California University

Volume 21, Number 1 JAN. 21, 2019
KEEP UP WITH CAL U NEWS ONLINE: calu.edu/news

Grant
Funds
Habitat
Projects

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Kacie Kubitza, a secondary education major, laughs and claps during the conclusion of the undergraduate ceremony.

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Degrees Awarded at Winter
Commencement

al U’s 187th Commencement ceremonies began with a
milestone — the first students ever to receive doctoral
degrees from the University.
The weekend concluded with another unusual event: the
guest speaker’s friend being the final graduate to walk on stage
to get his diploma.
Four students — Melody Gardner ´12, Kaman Hung ´08,
Richard “Rick” Richey ´06 and Rosanne Woods ´05 — each
earned degrees in the Doctor of Health Science and Exercise
Leadership Program (D.H.Sc.).
Before conferring degrees to more than 1,100
students, University President Geraldine M. Jones
addressed the four doctoral candidates at a morning event

where they presented the results of their research.
“You have developed high-level analytical skills and
have learned to form solutions to complex, real-life issues,”
President Jones said. “Trust in your own abilities and talents,
and use them to the fullest.
“You are part of a milestone moment in California’s
history and we are very proud of you.”
Alumnus Timothy P. Camus ’84, retired deputy inspector
general for investigations with the Treasury Inspector General
for Tax Administration in Washington, D.C., addressed
graduates at both ceremonies at the Convocation Center.
The final candidate to receive his degree at the
— Continued on page 3

artners for Fish and Wildlife,
a conservation collaborative
based at Cal U, will restore
hundreds of acres of fish and
wildlife habitat thanks to a grant
from the Richard King Mellon
Foundation.
The $800,000 grant was awarded
to the Foundation for California
University of Pennsylvania, which
receives and manages funds on behalf
of the University.
The funds will support a two-year
effort to:
• Fence and improve at least 35
miles of stream banks.
• Restore more than 400 acres of
upland habitat, primarily young forests
and pollinator habitat.
• Restore more than 130 acres
of wetlands.
• Improve water flow in more than
five miles of stream habitat to allow
fish to move freely.
The work will be completed in 11
key geographic areas in western and
north-central Pennsylvania. Habitat
restoration is designed to support
“species of concern,” including the
golden-winged warbler, American
woodcock and Appalachian cottontail,
among others.

Habitat restoration
Based at Cal U since 1999, Partners
— Continued on page 4

Little Learners Help with Rutledge Dedication

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chilly Monday morning
concluded in heartwarming
fashion on Dec. 10 as children
helped to dedicate the Karen and
Tom Rutledge Institute for Early
Childhood Education preschool in
Morgan Hall.
Funded through a generous gift
from Karen and Tom Rutledge,
the institute brings teachers from
The Village, a nationally accredited
childhood education center, to campus
to provide high-quality preschool
education to eligible children ages 3-5.
The institute also offers exceptional
learning opportunities and full-tuition
scholarships for future teachers enrolled
at Cal U as Rutledge Institute Scholars.
Since it opened this fall, the
institute’s preschool program has
been housed elsewhere in Morgan Hall
while Cal U employees completed
extensive renovations.
With many of their family members
present, the Rutledges, of Greenwich,
— Continued on page 2

Karen Rutledge, Tom Rutledge and President Geraldine M. Jones join children to dedicate the Rutledge Institute for Early Childhood Education.

Page 2

JAN. 21, 2019

Certifications
Enhance
Student
Experiences

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Faculty and members of the third class of graduates from Cal U’s full-time IUP Police Academy.

Cadets Graduate from Academy

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hirteen cadets graduated from
Cal U’s full-time IUP Police
Academy during a ceremony on
Dec. 14 in the Performance Center.
Among the third class of cadets
was Tierra Travis, the first AfricanAmerican female to graduate from the
academy and one of three women to
graduate from this academy class.
At the ceremony, Travis received
a $6,000 scholarship from the
Washington County (Pa.) District
Attorney’s Office.
“I lost my parents in high school,”
said Travis, of Pittsburgh, Pa., who is
also a senior criminal justice major at
Cal U. “I made a promise to my mom
and dad that I would be the best that I
can, and I’ve been sticking to my word.
“My experience during the academy
was a challenge. It’s not easy without
my parents being here. As the days went
by I’ve noticed I’ve gained patience,
discipline, time management skills
and professional etiquette. I’ve come a
long way in these past six months, and
overall, I’ve noticed that I’ve become a
strong and mature woman.
“I appreciate all the instructors
— all their hard work and even
their criticism!”
Maurita Bryant, assistant
superintendent of the Allegheny
County Police and retired assistant
chief of Pittsburgh Police, was
the guest speaker. Members of the
National Organization of Black Law
Enforcement Executives and members

Dr. Christopher Wydra, police academy coordinator and Cal U criminal justice professor;
Tierra Travis, a senior criminal justice major and the academy’s first female AfricanAmerican graduate; and Dr. Julie Warnick, chair of Cal U's Department of Criminal Justice.

of the NAACP Washington County
also attended the graduation ceremony.
“Our police academy at Cal U is
training police cadets not only in proper
police techniques but also emphasizing
public safety while upholding civil
rights,” said Dr. Christopher Wydra,
academy coordinator and an assistant
professor of criminal justice at Cal U.
“Our cadets are also trained in
procedural justice and professional
communication to make police-citizen
encounters more positive.”
Each of the cadets completed
more than 950 hours of training to
earn Act 120 Municipal Police Officer
certification, which is required for
employment as a police officer in
Pennsylvania.

In addition to their Act 120
certification, police academy graduates
are awarded 15 college credits at Cal U.
Those who enter the academy without
a degree can apply those credits to
the B.S. in Criminal Justice or the
associate degree in applied policing
and technology.
Both the bachelor’s and associate
degree programs are available on
campus or online.
Cal U also offers an M.A. in
Criminal Justice Studies with an
applied criminology concentration
and a Doctor of Criminal Justice.
For more information about
Cal U’s full-time IUP Police Academy,
contact Dr. Christopher Wydra at
wydra@calu.edu or 724-938-4294.

Children Help with Dedication

— Continued from page 1

Conn., reminisced about their days as
a young married couple raising their
first child in an off-campus rental while
Tom, who graduated from
Cal U in 1977 with a degree in
economics, worked as cable technician.
He is now the chairman and CEO
of Charter Communications.
“California had a real impact on
us, a lot of good things happened to
us, so this is really a continuation of
a longtime relationship of supporting
education here,” Tom Rutledge said.
“We are very proud of what’s been
built and of the scholars. Giving
something like this is a tremendous gift
to ourselves too.”
“There’s no one happier than me
here today, and this has been a joint
effort,” Karen Rutledge said. “We
expect the Rutledge Institute to be
a model of excellence for preschool
education, and you are all going to do
just great.”
Fittingly, the preschool children
played a significant role in the

dedication ceremony, which began with
6-year-old Leila introducing Geraldine
M. Jones in what Cal U’s president
called “her best introduction ever.”
“This is just the beginning of a
long-term initiative designed to enhance
student learning and build a strong
corps of future teachers,” President
Jones said. “We believe the Rutledge
Institute can have a positive impact on
the future of childhood education – and
it all starts right here.
“We can’t thank Tom and
Karen Rutledge enough for their
commitment to our University, our
community, our students and the future
of the teaching profession.”
Cherie Sears, president of
The Village, director of the Rutledge
Institute Preschool Program and a
Cal U alumna, described how farreaching the Institute can be.
“With the Rutledge gift and the
institute now, we are working on a
model that lifts the whole profession
of early childhood and enhances the
quality education for young children,”
she said.

“It’s an exciting time, and we are
honored to be part of it.”
Dr. Rebecca Maddas, of the
Department of Childhood Education,
introduced the Rutledge Scholars.
Currently, 11 children attend the
institute preschool program, and seven
Rutledge Institute Scholars are enrolled
in first-year classes.
Elijah Gilbert spoke on their behalf.
“We thank you for this opportunity
that will open so many doors for our
futures, gives us a chance to further our
knowledge, become leaders in the field
and touch the lives of kids such as these
adorable ones here,” he said.
“We all come from different
backgrounds, but now coming together
in this setting, we all have the same
purpose and goals: to educate children.”
Rutledge Scholar Aamaria Hall
emphasized the invaluable immediate
impact the Rutledge Institute provides.
“We’ve just started, but this gives
you an experience to work with the kids
so much earlier, which is an exceptional
opportunity,” she said. “It’s such an
important early start for our careers.”

t’s now possible for Cal U students
to be certified as student users by the
Afghanistan Spatial Data Center, a site
that houses spatial data about the country’s
districts and provinces.
Spatial data is geographic information
— data on roads, rivers, hospitals, cell
phone coverage, etc. It’s often used for
research purposes and is a tool in making
disaster-management decisions.
“When there’s an earthquake or a flood
in a particular region, spatial data can help
determine how to get people to safety or
how to get aid to a particular area,” said
Dr. Thomas Mueller, who teaches in the
geography and the geographic information
systems and emergency programs.
He recently became a National
Geographic Certified Educator, a
distinction that recognizes leaders who
use a multi-disciplinary approach to
teach geography.
Twenty-three students in Mueller’s
Introduction to Geography class this fall
passed the free certification ASDC test,
which determines the ability to understand
what spatial data is and how it can be used.
A student certification is a good
resume-builder, Mueller said.
“It’s a little extra opportunity that we
can provide for our students, and a way to
show a potential employer that they went
above and beyond. It’s also proof that
you understand spatial data from another
world region.”
“The class project this fall was to assess
the flood hazard for a particular district
in Afghanistan,” Mueller said. “Students
looked at how much of the district is in
the flood zone, how many people would
be impacted, the locations of hospitals, the
transportation networks, everything.
“It’s my third semester using the ASDC
for this type of project, so this summer, I
talked with them and said, ‘You know, it
would be great if students had the option
to take and pass a certification exam.’”  
Senior Andrew Rowan called the free
certification “beyond cool.”
“As a business major, I find this type
of class important because learning about
other places and getting to understand
other people and cultures has opened me
up to the possibility of one day working
and living abroad.
“Even though it’s not my
concentration, I think being certified for
spatial data analysis will be an advantage
when job hunting.”
For first-year criminal justice major
Cassandra Casela, certifications are an
important way to build credibility.
“I want a ‘NCIS’-type career” in
investigations, she said, “so this type of
certification will help me. If I have to
travel, what types of language would I need
to know more about?”
The student certification is another step
in the partnership between Cal U and the
Afghanistan Spatial Data Center.
The University became a partner with
the center in summer 2018.
“Cal U has become the most prolific
Educational ASDC user,” the center said.
“We hope to use Cal U as an example for
local universities of how to integrate parts
of the ASDC in their training material.”
The website also includes an emergency
management tabletop training exercise
created in spring 2018 by Mueller and four
Cal U students.

JAN. 21, 2019

Page 3

Degrees Awarded at Commencement
— Continued from page 1
undergraduate ceremony was Larry
Wallach, who earned an associate degree
in industrial technology. He and Camus
were Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity
brothers in the 1980s.
Wallach, who worked as a warehouse
receiver for a coal mining equipment
manufacturer that closed two years
ago, came back to school on the Trade
Adjustment Assistance program.
“How many times, if ever, is the
commencement speaker a personal friend
of one of the graduates?” asked Wallach,
who will pursue a bachelor’s degree at
Cal U. “It was a challenging semester. It
was special to have Tim as the speaker
and to see how far he’s come.”
Camus served in the U.S. Department
of the Treasury for 32 years and was
named deputy inspector general for
investigations in 2011. In that role,
Camus was responsible for leading and
supervising all aspects of the agency’s
law enforcement mission.
Camus began both his addresses by
showing gratitude to his alma mater.
“The class size, the campus size and
the fact that I was held accountable
by my professors prepared me for my
successful career that I guarantee would
not have happened without Cal U.
“Cal U was just right for me.”
Camus offered three tips to the Class
of 2018 — never underestimate the
power of an opportunity, pay attention to
detail and have balance in your life.
“Your education is a foundation for
your future and your professional lives,”
he said. “You achieved this goal today
through your determination and hard
work.
“You have the keys to control your
future — now go out and be the stars of
Cal U.”
During the undergraduate ceremony,
senior class envoy Blair Madison
presented President Jones with a check
for more than $15,000 contributed by
graduating seniors and their families.
The following Monday, he returned
to work as a human resources assistant
with UPMC Corporate Services, where
he began as an intern while earning his
degree in business administration.
“My different experiences at Cal U
help me interact with the customers we
deal with,” said Madison, who was an

Cal U’s first doctoral graduates: Rick Richey (left), Kaman Hung, Rosanne Woods, and Melody Gardner proudly show their degrees at the graduate
Commencement ceremony.

alumni ambassador. “Being on stage and
then walking across to shake hands and
get my degree from President Jones was
so exciting, it was almost surreal.”
Aryn Hess earned bachelor of science
degrees in biology and in science and
technology multidisciplinary studies.
She also received associate degrees in
technical studies and liberal studies.
“My professors were remarkable, this
has been an amazing journey for me,
and I’m proud to be a mother of three
graduating cum laude,” she said.
Many students who completed
their studies online attended the
ceremonies on campus, including
Samir Jamal Glenn-Roundtree who
earned his master’s in social science, with
a concentration in applied criminology.
He is a member of the U.S. Marine
Corps and plans to transition to a job
with the Department of the Navy’s
Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
“I thought it would be tough being
a military officer and a full-time online
student,” Glenn-Roundtree said, “but the
faculty and staff in the program were all
extremely accommodating.”
Danielle Ruzzi earned her degree
in communication studies with a
concentration in radio and television.
“Cal U has helped me prepare for
the real world in many ways and helped

Larry Wallach receives his associate degree in industrial technology from President Geraldine
M. Jones while Commencement speaker Timothy P. Camus, his longtime friend, looks on.

me get hands-on experience in my field,”
Ruzzi said. “I couldn’t be happier to say
I finally did it!”
President Jones offered the graduates
some heartfelt advice.
“Although you’ll receive your

H

After first meeting in Bahrain, Sean Green and Tahaney Al-Balawi enjoy a surprise reunion at
Cal U Winter Commencement on Dec. 14.

degree today, please recognize that
your education is not done,” she said.
“Every day brings new opportunities for
learning, and I have always believed in
the power of lifelong learning to enrich
our lives.”

Surprise Reunion
at Graduate
Commencement

ey, don’t I know you?
That was
Tahaney Al-Balawi’s reaction
when she spotted Sean Green from
across the room.
Al-Balawi and Green, both online
master’s degree students, were on
campus on Dec. 14 to receive their
degrees. Al-Balawi’s is a Master of
Arts in Social Science: Arabic Language
and Linguistics; Green majored in
exercise science, with a concentration
in sport psychology.
They met two years ago, before
enrolling at Cal U, at the U.S. Navy
support base in Bahrain, where she was
an interpreter and translator for the
military and Department of Defense and
he was serving in the U.S. Army.

Neither knew the other was a student
at Cal U until they met by chance prior
to the Winter Commencement ceremony
in the Convocation Center on Dec. 14.
“I was over by the mirror adjusting
my cap when I saw Sean,” Al-Balawi
said. “I said, ‘Don’t we know each
other?’”
With beaming smiles following the
surprise reunion, the two talked about
life after graduation.
Green, who lives in South Carolina,
plans to retire from active duty as a
sergeant first class to pursue a career
helping to rehabilitate wounded soldiers
for the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Al-Balawi is headed to Japan,
where she will teach English as a second
language, in May.

Page 4

JAN. 21, 2019

New Member, Good Audit for Trustees

A

t its final meeting of 2018,
Cal U’s Council of Trustees
greeted a new member
and received welcome news from
auditors.
Chairwoman Annette Ganassi
introduced Stephen M. DeFrank ’92,
who was nominated by Gov. Tom Wolf
and approved by the state Senate.
DeFrank, who earned a degree in
political science at Cal U, is a senior
adviser on government relations and
public policy for the Harrisburg office
of Buchanan Ingersol and Rooney PC.
The former state Senate staffer will
serve a six-year term.
Trustees also heard a report by
CPA Jared Clark, an auditor with the
CliftonLarsonAllen accounting firm.
The auditors annually examine the
University’s budgeting process and
financial controls, scrutinizing the
way revenue and expenses are handled
and recorded.
“We found no material weaknesses
in your internal controls,” Clark said.
“You have a really good finance and
accounting team, and we appreciate all
their hard work.”
This is the sixth time that
CliftonLarsonAllen, one of the nation’s
top 10 accounting firms, has conducted
the University’s annual financial audit.
In her report to the trustees,
University President
Geraldine M. Jones described the
campus-wide response to the attack at
Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Heeding her call to stand together as
a caring and inclusive community,
faculty and staff organized a vigil
and other activities. More than
150 people attending, including
many students.
“Standing together helped our
campus family support and console
one another, and it has sparked

conversation about future events
designed to counter hatred and affirm
our common humanity,” she said. “In
these challenging times, this is a topic
we cannot ignore.”
President Jones also reported on
Winter Commencement, State
System Chancellor Dan Greenstein’s
visit, Vulcan Fest Homecoming
Weekend, and the upcoming dedication
of the Rutledge Institute preschool
facility.
In addition, she reported that
from July 1 to Nov. 19, Cal U
employees collectively received $1.1
million dollars from 18 grant awards
to fund service projects, conduct
research and support instruction.
In other business:
• Dr. Bruce Barnhart, provost
and senior vice president for
Academic Affairs, reported on the
growing popularity of Cal U’s
five-week Winter College. As of the
Dec. 6 meeting date, 1,263 students
had enrolled. The University
offered 35 undergraduate and 43
graduate courses, entirely online,
during the five-week session that
concluded Jan. 18.
The provost also congratuated
the Department of Business and
Economics, where 15 undergraduate
and graduate programs received initial

accreditation from the Accreditation
Council for Business Schools and
Programs (ACBSP).
• After a quarterly update that once
again projected a balanced budget for
the 2018-2019 fiscal year, Robert Thorn,
vice president for Administration and
Finance, reported on the University’s
capital projects.
He praised Cal U workers for
completing renovations at Morgan
Hall, where the Rutledge Institute
preschool is housed. The Coover Hall
renovation and expansion project is
83 percent complete, he said, and
the building should be ready for
Fall 2019 classes.
However, incessant rains have
delayed work at Lilley Field, home of
Cal U softball. Renovations there may
be completed by late April.
Thorn added that the final revision
of the Campus Master Plan will be
revealed during the spring semester.
Planners anticipate reducing the overall
footprint of campus buildings by about
120,000 square feet and converting
nearly a dozen buildings to more
efficient heating systems.
• Larry Sebek, associate vice
president for Student Affairs,
teamed up with Melissa Dunn,
director of Student Activities,
Programming and Leadership, to
report on students’ community
relations and outreach efforts.
One popular event was the fourth
annual Holly Day, which brought
between 400 and 500 people to campus
on Dec. 2. Holly Day is organized by
the California Recreation Authority; the
University provides space in the Natali
Student Center, and students perform
for the families and assist with holidaythemed activities.
“We continue to work very hard
to integrate our students with the

Black History Month
Celebration Begins

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al U’s “Black History Through the Decades” celebration of Black History
Month and Martin Luther King Jr. will begin with a kickoff event at 11 a.m.
Jan. 29 in the Performance Center.
Joe Webb, a motivational speaker, trainer, coach, entrepreneur and mentor,
will deliver a presentation, “Walking Both Sides of the Street: The Road to
Academic Success.”
Webb grew up in group homes and foster care and will discuss the value of higher
education. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree and is pursuing a doctoral
degree in higher education administration.
For the second year, the Dream Legacy Challenge will be part of Cal U’s Black
History Month celebration. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate
in the challenge by registering through Orgsync as a team, with their student clubs
and organizations or with their office or department. Points will be awarded for each
hour volunteered, attendance at a Black History Month event and for each item
donated at the Cal U Cupboard.
The student organization and office that compiles the most points and donations
will each receive a free pizza party provided by challenge sponsors the Center for
Volunteer Programs and Service Learning and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and
Diversity Education.
For more information as Black History Month approaches please visit www.calu.edu/news.

California community, and vice versa,”
Dunn said.
• Christine Kindl, vice president
for Communications and Marketing,
showed the trustees two 30-second
television spots that are airing now
as part of the Build You marketing
campaign.
Featuring Cal U students and
faculty, the ads have appeared in the
Pittsburgh region on NBC shows such
as “Sunday Night Football” and “This
Is Us,” and on cable networks popular
with prospective students and their
families. After a holiday hiatus, they
will return to the airwaves in January
and February.
“These spots are focused on
recruitment,” Kindl said. “We want
to show the broad range of academic
programs available at Cal U, as well
as the energy and excitement of
student life.”
The Build You campaign also will
be visible at area malls during the busy
shopping season, with placements at
the Mall at Robinson, Westmoreland
Mall, South Hills Village and Ross
Park Mall.
• Tony Mauro, vice president for
University Development and Alumni
Relations, reported that since September
the University has received more than
$200,000 for student scholarships from
various foundations, corporations, gifts
and estates.
The inaugural Cal U Athletics
Day of Giving raised more than
$16,000 for athletic scholarships,
he said.
Mauro also reviewed recent alumni
events and informed the trustees
of upcoming activities, notably a
“signature” fundraising gala set for June
29 at the Convocation Center.
California’s Council of Trustees is
scheduled to meet again March 6.

Mellon Foundation Grant
Funds Habitat Projects

— Continued from page 1

for Fish and Wildlife is a cooperative
effort among many agencies. In
addition to improving habitat for
mammals, birds, fish and insects, it
works collaboratively with landowners
to restore habitat for wildlife on
agricultural property and other lands.
The program also provides internships
and applied learning opportunities for
Cal U students.
The Richard King Mellon
Foundation has been a longtime
supporter of Partners for Fish and
Wildlife. Recent projects include
stream restoration and habitat
improvements along Pike Run in
Washington County; wetlands
restoration in Washington and Greene

counties; and bird and wildlife habitat
improvements at Forbes State Forest,
Westmoreland County.
Upcoming projects will continue
efforts to restore Chestnut Ridge
streams that harbor eastern brook trout,
and to improve habitat for monarch
butterflies, which breed in southwestern
Pennsylvania as they pass through on
their annual migration.
“Our projects target species that
are declining in Pennsylvania and
throughout the eastern United States,”
explains Jose Taracido, supervisor
for Partners for Fish and Wildlife’s
Farmland Habitat Program.
“Our goals align with those of the
Richard King Mellon Foundation, and
we truly appreciate the foundation's
ongoing support."

The California Journal is published by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
Geraldine M. Jones
University President
Dr. Bruce Barnhart
Provost and Senior Vice President
for Academic Affairs

Dr. Nancy Pinardi
Vice President for Student Affairs
Christine Kindl
Vice President for Communications
and Marketing

Office of Communications and Public Relations

250 University Avenue

Robert Thorn
Vice President for Administration and Finance
Anthony Mauro
Vice President for University Development
and Alumni Relations

California, PA 15419

724-938-4195

Wendy Mackall
Editor
Bruce Wald
Writer

wald@calu.edu­­­­­­­­­