened since 1995, new things that were never even considered civil engineering then and now are. We’re looking at the role of data analytics now. No one was really doing that then. We know AI is coming forward. How is that going to impact buildings? The whole idea of the Internet of Things. How do we integrate all of this? It changes the way we can operate and should operate. And it means that as a profession we have to keep up.” Scott Hamilton, Professor and Chair, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, York College, was quoted in an article, “ASCE Releases Roadmap for the Future of Civil Engineering Education,” published online with ASCE News, July 9, 2020.

“When we breathe in, we breathe in a whopping 6 liters of air per minute. You can imagine the number of foreign particles, including viruses that can be brought in by just a single breath. These viruses require the droplets they’re encased in to travel and maintain their ideal environment. By putting a mask on, any droplets that leave your mouth or nose, become trapped and cannot spread. We don’t always have the complete answers regarding COVID-19, but we do build from what we already know about similar viruses including other known coronaviruses. We’re not starting from scratch.” Meda Higa, Associate Professor, Biology, York College, was quoted in an article “COVID UPDATE 7/12: 1 death, 22 new confirmed cases reported in Butler County,” published online with the Butler Eagle, July 21, 2020.

“General education is what makes people successful in a complicated society. The learning outcomes taught in these early courses, whether critical thinking, quantitative skills, or working in teams, are those that have been identified as the outcomes that make you successful.” Laura Niesen de Abruña, Provost, York College, was quoted in an article, “What are Gateway Courses and why do they matter to equity in higher ed?” published online with Every Learner Everywhere, June 2020. YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 0 V O L . 3

EN G AGIN G YO RK

PROJECT GOALS:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Students in the new Ecological Action course learned about Tyler Run Creek, which runs through the College’s campus.

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ECOLOGICAL ACTION COURSE York College is known for its projectbased learning and community service. The new Ecological Action course taught by Professors Bridgette Hagerty and Jessica Nolan, first offered in spring 2020, provided Biology students with a remarkable opportunity to expand their knowledge. “We were very excited for students to learn how conservationists approach an ecological problem,” Nolan says.

Students were keen to get involved and set the following goals during the first week: 1) Investigate and describe the relationship between Tyler Run Creek, York College, and the surrounding community in a historical context. 2) Assess the abiotic and biotic characteristics of Tyler Run to describe the current conditions. 3) Evaluate restoration techniques and recommend short- and long-term actions to improve stream functions, taking into consideration financial constraints, and 4) Communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

I nvestigate and describe the relationship between Tyler Run Creek, York College, and the community in a historical context. ssess the abiotic and biotic A characteristics of Tyler Run Creek to describe the current conditions. valuate restoration techniques and E recommend short- and long-term actions to improve stream functions.

“As an urban stream, we anecdotally knew that Tyler Run potentially was not functioning as a typical natural stream does. This course offered us the opportunity to learn more about the creek in a meaningful way.” — PROFESSOR BRIDGETTE HAGERTY

ommunicate findings and C recommendations to stakeholders.

“As an urban stream,” Hagerty says, “we anecdotally knew that Tyler Run potentially was not functioning as a typical natural stream does. This course offered us the opportunity to learn more about the creek in a meaningful way.” Students also began to reach out to stakeholders and met with Dr. Ken Martin as a representative of the College administration and Dr. Jennifer Pomeroy, Chair of the President’s Sustainability Task Force. The class dug into the College archives and the scientific literature on streams to begin to understand the history of Tyler Run. Students started to collect data by completing what is known as a rapid stream assessment—which gives a snapshot of a stream’s condition by thinking about impairments caused by humans. They quickly recognized that Tyler Run has many characteristics of an impaired urban stream. They identified the types of data that they could collect to get a more detailed view of the stream.

Then COVID-19 caused the campus to shut down, which altered the class’s plan dramatically. Students continued to work as a team using Google docs and Zoom, but were unable to fulfill their initial goals. Senior Erika Scheppelmann says, “Ecological Action was different than what I had initially imagined; however, it was still a fun class and well worth the experience gained.” Hagerty and Nolan were impressed with the students who developed a sincere stewardship ethic for the creek. When the class had to quickly switch to an online format, students “demonstrated true resilience,” Hagerty says, “and began to gather information on stream restoration. Using available information, they developed a one-year, low-cost restoration plan to make specific improvements to the land surrounding the creek, known as the riparian buffer, and the riprap that currently lines the stream.” As a result of the changes to the course from COVID-19, the restoration

plan written by the students was not what they originally set out to complete. Hagerty and Nolan are now working with other faculty in an interdisciplinary effort to learn as much as they can about the stream. Other courses that have also been investigating topics related to Tyler Run are Environmental Sociology, Advanced Water Resources Engineering, and Advanced GIS. “We are excited about the possibilities as more faculty and students work collaboratively to see the creek through the lens of different disciplines,” Hagerty says. “Our next step is to collect the baseline data that we planned to collect in spring 2020.” Hagerty and Nolan say Ecological Action will be offered again in spring 2022, and they will be involving research students in the project in the coming semesters. “Our hope is that we can keep up momentum and involve more faculty and students in our efforts to raise awareness about Tyler Run.” — G.H.

YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 0 V O L . 3

SPA RTA N SP O RTS

SPA RTA N SH O RTS

The Spartans announced their 2020 Hall of Fame class. The seven honorees comprise the 30th class in the history of the Spartan Athletic Hall of Fame. April (McFarland) Bastress ’09 (field hockey) Erin (Kuhn) Cangelosi ’08 (women’s soccer) Emily (Sullivan) Donatelli ’08 (women’s soccer) Kyle Flickinger ’09 (wrestling) Ryan Poff ’09 (baseball) Evan Scheffey ’09 (men’s soccer)

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE At only 2 years old, Jordan Koller ’22 watched her father try his hand at swinging a club in the backyard. She laughed at how funny he looked so he put the club in her hands to see if she could do any better. As she grew up, she developed a love for the game. At 12, she joined the PGA Junior League Team format and competed for six years before deciding to attend York College. The Maryland native hadn’t even considered the College until she received a letter about the new program for women’s golf. “I decided to visit and knew it was the right place for me,” she says. Koller has always been a good student, but golf has been more of a challenge. “I saw the rewards of working hard for something, and I grew to appreciate that,” she says. “It brought out a lot of positive characteristics in me.” Her love of golf led her to pursue a Sport Management major. Koller plans to help other young women develop

YO R K C O L L E G E O F P E N N S Y LVA N I A

the skills and passion for golf that she’s found. She was able to put that into practice this past summer as a junior golf intern running junior golf tournaments with the Mid Atlantic PGA. Visiting familiar territory in Virginia, Koller had attended some of the same camps as a high school student. Though often one of the only females at camp as a child, she heard one mother express her gratitude for Koller as a female golf leader that her own daughter could look up to. “It was really rewarding to know I could be an example of how a woman can have a future in sports,” Koller says. The internship experience allowed Koller to apply much of what she learned in her Sport Management classes. Along with communication and coordination skills, she brought with her an understanding of what the studentathletes are going through on the course. The grind of an 18-hole course in the summer heat, and now with face masks and COVID-19 precautions to consider, can be grueling. “The coach isn’t going to be able to pull you out of that,” she says. “It’s a mental game,

“It was really rewarding to know I could be an example of how a woman can have a future in sports.” — JORDAN KOLLER ’22

and I’ve been in that position.” With her internship behind her and a new year underway, Koller is ready to get back on the golf course to continue improving her own game. Thanks to a partnership with the Country Club of York, Koller has access to a challenging, beautiful course. “From my coach to my professors, there are a lot of people at York College who are working to bring out the best in me,” she says. “I’ve found experiences here that have prepared me for my career.”

Keli Ward ’09 (women’s basketball)

Kelly Wakeman has been selected to lead the Spartan women’s soccer program after the retirement of longtime head coach Vicki Sterner. Wakeman comes to the Spartan program from Muhlenberg College in the Centennial Conference.

The MAC canceled intercollegiate athletic competitions until January 2021, wiping out the fall 2020 season and the start of the 2020-2021 winter campaign. A determination on the restart of athletics is expected in late November.

TEAM OF THE DECADE HEADING TO A NEW HOME York College officially joined the Middle Atlantic Conference on July 1. The Spartans became the 18th member of the league and bring their 23 varsity programs to the MAC as they will play in the MAC Commonwealth. The Spartans will compete for MAC Championships in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf, wrestling, men’s and women’s swimming, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field. The Spartans depart the Capital Athletic Conference after 30 years in the league. York was one of the founding members of the CAC in 1989-1990, and captured 38 CAC team championships, received 55 Coach of the Year awards, 50 Player of the Year awards, and 61 Rookie of the Year awards. The Spartans join the Commonwealth which features Albright, Alvernia, Eastern, Hood, Lebanon Valley, Messiah, Stevenson, and Widener. Eastern is joining the Commonwealth after having spent last year in the Freedom side of the league.

The York College Athletic Communications Office has unveiled plans for a “Team of the Decade” series for the Spartan athletics website this fall. The teams are selected from the years 2010 through 2019. Teams will be announced each week beginning with the week of Sept. 21 and run throughout the entirety of the Fall Semester, recognizing a different Spartan program(s) each week. The teams will be selected by a committee consisting of administrators, athletic communications staff members, and coaches. These teams are not meant to be formal in any way, but rather for the enjoyment of our fans, alumni, and supporters as we take a look back at a stellar decade in York College athletic history. The selection committee will aim at forming a starting lineup, as best as possible, for each sport with the possibility of expanding that number to accommodate a larger number of strong candidates.

All-Decade team member for men's soccer, Zion Friday (above), and volleyball, Madyson Whitcomb (right).

► YCPSPARTANS.COM

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PURSUITS

H A N DS- O N

“In modern time, does the American dream have a place?” — SOPHIA “SOPHIE” BARNES ’22

STUDYING THE AMERICAN DREAM IN LITERATURE Sophia “Sophie” Barnes ’22 has a long list of books and poems that try to capture the concept of the American Dream. The Literary and Textual Studies major grew up surrounded by some of these classic examples of American literature. Her father, a high school English teacher and professor, helped with that. But as Barnes entered high school, she became fascinated with the theme of the American Dream. “There are a lot of examples of people striving for something more, but they don’t always reach what they’re striving for,” Barnes says. “It was a lightbulb moment for me, and I wanted to know more.” That curiosity led Barnes on a journey that would become part of a larger project under the Presidential Research Fellowship Program, which fosters academic research while providing full scholarship opportunities for students. Barnes started her research with The Great Gatsby, where a series of characters chase their own version of the American Dream, often defined by material success and wealth. “I don’t think anyone in the end reached their version of the American Dream,” Barnes says. “It prompted me to start looking at sociological aspects of the American Dream. Is it something Americans really believe in? Or is it something we’re told we should believe in?” Her research led her to the poem Harlem by Langston Hughes, which became the backbone of her research. The dream starts out as something pleasant before turning sour and then exploding. As her project progressed, she dove into the works of Benjamin Franklin and Washington Irving, written when the country was new and hopeful.

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Works by Flannery O’Connor started to question if the American Dream existed or if it was available to everyone, Barnes says. In Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions and Slaughterhouse-Five, the dream becomes nonexistent. “The question now is, if, as a culture, we’ve moved past our cynicism,” Barnes says. “Is there still hope that the dream exists?” As Barnes’s research brought her to modern literature, she identified with a lot of modern perspectives on the American Dream. “We’re clearly at a very pivotal time in history with COVID-19, racial injustices, and a president unlike any we’ve had before,” she says. “When I started this, we were more or less in a peaceful time where the dream was something I could picture and imagine. In the last year, it’s been discouraging to see what our country is capable of. In modern time, does the American Dream have a place?” For Barnes, her personal definition of the American Dream is a lot less tangible than for past generations. Her meaning is less about material satisfaction and wealth and more about feelings of satisfaction and happiness. It’s a mentality her research shows aligns with many of her generation. Next in her research, she might look at television and movies, and she hopes it becomes a jumping-off point for a dissertation. “The American Dream is something thrown around in English and history classes, but I never felt I was given the chance to dig into it further,” she says. “It’s opened my eyes to the broader American experience and the dividers that define the dream for everyone.”

DATA ANALYSIS HELPS EMPLOYERS PREVENT SPREAD OF COVID-19 Perri Druen, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at York College, collaborated with a team of researchers to review data that would predict an employee’s mindset about COVID-19 to help employers lessen the spread of the virus. Preventing accidents in the workplace is a top priority for employers across the country. But when COVID-19 threatened the health and well-being of employees, businesses lacked the resources to prevent the spread of a virus unlike any the country has seen in modern times.

“We saw two groups in America starting to pull apart on whether they thought the guidelines were legitimate.” — PERRI DRUEN, PhD

“It became apparent pretty early on that this would require a long-term response,” says Druen. She specializes in social and personality psychology, which often uses scales to determine how people respond to different situations. A consulting firm out of Chicago, which works with employers on accident prevention programs, wanted to develop a way for its clients to measure the risk factors of its employees so businesses could determine who needed to work from home or who required more safety training. Druen was brought onboard along with faculty from other universities, including her former graduate school advisor at the University of Louisville. Together, the researchers developed more than 50 questions that were sent

out in a survey. Responses from that survey came in between April 8 and May 12. A second set of questions were sent to the same respondents 14 to 24 days later. “Overall, we were trying to create a reliable and valid scale to assess what we call a coronavirus behavioral health mindset,” Druen says. “It generally assesses a person’s bio safety risk. We wanted to measure someone’s willingness to accept their responsibility to protect themselves and others and follow the guidelines at home and at work.” People who had higher scores and were more willing to follow the guidelines tended to be older and had the personality attributes of agreeableness and openness, and were interested in social vocational interests. People who scored lower tended to express a conservative political affiliation and had realistic vocational interests, such as bricklayers or roadworkers. “When we started, the coronavirus wasn’t highly politicized,” Druen says. “As we continued, it became more divisive. We saw two groups in America starting to pull apart on whether they thought the guidelines were legitimate.” The results of the data analysis were used by the consulting firm to build an app that employers can use to gauge an employee’s mindset about COVID-19 to help employers lessen the spread of the virus. Capturing that perspective helps an employer determine if it might be better for an employee to work from home or if they require additional protocol training. Druen and her colleagues also are working on creating another scale that will track whether people believe the threat from the virus is being exaggerated or downplayed. “As a professor of psychology, it’s great to be able to show my students that research is something that has real-world application and isn’t something very dry that’s only done in a lab,” Druen says. “I had a lot of support from my own students and York College colleagues who participated in the research.”

LEFT TO RIGHT: WVYC Music Director Jacquelyn Spicher ’23 (Du Bois, PA), Jeffrey Schiffman, and WVYC Program Director Alexa Scranton ’22 (Freehold, NJ) in the studio.

Jeffrey Schiffman Instructor, Audio & Radio Production and Mass Communication also serves as WVYC Radio Station Manager Being a mentor to students is something Jeffrey Schiffman takes very seriously. It’s what he found to be the best part of his job as WVYC Radio Station Manager and Instructor of Radio Production and Mass Communication. “I love to find what students do best and what their niche is going to be,” he says. “I love being able to have that one-on-one with a student who is really motivated.” Schiffman encourages students to pursue their interest and develop work and projects around that interest in the real world. With the freedom to choose their topic of choice, students have the opportunity to get handson experience in any area of interest and develop skills not only unique to broadcasting or radio, but in any area of mass communication their path takes them. “The skills that they learn either running the radio station or being on the air—that confidence that they gain—is something they can use in their careers,” says Schiffman.

Coming from a background in radio and diverse areas of mass communication, Schiffman never really thought of himself as being a teacher. “But, getting a professional to teach radio production class is a smart thing,” he says. He draws on his over 34 years of industry experience to inspire the next generation.

“I love being able to have that one-on-one with a student who is really motivated.” — JEFFREY SCHIFFMAN

“I’m really passionate about radio and audio,” says Schiffman. “I’m passionate about learning more and that’s the one thing about the communications field. It’s literally changing on an everyday basis.” — C.K.

If you would like to participate in the next round of research, you can do so anonymously using this link: https://www.research.net/r/CVBHMIII YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 0 V O L . 3

COVER STORY

MODEL TEACHER ART IN THE CL ASSROOM

Just weeks before John “Jack” Stubbs would have accepted his college degree in August 2020, his peers helped see the installation of a steel teaching sculpture in his memory outside the Civil Engineering Center.

Photos by Our York Media

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M O D EL T E ACH ER

Stubbs died in his sleep from natural causes in October 2018. He was part of the first class of Civil Engineering students at York College and left a positive impact on his classmates, fraternity brothers, and others in the engineering community. “I think people should know that he was the most kindhearted, genuine soul you could ever meet,” says Becky McCloskey ’20, who had several classes with Stubbs. “He was always willing to help other people even if he didn’t know them personally.” The sculpture will help future Engineering students, as will the Jack Stubbs Memorial Scholarship, which will be launched by next school year.

York College’s sculpture is 9 feet tall and shows various types of steel construction and connections, including roof and foundation pieces, welded sections, bolted pieces, reinforcements, and basically anything you’d ever see in a steel-framed building. Faculty can use the structure to show students real-world applications of what they’re teaching in the classroom. “It’s a great way for the College to honor Jack while doing something that will benefit future students,” says Professor Scott Hamilton, Chair, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, who worked with students, Stubbs’s family, and the engineering community on making the project a reality. “It took everyone working together to make it happen.” Stubbs’s fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, quickly raised almost $10,000 after his passing. They wanted to offer it to the family to help pay for any unforeseen expenses because of the student’s sudden death, but the family said they didn’t need it. Instead, they asked if the money could be put to better use to enrich the campus or the lives of other students.

“We got to thinking that perhaps this could go toward a steel teaching sculpture, which we’ve wanted to put on campus since the Civil Engineering program was started four years ago,” Hamilton says. The fraternity decided to put the money they raised toward the project, and others got busy raising an additional $40,000 to have the sculpture put up and a scholarship established. The sculpture itself comes from a design from the American Institute of Steel Construction, and similar sculptures are in place on over 170 different campuses worldwide. York College’s sculpture is 9 feet tall and shows various types of steel construction and connections, including roof and foundation pieces, welded sections, bolted pieces, reinforcements, and basically anything you’d ever see in a steel-framed building. Faculty can use the structure to show students real-world applications of what they’re teaching in the classroom. In addition to the sculpture, the College worked with Stubbs’s family as well as local engineering companies and professional societies to create a scholarship. The Stubbs family generously donated the money they saved for his remaining education to assist future Civil Engineering students at York College. A future scholarship is planned for a student who best represents the qualities of Stubbs: having a good academic standing, being active in the YCP Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and participating in other campus activities. Fundraising is ongoing and the scholarship is expected to grow. Many of Stubbs’s classmates graduated this past August. They celebrated years of hard work and were ready to embark on their careers—but not before honoring the friend who never got to finish his college experience. Shortly before commencement, they gathered outside the Civil Engineering Center to see the sculpture and celebrate his memory. Tanner Yanick ’20 hopes the sculpture helps others learn about Stubbs. “I believe his death made me more thankful for the other great people who are in my life,” he says. “I truly try to live and work in a way that I know would make him proud.” “It gives us a physical way to remember Jack every time we come to campus,” says Wyatt Kennedy ’20. “It gives me some reassurance that his legacy will always be remembered here.”

“It gives us a physical way to remember Jack every time we come to campus. It gives me some reassurance that his legacy will always be remembered here.” — WYATT KENNEDY ’20

LEFT TO RIGHT:

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Civil Engineering graduates Becky McCloskey ’20, Wyatt Kennedy ’20, and Tanner Yanick ’20, and Professor Scott Hamilton admire the steel teaching sculpture.

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IN FO CUS

SOCIALLY DISTANCED INTRAMURAL SPORTS Intramural sport student employees and Sport Management majors, Connor Haines ’23 (left) from Middletown, DE, and Amari McGhee ’22 from Cockeysville, MD (right), train to flesh out the rules and game operations for Knocker Soccer. This is a new-to-YCP intramural team sport activity using Knockerballs that allows for social distancing, great exercise, and camaraderie. Over 200 students in 28 teams have registered for a 4-week season playing each other in friendly competition.

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T H E STAT E O F B USIN ESS

LEARNING FROM CRISIS HOW THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS BY NICK DELENER , PhD, INTERIM DE AN AND PROFESSOR, GR AHAM SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Illustration by Nuthawut Somsuk

The health crisis we are currently experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic and social crises have put us in an unexpected and complex situation. Challenges that we were already examining, such as globalization, technology, the environment, democracies, poverty, inequality, and international institutions, have and will continue to become more glaring and our concerns have become more widespread. The world will not be the same after this. Companies need to reconceptualize their business models in order to come back from this crisis stronger than before. Those who use this moment to improve will be far more prepared to confront the issues (and opportunities) of the next crisis. Recovering gradually as the COVID-19 crisis diminishes will not be enough. Businesses will need to completely reassess their revenue profile to position themselves for the long term and stay ahead of their competitors. Companies need to determine what customers, post-coronavirus, will value and develop new tailored experiences based on those insights. Due to disruptions in supply chains, adaptability is crucial, which may mean considering nontraditional partnerships and collaborations. The crisis has quickened the shift to technology, and the best companies are going even further by strengthening and broadening their digital options. To be successful, businesses need to use advanced analytics to combine new sources of data with their own insights to enhance their links to their customers. >>

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T H E STAT E O F B USIN ESS

REGAINING COMPETITIVENESS

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

HOW WE’ VE ADAPTED

Successful companies will act quickly to re-stabilize their global asset base and supplier mix. They will also need to remodel their supply chains and operations to protect against a more acute and wider range of potential surprises. The once-common global sourcing model in product-driven value chains has regularly declined as new technology and consumer demand patterns support regionalization. I expect this trend to be expedited. Most companies were digitizing their operations before COVID-19, and if they expedite these efforts now, they will more than likely see considerable benefits in production, quality, and end-customer connectivity. In this operation, flexibility could be pricey, but leading innovators have demonstrated how “Industry 4.0” can considerably reduce the cost and increase resilience. While the coronavirus hastened the pace of existing automation and technology and employees have learned how to accomplish tasks using digital communication and collaboration tools, there will be even more changes in operations, with a decline in repetitive and manual work and a rise in the need for technical and analytical support. This shift will require a considerable investment in workforce engagement and training in new skills. Over the past few months, there has been a dramatic change in the way we work, travel, interact with loved ones, receive medical care, spend our leisure time, and handle everyday transactions. This transformation has expedited the movement of digital technologies. When reopening after the crisis, business leaders will face radical changes in, for example, consumer behavior and demand patterns. How the economy rebounds will vary from country to country and even from city to city. To successfully handle the recovery, companies must analyze the early signals of the sudden influx of increased consumer demand in real time and adjust quickly in order to bring back services and supply chains. To deal with these issues, business leaders will need to create an ambitious plan and deliver it promptly— in two or three months as opposed to the usual year or more. For businesses around the globe, leadership, imagination, and execution will be of great importance in navigating life after the coronavirus pandemic.

To reduce the impact of future crises, here are a few recommendations for leaders to keep their performance on track:

Higher education institutions are facing challenges posed by the rapid move to online learning due to global pandemic. Some parts of the curricula are affected more profoundly than others. York College of Pennsylvania has stepped up to address the challenges presented by the social distancing required to deal with the global pandemic. Our Graham School of Business faculty were able to move from face-to-face to remote teaching in a short time, which is very inspiring. Internships have been handled remotely. Experiential courses have been handled through alternative projects such as online simulations or independent studies. We are now offering synchronous online and hyperflex classes. Hyperflex classes contain a customized blend of online and in-person classes that require access to the Internet, Canvas, and other learning modules such as MyLab. While hyperflex classes allow for some in-class instruction, social distancing prohibits the physical sharing of course materials. As such, all faculty members provide online access to course materials and assignments. Graduate programs in the Graham School of Business offer the ability to switch between in-person and remote attendance. This ensures that any additional constraints on a student’s time due to the pandemic will not derail their educational goals. Our graduate students have the flexibility to participate in their classes on campus or remotely without interrupting their work schedules.

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Evaluate the financial damage. To create a rebuilding plan, leaders must first determine how much their business has been affected by updating financial statements and comparing them to previous numbers. Revisit your business model. The business plan that worked great prior to the pandemic may have to be tweaked. You may need to examine how your company can pivot to adapt to a new normal. For example, brick-and-mortar stores may have to look at expanding sales digitally rather than relying on foot traffic.

Update your budget to account for new costs. After the pandemic, you may need to be prepared to invest in growth opportunities. As part of the recovery, businesses must understand what they can cut and what they need to allocate to make the most of the earnings they have coming in. The goal is to eliminate monetary waste and make the operating budget as efficient as possible so that when opportunities arise, businesses can take advantage of them.

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Establish a timetable for recovery. It would be beneficial to have a timeline that prioritizes the company’s most important actions. There may be many things you want or need to rebuild, but doing all of it at once may not be feasible.

Develop an emergency plan for the next crisis. While this uncertain time may seem like a oneoff event, a crisis can come about at any time. Using what you learned from this experience can help protect your business from future disturbances. COVID-19 has taught us how crucial it is to adjust and keep our businesses flexible so that they can weather storms. Preparing for the worst-case scenario requires outside-the-box thinking. Having backup plans for tough financial times can increase the chances of survival and ensure that your business flourishes again.

THOSE WHO USE THIS MOMENT TO IMPROVE WILL BE FAR MORE PREPARED TO CONFRONT THE ISSUES (AND OPPORTUNITIES) OF THE NEXT CRISIS.

WHEN A SYSTEM HAS FAULTS AND WEAKNESSES, FORCED CHANGE CAN BE GOOD. CONCLUDING REMARKS Systemic risk is closely associated with paradigm shifts. Systemic change can alter entire systems, especially business systems, and result in systemwide transformation. However, this pandemic is a systemic shock for businesses around the globe. This pandemic has altered social systems, economies, and customers’ values, expectations, and behaviors. The future will bring new regulations, business partners will fail, the competition will react, and employee ambitions will change. These forces will clash and substantially change business systems. The changes will be swift and extraordinary, and business strategies will need to adapt. Even before COVID-19, corporate management was grappling with the speed and scope of technological transformation. While this transformation is inevitable, successful leaders will use their digital operating systems to take advantage of the disruption caused by the pandemic. When a system has faults and weaknesses, forced change can be good. The systemic risk that led to this difficult time can also lead to the beneficial systemic change. We can always do better, and now we must.

NICK DELENER, PhD Dr. Nick Delener is Interim Dean of the Graham School of Business. He most recently served as Interim Dean of the School of Business and Economics at Indiana University East in Richmond, IN. Prior to this position, Delener served as Dean of the School of Global Business at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA. Before Arcadia, he served as Dean of the School of Business at the State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury. YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 0 V O L . 3

CONNECTIONS

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CONNECTIONS DR. DONALD E. AND LOIS J. MYERS SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS DR. DONALD E. MYERS Retired physician Dr. Donald E. Myers made a $5-million gift to York College of Pennsylvania in memory of his late wife to name the Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions. “The gift from the Myers family will provide a transformational opportunity for the School of Nursing and Health Professions to develop much-needed new programs in the health sciences, such as Occupational Therapy,” said Provost Laura Niesen de Abruña. “We have been planning to add this program and others for several years but did not have the right funding until the Myers family stepped in with their extremely generous gift. I look forward to expanding the programs offered by the School, just as we had envisioned in our strategic plan.” A 1951 graduate of York Junior College (YJC), the predecessor of York College of Pennsylvania, Myers said the gift allowed him to recognize the College’s role as a stepping stone to his 40-plus-year career as a physician in York and also to honor his wife’s memory. Myers enrolled in YJC “at a time in my life where I didn’t have a lot of money to attend college and I lived in York, so attending was economically practical.” He also received a scholarship from the Rotary Club of York. “I came to find out that there was outstanding instruction at YJC, particularly Harry Bauman in chemistry.”

“At that time, it was very difficult to get into medical school, perhaps because schools were flooded with applications from veterans returning from service,” he said. “F&M and Michigan State were the two schools in the nation, interestingly enough, that were highly ranked. With a good scholastic record from them, you were very likely to get into medical school. Fortunately, good grades and all classes from YJC transferred to F&M.” Myers returned to York to complete an internship and residency at Memorial Hospital after graduating from medical school. After several years working in the Memorial Medical Center, he bought his own office on East Market Street, where he practiced until his retirement.

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LOIS MYERS

“The gift from the Myers family will provide a transformational opportunity for the School of Nursing and Health Professions to develop much-needed new programs in the health sciences, such as Occupational Therapy.” — PROVOST LAURA NIESEN DE ABRUÑA

TOP: At YJC, Donald E. Myers was a

member of Mu Et Kappa and is shown in the front row, 2nd from the right.

ABOVE: Donald E. Myers was a member of Student Council and is 4th from the right in this photo.

Myers was a member of Mu Eta Kappa and served on the Student Council for YJC. After graduating with an associate degree in chemistry, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College, and then served for two years of active duty during the Korean War in the Army Medical Corps. He completed medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1960.

Lois Myers was an elementary school teacher, having earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in Nebraska. She taught at St. John Elementary School in York for three years, and then taught at Gloria Dei School in Ambler, Pennsylvania, for four years while her husband attended medical school in Philadelphia. When Donald and she returned to York, she taught at Lincoln Elementary School and took several courses at York College. She received a master’s in education from Millersville

“A truly remarkable gift, it is the spark that will launch new programs, particularly in allied health fields.” — YORK COLLEGE PRESIDENT PAMELA GUNTER-SMITH

“I wanted to make a gift to York College now, as I’ve witnessed its admirable growth. I also wanted my wife, Lois, to be remembered.” — DR. DONALD E. MYERS

NEZAM AL-NSAIR TO SERVE AS DEAN Dr. Nezam Al-Nsair began serving as the inaugural dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions in July 2018. He left York in 2019 to serve as Executive Dean of

University in 1983 and a Reading Specialist Certificate, and served as a reading specialist at the Dallastown Middle School until her retirement. She also wrote two screenplays that were featured on the national television show “The Rifleman.” “Lois was known to be a very kind person,” Myers said. “She was always pleasant and liked by many. She never found any fault with anybody and was a great peacemaker, a very loving mother, and a teacher with whom students stayed in touch.” Lois passed away in 2017. She and Donald have two daughters: Christine, who lives in Vermont, and Melisa, who lives in York County. “We are so grateful to Dr. Myers for his extraordinary gift naming the Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions,” said York College President Pamela Gunter-Smith. “The resources provided will secure York College’s position as a major producer of healthcare professionals for our region. A truly remarkable gift, it is the spark that will launch new programs, particularly in allied health fields.” “I wanted to make a gift to York College now, as I’ve witnessed its admirable growth,” Myers said. “I was presented with a number of options, but it seemed appropriate that my gift support the School of Nursing because of my background in health sciences.” “I also wanted my wife, Lois, to be remembered in some way or other,” he said. “I wanted her name to appear somewhere other than on her tombstone.”

Health Sciences in the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates, and will return to York College to again serve as dean of the Donald E. & Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions in January 2021. Al-Nsair earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Science in Nursing from Villanova University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan.

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EVOLVE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR YORK COLLEGE For over 230 years, York College has been evolving to better serve our students, our alumni, and our community. Last year, we celebrated our past with the 50th anniversary of YCP as a four-year institution; this year, we celebrate our future, our mission, and our commitment to establish a new generation of Spartans. On October 1, 2020, we launched EVOLVE: The Campaign for York College, our first-ever comprehensive campaign. EVOLVE: The Campaign for York College began in the summer of 2017 with the creation of the College strategic plan. Since then, thousands of donors have supported seven areas of focus. These focus areas include: Academic Excellence and Innovation, Spartan Athletics, the York College Fund, Scholarships, York Country Day

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School, the Center for Collaborative Innovation (including the new Knowledge Park, Engaged Scholars Program, and the Center for Academic Innovation), and Spartan Commons (the new center of campus and gateway to learning). Our financial goal for the campaign is to raise $55 million toward these important objectives. But, it is not only about the money. With this support, York College will continue to be the premier destination for students seeking an education that integrates career preparation with a strong foundation in the liberal arts, and will be a catalyst for positive change in higher education and the broader community. That is how we measure success.

Why invest in York College?

John Wilkens ’02

York College is worthy of investment. We graduate students and we help find them careers. It is in our DNA. We achieve it with fantastic educators, facilities, project-based learning, and most importantly, students with grit. But, like any investment, looking at the return is key. Our students enjoy an average classroom size of 19 individuals and a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 89% of our faculty hold the highest degree possible in their field. York College is also among the national best buys in higher education and among the top 15 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania that provide the best performance at the lowest possible cost. At York College, 91% of our alumni find jobs or continue their education in their field after graduation. This is what your investment allows to thrive; here, at YCP, it changes lives for the better.

Agency Principal, Robert Wilkens Insurance Agency

Why is EVOLVE different than other campaigns? While York College of Pennsylvania has had several successful campaigns in the past, these were centered on particular projects or buildings. EVOLVE is a comprehensive campaign based on the College’s strategic plan, mission, and vision. In addition, the main purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness, engagement, and participation from our alumni and friends. By virtue of our constant evolution, YCP is a very different college than the one many of our alumni attended as students. We want our alumni to be proud of their alma mater as they act as our future leaders for the next 50 years of our history. If you have already made your investment in York College, thank you very much for your gift. Your investment is making a difference and you have seen the power of your investment. Your support matters. If you want to learn more about the EVOLVE campaign and to make your investment in the future of York College, visit evolve.ycp.edu. We are York College. We are evolving. We are Spartans! — Troy Miller, Vice President, Development

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Using success as a springboard to give back to your community and your alma mater is at the center of John Wilkens’ experience as a rising figure in the insurance industry. And his commitment as a York College alumnus is one reason that he has received a 2020 Spartan of The Year Award from the College. Wilkens is the agency principal at Robert Wilkens Insurance Agency, which has three locations in Northeastern New Jersey—and a new branch just about to open in Southwest Florida. He was also a 2019 recipient of Insurance Journal’s Top 20 Insurance Agents in the United States. “I’m second generation to the agency,” says Wilkens. “I came in right after graduating from York College.” The firm specializes in property casualty. “We work with a lot of small business owners,” Wilkens observes. “Homeowners. People who have investment properties. That’s really our niche.” Wilkens says the pandemic has given the agency a chance to demonstrate its essential nature and its values. “A lot of our small business owners got hit hard,” he says. “So we’ve been proactively reaching out to everyone, whether it’s reassessing workman’s comp policies, or payroll estimates and the number of employees, and seeing what the true sales are going to be so we can reduce rates that way. We’re just trying to get ahead of it.” Being in the insurance industry means knowing your community, and Wilkens has seized on that knowledge to give back in his own region. The tragic death of his cousin provided Wilkens with the opportunity to co-create the Darren Drake Foundation (www.darrendrakefoundation.org) with his aunt, uncle, and sister, which provides Bergen County Trade School students financial support as they learn and grow. He is also a member of the board of the Eastern Bergen County Community Chest, which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. A York College education—and a degree in Public Relations—helped give Wilkens a solid foundation for his success. He points to strong mentorship from Associate Photo by Bud Glick Photography

Professor of Communication Brian J. Furio as a highlight of his degree program. “He is someone I could always turn to,” recalls Wilkens. “He really connected the dots between school and the real world.” York College graduates often cite the school’s internships as a vital part of their professional trajectories. Wilkens points to his experience with local beer distributor Brewery Products as a key learning experience. “They had a slogan there—Making Friends Is Our Business— and it kind of stuck with me,” he recalls. Wilkens says that he got to see “the full spectrum” in his time at Brewery Products. “I was on sales calls a few days a week. And I’d be in the marketing department for one full day a week....To be honest, you learned even just being in the garage.”

Being in the insurance industry means knowing your community, and Wilkens has seized on that knowledge to give back in his own region. — Richard Byrne

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“I really honed my skills…”

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Ivan Villalba ’85 stands next to Eichte Welt 2020 (Real World 2020), which is now located in Grantley Hall.

— SAMANTHA “SAM” NICODEMO ’15

CHANGE OF PLANS With a fascination for culture, Tajah McCray ’20 chose to study International Relations at York College, imagining herself someday working for the United Nations. “I felt like it was a major that would allow me to really make an impact in the world,” she says. “Having a better understanding of the world has made me a more well-rounded person.” International travel fed McCray’s curiosity about other countries. As a child, she would visit Trinidad, where she’d meet extended family on her mother’s side of the family. As a Caribbean native with deep Creole traditions, from the music to the food, McCray still carries the early fascination of learning her family’s heritage. As a college student, that curiosity spread to other cultures. She spent December 2019 in India, volunteering in a children’s orphanage. Everything from the distinctive clothing the women wore to the vegetarian diets fascinated McCray. She took note of the difference in infrastructure, from highways to bridges, and even bathrooms. The month-long trip was not long enough, she says. Hoping to expand her roadmap, McCray was ready to check Benin, Africa, off her list. She planned to teach English to students with the Peace Corps following graduation when COVID-19 canceled her trip. “I was certainly bitter and disappointed when I first found out I wouldn’t be going,” she says. “I had to think about what was next for me.”

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That’s when McCray decided to apply for graduate school. She was accepted into the MA in Diplomacy and International Relations program at Seton Hall University. It may not be where she planned to land right after graduating, but it’s another step closer to her career goals—and one she’s excited to take. “York College gave me the opportunities to learn about places and people,” she says. “I made great memories during those trips, but I also learned to try to understand how and why those countries operate the way they do. It gave me a deeper appreciation for our differences and similarities. And even though I can’t travel now, I plan to get back out there as soon as I can.”

BEING CREATIVE AT ESPN Samantha “Sam” Nicodemo ’15 believes in crafting her future. She began her education at YCP thinking she wanted to be a screenwriter. A big fan of television and movies, she wanted to put her creative juices to work in creating future programs. But, Nicodemo says, she always had in the back of her mind to choose a field that gave her options. That’s why she chose Professional Writing.

She learned to write in a variety of styles and voices, but always kept an eye on the entertainment industry with a Film Studies minor. About halfway through college, Nicodemo considered a double major in Mass Communication. “When I realized that would extend my education by a whole year, I tried to get creative to save myself the time,” she says. This led Nicodemo to a self-designed Video Production Minor and internship with CBS 21 in Harrisburg, where she worked in the Creative Services Department and saw the commercial side of production. After graduation, Nicodemo headed off to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she worked as a Promotions Producer for NBC News 3. About a year later, Nicodemo returned to CBS 21, where she had originally interned. The manager of the Commercial Department quickly recruited Nicodemo as a commercial producer. She wrote, shot, directed, and edited all of her own work. “It was there that I gained the freedom and confidence to try a lot of new things,” she says. “I really honed my skills and took a lot more chances using design and animation.” When it came time for Nicodemo to take the next step in her career, she took a shot at ESPN. Today, she works with producers to create

longform content for the network. She’s had a hand in a variety of different brands and sports programs under the ESPN umbrella, including NFL Countdown, Monday Night Football, SportsCenter, and NBA. Nicodemo looks back at her time at York College and says that’s where she learned to adapt her voice to different mediums. “Professional Writing not only made me versatile, but it made me crave versatility in a career.”

A GIFT OF ART FROM IVAN VILLALBA This summer, Ivan Villalba ’85 donated a 5-foot-tall, 18-foot-wide painting titled Echte Welt 2020 (Real World 2020) to York College. While the original theme was Globalization prior to the pandemic, the piece evolved during the wake of COVID-19. Villalba stayed true to his style and delivered an abstract work that can now be found in Grantley Hall. Villalba pursued a bachelor’s degree in Marketing at York College, where he saw a potential career opportunity for his creative abilities. “I was fortunate to have studied marketing that taught me fundamentals that I apply today,” he says. While attending York College, Villalba was a member of the Marine Corps Reserves in Harrisburg and after graduating, he continued in the military as a Marine officer. It was in the 1990s after his honorable discharge that he picked up his paintbrush and pursued commissioned work opportunities. Now, living in Louisville, Kentucky, Villalba runs Ivann LLC. During summer

“It beautifies the campus, it lifts up, and celebrates the gifts and success of an outstanding alumnus, and it makes a declaration of the College’s commitment to the arts.” — GLENN MILLER

2019, he contacted the College and offered to create a custom painting. Glenn Miller, Senior Director of Philanthropy, spoke with Villalba to determine the theme, the size, and future placement of the art. “A gift like this is important on several levels,” Miller says. “It beautifies the campus, it lifts up, and celebrates the gifts and success of an outstanding alumnus, and it makes a declaration of the College’s commitment to the arts.” With York College becoming an internationally renowned institution, the theme was selected to be Globalization with all its pre-pandemic virtues. Villalba, having the background to provide the art including an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami, and having traveled extensively, felt well versed for the task. Just as he acquired all of his supplies for the project including a specialized frame and canvas from Canada, in late March Villalba became sick with COVID-19. While Villalba was able to avoid hospitalization, he says, it was impossible for him to paint. It wasn’t until the first week of May that he felt well enough to pick up his brush. On July

28, 2020, the completed painting was installed in Grantley Hall. Even though Villalba is unsure if his illness influenced the work, his wife Dana says, “It definitely did. His original plan was different from the completed painting. He never intended the painting to be about himself, but it is an impression from an artist who was impacted by the virus.” “I hope that anyone who walks by the painting, who stops to view it, or routinely goes by, can take whatever they need from it as art is intended to be,” he says. “That’s my gift. And I’m grateful that the College was so open to receiving it. The beauty of having the ability of merging art and marketing is the primary skill I learned at York College.”

WINNER

WHAT YEAR IS THIS? A big thank-you to all those who guessed the year of the photo we showed from YCP Archives earlier this year. The winner is Rosanne Middleton ’88 who correctly said the photo was taken in 1972. Congratulations Rosanne! Your YCP mug will be on its way soon. YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 0 V O L . 3

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TRAILBLAZER Dana (Brubaker) Cotton ’81 felt like a trailblazer when she decided to enter York College as one of the first students in the new Nursing program. “I was excited to be one of the first.” The Lancaster County native had first set her sights on medical illustration. She was told she’d need a bachelor’s degree with a background in sciences if she wanted to pursue that path. Nursing seemed like the best first step. When faculty members were looking for someone to design a pin for the Nursing program, she was happy to lend her talents. “lt was a nice way to contribute something that would be lasting,” she says. As she progressed further along in her studies, Cotton realized she enjoyed the personal interaction that nursing provided.

A G L IM PSE O F O U R PAST

Cotton worked for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Occupational Health and ran the Animal Exposure Surveillance Program. She primarily worked with veterinarians to screen human researchers working with primates for tuberculosis or hepatitis B: two deadly diseases for primates. If humans spread these diseases to the primates it would have a devastating effect on research at NIH. After two years with the NIH, Cotton accepted a position with the Office of the Attending Physician on Capitol Hill. She was one of 12 civilian nurses working with a team of five Navy internal medicine doctors and a team of Navy corpsmen at the U.S. Capitol. The role of the Office of Attending Physician is to support Congress for continuity of government. For a nurse who loves American history, the 12 years at the U.S. Capitol were quite memorable.

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The next five years were no less memorable when Cotton moved across the street to the Supreme Court’s Health Services Office. It was a unique experience to go from nursing in the Legislative Branch of government to the Judicial Branch. On December 31, 2019, Cotton celebrated her retirement from government service. Now relishing her retirement in Maryland, she is volunteering and spending time with her grandson. Looking back, Cotton says she’s proud of the path her career took. She hopes Nursing students just graduating from the program at York College will be open to their own careers going in ways they might not expect. “Don’t shut the door on opportunities that take you in a different direction,” she says. “Sometimes that new direction will take you on an amazing nursing journey you never would have imagined for yourself.”

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Sign up to be a volunteer ambassador for #YCPGIVES and keep the excitement alive as we work to reach our goals! Contact Atticus Rice, Assistant Director, York College Fund, at arice6@ycp.edu to get involved.

Throughout the year, York College graduates share milestones and successes from around the world. From wedding, engagement, and birth announcements to job promotions, creative projects, travel, and fun, Class Notes show what’s happening in the professional and personal lives of alumni. Class notes are published three times per year in an electronic format. Submissions are subject to edits and space restrictions. To view Class Notes or to submit your news, please visit www.ycp.edu/alumni. Any questions? Email alumni@ycp.edu.

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Keep in Touch. Q: What breaks when you say it? A: Silence! We’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch soon! Visit ycp.edu/alumni, email alumni@ycp.edu or call 717-815-6642.

York College’s Archives welcomes donations of college-related materials. Contact Karen Rice-Young at kriceyou@ycp.edu, 717-815-1439 for more information.

YORK JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENT CONVOCATION, 1965:

“THE IRRATIONALITY OF RACISM” John Howard Griffin, author of the bestselling book Black Like Me, spoke to a crowd of nearly 1,500 on September 28, 1965, in YJC’s gymnasium. During the one-hour lecture, Griffin discussed his experiences as a white man passing for Black in the Jim Crow South of 1959. Griffin was born and raised in Mansfield, Texas. In 1941, he was awarded a scholarship in music to the University of Poitiers in France. It was while he was there that he first witnessed an unsegregated society. He was in a café with a friend when a Black man sat down next to him. Griffin asked his companion, “Do you allow them here?” His friend responded, “Why not?” Griffin said, “This was a question I never before asked myself.” It was a turning point. Griffin joined the French Resistance as a medic, smuggling Jews out of Europe before the Germans took over France. Addressing the audience at YJC, he compared the purge of Jews in Europe by the Nazis to the abuses of people of color in the South. He said, “After the War when I came back to the South, everything was the same except that instead of the ‘Jewish problem’ it was the ‘Negro problem’.” Griffin was struck by the attitudes of educated, spiritual people who possessed “blind spots of irrationality” where civil rights were concerned. Griffin concluded, “a society cannot frustrate a human being without not only destroying him but itself as well,” but he believed there was some hope for equality. He added, “Those things that unite us as human beings are common things, and those things that separate us are superficial.” He received a standing ovation. According to the student newspaper, The Yorker, Griffin met with a crowd of students in the lobby. When asked if he would consider living as a Black man again, he responded, “It would be more difficult to attempt this experience again because now I know what it is like.” The title of Griffin’s book is from the poem Dream Variations by Langston Hughes: Rest at pale evening A tall slim tree Night coming tenderly Black like me. — Karen Rice-Young ’92

Cynthia Rudacille ’67, recalls that Griffin was very well received.

Edith Pyle ’66, was very impressed with Griffin’s message.

Avery White ’74, thought Griffin was brave and that he was “aware of our blackness and conscious of how others perceive us. I knew my fellow students were amazed by his story.” TOP:

Griffin talks with students in the lobby after his lecture. ABOVE:

(First Edition pbk.) 1960

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