C A L I F O R N I A U N I V E R S I T Y O F P E N N S Y LV A N I A ’ S M A G A Z I N E

LISTENING
AND LEARNING
Students conduct
hearing screenings

SPRING 2020

CAL U REVIEW

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA’S MAGAZINE

SPRING 2020 • VOL. 49 • NO. 1

FROM THE

PRESIDENT

T

hroughout its history, our University has embraced the ideal
of community service. California’s historic mission in teacher
education arose from the conviction that communities benefit
when their residents are knowledgeable and skilled. As our school’s
vision grew to include the liberal arts, science and technology, its
commitment to community service expanded as well.
Today, that service takes many forms, from conducting hearing
screenings for thousands of local children to supporting area
historical societies to mentoring our region’s first-generation
college students.
Cal U faculty and students are bringing art to a nearby town
and expanding cultural awareness at a neighboring high school.
Projects like these, and so many more, underscore our University’s
longstanding role as a regional asset.
A culture of community service benefits our students, as well as
our neighbors. It gives them opportunities to put their classroom
learning into practice and see the real-world difference it can make.
It builds social responsibility and a sense of purpose. Through
volunteer activities, students learn that we enrich our own lives
when we act on behalf of others.
As our generous alumni demonstrate time after time, these
are lessons that last.
Although many outreach activities were curtailed this spring in the
interest of public health, Cal U remains committed to serving our
neighbors, our region and the commonwealth.
In this edition of the Review, you’ll meet Cal U students, faculty, staff
and alumni who are making a difference in western Pennsylvania
and beyond. If you are inspired to join them, let us know. There are
many opportunities to support our students, and to join our Cal U
community in service to others.
With warmest wishes,

Geraldine M. Jones
PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

The Cal U Review is published three times a year by the Office
of Communications and Marketing and is distributed free.
Third-class postage paid at California.

CHANCE LLOR
Dr. Daniel Greenstein
BOARD OF GOVE RNORS
Cynthia D. Shapira, chair
David M. Maser, vice chair;
chair, Student Success Committee
Samuel H. Smith, vice chair;
chair, Audit and Compliance Committee
Aven Bittinger
Rep. Tim Briggs
Audrey F. Bronson
Nicole Dunlop
Alex Fefolt
Donald E. Houser Jr., chair, Governance
and Leadership Committee
Sen. Scott Martin, Governance
and Leadership Committee

Marian D. Moskowitz, vice chair,
Student Success Committee
Thomas S. Muller, chair, University
Success Committee
Noe Ortega, Secretary of Education’s
designee
Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera
Rep. Brad Roae
Sen. Judith L. Schwank
Meg Snead, governor’s designee
Neil R. Weaver, vice chair, University
Success Committee
Governor Tom Wolf
Janet L. Yeomans

CALIFORNIA UNIVE RSIT Y OF PE NNSYLVANIA
Geraldine M. Jones, University President
Dr. Bruce Barnhart, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs
Robert Thorn, vice president for Administration and Finance
Dr. Nancy Pinardi, vice president for Student Affairs
Christine Kindl, vice president for Communications and Marketing
Anthony Mauro, vice president for University Development and Alumni Relations
T. David Garcia, vice president for Enrollment Management
COUNCIL OF TRUSTE ES
James T. Davis ’73, chair
Larry Maggi ’79, vice chair
Anthony H. Amadio ’73
Alex Arnold, student trustee/secretary
Roberta M. Betza
Stephen M. DeFrank ’92

James W. Harris ’80
Sean T. Logue
Michele M. Mandell ’69
Barry Niccolai ’93
Thomas Uram
Dr. Daniel Greenstein, chancellor, ex-officio

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ashely (Baird) Roth ’10, ’12, president
Shaina Hilsey ’18
Dante Morelli ’02, vice president
Bill Hughes ’02, ’12
Robert Crall ’10, ’12, secretary
Erica McDill ’92
Justin Binion ’11, treasurer
Marc Quann ’88
Jesse Hereda ’04, immediate past president
A. Tereasa Rerko ’79
Jeremy Babcock ’99 ’01
Frederick Smith III ’12
Timothy Camus ’84
Tim Susick ’76, ’78
Alisha Carter ’06 ’11
Ronald Taylor ’12, ’14
Brendan Garay ’15, ’16
LIFETIME HONOR ARY MEMBERS
Paul Gentile ’62
Anthony Lazzaro ’55

Michael Napolitano ’68
George Novak ’55

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Geraldine M. (Johns) Jones ’72, ’80
James T. Davis '73
Anthony Mauro ’92, ’93

Harry Serene ’65
Craig Smith
Ryan Barnhart ’08, ’09

SAI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Amanda Considine, undergraduate, president
Jeromy Mackey, undergraduate, vice
president
Maria Dovshek, undergraduate, treasurer
Taylor Kodric, undergraduate, secretary
Hope Cox ’00, ’01, alumna
Justin DiPerna ’16, alumnus
Jahneek Fant, undergraduate

Marguerite Haldin ’09, ‘11, alumna
Sydney Holley, undergraduate
Ryan Jerico ’09, alumnus
Colin Kirkwood ’19, alumnus, graduate
student
Cynthia Obiekezie, undergraduate
Ashley Roth ’10, ’12, alumna

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Dr. Nancy Pinardi ’94, ’96, ’98, vice president for Student Affairs/dean of students
Leigh Ann Lincoln, chief financial officer for SAI
Larry Sebek ’90, ’94, associate vice president for Student Affairs
Brenda DePaoli, executive staff assistant for Student Affairs/ SAI Board of Directors assistant
FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVE RSIT Y
OF PE NNSYLVANIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John A. Lorenzi ’15, president
Darla R. Holley-Holmes
Bethany Hoag-Salmen ’05, vice president
Jeffrey James ’07
Alan K. James ’62, secretary
Zeb Jansante ’82, ’91
Paul L. Kania ’87, treasurer
Jeff M. Kotula
Chester J. Chichin ’63
Robert E. Lippencott ’66
Yvonne Chichin
Reginald A. Long ’81
Courtney Cochran ’12, ’13
Brian Malloy ’11, ’14
Nate Dixon ’12
Frederick A. Retsch ’62
Ryan Fisher ’15
Harry E. Serene ’65
Therese J. Gass ’77
Thomas P. Victor Jr. (student)
Chelsea M. Gump ’17, ’18
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Geraldine M. Jones ’72, ’80, university president
Anthony Mauro ’92, ’93, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations
Ashley Roth ’10, ’12, president of Alumni Association
CAL U RE VIE W E DITOR
Christine Kindl

WRITE RS
Wendy Mackall
Bruce Wald ’85

PHOTOGR APHE RS
Zach Frailey
Ben Bamford
Greg Sofranko

ON THE COVER
Graduate student Abby Cover places
headphones over second-grader Tyler Mueller’s
ears during a hearing screening at Marion
Elementary School in Belle Vernon., Pa.
STORY: PAGE 4

A LOOK INSIDE

06
PIECES OF THE PAST
Fragmented remains
challenge young
anthropologists

08
SPECIALIZED
SPANISH
Cal U helps teens
expand language skills

10

09
OUTDOOR CANVAS
Art Club mural stars
Fredericktown Ferry

NURTURING
DREAMS
TRIO mentors add
‘extra layer’ of
connection

16
‘EDUCATION IS
YOUR SUPERPOWER’
Military officer addresses
winter graduates

27
A PURPOSEFUL LIFE
IRS employee honored
for commitment to
core values

12

Campus Clips

18

Alumni News & Events

20

Alumni Spotlight

22

Sports Roundup

24

Hall of Fame

28

My Cal U Story

29

Milestones

SPRING 2020

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

3

LISTENING

LEARNING
Communication disorders students
conduct hearing screenings

W
Graduate student Camryn Dugan
checks a child's hearing.

ith whispered words and a buzz
of excitement, first-graders in the
California Area School District lined
up outside a classroom, waiting their turns.

a child’s speech, language, social and
emotional development, and school
readiness. Those who don’t pass are
referred for follow-up testing.

It was hearing screening day in the district,
as mandated in Pennsylvania for students
in kindergarten, first, second, third, seventh
and 11th grades, as well as for special
ungraded classes.

“Rather than reading about it in a textbook
and practicing among themselves, our
students get to experience working as a
team, working with different age levels,
and working with children with special
needs,” says Dr. Ralph Belsterling, who
created the partnership with school
districts almost two decades ago.

The children were excited to interact
with Cal U graduate students in the
communication disorders program,
who were ready to administer the tests.

CAL U REVIEW

“Listen carefully, and raise your hand when
you hear a beep, OK?” the instructions went.

4

Students in the communication disorders
program have helped area schools with
hearing tests since 2001. During the
2019-2020 school year, these master’s
degree candidates tested thousands
of students in area school districts.
The screenings are a first step in identifying
hearing deficits that can interfere with

“They also gain interprofessional
collaborative experiences with other
healthcare providers and professionals.”
The hands-on experience is valuable for
Cal U students — and school districts
appreciate the help.
At California Area, more than 400 children
must be screened each year, says school
nurse Sharon Leonard ’93, who also is busy
managing complex medical conditions, like
the student who was having her insulin level
checked on the day of the screening.

The local schools, our

University students, and
especially the children
we screen all benefit.”
E M I LY S M E A R C H E C K ’ 1 9

“For us to bring in 16 of our graduate
students and screen 250 students in
two hours is very much appreciated,”
Belsterling says.
“It gives our students an idea of the
workloads they may have as schoolbased speech-language pathologists.
A speech clinician might work with 60
children, and a school nurse might be
responsible for up to 1,500 students.”
Emily Smearcheck ’19 is pursuing
her master’s degree after earning a
bachelor’s in communication disorders
at Cal U. She reached into her speechlanguage pathologist’s “bag of tricks”
during her screening experience.
“We screened such diverse populations,”
she says. “These included children
with profound hearing impairments
who wore hearing aids that we needed
to know how to remove, children for
whom English is a second language,
and students with special needs.
“We had to learn how to get the
students to respond to the sound
stimulus if they didn’t want to raise their

hands. We asked one girl to give
us a high-five, and she loved that!”
Smearcheck is proud to provide a
community service.
“Practicing good hearing health is
crucial,” she says. “Some students
may only have their hearing screened
through this service Cal U provides,
so it’s nice to know we play a role in
preventative care.”
The chance to experience real-world
scenarios as a student makes the
communication disorders program
at Cal U stand out, Smearcheck adds.
“Freshmen have the opportunity to
have hands-on experience from the
start,” she says. “It’s a great feature.
Students at other (schools) may not
experience this until later in their
academic careers, or they may have
to seek out their own experiences.
“And many of the professors in the
department are still practicing speechlanguage pathologists. They’re up to
date with the trends in the field, which
is crucial for preparing students to
enter the workforce.”

Therapy for
Parkinson’s
patients
People with Parkinson’s
disease who may benefit
from speech-language
therapy have a resource at
the free Speech and Hearing
Clinic at Cal U.
The clinic is directed by professor
April Wright ’07, ’09, a specialist in adult
neurogenics, with a focus on Parkinson’s
disease. The category includes other acute
events or progressive disorders – stroke,
dementia, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease,
and traumatic brain injuries.
Wright has been a faculty member in the
Communication Disorders Department
since 2018. She also works at the Cahouet
Center for Comprehensive Parkinson’s Care
at Jefferson Hospital, part of the Allegheny
Health Network.

Belstering started the hearingscreening program in 2001, when
he first came to Cal U.

At the on-campus clinic, Wright supervises
graduate students in the communication
disorders program as they assess and treat
clients of all ages.

“Our students love doing it; they
love putting their education tools
to use,” he says.

“Our students are getting excellent real-world
experience,” Wright says. “They are seeing
one or two clients per week.”

“It’s a win-win-win. The local schools,
our University students, and especially
the children we screen all benefit.” 

Wright has used her community connections
to bring more Parkinson’s patients to the
clinic for evaluation and treatment.

By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

It's hearing screening day at California Elementary
School, where communication disorders student
Aimee Kefauver fits a child with headphones.

“I go to Parkinson’s support groups. I take
my card. I tell people, ‘If you need speech
therapy, we’re here,’” Wright says. “I explain
that they can get quality therapy here two
days a week. And it’s free.”
In spring 2020, more than 50 clients received
therapy at Cal U’s Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Three of those have Parkinson’s.
“Overall, our speech therapy clinic completes
about 80 visits a week,” Wright says. “We
just received two new adult referrals who
suffered strokes and whose insurance only
covered six visits. What do they do now?
“Here we are.”
The on-campus Speech and Hearing Clinic
closed temporarily during the COVID-19
emergency. It is expected to reopen in fall. For
more information, visit calu.edu/speech.

SPRING 2020

It’s a win-win-win.

5

PIECES
of PAST
FRAGMENTED REMAINS
CHALLENGE YOUNG
ANTHROPOLOGISTS

T
CAL U REVIEW

he Greene County Historical Society
is partnering with Cal U to help
identify and match hundreds of
uncatalogued remains, believed to be
from Native Americans.

6

The bones – teeth, skulls and other
fragments – need to be reported
under terms of the Native American
Graves Repatriation Act, says Matthew
Cumberledge, executive director of the
historical society.
The goal is to report the remains and

to facilitate the process if any tribal
descendants should wish to claim them
for burial.
Anthropology professor Dr. Cassandra Kuba
and a team of Cal U students have been
working on the project. They are analyzing 700
adult teeth, 150 baby teeth, 30 complete and
partial skulls, and other remains, including
42 mandible pieces, to verify they are Native
American and match what they can.
“The students are taking measurements and
taking note of evidence of disease or infection

or other features that might allow us
to reaffiliate the remains,” Kuba says.
“The measurements of certain teeth
should be consistent, and there are certain
diseases that affect the health of bones that
allow us to say they came from the same
person. It tests (the students’) ability to
determine if separate fragments really
do belong together.
“The remains could represent 10
different sites or more, from all sorts
of time periods.”

Anthropology major Amanda Ryczek
says analysis during the spring semester
revealed some teeth with evidence of
C-shaped roots in mandibular molars, a
characteristic that varies by population.
“We haven’t seen that before, so we are
looking at what that might mean or why it
may be happening. It helps with matching
similarities, and it may even be helpful to
future research,” she says.
Kuba is excited by the find.
“In the thousands of teeth I have
analyzed in 20-plus years of dental
anthropology, I have never come across
them. It definitely indicates a genetic link.
The students and I will be diving into the
literature to see if anyone in our area has
reported this trait.”
Cumberledge says the remains were
excavated in the 1930s, mostly by founding
members of the historical society.
Under the Works Progress Administration,
professional and amateur archaeologists
were paid to excavate sites, he says.
“Unfortunately, over the last 70-plus
years, the remains have been moved and
repacked, and they lack context. They
were all in one box, somewhat loose.
One or two sets may be connected to a
specific site, but the rest are not.
“Today, if you came across human
remains at a site, all work would
immediately cease. That was not the
case then.”
Cumberledge says the historical society
appreciates the collaboration.
“I’m not an anthropologist, and you don’t
just look in the Yellow Pages to find
someone who does this type of scientific
study,” he says.

“Dr. Kuba and her students have been a
tremendous asset, and the enthusiasm
the students have had for this project, and
the care with which they have treated the
remains, has been exceptional.”

SPECIAL SKILLS
Anthropology major Leighann Wharton,
president of the Anthropology Club, relates
a story to illustrate the skills students
are learning.
“We had one set of vertebrae and sacrum
that were wired together, as if they were
a set, but I could tell at a glance that the
vertebrae weren’t in the right order. Someone
unfamiliar with physical anthropology
wouldn’t necessarily know what they
were looking at.
“They are very fragmentary,” she says of
some of the remains. “It is a special skill
to learn to work with tiny pieces like that.
I’ve gotten much better at it.”
Cearra Mihal, also an anthropology major, has
enjoyed applying her classroom instruction in
the Frich Hall lab. Like Wharton, she worked
on the project in the months before Cal U
classes moved entirely online.
“Working with co-mingled remains means
having to go through and test what I’ve
learned for four years,” the senior says.

“We’ve had to decide if the differences
we see in the bones are the result of
pathologies or normal deviations.
“The fact that we can help (the historical
society) with this project makes me feel
good. It’s a great learning opportunity for us,
and it helps them solve some mysteries.”
“I like to be able to contribute to the
field,” Wharton says. “There isn’t a
lot of skeletal information about the
Monongahela population.”
Adds Cumberledge: “To a small degree,
I feel like I’ve gotten to meet these people.
Dr. Kuba has shared what she has learned
from studying the remains, and I’ve gotten
a sense of who they were as people, as
opposed to the bland, impersonal facts.
On a human level, it’s been quite
a wonderful experience.”
What once was a box of uncatalogued
fragments has become part of a
people’s story.
“It’s been a neat experience to work with
a North American tribe’s remains to retell
their past,” Ryczek says. “Even though
they’re not here to do it, their bones can
do it for them.” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

The fact that we can help (the historical
society) with this project makes me feel
good. It’s a great learning opportunity for
us, and it helps them solve some mysteries.”
S T UDEN T LEIGH A NN W H A R T ON

SPRING 2020

DENTAL ANOMALY

7

C A L U H E L P S T E E N S E X PA N D
LANGUAGE SKILLS

T

he Spanish IV class was a little
nervous. Sure, the seniors at
California Area High School had
been studying the language for years, but
could they converse with a native speaker?
And what about the specialized course
they’d be taking, Spanish for Professionals:
Medical Spanish?
“It’s not your native language,”
student Sydney Smichnick
points out. “You don’t want
to sound foolish.”
They needn’t have worried. All
16 learners received certificates
for completing the 30-hour
course developed by Dr. Andrea
Cencich, assistant professor
of Spanish at Cal U. She is
working on a similar program
for business professionals.

Dr. Andrea Cencich
speaks with high
school students
who studied
medical Spanish.

“This course introduces the rigors of college
learning to high school students,” Cencich
says. “It is part of our mission to provide
services to the community that promote
diversity and increase cultural awareness.
“It’s about feeling comfortable with
people from different places – that was my
higher objective. You wish there were even
more programs to expose children
to different cultures.”

CAL U REVIEW

Spanish teacher Haley Bashada ’16, ’19
taught the course at California Area
High School. The Cal U alumna has
undergraduate degrees in secondary
education with concentrations in English and
Spanish, and a master’s degree in secondary
education and administrative leadership.

8

Cencich, who was born in Chile, joined the
class in a video conference each week,
so the teens could learn to understand
her dialect, which differs from Bashada’s.

The course helped students who are considering
medical careers, and it improved the class’s
overall skills in conversational Spanish.
“It was great to see all the progress you made,”
Bashada told her students at a certificatepresentation ceremony.
High school principal Leigh Ann Folmar ’88, ’91
was there to applaud their success, along with
Dr. Kristen Majocha, dean of the College of
Liberal Arts, and Dr. Arcides Gonzalez, chair
of Cal U’s Department of Art and Languages.
“They were all nervous to talk with Professor
Cencich the first time, but they got so much
more comfortable talking to her, me and each
other,” Bashada says.
“All of them will appreciate learning Spanish
and will probably use it at some point in their
lives, professionally or personally.”
Majocha, Gonzalez and
Cencich emphasized the role
of a university in a community,
and the cultural importance of
languages and the liberal arts.
“It’s important to teach children
how to interact with people of
different backgrounds,” Gonzalez
says. “They have opened a door
by learning a second language,
and it will be helpful in a variety
of careers – education, medicine,
criminal justice and more.”
Learning a language is key to cultural
appreciation, Majocha adds.
“When you learn a language, you learn
humanity. The students all have had an
experience that many people don’t, and
it will help them to understand the world
in a way their peers cannot." 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

Spanish teacher
Haley Bashada '16 ,'19

Canvas

Art Club mural stars Fredericktown Ferry

The boat operated from 1948 until
2013, when a bridge was built nearby
as part of the Mon-Fayette Expressway.
The mural is going up on walls below a
Route 88 bridge over the Fredericktown
boat launch. It’s part of a new park being
developed by East Bethlehem Township.
The Mon River Towns Program, which
provides funding to promote towns along
the Monongahela River as regional assets,
gave the Art Club $5,000 and paid for
materials so Pinkham and his students
could create the mural.

Their concrete “canvas” consists of two
walls roughly 14 feet tall and 85 feet long.
The style is impressionistic, Pinkham says.
He sketched out the scene in black-andwhite, using marine-grade paint that can be
applied only with rollers.
“It’s going to be atmospheric and colorful,”
Pinkham says. “I’m going to focus a lot on
the water. We’ve added some horizon lines
to give depth to a flat surface. It’s a bit of a
period piece.”
Art is an important component of
community revitalization, says Cathy
McCollum, River Towns program director.
“Art beautifies communities,” she says.
“It makes a first impression: Does this
place look nice? Does it feel cared for?
“The overpass is an entrance to both the
town and the river, and we really wanted
to beautify it.” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

Artists
at work
See more photos of the
Art Club’s mural depicting
the Fredericktown ferry
and the Monongahela
River at calu.edu/review

SPRING 2020

F

red the Ferryboat lives on. Todd
Pinkham, an art professor at Cal U,
and student members of the Art
Club are creating a mural depicting the
Fredericktown Ferry – aka “Fred” – which
navigated the Monongahela River between
Washington and Fayette counties.

9

dreams

NURTURING
TRIO MENTORS ADD ‘EXTRA
L AY E R ’ O F C O N N E C T I O N

C

ounselor. Consultant. Cheerleader
Mentor. For first-generation college
students, a mentor can help to
ensure success.
“A mentor is a resource for job opportunities,
internships and a deeper connection to
campus resources,” says Laura Giachetti
’96, ’02, an assistant professor in the
Department of TRIO and Academic Services
and director of the TRIO Student Support
Services Program.

CAL U REVIEW

Federally funded TRIO programs assist firstgeneration students – those whose parents
or guardians did not attend a university – as
well as low-income students and students
with disabilities as they progress from
middle school through college.

10

To help first-generation students succeed
at Cal U, Giachetti developed the TRIO
Mentor Program.
In Fall 2019, 24% of Cal U’s undergraduate
enrollment — or 1,167 students — were
identified as first-generation.

Almost 40 faculty, administrators and
staff members have volunteered to offer
academic, professional and personal
guidance to those students who would
like the additional support. Students will
be encouraged to sign up during their first
year of college.
“We already have a lot of resources for
these students,” Giachetti says. “They have
a faculty adviser to help with scheduling.
We have tutoring services. They may even
have a peer mentor.
“The TRIO Mentor Program is meant to
be an extra layer. It’s our goal to be sure
we are providing all the avenues for our
students to connect with Cal U and
complete their degree.”

MAKE A CONNECTION
“Faculty and staff have a great platform
to be able to help these kids out,” says Dr.
M. Scott Zema, assistant professor in the
Department of Health Science.

Laura Giachetti '96, '02

“It’s not always enough to have them in our
classes and maybe just say ‘hi’ to them. We
have an opportunity to make a connection
with them, so they feel that affinity, stay in
school and earn that degree.”
The TRIO Mentor volunteers provide “real
talk” to let students know they can overcome
obstacles, it’s OK to have questions and
doubts sometimes, and they have what it
takes to earn a degree.

The TRIO Mentor
Program is meant to
be an extra layer. It’s
our goal to be sure
we are providing all
the avenues for our
students to connect
with Cal U and
complete their degree.”

Dr. Peter Cormas

L AUR A GIACHE T TI ’96, ’02

Dr. Kimberly Woznack, a chemistry
professor, shares a humorous story from
her own first year, when she accidentally
enrolled in a 300-level Shakespeare class.
Before writing her first lab report, she recalls
with a smile, she had to write a college paper
in an upper-level literature course.

“Sometimes, when students are struggling,
they need context. They may wonder if
they’re too far out of their league, or if it’s
usual to struggle with a particular course.
They may be reluctant to ask their adviser,
because they don’t want to look like they
don’t know what they’re doing. A mentor can
help with that.”

KEEP TRYING
Cormas also discusses the reality of failure
in a culture where curated social media
feeds often show only end results.
“The people who are best at anything fail
a lot and make a lot of mistakes,” he says.
“Nobody is awesome at everything; it’s
impossible. The best mathematicians
and scientists persevere and learn from
their mistakes.”

Dr. Peter Cormas, a science educator,
weaves advice on the intangible qualities of
perseverance and hard work into his classes
for undergraduate education majors.

Dr. Mathilda Spencer, of the Criminal Justice
Department, shares her firsthand experience
as a teen in the TRIO Upward Bound
program, which prepares eligible high school
students for post-secondary success.

“I talk to my students explicitly about what
it's like to persevere,” he says. “I talk to them
a lot about how scientists have to persevere
to solve problems, how they have to talk to
each other, how they have to learn not
to work in isolation.

“I know the reality of the struggle,” she says.
“I know what it’s like not to have, financially. I
was blessed with a mother who said, ‘You’re
going to college. However we have to do it,
however it has to work, it is going to work.’

“We sometimes assume that college
students should know these things, but
that’s not always the case, especially for
first-generation students.”

“And I often look at these kids and wonder
if they’ve had someone say that to them.
That’s where mentoring comes in.”
Nurturing dreams is key, the mentors say.

“College is such a pivotal time,” Woznack
says. “I don’t think I would have gone to
graduate school if I hadn’t had mentors who
said, ‘If you really like chemistry, there’s more
chemistry you could learn!’
“They gave me the confidence that I was
grad school material. Without mentors as
an undergraduate, I wouldn’t have made the
same choices.”
Spencer tells students, “Simply by making it
to college, you have beaten the odds already.
Let’s keep it going. Let’s graduate. Let’s get
that degree and make everyone proud!” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

TRIO
MENTORS
Meet the faculty, administrators
and staff who have volunteered
to help students succeed:
calu.edu/trio-mentors

SPRING 2020

“I had no idea how the numbers worked for
college classes,” Woznack says. “No one
had oriented me to that. It all worked out, but
there are so many of those things that can
add up to make you think this isn’t the right
place, that college isn’t right for you.

11

CAMPUS CLIPS
EMPLOYEES BENEFIT FROM

EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE

H

igher education is the key to building a competitive
21st-century workforce. Now businesses, nonprofit
organizations and other corporate entities can partner
with Cal U to give their employees the knowledge and skills
they need to advance their careers.
When an organization becomes a Cal U Educational Alliance
partner, its verified employees save 20% on the in-state tuition
rate for eligible on-campus or online programs.
Depending on the partnership agreement, employees may
take specific courses, earn a career-focused certificate, or
enroll in an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
Employees from partner organizations who enroll at Cal U
also receive personal attention and paperwork assistance
from a designated Educational Alliance liaison who can
guide them from application to graduation.
Research shows that tuition assistance programs are powerful
tools for building employee engagement and loyalty. Whether
a business is large or small, the Cal U Educational Alliance can
make higher education more affordable and attainable for its
most important assets – its employees.
Visit calu.edu/alliance to learn more.

STAFF MEMBERS HONORED
FOR SUPERIOR SERVICE

a new initiative to support foster youth,
among other endeavors.

Two Cal U alumni have been named
recipients of the spring 2020 Vulcan
Staff Awards.

Bilitski, who earned his master’s degree at
Cal U, was credited with “making outstanding
customer service a part of every interaction,”
particularly when engaging with current and
future students.

CAL U REVIEW

Dr. Karen Amrhein ’88,
’98, a director in the
Office of Academic
Success, received the
President’s Vulcan
Circle Award for
outstanding job
performance.

12

The Vulcan Staff Awards are presented
at faculty-staff convocations held near
the start of the fall and spring semesters.
Recipients are nominated by members of
the campus community and selected by
a seven-member committee.

Barry Bilitski ’07,
an assistant director
of Admissions,
accepted the Vulcan
Exceptional Service
Award for exemplary
customer service.

Students who complete Cal U programs in
statistics and data science can earn digital
badges from SAS,® a leading developer of
analytics software and solutions.

Nominators praised Amrhein for
collaborating across departments to create
the Peer Mentoring program, the Summer
Success Academy for at-risk students, and

Cal U has partnered with SAS to develop
100% online programs that build expertise
in SAS analytics, one of the most valuable
career-focused skills in today’s job market.

DIGITAL BADGES SIGNAL
DATA SCIENCE SKILLS

Students in Cal U’s
B.S. in Statistics
and Data Science
program can earn
the SAS badge for
ACADEMIC
Statistical Analysis.
SAS-verified badges
also are awarded for
successful completion
of Cal U’s graduate or undergraduate
certificate programs in SAS Data Science.
Students in these programs manipulate
real-world data utilizing the same SAS
software found in 80,000 workplaces
in Pennsylvania and around the world.
Students who earn the digital badges
may use them in their email signatures,
online resumes and social media profiles.
“Digital badges are an easy, portable way
to convey competence in multiple skills with
one image,” says Dr. Melissa Sovak, professor
of data science at Cal U. “One little badge can
convey a wealth of information to potential
employers, industry partners and colleagues.”

THIS INTERN GAINS
CAPITAL EXPERIENCE
Psychology major
Chelsea Fullum
served in the office
of Lt. Gov. John
Fetterman this
spring as part of
The Harrisburg
Internship Semester.
THIS gives students from Pennsylvania’s
State System of Higher Education the
opportunity to work in state government
while earning a full semester’s worth of
credits. Students receive a $3,500 stipend
to assist with expenses while they live in
the Harrisburg region.
Until her internship was cut short by
the COVID-19 outbreak, Fullum handled
constituent services and gave office tours.
Her research project focused on criminal
justice reform, one of Fetterman’s
top concerns.
Fullum is a member of Student Government
and the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society,
and recording secretary for the Phi Sigma
Sigma social sorority.

JUNE SESSION OFFERS
GRAD SCHOOL DETAILS
Would a master’s degree or doctorate
help to advance your career? Then bring
your questions to a virtual graduate school
information session on June 24.

This is your chance to discuss the benefits
of a Cal U graduate program, learn details
about graduate assistantships and ask
questions about the application process,
student outcomes and more.
“Many of our degrees and certificates
are 100% online, which gives working
students options to hone their expertise
at a pace and delivery of their choice,”
says Dr. Yugo Ikach, dean of the College
of Graduate Studies and Research.
Cal U offers a variety of master’s degree
programs in education, healthcare, science
and technology, and professional studies.
Career-focused certificates, certification and
licensure programs also are available, along
with doctorates for leaders in educational
administration, exercise science and
criminal justice.
Learn more or register for a graduate
information session at calu.edu/visit.

UNDERSTANDING THE
REFUGEE EXPERIENCE
Empathy and cultural awareness are
important, even in the clinical atmosphere
of a hospital emergency room.
Dr. Azadeh Block is helping personnel
at Jefferson Hospital gain a deeper
understanding of the refugee experience.
Block, an associate professor in Cal U’s
Social Work Department, presented face-toface cultural humility training to personnel
in the hospital’s Emergency Department
early this spring.

She focused primarily on the needs of
immigrants from Bhutan and Nepal who
have settled in Pittsburgh’s South Hills,
an area served by Jefferson Hospital.
“It builds empathy to understand what it’s
like to be forced to leave your country, only
to eventually make it to the United States
and not be welcomed,” Block explains.
“Being a refugee can impact things like
access to nutritious foods for a period
of time. Knowing that can inform some
of the issues that people might see in
the Emergency Department.”
About 60 hospital employees attended
the training, and online training modules
are being developed. The project is part
of the hospital’s Front Door Initiative for
Social Emergency Medicine, which
received a four-year grant from the
Jefferson Regional Foundation.

Students at the Nassarawo-Koma
Secondary School in Nigeria wear
2008-2010 soccer jerseys donated
by the Cal U women's team. Head
coach Pete Curtis led the initiative,
in collaboration with professor Buba
Misawa of Washington & Jefferson
College, who regularly collects books,
clothing and school supplies for
communities in Nigeria, Senegal and
The Gambia. Curtis came to Cal U
after 11 years as head women’s soccer
coach at W&J.
He says ‘it warms the soul’ to know
‘that across the fields of Africa, Cal U
jerseys are being worn with pride.’

SPRING 2020

Dressed for success

13

CAMPUS CLIPS

professor emeritus at the University of
North Texas. His conducting credits include
appearances across the United States and
in Europe, Asia and South America.
In all, more than 100 student performers
and 26 band directors took part in the
festival. Cal U also hosted the event in
1987 and in 2012.

FREE TUITION FOR FAMILIES
OF PA. NATIONAL GUARD
Beginning in fall, spouses and children of
Pennsylvania Army or Air National Guard
members can attend Cal U tuition-free under
the Military Family Education Program (MFEP).

MUSICIANS TUNE UP
FOR BAND FESTIVAL
The clock tower’s chimes are still under
repair, but there was music in the air on
campus this spring.
For the third time in its history, Cal U played
host to the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate
Band Festival. It was the festival’s 73rd
annual performance, making it the oldest
continuous band festival in the nation.
Student musicians from Cal U and 21
other colleges rehearsed and performed
with guest conductor Dennis Fisher, a

Authorized by the Pennsylvania GI Bill
(House Bill 1324), the MFEP provides
five years of higher education benefits to
dependents of Pennsylvania National Guard
members who commit to an additional six
years of service. That’s 10 semesters of
tuition-free education for family members at
the tuition rate set by Pennsylvania’s State
System of Higher Education.
Benefits begin with the 2020-2021 academic
year. For details, visit calu.edu/veterans
or contact the Office of Military and
Veterans Affairs at veterans@calu.edu
or 724-938-4076.

ATHLETIC TRAINERS
HONOR PROFESSOR
Dr. Linda Platt Meyer,
a professor in the
Department of
Exercise Science
and Sport Studies,
has been inducted
into the Eastern
Athletic Trainers’
Association’s 49 Club – the “hall of fame”
for athletic trainers.
Formed in 1949, the EATA consists of
more than 8,000 athletic trainers and athletic
training students from Maine to Delaware.
The ’49 Club recognizes members who
demonstrate sustained leadership and
reflect positively on the association and
their home districts.
Meyer teaches in Cal U’s online master’s
degree program in exercise science and
health promotion. She was a member of
the state Board of Osteopathic Medicine
and is involved with the Pennsylvania
Athletic Trainers’ Society.
For 30 years she has volunteered as
an athletic trainer for Special Olympics
Pennsylvania, and since 1990, she has
been the medical coordinator for SOPA’s
State Winter Games.
Through her efforts, an interdisciplinary
sports medicine team is on hand at all statelevel SOPA events. Over the decades, she has
recruited hundreds of athletic trainers and
athletic training students to volunteer for the
Special Olympics Winter Games at Seven
Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, Pa.

FOUR CENTURIES
OF BLACK HISTORY
Cal U reflected on 400 years of history –
and looked to the future – during February’s
Black History Month celebration.

CAL U REVIEW

Your name here

14

Current and former presidents of the Foundation for California University present a plaque to
University President Geraldine M. Jones. Now on display in Old Main, the plaque honors past
foundation presidents and recognizes the organization’s role in supporting the University and its
students since 1986. On hand for the presentation were (from left) Dr. Charles S. Pryor ’73; Dr.
David L. Amati ’70; Dale L. Hamer ’60;
Dr. Harry E. Serene ’65; first gentleman Jeffrey Jones; Linda H. Serene ’64; and
William R. Flinn II ’68. Other past presidents are the late William Boyd Jr.; Dr. Homer R.
Pankey; Dan Altman; Paul R. White; Richard C. Grace ’63; and Steven P. Stout ’85.

Sheleta Camarda-Webb, director of
Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Education,
described the range of programming
as “poignant, informational and also
very captivating.”
“We’ve tapped into our on-campus
resources, because this is an ideal time
to use their scholarship to go back and talk
about some historical perspective – and
also to acknowledge what can happen in
the next 400 years.”
Events included a special four-part “What’s
the T? Thoughtful Discussions About
National Narratives” series; presentations by
Cal U’s Frederick Douglass Institute scholars,

School Color
Workers add a touch of Cal U
red to an entrance at Washington
Hospital, where a new awning and
interior signage identify the Cal U
School of Radiologic Technology
at Washington Health System. The
two-year program prepares radiologic
technologists – also known as
radiographers or X-ray technicians –
for high-demand careers in healthcare.
Cal U students in the program attend
classes and learn diagnostic imaging
skills at Washington Hospital, gain
hands-on experience at other clinical
locations, and graduate with an
associate degree from the University.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of
Service kicked off the celebration, and meals
featuring Southern-style soul food recipes
and African-inspired dishes both nourished
and educated Gold Rush diners.

FARMHOUSE RETREAT
RE-ENERGIZES WRITERS
For anyone who needs to write,
uninterrupted time can be a precious
commodity. More than a dozen faculty
members took advantage of a writers’
retreat to pour some coffee, open their
laptops and focus on writing before the
spring semester began.
Syllabi and dissertations, research articles
and grant applications, manuscripts and
creative works – all were on the table
during the daylong session at SAI Farm,
on Cal U’s upper campus.
The retreat was organized by the Frederick
Douglass Institute at Cal U and supported
by the College of Liberal Arts.
“The intention of the retreat was to foster
a culture of collegiality among academic
departments,” said lead organizer Rodney
Taylor, an FDI scholar in the English
Department.
“While each discipline is unique, we all
have to write.”

COMPETITION PROMOTES
FINANCIAL LITERACY
This spring Cal U partnered with the
Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy
to sponsor stock market competitions for
middle school and high school students in
Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and
Westmoreland counties.
Open to public and private school students,
the Stock Market Challenge is designed to
teach students and teachers how to invest
and trade in stocks, analyze markets and
build a portfolio.
More than $2,800 in prizes were at stake
in the five-county region.

During national Hunger and Homelessness
Awareness Week, the Office of Parking and
Transportation placed collection boxes in
Vulcan Flyer shuttles and organized two “fill
a parking space” food drives to stock the
Cupboard’s shelves.
To honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr., the Black Student Union encouraged
faculty, staff and students to Feed Your Soul
by donating non-perishable food items to
fill a Kia Soul that was parked on campus.
The Center for Volunteer Programs and
Service Learning operates the food pantry,
which is open to students throughout the
academic year. Donations are welcome;
contact the center at calucupboard@calu.edu.

“It’s never too soon to begin building
financial literacy,” says Dr. Paul Hettler,
chair of Cal U’s Department of Business
and Economics.
The council’s mission is to provide the
state’s K-12 students with economic,
personal finance and entrepreneurship
skills. More than 10,000 students in
45 Pennsylvania counties participate in
financial games and programs sponsored
by the organization.

FOOD DRIVES
FILL THE CUPBOARD
The campus community continues to
battle food insecurity by stocking shelves
at the Cal U Cupboard, the on-campus
food pantry for students.

SPRING 2020

Jessica Spradley and Rodney Taylor; and a
panel discussion about civil rights and social
justice led by first gentleman Jeffrey Jones.

15

EDUCATION
SUPERPOWER
is your

Military officer addresses winter graduates

O

livia Ebersole ’19 spent hours of
her college life in the Convocation
Center arena, practicing and
performing as a feature twirler.
Walking across the stage to receive her
degree was brief by comparison, but the
joy of that achievement will last.

CAL U REVIEW

“My Cal U experience is one I will never forget,”
says Ebersole, who took her bachelor’s degree
in communication studies straight to Florida
and the Disney College Program.

16

She joined more than 1,000 students for
Cal U’s winter Commencement ceremonies,
which included the second class to graduate
from the Doctor of Health Science and
Exercise Leadership program.
Yukiko Suzuki ’19 returned from Japan
to accept the master’s degree in clinical
mental health counseling that she’d
completed in August.

“I wanted to come back,” she says.
“I had a wonderful on-campus experience,
and it’s great to see all my classmates!”
Col. Lance D. Oskey ’93, Chief of Staff, U.S.
Army Cadet Command, spoke at both the
graduate and undergraduate ceremonies.
“What you have accomplished today is
not your destination but the first step in
your journey,” said Oskey, who began his
military career as an ROTC cadet and a
Distinguished Military Graduate at Cal U.
“You should know by now that education
is the superpower that allows you to think
critically, understand complex problems
and create solutions, so you can help your
team, your profession and your community.”
After greeting the soon-to-be graduates,
University President Geraldine M. Jones
accepted a check for more than $15,000

contributed by graduating seniors and their
families for scholarships for future students.
She led a round of applause for military
veterans and acknowledged graduates
Taylor Shiann Phillips and Alexander James
Murphy for earning bachelor’s degrees,
and Trudi Anneke Brinkmann for earning
her associate degree, all with a perfect
4.0 grade-point average.
“I am very proud of each of you for your hard
work and the sacrifices you have made to reach
this point,” President Jones told the Class of
2019. “I know that you will continue to work
hard as you enter this new chapter of your life.
“May you find happiness and satisfaction
in the days and years ahead.” 

For details and more photos,
visit calu.edu/review

Meet Col. Lance Oskey
Q

You told our graduates that education is
their “superpower.” How has it been yours?

I’ve had the good fortune to pair my education with
many and varied real-life experiences that allowed me
to further my leadership journey. The formula ‘Education
+ Experience’ is the best way to (find out) if the various theories
you’ve been taught actually hold up in the real world.

A

Q

Your nearly 30-year military career has been a
steady climb of increased leadership duties.
How has it shaped you?

Because I’ve been in uniform since the age of 17, the
military has shaped almost every component of my life.
The military has provided me a platform to grow and learn
as a person, to develop leadership skills, and to play a small part in
shaping world history through three combat deployments.

A

Q

What’s your best piece
of leadership advice?

Always seek to build effective professional relationships
– the currency on which trust is built. This trust will be
critical when no-fail missions are assigned, or when lives
depend on mission success. Relationships with subordinates
are critical to building effective teams. … Relationships with
your superiors are important, as orders are often given in haste,
and understanding the implied intent of your superior is just as
important as understanding the assigned mission.

A

Q

What’s your best advice to someone recently out
of college who wants to grow in their career?

Always be willing to learn – be “coachable” to others
in your profession who know more than you. If young
leaders are “coachable,” without giving up their
formal authority, then members of their team will invest in their
development and success. Nobody likes new college graduates
who think they know everything and don’t need help from other
members of the team.

A

What’s your favorite book?
Favorite movie?

I’m re-reading All the Light We Cannot See (by Anthony
Doerr) – truly great writing and storytelling. The HBO miniseries Band of Brothers is the story of an infantry company
in World War II, based on the Stephen E. Ambrose book. It’s a great
story of leadership and resilience from the Greatest Generation.

A

SPRING 2020

Q

17

ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI CALENDAR

UPCOMING EVENTS

HEY THERE,
The season is changing – and sometimes, so
does your address. We want to stay connected
with you and your Cal U alumni friends, so
update your info (and tell them to do it, too!)
at calu.edu/alumni.

Event information was accurate at press time,
but our plans are subject to change.

JUNE

13

CAL U DAY AT KENNYWOOD
Kennywood’s open … for Cal U alumni and
friends! Join us for our third annual Cal U Day
at Kennywood Park, with discounted tickets plus
an ice cream and soda-fountain reception at the
Cal U Pavilion.

A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS
We’re on the hunt for VIPs – volunteers
for our new “Vulcan-teer” program. We need
alumni with a passion for their alma mater who
can connect with a new generation of Vulcans
and help the Alumni Relations Office reach its
goals for enrollment management, philanthropy,
participation, mentorship and more.
If you love Cal U and want to be part of a
new program that will continue to grow the
University’s legacy, contact me directly at
barnhart_r@calu.edu. Watch your email inbox
for more details about our volunteer program.

STAY TUNED
Be an informed Cal U alumnus! To stay in the
loop on upcoming events, news, receptions,
sporting events and more, update your
information at calu.edu/alumni.
Then check out calu.edu/news to stay current
with what’s happening on campus, and explore
the alumni website, calu.edu/alumni, to find
opportunities for getting involved with your alma
mater, services and benefits for Cal U alumni,
past issues of the Vulcan Gazette newsletter
and Vulcan Nation podcast, and more.
And don’t forget to follow us on social media.
If our posts at @calualumni or @caluofpa bring
back happy memories of your college days or
spark pride in your alma mater, pass them on!
Like our posts, retweet or comment using the
hashtag #calualumni, and let us know when
you’re #caluproud.

CAL U REVIEW

Hope to see you soon!

18

Ryan Barnhart '08, '09, '19
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

JUNE

26

SEPT

24
OCT

9-11

BAKN 2: MEAT. EAT. REPEAT
Come along as we head back to Bakn, the hip
dining spot in Carnegie, Pa. Chef Randy Tozzie
’89 is preparing complimentary appetizers, and
the cash bar will be open for this meet-up in
Pittsburgh’s South Hills.

PARTY WITH THE PIRATES
Mark your calendar for the annual Cal U Night @
PNC Park. We’ll be in the stands when the Pirates
take on the Cincinnati Reds at 7:05 p.m. But first,
meet us in the parking lot for the pregame tailgate
featuring fare from Primanti Bros.

WELCOME HOME
Don’t miss out on Cal U’s biggest weekend of
them all! Make plans to join us for Homecoming
2020, featuring our 2020 Alumni Awards
reception, all-alumni reunion, the return of
Cal U Brew, and more.

Stay connected to the Cal U Alumni Association's online community!
Contact the Alumni Office at alumni@calu.edu or 724-938-4418 (use
option 4) to request your personal ID number. You can email or call us
any time for details about these and other upcoming alumni events.

ALUMNI PHOTO ALBUM

#CALUTOGETHER

‘DREAM’ TEAM
As part of Cal U’s Black History
Month programming, panelists
(from left) Justin James ’12, ’14,
future alumna Cynthia Obiekezie,
and faculty member Lisa Driscoll
reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s
‘I Have a Dream’ speech. Moderator
for the discussion was Cal U’s first
gentleman, Jeffrey Jones.

SEEN IN NYC
Thirty alumni and friends, including
University President Geraldine Jones
and first gentleman Jeffrey Jones,
gathered for a special reception at
The Long Room tavern in midtown
Manhattan. Regional alumni
gatherings give graduates a chance
to mingle with friends old and new
while learning the latest about Cal U.

PHILADELPHIA
STORIES
More than 40 alumni from four
different decades celebrated all
things Cal U at an alumni event in
Philadelphia. Sharing the moment
are (from left) Nina Gray ’87, John
McCoy ’80 and wife Cynthia, Barbara
Ney ’90 and Valerie Haley ’82.

AFFINITY GROUP SPOTLIGHT: CAL GALS

The Cal Gals are just one of many affinity groups supported by the Office of University
Development and Alumni Relations. Greek organizations past and present, graduating
classes and special area-of-interest alumni groups also receive our support.
If you know a group of Cal U alumni that would like to be recognized as an official
affinity group, contact Staci Tedrow at tedrow@calu.edu for more information.

SPRING 2020

The Cal Gals, a group of retired female educators, is celebrating 31 years as an alumni
affinity group. The group has met for lunch on campus twice a year since 1989 – and in that
time these amazing women have raised over $30,000 in scholarships for Cal U students.

19

Balance

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Finding
I

f you’d like to
improve sleep,
reduce stress
and improve mobility
in a more holistic
way, there is an
app for that.

One of the latest – RVIVE – was developed
by Amped Technologies, co-founded in 2018
by Cal U alumnus Wesley Rosner, a 1999
athletic training graduate.
“People’s relationships with their phones are
very powerful. The demand for using mobile
software to impact an individual’s mental
and physical stress is thriving,” he says.
RVIVE is “a healthcare software platform to
empower individuals to lead a healthier life
through the balance of mind and body.”

Cal U REVIEW

Customers include entertainment, industrial
and healthcare companies, as well as
educational institutions and sports teams.

20

with software

The platform also appeals to a growing
number of consumers who are interested in
individual wellness options.
Client administrators can build targeted
programs for individuals and groups,
alongside the support of online health
programs and virtual wellness teams.

Rosner’s experience includes more than a
decade of consulting with the Walt Disney
Co. on health and wellness strategies for its
global entertainment division. He also directed
a team of athletic trainers, physical therapists
and performance coaches in a partnership
with the Chinese Olympic Committee to
prepare for the 2016 and 2018 Games.
He used that wealth of hands-on athletic
training experience to build a mobile
software platform that makes personalized
wellness interactive and engaging.

These days, people have access to wearable
fitness-tracking devices, self-care equipment
and dedicated apps for mind or body
programming, Rosner says.
“Equipment and modalities typically seen
in a clinic or training room are now available
on store shelves. Consumers … are seeking
a more comprehensive approach to bringing
it all together.”
As the company grows, Rosner keeps in
mind the lessons he learned before cofounding RVIVE.

“Self-care and awareness are paramount,”
he says. “As entrepreneurs, we easily obsess
over the business and intricate metrics to
achieve growth, but well-being is essential
in the critical foundation of any new or
existing company.” 

DATA IMPROVES
WEATHER WARNINGS

Smith’s workplace is one of seven
research labs at the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration. As
part of the lab’s Forecast Research and
Development Division, she collects and
applies data to improve forecasting.
“I’m not a forecaster, but I am an
observationalist,” she explains. “I go out
into the field to collect data from storms
to advance the science of meteorology
and improve forecasts and warnings.”
As a Cal U student, Smith earned the
2012 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate
Scholarship, which provides up to $9,500
per year for two years of full-time study and
a 10-week, full-time paid summer internship
at a NOAA facility.

CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
‘SET ME APART’

F

our years, two promotions, a
manager of more than 30 people.
For Rebecca Caskey, the value of
a Cal U degree is evident.
“It was made extremely clear after each
job change that my conflict resolution
degree is what set me apart and earned
me the new position,” she says.
Caskey works for the State College of Florida,
a community college in Bradenton, where
she manages the school’s tutoring centers
across three campuses. Her previous
position was Title IX coordinator for New
College of Florida, a public liberal arts
honors college in Sarasota.
“I’ve never had tutoring experience, but the
center wanted to hire someone they felt
could create a welcoming environment for
students and increase employee retention
and satisfaction,” Caskey says.
“My master’s degree is what attracted
them to me, and I really credit it with
setting me apart in an industry where
everyone else followed a pretty traditional
‘master of higher ed’ route.”

She graduated with a meteorology
concentration before pursuing her master’s
and Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma’s
renowned meteorology program.
At NOAA’s Severe Storms Lab, Smith gathers
and analyzes data from the part of the
atmosphere closest to the ground. Better
data ultimately means better forecasts and
warnings from the National Weather Service,
which is part of NOAA.
“We can get temperature, wind and moisture
readings every minute,” Smith says. “That
lets us understand how the environment
evolves, how the storms move, and other
variables that affect a forecast.
“Our warnings are very good; we average
about 12-15 minutes (in advance). But in
places like the Ohio Valley, we still have much
to study with tornadoes and linear systems.”
Severe weather warnings can protect
lives and property — but only if they’re
taken seriously.

“It’s harmful if our warnings don’t come true,
because that degrades trust,” Smith says.
“The data can help to improve accuracy
and decrease false alarms.”
The science is cool. Improving severe
weather forecasts is even cooler, Smith says.
“Weather impacts lives in major ways.
It is very fulfilling to apply my scientific
knowledge and training in ways that improve
the quality of life for people and society.” 

It was made extremely
clear after each job
change that my conflict
resolution degree is
what ... earned me the
new position.”

REBECC A C A SK E Y ’16

Caskey earned her conflict resolution degree
online in 2016 and immediately began work
as Title IX coordinator at New College.

She discovered, for example, that
conflict isn’t necessarily negative for
an organization.

“Many in our student body were transgender
or non-binary, which precipitated a lot of
dialogue around identity,” Caskey says.
“I also served as a voluntary mediator for
those who didn’t want to go the HR route.”

“You learn to recognize that the conclusion
you wanted in your mind might not be best
for the organization or team,” Caskey says.
“There may be things you can give up that
won’t hurt you and will benefit another person.

Caskey says the flexibility of Cal U’s 100%
online courses was invaluable for someone
working full time. The content also was spot-on.

“It’s an opportunity for all of us to
come together.”

“It was very applicable. There were research
and theoretical parts, but it was very
practice-based. It builds on itself. You can
use what you’re learning at your job.”

Learn more about Cal U’s M.A. in Conflict
Resolution, and other master’s degree
programs, at calu.edu/academics. 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

SPRING 2020

S

cience for the greater good. For
Dr. Elizabeth Smith ’14, it’s the lofty
benefit of a weather scientist’s dream
job at the NOAA National Severe Storms
Laboratory, in Norman, Okla.

21

Shines

SPORTS ROUNDUP

SPRINTER

AT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

I

t’s hard to keep up with Divonne Franklin. The speedy
sprinter was named the Outstanding Track Athlete at the
PSAC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships,
a 15-team contest held this spring at Edinboro University.
Franklin won the 60- and 200-meter dash events, setting
school and conference records with times of 7.55 and
24.66 seconds, respectively.

She also ran the leadoff leg with Cal U’s first-place 4x400-meter relay team,
which included Ashley McIntosh, Alicia Collier and Tatyana Young.
Other top finishers: Aaliyah Lewis, who earned third place in the triple jump;
and Young and Jaleesa Mackey, who finished third and fourth, respectively,
in the 60-meter event.
At the PSAC men’s indoor championship, Jalen Cloud set a school record
in the triple jump with a mark of 14.47 meters, finishing in third place.
Kristopher Lytle placed second in the 200-meter run, with a time of 21.98
seconds. He added a third-place finish, with a time of 6.904 seconds,
in the 60-meter race. The men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Avery BoeaGisler, Cloud, Kyle Tumpak and Lytle placed fourth. 

CAL U REVIEW

BIG POST-SEASON FOR HOCKEY, RUGBY

22

The men’s hockey club collected its
sixth consecutive College Hockey East
Championship this season, bringing the
club’s overall championship total to 13.

the National Small College Rugby
Organization’s (NSCRO-15) Central
Region Challenge Cup Championships,
held in Columbia, Mo.

In the CHE playoffs, the Vulcans defeated
IUP, 3-0, in the semifinals and PittJohnstown, 5-4, in a final contest that
went into overtime.

Coached by alumnus Bill Marnell ’09, the
Vulcans clinched a spot in the regional
semifinals and represented the NSCRO
Three Rivers Conference following their
23-7 victory over Grove City College.

In the championship game, Perry Shiring
scored a hat trick for the Vulcans after an
opening goal by Branson King. With nine
minutes elapsed in overtime, Chris Siak
scored the game-winner for the Vulcans.
For the first time in program history,
the men’s rugby club competed in

In the semifinals, Cal U fell to defending
region champ and eventual region titlist
Wisconsin Stevens Point.
Marnell praised the efforts of players
Isaiah Harris, Brandon Fritzius and
Nate Godfrey.

DEFENSIVE BACK AGAIN NAMED ALL-AMERICAN

In all, five organizations recognized
McPhatter as an All-American: the AP, the
American Football Coaches Association,
D2CCA, D2Football.com and the Don
Hansen Football Gazette.

McPhatter also was a three-time, first-team
all-conference selection.
In his final season with the Vulcans,
McPhatter posted 58 tackles (32 solo) and
scored a pair of defensive touchdowns
while registering two interceptions and one
fumble recovery. He anchored a defensive
unit that led the NCAA Division II in rushing
defense at 56.5 yards per game—fourth best
among the 670 teams in all NCAA divisions.

STUDENT-ATHLETES WIN
IN THE CLASSROOM

collectively tallied a 3.21 GPA, with 28
student-athletes earning a perfect 4.0.

Cal U student-athletes are making
the grades. The athletics program
headed into 2020 having achieved
a cumulative grade-point average
of 3.10 or higher for 19 of the past
20 semesters.

The volleyball team earned the highest
team GPA, at 3.79. Among men’s
teams, the basketball program posted
the highest GPA, at 3.25.

In Fall 2019, the Vulcans’ 16 NCAA
intercollegiate athletics programs

BASKETBALL COACH
NETS MILESTONE
VICTORIES

TURNAROUND TIME FOR
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Men’s head basketball coach
Danny Sancomb, who’s completed
his second year, guided the
Vulcans to the program’s best
season since 2008, when Cal U
reached the NCAA Division II Elite
Eight Tournament.
The men finished their regular
season with 18 victories and
made the league playoffs for
the first time since 2014, falling
to IUP in the quarterfinals. The
Vulcans had opened the postseason with a 74-58 victory over
Gannon, enjoying the team’s first
PSAC Tournament win in the
Convocation Center.
Guard Brent Pegram averaged
more than 20 points per game in
the regular season. Other doublefigure scorers were Zyan Collins,
Jermaine Hall and Luke House.

In all, 214 Vulcans – each with a
cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher –
were named to the Fall 2019 Athletic
Director Honor Roll.

A successful
season for the
women’s basketball
team included two
milestone victories
for ninth-year head
coach Jess Strom.

TOP 10 SCORES FOR
SENIOR SWIMMER
Senior Karley Owens earned
three top-10 finishes at the PSAC
Swimming Championships.
Owens placed fifth overall in the
championship finals of the 200
breaststroke, touching the wall in 2
minutes, 20.88 seconds – the second
fastest time in school history.
She tied for fifth place in the 400yard individual medley (4:33.62),
third best in program history.
She also placed ninth in the 100
breaststroke (1:05.76).

In late December, Cal U’s 67-60
victory at West Chester gave
Strom 200 career wins. Only
eight PSAC women's basketball
coaches – four of them active –
have reached the 200-win mark.
In March, a 67-53 PSAC playoff
win over Pitt-Johnstown gave
Strom her 212th career victory,
which tied her with former head
coach Darcie Vincent for the
most wins in program history.
The Vulcans finished the regular
season with a 20-8 overall
record. It was the teams’ 22nd
consecutive winning season .

SPRING 2020

After capping his career with an exceptional
2019 season, senior defensive back Lamont
McPhatter II earned First-Team All-America
status from the Associated Press for the
second consecutive year.

23

A QUINTESSENTIAL

QUINTET
F I V E H O N O R E E S J O I N C A L U ’ S AT H L E T I C H A L L O F FA M E

Sam DiMatteo ’10

Terrence Johnson ’10

John Luckhardt

Four-year starter and three-time allconference outfielder for the baseball
team from 2007-2010.

Starting cornerback for the Vulcans
football team, from 2006-2009, before
playing three seasons in the National
Football League.

Coached the Vulcans football team from
2002-2011, finishing his Cal U career with
a program-best 88-33 cumulative record
and .727 winning percentage.

A three-time all-conference selection,
Johnson earned multiple All-American
honors during his final two years at Cal U.

Vulcans football closed the second half of
the Luckhardt decade by winning 56 of 68
games, with a 32-2 cumulative PSAC-West
mark. Those teams enjoyed five consecutive
seasons of double-digit victories and the
football program’s first five NCAA Division
II playoff appearances, including three
straight trips to the national semifinals.

DiMatteo's 115 career stolen bases remain
a school and PSAC record. He’s listed
second in program history for his 223
career hits, 31 homers, 50 doubles and
175 runs. His single-season batting
averages were .315, .347, .405 and .400.
DiMatteo is one of only three Vulcans
players ever to hit .400 in consecutive
seasons.
He received multiple All-American honors
over his final two seasons and was named
MVP of the 2010 PSAC Tournament, where
he batted .588 and led the Vulcans to the
conference title.

Cal U REVIEW

After graduating, DiMatteo played six
years of professional baseball in a
variety of leagues. Today he’s the head
baseball coach for College of the Desert, a
community college in southern California.

24

DiMatteo, who resides in Rancho Mirage,
Calif., is also the founder of The SD Project,
a nonprofit organization created to support
athletes of all ages who face physical,
mental or financial challenges.

Johnson finished his career with 178
tackles, 16 interceptions and 32 pass
break-ups – including three interceptions
in the 2009 postseason – and he led the
Vulcans in interceptions in each of his four
years with the program.
Johnson helped the Vulcans compile a
44-10 cumulative record and 25-1 PSACWest mark during his time on the field, with
four straight PSAC-West titles and three
straight appearances in the NCAA Division
II national semifinals.

Scholar-athletes also thrived under
Luckhardt, whose roster included 68 PSAC
Scholar-Athletes, seven Academic All-District
selections and two Academic All-Americans.

In the NFL he played for New England,
Atlanta and Indianapolis, where in 2011
he made 37 tackles for the Colts. He also
played one season of Arena Football.

Before coming to Cal U, Luckhardt spent
17 seasons as head coach and 12 years
as athletic director for Washington &
Jefferson College. He received the
American Football Foundation Lifetime
Achievement Award in 1998, and was
inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports
Hall of Fame in 2001.

Johnson, who owns a construction, home
remodeling and landscape business, lives
in Pittsburgh with his fiancé, Wanisha
Green ’19, and their 2-year-old son.

Luckhardt and his wife, Barbara, live
in Peters Township, Pa. They have two
children, Allison Eckenrode and the late
Matt Luckhardt, and three granddaughters.

Renata Silva Gray ’10, ’11

Jim Snyder ’85

Four-time all-conference setter for the
women’s volleyball team, from 2006-2009.

Starting defensive back on the Vulcans
football team from 1981-1984.

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Silva Gray
received multiple All-American honors
in each of her final three seasons and
became the volleyball program’s first
Academic All-American in 2009.

A natural free-safety, Snyder joined the
team as a walk-on and found himself
playing all four secondary positions during
his four years on the field. He was a twotime first-team all-conference safety and,
as a senior, earned Associated Press AllAmerican honors.

Her career totals also include 1,065 digs
and 311 blocks.
The 2008 and 2009 PSAC tournaments’
MVP, she helped Cal U compile a 111-12
cumulative record and 41-0 conference
mark over her final three seasons, with three
PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional titles.
With two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s
from Cal U, Silva Gray is Anova Healthcare
System’s director of administrative services
and human resources. Since 2012 she
also has coached the Pittsburgh 17 Elite
national team.
She and her husband, Donald Gray III, live
in Pittsburgh.

Snyder appeared in 40 of 41 games,
posting 260 career tackles (130 solo), with
16 interceptions, 30 pass break-ups and six
fumble recoveries.
In 1983, Cal U’s defense held five
opponents to nine points or less. Snyder’s
reliable play contributed to the Vulcans’ 7-3
overall finish and the team’s first winning
season in 13 years.

The 2020 Hall of
Fame inductees will
be recognized in
2021 at California
University’s signature
fundraiser, the Bow
Ties & Pearls Ball.
Cal U postponed the
2020 gala because
of this spring’s public
health emergency.

During his senior season, the Vulcans won
eight games – the most single-season
victories since 1958 – and brought home
their first PSAC championship in 16 years.
Snyder has been a commercial banker
for more than three decades, mostly with
Citigroup Inc. He and his wife, Kim Krause
Snyder ’84, live in Agoura Hills, Calif. They
have two grown children.

SPRING 2020

Silva Gray’s 5,507 assists remain a school
record; only four PSAC volleyball players
have more. Her career total of 497 sets
ranks third in school history, and her 126
service aces rank 10th.

CHANGE OF
SCHEDULE

25

GIVE TO CAL U
Who's calling? It's
Alumni Ambassador
Hadley Barker!

love

Support
what you

The choice is yours when you give to the Annual Fund

W

hen it comes to giving, it’s OK
to play favorites: Whether you
have ties to a specific affinity
group, athletics program or academic
department, your Annual Fund donation
is 100% tax deductible.
Any gift, no matter the amount, can make
an enormous difference for Cal U students.
But donors often find that a gift is more
meaningful when it benefits students who
share their interests.
That’s why rising junior Hadley Barker enjoys
working as a student Alumni Ambassador
in the call center at Kara Alumni House.
She regularly phones graduates to share
University updates and learn more about
their time at Cal U.

CAL U REVIEW

Before the conversation ends, Barker
suggests giving to a scholarship fund
based on their Cal U experience.

26

“The best part of my job is connecting
with alumni,” says Barker, a communication
studies major with a marketing minor. “I get
to see how their time at Cal U has brought
them into the future.”
There are many opportunities to support
your alma mater and a new generation of
Cal U students. 

Answer the call
When on-campus classes are in session, Alumni
Ambassadors from the Office of University
Development and Alumni Relations – students like
Barker – telephone Cal U graduates. They share
University news and ask if you'd like to support the
Annual Fund or a specific affinity scholarship that
resonates with you.

Give online
Our secure website makes donating easy and
safe. Visit calu.edu/giving – then direct your gift
to a specific fund or “view all giving opportunities”
and choose from a list of options. Once your
gift has been submitted online, you’ll receive an
immediate email confirming the donation.

You’ve got mail
Additional giving opportunities are announced in
mailings and emails from the Office of University
Development and Alumni Relations. Donors can
make a one-time gift or subscribe to a recurring
monthly giving plan. Appeals are sent throughout the
year, so check your mailbox for the latest information.

To learn more about becoming
an Annual Fund donor or
starting a recurring monthly
giving plan, contact Randi
Minerva, manager of annual
giving programs, at minerva@
calu.edu
or 724-938-4248.

alumna exemplifies

core values
UNIONTOWN NATIVE ACCEPTS LILLIAN M. BASSI AWARD

The University recognized
Rowan’s commitment
to integrity, civility and
responsibility by awarding her
one of its most prestigious
honors, the Lillian M. Bassi
Core Values Award. She will
accept the award at the 2021
Bow Ties & Pearls Ball.
Rowan – a self-described
“Uniontown girl” – graduated
magna cum laude from
California State College as an education major
with a focus on Spanish.
While completing her master’s thesis in
communication arts at William Paterson
College in New Jersey, she relocated to the
Washington, D.C., area.
Nearby Arlington, Va., is still her home.
“(Washington) is such a beautiful, cosmopolitan
city,” Rowan says. “I first visited as a teenager,
during cherry blossom season, and I promised
myself that someday I would live here. I consider
myself so lucky to do so.”
After graduate school, Rowan secured a Capitol
Hill internship with the syndicated Washington
News Service, held a communications role with
Robert Dole’s presidential campaign, and then
began a career as a management consultant.
For more than three decades, she worked for
prominent D.C.-area consulting firms, primarily in
support of federal initiatives. Her clients included
the FBI, Defense Department, Office of Personnel
Management, Environmental Protection Agency,
Department of Health and Human Services and
the Internal Revenue Service.

Most of her assignments were local, but others
required long-term travel, sparking a lifelong
passion for exploring new locales. To date, she
has visited all 50 U.S. states, all seven continents
and 108 countries – with new adventures ahead.
Rowan joined the federal government in 2007
as a senior program analyst for the IRS, where
she remains employed today. An expert in
information technology governance, she
oversees key IT modernization programs,
monitoring costs, schedules and scope-ofwork targets to directly support the IRS’s chief
information officer.
“My Cal U education provided a solid foundation
on which I could incrementally build my career,”
she says.
Her exemplary work at the IRS has been
recognized with 12 awards for outstanding
performance, a Commissioner Outstanding
Achievement Award and, most recently, a Strategy
and Planning Leadership Excellence Award.
Philanthropy also gives her
life purpose. Through her
condominium community,
she has led efforts to collect
back-to-school supplies for
needy children, organize food
drives for local pantries and
gather pet supplies for
animal shelters.
Rowan acknowledges the
crucial role that scholarships
played in making her own
Cal U education a reality. So last year she
established a scholarship that funds a
full year’s tuition for a deserving student.
“To be able to assist someone else in a similar
situation is very gratifying,” Rowan says.
“It’s simply my way of paying back.” 
By Christine Kindl
VP for Communications and Marketing

Because of this spring’s public health emergency, Cal U postponed
the annual Bow Ties & Pearls Ball. Our 2020 honorees will be
recognized when the fundraiser returns in spring 2021.

SPRING 2020

K

erri Rowan ’77 has built an exceptional
career and a purposeful life in a city she
loves. An avid traveler, she gives back to her
community – and to students who are following an
education pathway reminiscent of her own.

27

MY CAL U

Story
SO MANY

LIFE LESSONS
HELEGDA WRITES …
"My mother had a brother and his family in Roscoe, Pa.,
not too far from the Cal U campus. After the passing of
my father … these family members guided me, supported
me and kept me on the right path.
They knew I wanted to consider teaching as a profession.
Being educators and graduates of California University,
they thought this would be a great fit for me. I was the
only member of my immediate family to go to college –
an accomplishment to be proud of.

J

on Helegda ’81 has been
with Liberty Mutual for 35
years, rising through the
insurance company’s ranks to
his current role as senior client
service manager. The journey
took perseverance and strength.
His father died when he was just
14, and his mother suffered from
addiction. This “shy boy from
Youngstown, Ohio” wasn’t sure
where life would take him.
But caring family members set
him on the path to success – and
that road ran through Cal U.

The next four years of my life were wonderful. I found roots
in Roscoe and so many new friends. Even more wonderful,
I met many dedicated professors who wanted to see us
students succeed. We were taught so many life lessons
during this time.
After four years of working and studying hard, I graduated
with a B.S. in Elementary Education … but 1981 was not
a great time to find teaching positions. After substitute
teaching, I landed a job with Goodwill Industries of
Pittsburgh, working with mentally and physically challenged
adults. I followed that up with a position as an occupational
therapist assistant with the Intermediate Unit. You can
see the elementary education connection in both
these assignments!
In 1984 I decided to get married and start a family.
Soon I began a career as a claims adjuster with Liberty
Mutual Insurance, and a few years later I was promoted
to claims supervisor. Then I became the director of hiring
and training – a position that allowed me to utilize all
the education and teaching skills I’d learned at Cal U.
I’ve spent the past 20 years of my career in Liberty
Mutual’s national sales and service organization.
Once again, these positions let me use the teaching
skills I learned at my alma mater.

CAL U REVIEW

Every graduate has a Cal U
story. To share yours, email
alumni@calu.edu.

28

I’ve done OK for myself and my family. It would not
have been possible without the support from my wife
and the great education and life lessons I received from
California University. For that I am very thankful." 

MILESTONES

George Rummell ’56, who studied industrial
arts education at Cal U, and Dorothy
Rummell live in Dover, Del.
Filomena DeBlassio Andreani ’56 lives in
Coal Center, Pa. She majored in elementary
education and was in College Players,
women’s basketball and chorus.

60s
Timothy Gorske ’62 is president of Metal
Building Consultants, in Hudson, Fla., where
he and Marianne Sankovich Gorske ’63
reside. Timothy majored in education at
Cal U, where he was student body president,
co-chair of social activities and a member
of Sigma Tau Gamma.
Martin Cwynar ’64 and Nancy Cwynar ’64
live in Imperial, Pa.
Paintings by Lynn Angelelli ’65 were on
exhibit at the Schoolhouse Arts and History
Center in Bethel Park, Pa.
Cal Cohn ’65 is a retired U.S. Navy
commander. He and Susan Cohn live in
Surprise, Ariz. Cal majored in geography
and Earth science at Cal U, where he was
a member of Delta Sigma Phi.
John F. Martin Jr. ’68 and Patricia Martin live
in Alexandria, Ohio. He studied philosophy
and participated in theater at Cal U.

70s
Don Scholter ’70, of Hillsboro, Ore., is a
system support administrator for the
College of Marin, in the state of California.
He majored in psychology and played
football at Cal U.
Dominic Palmieri ’70 is a board member
for the Westmoreland County Veterans of
the War on Terror. He and Carol Palmieri ’70
live in Greensburg, Pa. Dominic studied
secondary education and was a member
of Kappa Phi Kappa, Alpha Mu Gamma
and the Spanish Club.
Harris Goldenberg ’72 is chair of the
electronics, telecommunications and
biomedical instrumentation program at
Texas State Technical College, Abilene/
Sweetwater. He and Carolyn Goldenberg live
in Bastrop, Texas. Harris studied industrial
arts education at Cal U and was a founding
member of WMCL radio.

Allen Hixon ’71 found family ties during a
trip to the United Kingdom – specifically,
the village of Hixon in Staffordshire
County. The former history/social studies
and economics major says he ‘felt ready to
connect with all things British I had studied
back at Cal U, or California State Teachers
College, as it was known then. Seeing the
Magna Carta, Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall
(and) Westminster Abbey, along with
places like Canterbury, Salisbury, York, the white cliffs of Dover and, of course, London, was
nearly overwhelming. … It was a trip beyond anything I could have imagined.’

Barbara Williams ’73 was honored by
the city of McKeesport, Pa., with an award
for “Living the McKeesport Message”
of respect, dignity, hope and love. Her
experience includes helping to educate
those in the criminal justice system and
other special populations.
Val Wilson Paulisick ’73, who has a
Master of Social Work degree, is the
CEO and founder of Rewind-Reuse Center
and Workshop in Export, Pa. Val and
William Paulisick ’74 live in Export.
Charles White ’75 and Peggy White live
in Claysville, Pa. Charles majored in
psychology. He was a member of the
Glee Club and the Veterans Club, and
he practiced judo.
Rodger Young ’76 lives in Lady Lake, Fla.
He studied secondary education and played
basketball at Cal U.
John Rapano ’76, ’79 lives in Olympia, Wash.
He studied elementary education and
philosophy at Cal U.
William Glover ’77 and Nancy Glover live in
Galax, Va. William majored in geology at
Cal U and was in ROTC and Delta Chi.

80s
John Ackermann ’80 and Betsy Ackermann
live in Pittsburgh, Pa. John studied industrial
arts and elementary education at Cal U.
Charles “Chuck” Valentino ’82 is a manager
for Thermo Fisher Scientific in Greenville,
S.C. He majored in chemistry at Cal U.

Gerald Crow ’83 is NorthCentral Forest Tax
Team leader for the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources. He and Sandra Crow
live in Tomahawk, Wis. Gerald studied
environmental conservation at Cal U
and was a member of Beta Beta Beta.
Greg Tylka ’83, ’85 is interim associate chair
of the Department of Plant Pathology and
Microbiology at Iowa State University.

90s
Jim Chaffee ’90 is chief operations officer
for the Tippie College of Business at the
University of Iowa.
George Zboyovsky ’90, the manager of
Brentwood, Pa., is credentialed through the
Washington, D.C.-based International City/
County Management Association. He
studied physics at Cal U.
Michael J. Beam ’92
and his business
partner, Duke Adams,
announced that their
company, Vagabond
Bowties LLC, was a
finalist for the 2019
fall season of ABC’s
Shark Tank. Their company was one of the
150 finalists selected from 40,000 entries.
Erik Sprowls ’89, ’93 is the creator of
Dead and Buried Treasures. Erik stars as
“creature feature” host Capt. Calico Drake,
who introduces the movies. The show
airs on public-access channels in
southwestern Pennsylvania.

SPRING 2020

50s

BRITISH
CONNECTION

29

MILESTONES

Kelly Parsley ’95 is head track and field
and cross country coach at Bethel College,
Kansas. He studied communications at Cal U.

Nino Sapone ’92 is airport director at Bishop
International Airport in Flint, Mich.

Derek Anderson ’96 lives in Columbia, Mo. He
majored in business administration at Cal U.

Brent Kincaid ’97 was honored by
Williamstown (W.Va.) High School for
a basketball record – 3-point shooting
percentage – he set in 1989-1990.

The Rev. John B. Gizler III ’96, a priest in
the Diocese of Pittsburgh, was installed as
pastor of St. Philip Parish in Crafton, Pa.,
in November 2019. He was elected to
serve a five-year term on the Diocesan
Presbyteral Council and appointed by
Bishop David Zubik to the Diocesan
College of Consultors.

Brandi Hershey ’96
is the first female to
serve as a Court of
Common Pleas
judge in Bedford
County, Pa. Before
being elected judge,
Brandi practiced law
for 20 years, serving as an assistant district
attorney in both Blair and Bedford counties
and, more recently, as founding attorney
of the Law Office of Brandi Hershey,
representing individuals and businesses.
She has received numerous awards and
was named one of the 2018 Most Influential
Persons of Bedford County by the Bedford
Gazette. Also in 2018, Pennsylvania Business
Central listed Brandi among the “Top 100
People in Pennsylvania.”

Randal Finfrock ’98 is a member of
Greensburg (Pa.) City Council.
Vicky Krug ’98 won the Excellence in
Teaching Award from Westmoreland County
Community College, where she teaches
developmental education, college literacy,
abnormal psychology, general psychology
and interpersonal communications. She
earned her master’s degree in education
at Cal U.
Gina Filippone ’99 is a project controls
analyst for AECOM, based in Germantown,
Md. She studied wildlife biology at Cal U
and now lives in Pittsburgh, Pa.

00s
Patricia Mays ’00 lives in Clearfield, Pa.
She majored in English at Cal U.
Tawnia St. Amant ’01 earned her doctorate
in education from the University of Pittsburgh.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in
education at Cal U.
Travis Everhart ’01 is the head football
coach at Alderson Broaddus University,
in West Virginia. He studied geography
and regional planning at Cal U.
Laura Fano ’01 is a supply chain manager
for Pepsi in Twinsburg, Ohio. She majored
in political science at Cal U and was in the
Pre-law Society.
Chad Merrill ’02 is the weather prognosticator
for the Hagerstown Town and Country
Almanack. His experience includes work
as a meteorologist for WTOP Radio in
Washington, D.C., the Nowcast Weather
Network, Earth Networks, WJAC-TV in
Johnston, Pa., and the former WHAG-TV,
now WDVM, in Hagerstown, Md.
Chad Ewing ’02 is national sales and
marketing director for HPC Fire Inspired,
a gas fire-pit manufacturer. At Cal U he
studied computer science, with a minor
in information systems.
Mike Steeber ’04, of Belle Vernon, Pa., is
a science teacher at Frazier High School,
where he provides instruction in engineering,
physics and robotics and was the football
team’s head coach from 2010-2018.
Adam Bryan ’05 is the director/manager of
the Alban Arts and Conference Center in St.
Albans, W.Va.
Michelle Saylor ’05 is scheduled to retire
in July 2020 as superintendent of the
Bellefonte (Pa.) Area School District. She
earned her master’s degree in education
and her principal’s certification at Cal U.

CAL U REVIEW

FOUNDATION AWARDS

30

The Foundation for California University of Pennsylvania presented its annual awards. From
left, University President Geraldine Jones and Foundation board president Dr. Harry Serene
'65 recognized William R. Flinn II ’68, Dixonians Award, named for John N. Dixon, one of
Cal U’s founders; Armand Balsano ’74, Job Johnson Award for excellence, innovation and
community service; and Cal U couple Thomas Bakaitus ’83 and Beth Bershok ’84, Society of
1852 Award for distinguished contributions to the enhancement and excellence of Cal U. The
foundation is an affiliated yet independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the
University’s students and mission.

Meghan Florkowski ’06 is director of the
WISE Women’s Business Center at Syracuse
University. She earned her master’s degree
in exercise science and health promotion.
Justin Welker ’06 is water operations
manager for Range Resources.
Jere Jones ’06, a business administration
major from Norristown, Pa., is a senior
mortgage processor/underwriter for Magnum
Opus Federal Corp., in Philadelphia, Pa.
Mark Anthony ’06 is vice president of sales
for CemSites, in Perryopolis, Pa. He and
Sarah Anthony live in Uniontown, Pa. Mark
studied political science at Cal U.

Jessica Buterbaugh ’07 is a lecturer in
communications at Penn State University.
She and Cory Buterbaugh live in Huntingdon,
Pa. Jessica majored in communication
studies at Cal U and was active with CUTV.
Philip Pavilionis ’07 is a lecturer at the
University of Nevada, Reno. Philip majored
in exercise science at Cal U. He and Kelly
Pavilionis live in Reno.
George Cattell ’06, ’07 is on the board of
directors for the Lancaster Division of the
American Heart Association. George has
been the exercise physiologist for the Penn
Medicine Lancaster General Health Employee
Wellness Program for the past eight years. He
earned his master’s degree in athletic training
and a master’s degree in exercise science
and health promotion at Cal U.
Joshua Adams ’09 was a write-in candidate
for Ford City (Pa.) Council. He is an
equipment operator for the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation.
Sarah Stenson ’09 is a quality analyst for
Bausch Health, in Tampa, Fla. At Cal U she
majored in legal studies with a homeland
security concentration. She and John
Stenson live in Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Jerry Morris ’09 is director of the Legislative
Policy and Research Office for Pennsylvania’s
House Democratic Caucus. He has served in
the office as a legislative intern, research
analyst, research manager and assistant
director. As a student, Jerry participated in
the Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education’s The Harrisburg Internship
Semester (THIS) program.
Dr. Jessica Seiler Poole ’09 is government
relations director for the Pennsylvania
Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She
studied nursing at Cal U.

10s

IN PRINT
Robert Yarup ’61 has published his 10th essay, “The Light on the
Ceiling in Hemingway’s ‘Across the River and into the Trees,’”
in The Explicator journal. Robert taught English for eight years
at Gateway Senior High School, in Monroeville, Pa., and for 28
years at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He retired in 1997.

Dan Clendaniel ’78, a retired public school teacher from Prince
William County, Va., is the author of Such Hard and Severe
Service: The 85th Pennsylvania in the Civil War. During his
last year as a teacher, Dan was the teacher-in-residence at the
National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. He
continues to conduct programs though the museum on World
War I, World War II and the Cold War. His interest in the 85th
Pennsylvania regiment began in 2009 with a review of letters
written during the war by John and Stephen Clendaniel.

Dr. Melissa Sovak, a professor in the Department of Math,
Computer Science and Information Systems, has released two
novels, The Secret of Dunhaven Castle and Shadows of the Past.
Extensively published on topics such as statistical reasoning and
color models for image decomposition, Sovak uses the pen name
Nellie H. Steele for her fiction.

Robert Prah ’06, ’10, director of Military and
Veterans Affairs at Cal U, was a candidate for
the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in
the 58th legislative district.
Dr. Marylloyd Claytor ’07, ’10 is an adjunct
professor of dance at Chatham University,
in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Crystal Parish ’11 is program director for
Silvermist, a residential program in Butler, Pa.,
that treats young adults with substance use
disorders. Previously, she was a therapist and
then a clinical manager for multiple Gateway
Rehabilitation Center outpatient locations.
She studied community and agency
counseling at Cal U.

Tobi Baldwin ’10 teaches in the College of
Rehabilitative Sciences at the University of
St. Augustine for Health Sciences, in Florida.
Tobi earned her master’s degree in exercise
science and health promotion from Cal U.

Jacob Crawford ’11, of Middletown, Pa.,
is a senior web developer for Pennsylvania
Interactive. Jacob majored in graphic design
at Cal U, where he was a member of Studio
224 and played ice hockey.

Mercedes Himmons ’10, of Canonsburg, Pa.,
is an assistant athletic trainer at Cal U.

Ian Lonich ’12 is a certified neurological
physical therapist with Allegheny Health
Network.

Ben Iannacchione ’10 is director of sports
performance for the University of Kansas
football program. He studied sports
counseling at Cal U.

Craig Bosse ’12 and Cynthia Bosse live in
Slidell, La. Craig studied sport management
at Cal U.

Michael Poploskie ’12 was inducted into
Marquis Who’s Who, which considers
accomplishments, visibility and prominence
in a field during the selection process.
Michael has 15 years of experience as a
physical education teacher at Mastery
Charter Schools’ Pickett Campus, in
Philadelphia, Pa., where he has been the
school’s athletic director for more than 10
years. He earned his master’s degree in sport
management at Cal U, with a concentration
in intercollegiate athletic administration.
Casey Creehan ’11 is the football coach
at Peru State College, Nebraska. He earned
his post-baccalaureate certificate in
intercollegiate administration from Cal U.
Tara Friel ’12 is general manager of the
Roxian Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pa. She
majored in communication studies at
Cal U and was Snow Club president.
Robert Kagel ’12 , the county administrator
in Chester County, Pa., was named a VISTA
Millennial Superstar. The award is hosted
by Wilmington University, Brumbaugh
Wealth Management and the Chester
County Economic Development Council to
recognize professionals under 40 years old.

SPRING 2020

Katey Doman ’07 is president and owner
of TyE Bar LLC, in Glassport, Pa. She
majored in communication studies at
Cal U and lives in Allenport, Pa.

31

MILESTONES
April Ryan ’13 was a featured artist for
the Steubenville (Ohio) Art Association’s
painting workshop and demonstration.
April owns Thistledown Home and Art
in Washington, Pa.
Joseph Lane ’13, who studied criminal
justice at. Cal U, is a public safety officer
at St. Vincent College, near Latrobe Pa.
Kim Shaffer ’13 owns Kim’s Gym in Salida,
Colo. She earned her master’s degree in
exercise science and health promotion. She
is certified with the National Academy of
Sports Medicine, the American Council on
Exercise and the American Association of
Health and Fitness Professionals.
Don Trapp ’14 is the strength and
conditioning coach for the State College
Spikes, a minor league baseball team in
State College, Pa.
KirkRyan McFarland ’13, ’14 was the casting
director for the horror feature film Shimmer,
directed by Rob Ciano. Ciano will film the
trailer for United, a faith-based project from
Invictus Films written by KirkRyan and
Stephen Edwards.
Nathan Hines ’15, of Reidsville, N.C., is
director of bands at Morehead High School,
in Eden, N.C. He earned his master’s degree
in education at Cal U and was a graduate
assistant in the Music Department.
Steven Krenn ’15, who studied commercial
music technology, presented a paper at the
Facebook Reality Labs in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Justin Locante ’16 owns Conscious Mind
Wellness in Pittsburgh, Pa. He majored in
sport management and played hockey
at Cal U.
Zachary Filtz ’16 is an op-ed writer for
Weiner Public News in Washington, D.C.
Zachary majored in English at Cal U and
was a member of the Society of Professional
Journalists. He and Shannon Stepp live in
King George, Va.

CAL U REVIEW

Jed Hamberger ’16 is superintendent of
the Oswayo Valley (Pa.) School District.
He earned his superintendent letter of
eligibility from Cal U.

32

Tyla Paige Epps ’17 works in the intensive
care unit at UMPC Mercy Hospital, in
Pittsburgh, Pa. She studied gerontology
at Cal U.
Jake Schiffer ’17 is sports and wellness
director at the YMCA of Centre County, Pa.

STELLAR STUDENTS
Madison Dulion ’17, ’19 and Sierra Snyder ’19 were named Students of the Year for the fall
semester by the President’s Commission for the Status of Women. The awards recognize
students who are dedicated to Cal U, successful personally and professionally, and
supportive of women on and off campus. Madison earned her associate degree in liberal
studies, her bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in sociology and women’s studies,
and her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Sierra earned her bachelor’s
degree in psychology with a minor in art.

Mikal Payne ’10, ’16, who earned degrees in
sport management, is a co-facilitator for a
brain injury support group in Concord, N.H.
Jamie Bogol ’09, ’16, of Brownsville, Pa., is
secretary to the directors of operations and
mental and behavioral health at Intermediate
Unit 1, based in California, Pa. She studied
history and education at Cal U.
Becky McMillen ’17,
executive director of
University Conference
Services at Cal U,
received a Kinetic
Legend award from
Kinetics Software
for the strategic use
of its product Kx, an enterprise software
platform. Becky earned her MBA at Cal U.
She and her team use the software to track
the number of high school students and
other visitors to the Convocation Center.
Garrett Del Re ’17 is head girls basketball
coach at South Park (Pa.) High School.
Cmdr. Jason Lando ’17 was a candidate
for police chief in Boulder, Colo. He is
the commander in vice/narcotics for
the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Bureau of Police.
Jason earned his master’s degree in
legal studies from Cal U.

Jacob Garcia ’17, of Washington, D.C., is
a management and program analyst for
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. A former business
administration major, he is part of an honors
program at NOAA that provides travel
opportunities, mentorship and hands-on
learning opportunities with senior executives.
Aryn Hess ’18 is a microbiology medical
laboratory technician/medical technologist
for UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pa. She earned a
bachelor’s degree in biology, a bachelor’s
and associate in liberal studies, and an
associate in technical studies.
Eric Porter ’18 is a magisterial district judge
in Charleroi, Pa. He studied criminal justice
at Cal U and is an instructor at Cal U’s fulltime IUP Police Academy.
Colby Brandt ’19 is assistant police chief
in Glendale, Ariz. He earned his master’s
degree in legal studies from Cal U.
Artist and author Dave Howard ’19 owns
Uncle Dave’s Books, in Leechburg, Pa.
He studied fine arts at Cal U.
Patrick Smith ’12, ’19 is a quality clinician for
Community Care Behavioral Health, in Lock
Haven, Pa. He earned his doctorate in health
science and his master’s in exercise science
and health promotion, both at Cal U.

ENGAGEMENTS

Joshua Deppe ’16 and Courtney Ollerman
were married in October 2019. Joshua, who
studied sport management at Cal U, is the
CrossFit manager at the Prairie Athletic
Club. They couple lives in Sun Prairie, Wis.

and still connect with many friends who also
were Vulcans. B.J. is an Acacia Fraternity
alumnus, and Jen was a member of Phi
Sigma Sigma.

Nicole Presto ’14 and Brandon Dunmire ’16
were married in September 2019. Together,
they operate a video production company,
AmbiDream Productions LLC. Bridal party
members were Tavahn Parker ’15, Dane
Vaughan, Jordan Westfall ’15, Trisha Bandish,
Madison Presto and Amanda Testa ’14.
Briana Hendriksen ’17 and Jose Negron ’16
are engaged. Briana is a marketing
specialist for AVI Foodsystems at Cal U,
and Jose is assistant sports editor for the
Mon Valley Independent newspaper. At
Cal U, Briana was a member of Sigma
Kappa, the Public Relations Student Society
of America, Travel Club, Student Activities
Board and the Cal Times student newspaper.
Jose was editor of the Cal Times and a
member of the Underground Café and
Student Activities Board.

Harvey L. Rawlins ’68 and Linda Tunney
Rawlins celebrated their 50th anniversary in
June 2019. They have three daughters, four
grandsons and two granddaughters. Both
graduated from California (Pa.) High School.

BIRTHS
Theresa Kulasa ’17, and Robert “Bobby” Lea
’19 were married in September 2019 in
Zelienople, Pa., where they met. Theresa
majored in biology with a concentration in
pre-medicine and secondary education.
Bobby earned his master’s degree in exercise
science. They live and work in White Oak, Pa.

WEDDINGS
Deryk Hartin ’10 and Caitlin Knowles were
married in March 2020 in Sarasota, Fla.
Deryk is a chiropractor with Chambers
Medical Group of Bradenton, Fla.
Michael Motsko ’16 and Malena Kinsman
were married in July 2019. Michael, who
earned his Cal U master’s degree in
educational leadership, is a special
education teacher at North Pocono High
School, in Lackawanna County, Pa.

Alisha Guckes-Metz ’09 and Chad Metz, of
West Mifflin, Pa., welcomed son Logan
Glenn Metz in April 2019. Alisha is a funeral
director, embalmer and aftercare director at
Savolskis-Wasik-Glenn Funeral Home Inc., in
Munhall, Pa. She majored in biology at Cal U
and was a member of the dance team.

ANNIVERSARIES
Christopher Jansante ’70, ’74 and Linda
Ometz Jansante ’70 celebrated their 40th
anniversary in August 2019. Chris is a retired
optical business consultant with Essilor
U.S.A., and Linda retired as a secondary
English teacher in the Yough School District,
in Herminie, Pa. They live in Hempfield
Township, Pa.
B.J. Forsyth ’98 and Jennifer McElroy
Forsyth ’99, of Cranberry Township, Pa.,
celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary
in November 2019. They have three children

Miranda Reich ’16 and Nicholas Reich ’14
welcomed their second child, Nolan David
Reich, pictured with sister Charlotte. Miranda
is a product owner for Creehan & Co., in
Canonsburg, Pa.

SPRING 2020

Suzy Hart ’15, ’17 and Brendan Garay ’15, ’16
are engaged. Suzy works in the mental health
field as a facilitator and supervisor. Brendan is
a senior tax accountant. At Cal U, Suzy was
involved with the Student Activities Board. She
also was president of the National Society of
Leadership and Success and served in Chi
Sigma Iota,the international counselors
society. Brendan was Student Government
president and is a current member of the
Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Re’maro Rush ’10 and Danielle Danhires
celebrated their wedding in Riviera Maya,
Mexico, in December 2019. The groom’s
party included best man Darren Burns ’09;
Eric Spurlin ’11; Sam Adeshina ’10, ’11;
Tamba Marenah ’11; and Ryan Barnhart ’08,
’09, ’19. Guests of the bride and groom
included Chelsea Ratica ’14; Trisha RuntichSpurlin ’11, ’13; Paige Marenah ’14; and
Jessica Krieger-Barnhart ’12, ’18. The bride
and groom live in Baldwin, Pa.

33

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REMEMBRANCES
Charles Angelo “Buck” Gismondi ’64 died Nov. 16, 2019. He was an
emeritus professor who returned to his alma mater to teach in the Speech
Pathology Department, now known as the Department of Communication
Disorders. He retired in January 2002 after a
33-year career at Cal U. Charles became Cal U’s head baseball coach in 1980
and guided the team for 17 seasons. He was inducted into the University’s
Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003, and he established an endowed scholarship
for the Vulcans baseball program.
Dr. Jay D. Helsel ’59 died Jan. 8, 2020. During his 35-year career at Cal U,
he was a member of the industrial arts teaching faculty, director of campus
planning, vice president for Administrative Affairs and department chair; he
retired in 1996. Jay was the recipient of many awards, including the Lillian M.
Bassi Core Values Award; the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Alumni
Association; the Dixonians Award from the Foundation for California
University; and the University’s Outstanding Technology Education Alumnus
Lifetime Achievement Award. Helsel Hall was named after him in 2005.
Carole Ruch Watkins ´77 died Feb. 14, 2020. She was married to Emeritus
President Dr. John P. Watkins for 62 years, and she served
as California’s first lady during his 16-year tenure. A generous benefactor
who endowed many scholarships with her husband,
Carole earned a Master of Education degree from California State College
in 1977. Both of her children, John G. ’88 and Jennifer ’85,
are Cal U alumni.

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Milestones are published as space
and deadlines allow. Please email highquality images to revieweditor@calu.edu
using “Milestones Photo” as the subject
line. Be sure to tell us your name, year
of graduation, University activities or
sports you participated in, and the identity
of everyone in the photo. Please do not
send printouts or low-resolution digital
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IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Wilma A. Bailey ’44
Mary Jane Crayton Barber ’58
William Keith “Butch” Barber Jr. ’66
Linda T. Belis*
Dorothy Beppler ’54
Betty A. Bindas ’49
Candace Lafferty Byers ’76
Joseph Checchi ’63
Joseph S. Ciferno ’65
John R. Clarchick ’70
Richard Closser ’84
Randall C. “Randy” Coccari ’89, ’91
Barbara L. Cole ’75
Marjorie Robertson Cowden ’54
Valentine Cullen III ’66
Johnna Cumpston ’84
Elizabeth “Bettie” Viola
Dinsmore Dallmeyer ’63
Robert E. “Bob” DeLorenzo Jr.*
Walter Dinsick Jr. ’69
Joyce Ewing ’89
Dorthy Bierman Flynn ’63
Joshua J. Fritch ’13
Robert Goin,* former athletic
director at Cal U
Joshua “Josh” Lorne Gumbert ’12
Robert L. “Bob” Harned ’70
Willard W. “Lock” Hartley II ’64
Marilyn Lillian Burton Hillen ’82
Rose Ann Petitto Houdyschell ’78
Donna Jean Hradil ’05

Matthew John Luckhardt ’03
Richard E. “Yakey” McCallum,*
Cal U maintenance department
Sandra L. McGurk ’93
Jeannine Metal ’80, Cal U Career
Services and adjunct professor
Shirley M. Mislo ’72
David Allison Morris Jr. ’74
Herman Osso ’69
Katie Burdick Peterson ’06
Esther Ross Howard Pevarnik ’64
Ty Pompei*
James Pudlo ’59
June Lorraine Puskarich ’70
Judith Ann Pavlick Rasel ’61
Carroll B. “Pete” Rugh ’59
Duane Anton Ryan ’77
Ruth Stern Schrag*
William Steven Sento ’64
Paula Dale Kozik Sibert ’69
Billie Jo Ferrari Smiley ‘69
Barbara Jean Horak Smith ’67, ’69
Charles Donald Smith ’55
Janice Mize Smaroff ’62
Richard T. “Rich” Sonson ’72
Elizabeth Reisinger Spragg ’85
Brenda Joyce Hawkins Thornburg ’82
Brianna Ruby Waller*
James Walter Williams,*
Cal U maintenance department
*No class year available or on file

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AMAZING GRACE
Theatre major Alexandra Wilson
stretches in the warm spring sunlight
that streams into Old Main Chapel.
Wilson focuses heavily on dance as part
of her musical theatre concentration.