California University

VOLUME 14, NUMBER 17 JUNE 18, 2012
READ THE JOURNAL ONLINE: www.calu.edu/news/the-journal

McBride Named
Woman of Excellence
r. Lisa McBride has been chosen as
one of the New Pittsburgh Courier’s
2012 Women of Excellence,
becoming the second leader at Cal U to earn
the distinction.
She joins Acting University President
Geraldine M. Jones, who accepted the award
in 2010.
McBride, the University ombudsperson and
special assistant to the president for Equal
Employment and Educational Opportunity,
will be recognized at a luncheon June 28 at the
Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh.
“I feel that God has given me confidence,
wisdom and boldness to pursue the dreams
and desires in my heart, which is to make a
difference in the lives of our Cal U students
and the greater community and to remain
humble along the way,” she said.
The awardees were nominated by New
Pittsburgh Courier readers. Each year the
publication honors some of the Pittsburgh
region’s most successful and influential
African-American women.
McBride is a founding member of Cal U
Men United, a mentoring group for students
aimed at improving retention and graduation

D

Cal U’s Dr. Lisa McBride will receive a 2012 Women of Excellence Award from
the ‘New Pittsburgh Courier.’

rates for men of color. She also serves the
University community as chair of the
President’s Commission for the Status of
Women.
As director of the Office of Social Equity,
she has worked to shape institutional policies
and practices that advance a campus climate
of inclusion.
McBride earned her Ph.D. in conflict
analysis and resolution from Nova
Southeastern University, in Florida, and her
master’s and bachelor’s degrees in
criminology from Indiana State University.
She previously held positions as an
associate professor of criminology within the
Florida University system. She is a certified
county mediator for the Florida Supreme
Court and is certified as a human diversity
instructor by the State of Florida
Commission on Police Officer Standards and
Training.
McBride began her career as a police
officer with the St. Louis Police Department,
where she was assigned to the homicide
division. She spent eight years as a federal
criminal investigator, including work in 15
countries.

Trustees Address Transition in Leadership
t its first quarterly meeting since
the change in leadership at Cal
U, the University’s Council of
Trustees passed a resolution praising
former President Angelo Armenti, Jr.,
and another expressing the panel’s
confidence in his successor, Acting
President Geraldine M. Jones.
The council’s first resolution, read
aloud by longtime Trustee Leo Krantz,
listed the accomplishments of the former
president, whose 20-year tenure was
ended May 16 by the PASSHE Board of
Governors.
Noting improvements in enrollment,
academics, athletics, scholarship support
and campus infrastructure achieved in

A

the past two decades, it commended
Armenti and his wife, Barbara, for their
“extraordinary, dynamic and exemplary
service” to the University.
The second resolution recapped
Jones’ 38 years of service to the
University and affirmed that the Trustees
“wholeheartedly support and fully
endorse” her as acting president.
“This transition we’re going through
— it happens,” said Robert Irey, the
council’s chairman.
“This University has been here for
160 years, and we have all the confidence
in the world with our new leader in this
time of transition. Cal U has the finest
collection of faculty and staff that you

will find anywhere. … We need to get
back to the business of educating our
students.”
The June 5 meeting was held in the
Grand Hall, rather than the president’s
conference room, to accommodate
members of the campus community, the
public and the press.
Three individuals offered public
comments during the session.
Dr. Timothy Susick, associate vice
president in the Office of Student
Affairs, acknowledged that he is among
nine non-union employees whose
positions were eliminated as of June 15.
“These decisions were made so that
Cal U would not only survive, but

thrive,” he said, thanking a number of
colleagues and Vice President Lenora
Angelone for their support. “I feel
blessed for the opportunities I’ve had
here at Cal U.”
Moe Galis, a Coal Center resident
and Greene County business owner, said
he had hoped to address members of the
PASSHE Board of Governors at the
meeting. Citing the possibility of future
litigation over Armenti’s termination, no
PASSHE representatives were in
attendance.
“President Armenti led by example,”
Galis said. “I feel an obligation to do the
right thing — to speak out about the
— Continued on page 3

Grant Supports Certification
for Mechatronics Instructors
grant from the Claude Worthington
Benedum Foundation will support
training for secondary and postsecondary teachers when Cal U hosts a
Siemens Mechatronic Systems Instructor
Certification Program this summer.
The $178,000 grant, delivered over two
years, will allow secondary teachers from
Eastern Westmoreland and Western Area
career and technology centers to take part in
the certification program beginning with Level
1 Instructor Certification, which began June
11 and ends Friday at Cal U.
The grant also supports participation by
faculty from Westmoreland County

A

Community College and Cal U.
Two instructors and an administrator from
the Siemens Technical Academy in Berlin,
Germany, will provide the specialized training
and certification. Level 2 Instructor
Certification will be a focus during the second
year of the program.
A state-recognized vocational college in
Germany, the Siemens Technical Academy
collaborates with partner schools around the
world to offer comprehensive industry skills
certification in mechatronics, an emerging field
that blends mechanical and electrical
engineering technology with computer science.
— Continued on page 2

Gala Goes Broadway
President’s Faculty Award recipients (left to right) Dr. Paul Crawford (research),
Dr. Marc Federico (teaching) and Dr. Kelton Edmonds (service) enjoy a video
presentation at the 2012 gala. See story on page 2.

Scholarships Star at ‘Broadway’ Gala
he spotlight was on student scholarships when
about 250 Cal U faculty, staff, students, alumni
and University friends gathered for “A Night on
Broadway” at the 2012 President’s Gala.
Acting President Geraldine M. Jones hosted the
gala at the Omni William Penn hotel, in Pittsburgh.
Cast as honorary chairs were Charles ’73 and
Marianne ’72 Pryor.
“I extend a very sincere ‘thank you’ to each and
every one of you for joining us this evening and helping
us to raise these much-needed scholarship dollars for
our deserving students,” Jones said.
Net proceeds from the annual event have supported
scholarships for 19 years. Proceeds from this year’s
Gala will be added to the nearly $1.4 million raised
since its inception in 1994.
Alumna Michele Mandell ‘69 and some remarkable
Cal U students starred in video presentations shown
before dinner was served in the Omni’s ballroom.
Faculty award winners also took their bows: Dr.
Marc Federico, of the Exercise Science and Sport Studies
Department, accepted the President’s Faculty Award for
Teaching; Dr. Paul Crawford, of the Department of
History and Political Science, was honored for research;
and Dr. Kelton Edmonds, also of History and Political
Science, accepted the award for service.
Emeriti faculty honorees were Dr. Phyllis McIlwain,
who retired from the Department of Elementary and
Early Childhood Education, and Professor Richard
Nemec ’65, who served in the Department of
Communication Disorders.
The Lillian M. Bassi Core Values Award was
presented to Dr. David L. Amati ’70, ’72, a dedicated

T

Acting President Geraldine M. Jones and her husband, Jeffrey, begin the first dance of the 19th President’s Gala at the Omni
William Penn hotel, in Pittsburgh.

alumnus and president of the Foundation for California
University.
After-dinner entertainment included dancing, Monte
Carlo games and a silent auction of items donated by
University friends, with proceeds also boosting the
scholarship fund.

“We know that each of you feels the way we do
about our University and our students, and that ‘paying
it forward’ is a concept that all of us understand,” said
Charles Pryor. “Thank you all for your care and
concern for our students, and for your commitment to
Cal U.”

Grant Supports
Certification
— Continued from page 1

KON Lends a Hand
Students from Cal U’s chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu join Mary Popovich, mayor of West Newton, at the West Newton Lions Club’s
annual Bowl ’n’ Roll soup and salad fundraising event. Founded by World War II veterans in 1945, the club is experiencing declining
membership, so the students’ help was much appreciated, said Popovich, a Lions Club member and an assistant professor in the
Department of Heath Science. KON faculty adviser Dr. Joni Roh, a professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies,
supported the project through a membership vote. Enjoying a moment after the busy evening were (from left) Rebecca Barnhart,
Kaleigh Adkins, Drew Slocum, Mary Popovich, Erika Peavy, Brittany Ferguson and Aimee Thompson.

Campus BRIEFS

2

Presentation Examines
Privacy Case

Dance Team Takes First
in Intercollegiate Competition

Dr. Jeffrey Magers and Dr. Christina Toras, both
of the Department of Professional Studies,
presented “Technology v. Privacy: The Legal and
Policy Implications of U.S. v. Jones” last month at
the 49th annual Academy of Criminal Justice
Sciences Annual Meeting in New York City.
The meeting focused on “Theorizing Criminal
Justice: Practical Applications for the Field.”
The academy i s an international association
that was established in 1963 to foster professional
and scholarly activities in the field of criminal
justice.

Cal U’s Vulcanette Dance Team achieved the
top overall high score at the Intercollegiate Dance
Competition held at Washington and Jefferson
College.
The 18-member dance team placed first among
eight competing schools in the large group dances
category. They danced to a jazz routine
choreographed by Diane Eperthener.
“The team represented Cal U with both talent
and respect,” said Eperthener, the team’s coach and
a dance instructor in the Department of Theatre
and Dance. “They did a great job.”

The academy belongs to the education provider for
Siemens AG, one of the world’s largest high-tech
manufacturing corporations.
“Industry certifications have tremendous value, and
there is a great demand for workers
trained in mechatronics,” said
program manager Michael
Amrhein, director of Cal U’s Office
of Integration and Outreach for
TEAMS (Technology, Engineering,
Arts, Math and Science).
“Establishing a high-quality
teaching corps in mechatronics
should result in highly competent
students who will complete their
Michael Amrhein
studies well-prepared to enter the
workforce.”
Cal U’s ultimate goal is to develop a “Road Map to
Mechatronics” — a series of meaningful educational
opportunities that allow students to move from
secondary to post-secondary education, then on to jobs
in science, technology, engineering and math, the
subjects collectively known as STEM.
One key point on the “road map” is the University’s
new bachelor’s degree program in mechatronics.
Scheduled to begin in fall 2013, it will prepare students
to work with complex systems that incorporate
mechanical, electrical and software components, such as
robots, automated guided vehicles or other “smart”
electro-mechanical systems.
Following a “2+2+2” model, high school students
could move seamlessly from a vocational-technical
program in mechatronics to Cal U’s two-year associate
degree program in robotics engineering technology
and/or the four-year mechatronics program.
“Training and certifying instructors is an important
step, and the Benedum Foundation grant is opening
doors to this specialized training,” Amrhein said.
“Through this program, we hope to give all learners
multiple entry and exit points on their pathway to a
career.”
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation has
served West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania
since 1944. The foundation makes grants to support
specific initiatives in the areas of education, economic
development, health and human services, community
development and civic engagement.

Trustees
Address
Leadership
Transition

Roman Sulkosky
(left), Lena Danka
and Bryce Wilson,
students in Dr. John
Confer’s recreation
site design and man­
agement class, were
among those pre­
senting recreational
plans to California
Borough officials and
the public as part of
the River Town
Program, launched
by the Pennsylvania
Environmental
Council in 2011.

— Continued from page 1
positive influence of Dr. Armenti and his wife.”
Barbara Hess, vice president of the
Association of Pennsylvania State College and
University Faculties, thanked the Board of
Governors “for standing up for the students and
staff of Cal U, and for the taxpayers.”
On behalf of the faculty union, she called
on the Trustees to “put California on the
‘academics first’ track”; to mandate
transparency, especially in financial matters; and
to mandate “true shared governance.”
During the routine business portion of the
meeting, the Trustees gave final approval for a
new bachelor’s degree program in Mechatronics
Engineering Technology. Slated to begin in fall
2013, it will be the first of its kind in the State
System.
The four-year degree in mechatronics — an
emerging field that blends mechanical and
electrical engineering technology with computer
science — will align with Cal U’s commitment
to science, technology, engineering and math,
and to STEM education.
In other business:
• Acting President Geraldine Jones told the
Trustees that she has been sharing weekly
messages with the campus community. “Having
credible information can be reassuring in times
of transition,” she said, adding that she intends
to continue communicating regularly with
faculty, staff, students and alumni.
• Associate Provost Bruce Barnhart,
representing the Office of Academic Affairs,
introduced a report that highlighted student
presentations at national conferences and Cal
U’s second-place award winner in the PASSHE
business plan competition.
• Robert Thorn, vice president for
Administration and Finance, focused on a
workshop for commercial music technology
students offered in conjunction with the grand
opening of the Convocation Center. The Kenny
Rogers concert featured at the grand opening
turned a profit of $6,200, he reported, and
VenuWorks, which has been hired to manage
the new facility, has begun planning for other
entertainment events.
• Dr. Lenora Angelone, vice president for
Student Affairs, reported on plans to use the
SAI Farm as a site for academic projects. A
geology demonstration already has been held on
the south campus property, and faculty
members are organizing ICES — the
Interdisciplinary Center for Environmental
Studies — to manage appropriate grant
proposals and research requests.
• Craig Butzine, vice president for Marketing
and University Relations, explained how the
quarterly alumni magazine and other
publications are used to enhance the image of
the University by pointing out the positive
activities of students, faculty and staff.
• Sharon Navoney, interim vice president for
University Development and Cal U for Life,
summarized recent alumni activities and
reported that The Campaign to Build Character
and Careers has raised about $30 million, or 85
percent of its goal. Progress for this fiscal year,
as of April 30, is $3.8 million.
• Dr. Charles Mance, vice president for
University Technology Services, described a
new customer satisfaction survey that will help
to inform decisions about resource allocations
for technology services. He also reported on the
“smart” classrooms project, which is on track
for completion by fall. The project calls for
updating every one of Cal U’s 70 classrooms
with new audio-visual technology and Internet
access.

River Trail Plans Proposed
Part of Recreation Site Design and Management Class
orty Cal U students recently
proposed a series of projects
designed to increase the
number of visitors to California and
Coal Center.
The 10 plans were created as part
of Dr. John Confer’s recreation site
design and management class and
presented to elected officials,
community leaders and the general
public on April 28.
The community presentation was
part of the River Town Program,
which was launched by the
Pennsylvania Environmental Council
in 2011.
The program is designed to help
several towns along the Monongahela
River — Point Marion, Greensboro,
Rices Landing, Fredericktown,
Millsboro, California and Coal Center
— expand existing businesses and
create new ones to serve the outdoor
recreation market.
The purpose of the students’ work
was to identify projects to support the
River Town Program goals. Their
plans included a proposed layout of a

F

trail that would connect Rotary Park,
Mechanic Street Park, Wyatt Park,
Szalay Park and the Project 70 land
with the business district.
Students also developed plans for
hiking, walking, fitness, mountainbike and nature trails; a nature
playground; an amphitheater and
overlook; a wildlife and bird blind; a
disc golf course; a climbing/low
bouldering structure; and a skate
park.
“I try to provide my students with
service-learning opportunities that
address real-world problems and
allow them to develop potential
solutions,” Confer explained. “They
like it, and they seemed to really get
involved in this one.”
“Our part was to propose different
options,” said senior Roman
Sulkosky, whose team proposed the
low bouldering/climbing structure.
“(Community leaders) are going to
take it from there. Some people at the
meetings were involved in developing
other towns, so it was good to know
these were good ideas.”

Lena Danka, who graduated in
May, was part of a team that planned
an environmentally sensitive
playground with natural features,
such as logs and rocks, instead of
traditional play equipment.
“Parks and recreation do a lot to
benefit a community. Some of us
have volunteered to come back to
help build whatever project they
choose,” she said.
Added rising junior Bryce Wilson,
who worked on plans for a skate
park, “(The trail) is going to be a
good thing. We are excited to see it
come through.”
Confer said he looks forward to
the River Town Program’s
development — some work on the
trail could begin as early as this
summer, he said — and an ongoing
partnership with Cal U.
“There are a lot of faculty and
students here who could help them
solve problems and provide
information. We have to look to what
we have and use it to bring people to
the area.”

Camp Hones Leadership Skills
igh school students can learn to lead at the third
annual Leadership Challenge summer camp,
which began Sunday and ends Saturday at Cal U.
Sponsored by the Linda and Harry Serene Leadership
Institute, the Leadership Challenge is a weeklong summer
adventure for high school students entering their senior
year. Participants take part in leadership education and
activities to help them reach their full potential.
Students are selected to participate by nearly 20 high
school counselors throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.
“We designed this weeklong event to be rigorous for
our student participants,” said Dr. Michael Hummel,
director of the Linda and Harry Serene Leadership
Institute.
“The students’ leadership abilities will be challenged as
they participate in team building, taking charge, confidence
building and self-esteem exercises over five days.”
Students will work in teams to climb the rock wall in
the Herron Recreation and Fitness Center.
They also will participate in a leadership adventure at
Outdoor Odyssey, a 500-acre facility in Boswell, Pa., that
features campgrounds, zip-lines, rappelling courses and a
variety of outdoor activities.
In the classroom, camp participants will learn about
leadership theories, characteristics and styles. Hummel
teaches many of the classes, with assistance from Linda
and Harry Serene and other volunteer leaders.
This year’s volunteers include Dr. William Rullo,
director of counseling services at Upper St. Clair High
School, and attorney Bart Gabler, of McKinsey Company
and Associates.
Cal U faculty members Dr. Gary Delorenzo, chair of

H

Linda and Dr. Harry Serene address participants at the third
annual Leadership Challenge summer camp, which runs
through Saturday.

the Department of Math, Computer Science and
Information Systems; Dr. Tony Rodi, assistant professor in
that department; and Kelley Hunt, executive director for
the Entrepreneurial Leadership Center and Student
Incubator, also will volunteer to teach classes.
“Our participants always tell us what a great time they
have at camp,” Hummel said.
“It is not all about academics. It is about building
friendships and learning how to work with others that may
be different than you.”
To learn more about the Leadership Challenge and the Linda
and Harry Serene Leadership Institute, visit
www.calu.edu/business-community or contact Dr. Michael
Hummel at hummel@calu.edu .

3

Champion Swimmer Heads to Olympic Trials
hree-time NCAA national swimming champion
Melissa Gates will compete in the U.S. Olympic
Trials beginning June 29 at the CenturyLink
Center in Omaha, Neb.
Gates, who graduated from Cal U last month, will
compete in both the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle
events.
The 100-meter preliminaries and semifinals will held
on June 29, followed by the finals on July 1. The 50meter preliminaries and semifinals will be held July 1,
with the finals scheduled for July 2.
Gates earned an Olympic Trials berth in the 100meters on May 27, when she won the USA Swimming
Senior Circuit 3 meet held at the University of
Pittsburgh. Her time was 57.10 seconds.
She qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 50-meter
freestyle last summer, but Gates bettered her qualifying
time in this event by winning the Senior Circuit 3 on
May 26 with a time of 25.96 seconds.
Both of Gates’ winning times set new Senior Circuit
3 records.
Cal U’s head swimming coach, Ed Denny, said the
U.S. Olympic Trials in swimming may be the most
competitive in the world, because only the top two
finishers from each event advance.

T

Three­time NCAA national swimming champion Melissa
Gates will compete in the 50­meter and 100­meter
freestyle events at the U.S. Olympic Trials beginning June
29 in Omaha, Neb.

“It’s so competitive to just get there, and then the
stress and pressure once you’re there is phenomenal,”
he said. “With Melissa, the culmination of her career
here and all the work she’s done the past four years
continues to be on an upward swing.”

Rachael
McDaniel (left)
and Laura
Montecalvo
display regional
all­tournament
trophies from
the National
Intramural­
Recreational
Sports
Association
national
championships,
held earlier this
spring. Cal U’s
top intramural
women’s and
men’ basketball
teams competed
at the event.

Fun on
the
Quad

Intramural Teams
Compete at Nationals
ollowing strong showings at
regional tournaments earlier
this spring, Cal U’s top
intramural women’s and men’s
basketball teams competed at the
National Intramural-Recreational
Sports Association national
championships.
Cal U was the only school whose
teams received at-large bids to both
the women’s and men’s tourneys,
held at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte. Cal U was
one of just four Division II schools
among the 15 schools competing.
The women’s team dropped 3836 decisions to Henderson State and
Ohio State universities, and the
Vulcans lost a 43-41 contest to
another big school, Missouri.
Team members were Bria Jones,
Chaunice Lightfoot, Rachael
McDaniel, Syvae McDaniel, Laura
Montecalvo, Davida Penn, Alyse

F

Despite the odds, Denny believes anything is
possible with Gates, a 10-time All-American.
“I won’t be shocked by anything she does at the
Olympic Trials,” said Denny. “To make the Olympic
team is a very, very tall order, but there aren’t many
other Division II athletes competing at this meet. It’s
quite an accomplishment.”
Gates concluded her extraordinary Cal U career in
March, when she repeated as NCAA Division II
national champion in the 50-yard freestyle and also
won the D-II national title in the 100-yard freestyle.
In addition, she placed second in the 100-yard
breaststroke and swam with two All-American relay
teams.
The first swimmer in school history to be selected as
the PSAC Athlete of the Year, Gates won five
championships — three individual and two relay — at
the 2012 conference meet.
She is just the second Vulcan to win three individual
national titles. Track and cross country standout Brian
Ferrari won the 1983 NCAA Division II cross country
championship and consecutive 10,000-meter national
titles in 1983 and 1984.
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will take place
in London from July 27-Aug. 12.

Washington and Ashley
Washington.
The men’s team lost by six points
to Southern Illinois (45-39) and
defeated Florida State by 13 points
(63-50) before being eliminated 4240 by Howard University.
Players were Josh Arnold, Dante
Clark, Edwin Colwell, Joshua
Johnson, Teddy Maloney, Miles
Porter, Jordan Ruggiero, Nicholas
Thomas, Evan Scott, Andre
Twyman and Bradley Wiggins.
“Both teams did amazing jobs
and showed a lot of heart competing
against premier Division I clubs,”
said Tom Hasbrouck, assistant
director of recreational services.
“In the last few years the
intramural program has continued to
grow. … We have been producing
competitive teams on the local,
regional and national levels. I believe
we are only going to get better.”

Student Andrew Tischler
(right) snags a Frisbee out of
the air during an enjoyable
afternoon on the Quad with
friends, including Nate Taylor
(below). Both students are
graphic design majors who
were in a playful mood at the
end of the spring semester.

The California Journal is published weekly by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Geraldine M. Jones
Acting University President

Robert Thorn
Vice President for Administration and Finance

Christine Kindl
Editor

Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Affairs

Craig Butzine
Vice President for Marketing and University Relations

Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender
Writers

Dr. Charles Mance
Vice President for University Technology Services

Sharon Navoney
Interim Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

Read the Journal online at
www.calu.edu

Office of Communications and Public Relations

250 University Avenue

California, PA 15419

724-938-4195

wald@calu.edu