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

FA L L 2 0 1 9

CAREERS
START HERE
Internships:
Applied learning
leads to success

CAL U REVIEW

ON THE COVER
Using GPS technology is all in a day's work for
Cal U senior Alexander Brady, an intern with the
Peters Township Engineering Department.

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA’S MAGAZINE

FALL 2019 • VOL. 48 • NO. 3

PRESIDENT

L

earning by doing. That’s a vital element of career-focused
higher education – and it’s the reason we encourage Cal U
students to register for internships.

Last year 587 students rose to that challenge, the Internship Center
reports. Guided by faculty, they put their knowledge and skills to the
test in workplaces as varied as their interests.
Some interns traveled halfway across the country; others reported
to job sites closer to home. Some wore business attire, while others
dressed for the great outdoors. All of them strengthened their
resumes and gained the kind of practical, firsthand experience
that can give job-seekers a competitive edge.
The most fortunate interns found a role model or mentor along the
way. In many cases, that “career coach” was a Cal U alumnus. It’s
heartwarming to see how our graduates, in so many career fields,
are fostering a new generation of young professionals.
This year’s Jennie Carter Award recipient, Jesse McLean Jr. ’83, ’94,
is among the many Cal U graduates who are reaching out to students.
“I believe you need champions to help nurture your spirit, resilience
and leadership,” he says.
If you are passionate about your career, why not be a champion
for up-and-coming members of your profession? An internship can
launch a student’s future – but it’s just one way to help. Scholarship
support is always welcome. And our Career and Professional
Development Center has many programs, events and online tools
to connect you with students and recent graduates.
In this edition of the Review, you’ll meet students and alumni who are
using internships as stepping stones to career success. I hope you
are inspired by their stories.
With warmest wishes,

Geraldine M. Jones
PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

STORY: PAGE 8
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

A LOOK INSIDE

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
Sean T. Logue
Michele M. Mandell '69
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
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
Seth Shiley, undergraduate, vice president
Maria Dovshek, undergraduate, treasurer
Taylor Kodric, undergraduate, secretary
Hope Cox ’00, ’01, alumna
Justin DiPerna ’16, alumnus
Marguerite Haldin ’09, ‘11, alumna

04
INTERNSHIPS
BUILD CAREERS
Alumni open
doors to workplace
experiences

05
MOSQUITO SAMPLERS
Biology students
contribute to study
of West Nile virus

Sydney Holley, undergraduate
Ryan Jerico ’09, alumnus
Colin Kirkwood ’19, alumnus, graduate student
Jeromy Mackey, undergraduate
Cynthia Obiekezie, undergraduate
Ashley Roth ’10, ’12, alumna

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, Alumni Association president
CAL U RE VIE W E DITOR
Christine Kindl

WRITE RS
Wendy Mackall
Bruce Wald ’85
Jeff Bender

PHOTOGR APHE RS
Zach Frailey
Kelly Tunney
Greg Sofranko
Jeff Helsel

BRINGING
HISTORY TO LIFE
Park ranger builds
skills while interpreting
the past

07
ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING
Machine fabrication caps
multi-year internship

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

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, assistant to the SAI Board of Directors
FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVE RSIT Y
OF PE NNSYLVANIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Harry E. Serene ’65, president
Chelsea M. Gump ’17, ’18
Frederick A. Retsch ’62, vice president
Alan K. James ’62
Donald J. Thompson, secretary
Zeb Jansante ’82, ’91
Paul L. Kania ’87, treasurer
Jeffrey B. Jones
William R. Booker ’74
Robert E. Lippencott ’66
Chester J. Chichin ’63
Reginald A. Long ’81
Yvonne Chichin
John A. Lorenzi ’15
Courtney Cochran ’12, ’13
Larry Maggi ’79
Nate Dixon ’12
Bethany Hoag-Salmen ’05
Ryan Fisher ’15
Linda H. Serene ’64
Therese J. Gass ’77
Thomas P. Victor Jr. (student)

06

11
LINGUA ITALIANA
High school teacher
offers Italian language
courses

12
MON VALLEY
LANDSCAPES
Pittsburgh painter makes
the region his subject

09

Meet 'Handshake'

13

Campus Clips

18

Vulcan Fest & Homecoming

20

Alumni News & Events

22

Alumni Spotlight

25

Sports Profile

26

Sports Roundup

29

Milestones

FA L L 2 0 1 9

FROM THE

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.

3

Edwin Valentin '17 (left)
and Craig Lion '18

ALUMNI OPEN DOORS TO WORKPLACE EXPERIENCES

B

ucky Walkush ’81 graduated from Cal U
with a math and computer science
degree — and a bit of a revelation.

“When I started working, I quickly realized
that I could out-code my co-workers,” he
says. “At Cal U, the equipment was great,
and the program had a great reputation.
That was proven with my first job.

U.S. Steel is a co-op program, says Meaghan
Clister ’88, ’91, director of the Internship
Center at Cal U. Students are paid to work
full time in the summer and part time during
the academic year.

day production and all the aspects needed
in a sports organization,” Lion says. “If you
don’t have that experience on a resume,
you’re going to get pushed to the bottom
of the pile.”

“Most of the people we hire permanently
at U.S. Steel come to us through the co-op,”
Walkush says.

“Professional connections formed during
an internship are also vital,” Valentin adds.
“This can be a ‘who you know’ business.”

Craig Lion ’18 and Edwin Valentin ’17
both work for the Washington Wild
Things, a professional baseball team
based in Washington, Pa.

For Walkush, being an employer in a
position to help Cal U students is a
satisfying way to pay it forward.

Lion, who studied graphics and multimedia
at Cal U, now works in creative services.
Valentin, who was a sport management
major, is in charge of ticket sales.

CAL U REVIEW

Bucky Walkush '81

4

Both say being recent graduates helps
them to recruit and mentor interns.

“Cal U keeps expanding its programs,
and those degrees fit very well in a
plant environment.”

“I know what the students have learned
already and how I can help them have
an even better understanding of video,
photography and design,” Lion says.

Walkush should know. As process control
director at U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works, he
has recruited students from the University for
years to fill internship and co-op positions.

Valentin works with Dr. Laura Miller,
associate professor of sport management,
to identify students who are interested in
an internship with the Wild Things.

He targets students majoring in computer
science, computer engineering technology,
electrical engineering technology,
mechatronics engineering technology,
robotics engineering technology, and
industrial technology management.
“They aren’t just making coffee and copies,”
Walkush says. “When we get students, we put
them right in as full members of the team.”

“That major is all-encompassing – sales,
marketing, finance – so I make sure to give
interns the opportunity to do a variety of
things,” he says.
All three agree: An internship experience
is an important step toward a student’s
career goals.
“An internship means you’re out there,
feet on the ground, helping to run the game-

“George Novak was instrumental in helping
me obtain my first internship, and he’s
helped countless students find internships
over his many years at Cal U,” he says of
the recently retired math professor.
“I’m glad that I’m in a position that can
take advantage of the diverse computer
and engineering technology programs
that Cal U has to offer its students.
“It’s apparently a good match for U.S. Steel,
since over 35% of my team members are
Cal U grads!” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

OFFER AN
INTERNSHIP
Is your workplace looking to fill
internship or co-op positions?
Contact Meaghan Clister, director
of the Internship Center, at
724-938-4057 or clister@calu.edu.

MOSQUITO
sampler s
BIOLOGY STUDENTS CONTRIBUTE
TO STUDY OF WEST NILE VIRUS

T

he recipe is a simple stew: grass
clippings, water, black trash bag.
Once the decomposed brew is
added to traps, it’s all over for a certain
type of mosquito in the Laurel Mountains
near Boswell, Pa.
They’re caught, put on dry ice and shipped
to a lab in Harrisburg as part of an
investigation into the impact of the
mosquito-borne West Nile virus on ruffed
grouse populations in Pennsylvania.
This summer, Cal U seniors Nikki Williams
and Kyle Lubak spent two days a week
baiting traps and collecting samples as part
of their internship with the Southwest Region
of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
It was part of a comprehensive experience
for the students, who are studying fisheries
and wildlife biology.
Other hands-on learning opportunities
included banding barn owls in Somerset
County to learn about their flight patterns,
teaching children how to build bluebird
boxes, and developing a program on foxes
for a community group.
Data from the students’ mosquito samples
will be used by Lisa Williams, Game
Commission biologist for ruffed grouse

and webless migratory game birds. She’s
developing strategies to reverse the yearslong decline in the populations of grouse,
the state bird of Pennsylvania.
“We broke the story of West Nile’s impact
on grouse in 2015, and it has been a race
since then to figure out how to manage and
restore populations,” Williams says.
“Using the data that the students collected,
we are building a decision tool for our
foresters and other land managers. We
now have an idea at which elevations and
habitats the disease risk is low and grouserecovery ability is high. This allows us to
focus our management efforts.”
As future fisheries and wildlife biologists,
Lubak and Williams relished the chance
to contribute to the project.
“What I learned in class helped me
understand what the biologists talked to
us about,” Lubak says. “It prepared me for
this mosquito-collection project, to see
how the data we collected from the traps
at various elevations can be put together
as part of a bigger picture of what’s
going on with the grouse population.”
“The professional experience I got during
this internship is going to be phenomenally

helpful in the long run,” Williams says.
“I now have experience in how to run a
project and collect data carefully and
efficiently. This is definitely going to help
me get a job. I also have a tremendous
sense of pride to have helped with this
important West Nile virus project.”
Williams appreciates the help.
“These students were involved in cuttingedge research,” she says. “We don’t have a
lot of data from remote woodland systems.
“It was wonderful to have competent
students we could train to work
independently at a young age. It’s a
testament to them and to Cal U.” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

FA L L 2 0 1 9

CAREERS START HERE

5

CAREERS START HERE

FOCUS:

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

S

tephen Gerba landed a job with Ductmate Industries Inc.
the summer before he started at Cal U as a mechatronics
engineering technology major.

Four years later, he’s helping the Charleroi, Pa., manufacturer of
heating, ventilation and air conditioning components incorporate
advanced manufacturing into its processes.
“Your machine is only as smart as its sensors,” Gerba says. “That’s
where we come in, to troubleshoot and repair and then do maintenance.”

bringinG

HISTORY
Life
to

T

exting and Twitter: 1840s Style.” It’s
a bit like a game of “one of these
things is not like the others,” but there
it was on the schedule of summer events at
Fort Scott National Historic Site, in Kansas.

His charges presented historical
interpretations, worked in the visitor center,
planned community engagement activities,
spruced up park benches and worked in
Fort Scott’s historical gardens.

The program about mid-19th-century
methods of communication – letter-writing
with quill pens and deciphering Morse code
– was designed by Cal U’s Alex Arnold.

“My supervisor gave me free rein over
this program … so I ran it how I wanted,”
Arnold says. “It gave me the chance to
excel and experience so many things
in the Park Service.”

He’s the student
member of Cal U’s
Council of Trustees,
and a senior with a
double major in
history and parks
and recreation
management, along with minors in tourism
and event planning and management.
This summer he spent four months as a
seasonal interpretive park ranger with the
National Park Service.

CAL U REVIEW

Interpretive rangers provide information at
visitor centers, address educational tour
groups and present illustrated programs,
among other tasks.

6

At Fort Scott, Arnold also supervised four
teenagers from the Youth Conservation
Corps, a summer employment program
that provides opportunities at national
parks, forests, wildlife refuges and
fish hatcheries.

It was the perfect summer experience
for Arnold, who aspires to a career as a
National Park Service superintendent.
Each national park has a top executive,
he explains. “They make planning decisions
and are responsible for leading the park
in the direction it wants to go, in line with
Park Service goals.”
Arnold donned period costumes a few
times over the summer to present historical
facts to visitors.
“We don’t just spill out a bunch of information,”
he explains. “You have to meaningfully connect
with the visitors. We ask them questions about
universal concepts — life, death, survival, love
– and connect those feelings with historical
facts so they will remember them.
“If we’re at a hospital station, we might
ask the visitors what makes them feel
uncomfortable or what places they hate

It gave me the chance
to excel and experience
so many things in the
Park Service.

“Last year, I took the training wheels off and had Steve design a
machine for us, with some guidance,” says engineering manager
Dana Smith.
“He spent time behind the computer to do the design work. This year,
as the capstone to his internship, we’re finishing up the fabrication.”
The experience complements Gerba’s classroom education.
“I’ve gotten to work with production workers, machinists, chemical
engineers. Being out in the real world, you get to see all sides and
learn to work as a team.
“It’s a huge resume-builder. A degree and an internship —
that’s a great combination to have.” 

ALE X ARNOLD

FOCUS:

to go. You want them to think of what’s
personal to them, so they can get the same
feeling as a soldier might have had.”
Arnold’s Youth Conservation Corps
responsibilities allowed him to learn
managerial skills, such as conducting
performance evaluations for his four
workers and compiling financial reports
for his programs at the end of the summer.
“We are all about the history in the interpretive
division of the Park Service,” Arnold says.
“We need to know how to do research. We
need to know how to tell it in a way the public
can understand, in an even-handed way. And
as a park ranger, you have to be cognizant of
operational issues, safety and leadership.
“Those are skills that parks and recreation
management teaches well. Having both
of those things mixed together has really
helped me out so much.” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

S

ometimes the value of an internship lies in the “soft skills.”
Employers value leadership, communication, hard work and
problem-solving — attributes you can’t learn from a textbook.

Strengthening these transferable skills has been one of the biggest
benefits of senior Johnae Robinson’s internship. She’s an assistant
manager at the PSECU Financial Education Center at Cal U, and she
aspires to a career in mental health counseling.
“I approach a lot of people about our services, people I don’t know,”
Robinson says. “That definitely develops communication skills that I
will need to have as a counselor.”
Handling confidential information is another area of overlap.
“We obviously have to take great care with people’s personal
information, just as you have to in a clinical setting.”
And finally, representing a company on campus requires stellar
leadership skills.
“Lots of people recognize me on campus as the ‘PSECU lady,’”
Robinson says. “I want to set standards for new students.
“I want them to know that if they need something, not just with
PSECU, I’m here to help.” 

FA L L 2 0 1 9

PA R K R A N G E R B U I L D S S K I L L S
W H I L E I N T E R P R E T I N G T H E PAS T

Workforce development is an important strategy for Ductmate.

7

CAREERS START HERE

career-ready

FOCUS:

GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION SYSTEMS

I

n the 19.5 square miles that comprise Peters Township, Pa.,
there are a lot of manholes, inlets and headwalls — all structures
within the municipality’s storm-sewer network.

As an intern in the township’s engineering department, senior
Alexander Brady spent his summer and fall using the latest
technology to pinpoint their locations.
Applying his skills in geographic information systems (GIS) –
his major at Cal U – Brady helped to create an online identification
system for each structure.
“The GPS unit uses 20 to 30 different satellites that triangulate in a
very precise manner,” Brady says.
“Let’s say a manhole is out in the woods. With a GPS point, they’re
able to find that location pretty much immediately. It saves a lot of
time for (staff in) Public Works.”

“I didn’t just learn GIS,” he adds. “I’ve been able to learn about
engineering terms and how things work at the municipal level.”

FOCUS:

PROFESSIONAL
GOLF MANAGEMENT

S

ophomores Rachel Wilson and Colby Roberts played a
summer-long practice round of sorts as they interned in
professional golf management.

Wilson spent her time at Valley Brook Country Club, in McMurray, Pa.
Roberts worked at Milwaukee Country Club, in River Hills, Wis.
The internships align with career options for PGM students: business
operations, sales, instruction and tournament management.
Wilson and Roberts learned the basics, like how to fit golfers with
clubs, give golf lessons, manage the pro shop, organize golf outings
and assist with various golf leagues.

CAL U REVIEW

“I want to teach people to play golf,” Wilson says. “I learned a lot by
shadowing the pro at Valley Brook.”

8

Roberts is also studying psychology, intrigued by the career options
that a dual major provides. “This internship will definitely add to my
resume. It was a fun learning experience – I didn’t even realize at the
time how much I really was learning.
“Most of the (PGM) internships are paid, and the locations are great.
It’s a very beneficial experience.” 



Online tool introduces employers, alumni and students

A

ttention, Cal U students and
alumni: There are 400,000 potential
employers waiting to meet you.

That’s the impressive number of businesses
using Handshake, an online career platform.
It includes businesses of all sizes and
100% of the Fortune 500 companies.
Cal U began using Handshake to connect
with employers in 2017. Students started
using the platform in 2018.
“Handshake’s motto is
‘Democratizing Opportunity,’”
says Rhonda Gifford, director
of the University’s Career
and Professional
Development Center.
“It was founded by graduates of a
school similar to Cal U, in that it wasn’t
located near a major metropolitan area
that a lot of recruiters would flock to.
Handshake wants those students to
have the same opportunities.
“A student can connect with employers
like JP Morgan Chase even if they don’t
come `to campus.”

STUDENT BENEFITS

Cal U students are registered with a
Handshake account when they enroll at
the University, and the account remains
active after they graduate.

The account gives them access
to job opportunities from across
the country. During the 2018-2019
academic year, 4,300 employers
posted almost 30,000 jobs and
internships directed specifically
to students at Cal U.

30000
JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
DIRECTED AT CAL U STUDENTS

The platform is also a “one-stop shop” where
students can find on-campus employment,
register for internships, prepare for career
fairs, make appointments with career
coaches, upload resumes and access
career tip sheets.
Resumes that Cal U students upload to
Handshake automatically get a second look
from the Career and Professional Development
Center to ensure the best chance of success.
“It’s a wonderful feature for our online
students,” Gifford says. “Through Handshake,
they have access to everything our career
center has to offer. They can make an
appointment, upload a resume and meet
with a career coach and never have to
set foot in our office.”
Senior Brittany Kach is an accounting
major who secured two internships through
Handshake. The rose plastic® company, in
nearby Coal Center, Pa., contacted her for a
summer internship in 2018. She completed
another summer internship, at PNC in
Pittsburgh, in 2019. Continued on page 10

FA L L 2 0 1 9

Brady worked with township staff and a consulting firm, getting a
preview of public- and private-sector work environments. He learned
the Python coding language and used a high-accuracy GPS data
collection receiver.

9

LInGUA ItALIAnA

“I don’t think I would have purposefully
gone to PNC’s website to look for
opportunities,” she says.
“Handshake is easy to navigate, and it’s
easy to narrow your job search by location.
What’s nice is employers can set criteria,
but if there’s something you don’t match,
it tells you how important that is.
“For example, if a company wants a business
management major but you majored in
economics, maybe you could apply anyway.”
Handshake has a peer-to-peer feature,
where job-seekers can pose questions
about other people’s experiences with
an employer.
“If you want to know what it’s like to work
for Google, you can ask someone who
works for Google,” Gifford explains.

HR professional Brittany
Madoni '07 (left) utilizes
both Handshake and
on-campus recruiting.

Handshake has a mobile app that has a
“very cool social media feel,” Gifford says.
“Students fill out their interests initially,
and the more they use it, the better the
recommendations get.”

EMPLOYER BENEFITS
Handshake is ideal for businesses that
are seeking interns or looking to hire
newer graduates, Gifford says.
“Handshake’s mission is to help the new
college graduate transition into the workplace.”
It’s a convenient platform for employers
because they can reach students at more
than 700 schools with one account.

Accounting major Brittany
Kach found internships
through Handshake.

“We always encourage students to network
and job-shadow, but I think this is a really
easy, comfortable way for them to make
connections.”
“I like how people can leave job reviews,”
Kach says of the peer-to-peer capabilities.
“When I interned at rose plastic,® it prompted
me to leave a review, and it was nice to
be able to recommend the experience.

CAL U REVIEW

“It also helped to calm my nerves about
not knowing anyone at PNC, because
I could get some information first about
what it’s like there.”

10

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OFFERS
I TA L I A N L A N G U A G E C O U R S E S

Alumna Brittany Pattison Madoni ’07 works
in human resources for Ensinger, a plastics
manufacturer headquartered in Washington,
Pa., with production facilities in New Jersey,
Texas and Delaware. This fall, in addition to
taking part in Cal U’s on-campus career fair,
the company used Handshake in its search
for a technical sales intern.
“There are definitely advantages to using
Handshake when (a business has) multiple
locations, since students right out of college
are more willing to travel or may want to
move to different locations before they
settle,” Madoni says.

B

Italian is just one language Thomas
Tedrow ’97, ’15, ’16 can use to greet his
students at Beth-Center Senior High in
Washington County, Pa.

We always encourage students
to network and job-shadow,
but I think this is a really easy,
comfortable way for them to
make connections.”

French and Finnish –
yes, Finnish – also
roll off his tongue.
They both are part
of a robust world
languages program at
Beth-Center that also
includes Spanish.

RHONDA GIFFORD

“It’s a critical tool to help us reach targeted
audiences across the country. We are able
to get jobs and internships in front
of thousands of students very quickly.
“We started using it as a way to register for
career events, and then when we recognized
what a powerful application it is, we started
taking advantage of all the opportunities.”
Both HR professionals have advice
for students.
“It’s extremely important for students to
start using the platform to get a head start
on their job search or get work experience
through internships,” Madoni says.
“It’s also important to see some of the
different businesses out there and to get
familiar with the jobs that are available.”

Alaina Emery works as a human resources
business partner for the City of Pittsburgh
Department of Human Resources and
Civil Service.

“This platform puts a large portion of
employers seeking talent at your fingertips,”
Emery adds. “It is a great resource to use
when seeking professional experience.” 

She says the ability to recruit nationally
is a Handshake benefit.

By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

MEET HANDSHAKE
Learn more about how Handshake can help you find
or fill a job opening. Get started at app.joinhandshake.com.

uongiorno classe! Mi chiamo
Sr. Tedrow: Benvenuti al Liceo
Beth-Center.

Thomas Tedrow ’97, ’15, ’16
instructs his Italian I class

Tedrow majored in
French at Cal U. He
spent time in France
teaching English as a
second language, and
he learned Italian when
he studied in Venice while earning his
graduate degree.
The Finnish? “I was a Rotary exchange
student to Finland,” Tedrow explains.
He introduces that language to his students
as part of a Comparative Cultures class that
includes Scandinavia.
Tedrow worked in finance for 15 years
before being drawn back to Cal U by his
love of languages. He earned his master’s
degree in teaching, with a world language
concentration, in 2015, and his M.Ed. in
English as a Second Language in 2016.
He developed the Italian program at BethCenter after principal Aaron Cornell ’97
asked him for ideas to expand the selection
of elective courses. The program began last
year with 43 students. Italian II is new this
year, with levels III and IV to follow.
It’s a rare opportunity for high school students.
The National K-12 Foreign Language Survey
Report, which examines world language

instruction nationwide, includes figures
for 16 languages. Italian isn’t among them.
“Once they realized I could speak Italian in
addition to French, our students wanted this
class,” Tedrow says. “A lot of them have greatgrandparents who were Italian immigrants.”
Tedrow works with Beth-Center learning
support teachers Sean Virgili ’96 and
Megan Ragaller ’12 to offer world language
instruction to their students, too.
“They love learning world languages,
and they’re very good at it,” Tedrow says.
“Mr. Tedrow has been amazing with my
students,” Ragaller says. “It gives them the
opportunity to be social with general education
students, and it allowed them to open
up and not be so shy with others.
“They have really picked
up on the Italian language.
I am always so impressed!”
It’s important to offer world
language options for all
students, Tedrow says, even
though Pennsylvania does not
require high school students
to study a language other than
English in order to graduate.
“You can be good at learning a
world language just like you can
be good at science or math,”
Tedrow says.

Exposure to
other cultures
and languages is
very important,
and our students
deserve to have
that opportunity.”
THOMAS TEDROW ’97

“At first, some students asked why
I would offer Italian, and my response is,
‘Why wouldn’t I offer Italian?’ Exposure
to other cultures and languages is very
important, and our students deserve to
have that opportunity.
“Whether they end up leaving this area
or staying close to home, they’ll be
better prepared.” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

FA L L 2 0 1 9

That 10-week experience led to an offer
to return to PNC after she graduates in
May 2020. Kach will participate in the
company’s year-long finance and accounting
development program before being placed
in a permanent position.

11

CAMPUS CLIPS

VISITING SCHOLARS

Teach Learn
Two Frederick Douglass Institute scholars have joined
the Cal U faculty for the 2019-2020 academic year.

MON VALLEY
PIT TSBURGH PAINTER MAKES THE REGION HIS SUBJECT

Brownsville to Braddock: Paintings of the
Monongahela Valley will be on display in the
third floor gallery of Manderino Library from
April 1-May 8. A reception with the artist is
scheduled April 16 in the gallery.
The exhibit is the result of a collaboration
among Cal U, Touchstone Center for Crafts
in Farmington, Pa., where Donoughe has
taught classes, and the Mon River Towns
Program, which provides funding to promote
towns along the Monongahela River as
regional assets.

CAL U REVIEW

Donoughe is known for his 90 Pittsburgh
Neighborhoods series, which was acquired
by the Senator John Heinz History Center.
A yearlong series on the industrial heritage
of the Mon Valley was a natural follow-up.

12

He has explored towns such as Brownsville,
California, Charleroi, Monessen, Monongahela,
Clairton, Duquesne, McKeesport and
Braddock, as well as the river itself.
“Brownsville to Braddock is such an
interesting stretch of the river, because it
has such a rich industrial heritage that hasn’t
been captured before,” Donoughe says.

“I wanted to bring attention to an area that
doesn’t get a lot.”
Donoughe is known as a plein air painter,
meaning he leaves the four walls of a studio
and creates his pieces on-site. The 12-month
project began in January 2019 and will finish
with roughly 60 pieces, each on a 12- by
16-inch canvas.
One of them shows the familiar bend in
the Mon that is home to Cal U.
“I painted that after a meeting on campus
about the exhibit,” Donoughe says. “Being
on-site gives me a spirit of place.
“When I look at something directly for hours,
I absorb a spirit of place and time, light and
shadow, all the things you can’t get when
you paint from a photograph.”
Associate professor Maggy Aston says
having Donoughe’s work at Cal U will benefit
her art students.
The artist will give a gallery talk on Earth
Day, April 22, as part of the University’s
Art and Design Lecture Series. An outdoor
painting event and a student art show are
being planned for Earth Day, and regional
high school students, local artists and
community members will be invited to set
up easels and paint campus scenes.

Aston says hearing from Donoughe and
seeing some of his work will inspire students
who are considering art as a career.

Rod Taylor ’10 earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Cal U. He is
completing his Ph.D. at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is
revising his dissertation, Writing Back: Anti-Plantation Literature in
the Reconstruction South, 1865-1905.
The FDI fellowship is a component of the Frederick Douglass Institute
Collaborative, a network of scholars at each of the 14 schools in
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
Named for the renowned African-American orator and statesman,
the Frederick Douglass Collaborative focuses on making each
campus inclusive and establishing connections among historically
underrepresented students and faculty.
Since 2003, Cal U’s fellowship program has brought 18 FDI scholars to
campus, where they share their talents and receive professional support
from experienced faculty as they prepare for academic careers.

“It’s really important for our students to see
someone who is a professional working artist,
who earns a living by painting,” she says.
“He is from this area, and he is making a
living in this area. There’s no reason why
our students, who are very skilled, can’t
do that. What they sometimes lack is the
confidence that they can.” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

VISIT
MANDERINO
GALLERY
Brownsville to Braddock: Paintings of the
Monongahela Valley will be on display
April 1-May 8 in the third floor gallery in
Manderino Library. The public is welcome
to visit. Special events are planned,
including a reception with Pittsburgh artist
Ron Donoughe from 6:30-8:30 p.m. April
16 in the gallery. For details about gallery
hours, special Earth Day events and more,
check in this spring at calu.edu/news.

AWARD RECIPIENT
VALUES ‘CHAMPIONS’
Jesse J. McLean Jr.
’83, ’94 accepted
this year’s Jennie
Carter Award at a
reception in the
Kara Alumni House.
A human services
professional
with more than 30 years’ experience in
Pittsburgh’s nonprofit sector, McLean is an
executive director at Pressley Ridge, where
he oversees the fiscal, operational and
clinical integrity of programs for children and
families in western Pennsylvania.

resilience and leadership,” McLean says,
citing the late Elmo Natali ’53, former vice
president for Student Development, as his
own champion and mentor.
McLean continues the tradition. Over the
years he has successfully recommended his
alma mater to more than 150 students, and
he comes to campus regularly to check on
their progress.
“I am very connected to the University,”
says McLean, of Penn Hills, Pa. “I continue
to mentor and work with these students
because I want to make sure they graduate.”

CAL U BUILDS
ENGAGED CITIZENS

The annual award is named for Elizabeth
“Jennie” Adams Carter, Class of 1881, the
University’s first African-American graduate.

Cal U has been recognized as one of the
nation’s “schools doing the most to turn
students into citizens.”

“I would love to know who her champions
were, because … I believe you need
champions to help nurture your spirit,

Washington Monthly magazine lists Cal U
on its honor roll of Best 80 Colleges for
Student Voting.

Schools on the honor roll received a
perfect score on a scale that awards
points for participation in the National
Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement
(NSLVE), a project at Tufts University that
calculates voter registration and turnout
rates for college campuses, and submission
of election-year “action plans” to the ALL
IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which
encourages universities to promote
civic engagement.
The campus chapter of the American
Democracy Project leads the University’s
voter engagement efforts.
“Cal U is committed to educating students
about the importance of civic engagement,
whether it is volunteering in the community
or voting on Election Day,” says Dr. Melanie
Blumberg, the chapter’s director.
“The hope is that students will see
themselves as stakeholders and realize
they can impact decisions that affect
their lives."

FA L L 2 0 1 9

R

on Donoughe, a Pittsburgh artist
known for his realistic landscape
paintings, will bring his latest work
to Cal U this spring.

Dr. Jessica Spradley holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
sociology; she is pursuing her Ph.D. in social foundations of
education at the University of Toledo. Her research examines
the use of care-based practices in the classroom and the
intersections of race, class and education in society.

13

a variety of mummified animals that died
naturally before their bodies were preserved.
“I enjoyed the one-on-one interactions with
the public and the chance to explain the
mummification process,” Kuba says.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for
our Cal U students and alumni from the
anthropology program to share their
knowledge, too.”

The University was cited for excellence in
four areas: student engagement, faculty,
student life and student outcomes.
Cal U also received special recognition for
programming in the Business, Education,
Engineering and Career Development
categories. Criteria include program
accreditation, breadth of programs
and track records for success.
“We are proud to be recognized by these
well-respected organizations,” says Dr. Bruce
Barnhart, provost and senior vice president
for Academic Affairs.

BEST? DISTINCTIVE?
YES, THAT’S CAL U!
PROF TAKES MUMMIES
TO SCIENCE CENTER
Anthropology professor Dr. Cassandra
Kuba was among the experts featured
when the Carnegie Science Center, in
Pittsburgh, unveiled Mummies of the
World: The Exhibition.
Kuba was invited to speak at the traveling
exhibition’s media preview and the opening
event, where she and a group of current and
former anthropology students talked with
visitors outside the main exhibition.
Although Kuba is an expert in biological
anthropology and the study of the human
skeleton, her display was tailored to the
Carnegie Science Center’s theme: It featured

For the 15th consecutive year, The Princeton
Review has recognized Cal U as one of
the best universities in the northeastern
United States.
The nationally known education services
company profiles Cal U online in its 2020
Best Regional Colleges listing. Schools on
the list are “academically outstanding and
well worth consideration” by future students,
the website says.
The "Best in the Northeast" list includes
colleges in 11 states and the District
of Columbia.
For the first time, Cal U also was selected as
a College of Distinction for its commitment
to undergraduate education.

“At Cal U, we put our students first. We give
them the tools they need for career success.
And we prepare them to become thoughtful,
productive members of our global society.”

CAL U REVIEW

Will the coconut sink or float?
Preschool children watch carefully
as sophomore Elijah Wood helps
them find out at STREAM Fest,
an annual exploration of science,
technology, reading, engineering,
arts and math for pre-K learners.
Elementary education majors
design and teach the STREAMbased lessons in front of their
peers and professors. The event
complements the field work that
many education students take
on for the first time during the
fall semester.

MAJOR GRANTS BENEFIT
STUDENTS, COMMONWEALTH
Two significant grant awards will benefit
students and communities across
Pennsylvania:
A Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) Opioid Workforce
Expansion Grant will help students prepare
for careers in fields related to drug addiction
policy, prevention and recovery.
Dr. Sheri Boyle, chair of the Social Work
Department, and Dr. Elizabeth Gruber, chair
of the Counselor Education Department,
were awarded the three-year grant, which
totals $1.3 million.

It’s official!

14

Fun with STREAM

Mascot Blaze joins University
officials at the rededication
ceremony for Coover Hall, which
reopened this fall after a two-year
renovation. Cutting the ribbon are
(from left) Dr. Kristen Majocha,
dean of the College of Liberal Arts;
University President Geraldine
Jones; Blaze; Dr. Bruce Barnhart,
provost and senior vice president
for Academic Affairs; and Dr.
Brenda Fredette, dean of the Eberly
College of Science and Technology.
Coover Hall’s new infrastructure,
remodeled learning spaces and
upgraded technology benefit
students in applied engineering
and technology, art, and graphic
design courses.

It will provide 27 stipends of $10,000 each
to graduate students in Cal U’s social work,
school counseling and clinical mental health
counseling programs.
Students in these programs must complete
600 or more hours in field placements or
advanced practicums – a requirement that
makes it difficult to work and attend school
at the same time.
“The Opioid Workforce Expansion grant is
great because it’s for our students,” Boyle
says. “But it’s also critical for our communities,
because it will focus on the serious issue of
opioid and other substance abuse disorders.”
A PAsmart Advancing Grant for $172,155 is
a step toward filling what the commonwealth
projects will be 300,000 job openings related
to science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) by 2026.
The grant supports training for providers
of afterschool programs in computer
programming and cryptography – secure
information and communication techniques
that rely on mathematical concepts.
Grant writers Dr. Lisa Kovalchick and
Dr. Pratibha Menon led daylong training
sessions in Crypto Club (cryptography
and math), Scratch (coding and teamwork),
and the Alice Project (fundamental coding
skills). Participants received a $100 stipend
and teaching materials to use in their
afterschool programs.
“The expected number of computer science
jobs is expected to increase dramatically in
the next 10 to 20 years,” Kovalchick says.
“We don’t have enough graduates (to fill
those jobs). We want to change that.”

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISING
EARNS NATIONAL NOD
Raising funds
for student
scholarships is a
priority at Cal U.
Now those efforts
have received
national recognition.
CASE, the Council for Advancement and
Support of Education, honored the University
with its 2019 Educational Fundraising Award.
A first-time winner, California is the only
university in Pennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education to receive the CASE
fundraising award this year.
“Scholarships are more important
than ever,” says Anthony Mauro, vice
president for University Development
and Alumni Relations.
“For many students, a scholarship makes
the difference between earning a college
degree and taking another path. And our
donors take great pride in empowering
students to succeed.”

STAFF MEMBERS OFFER
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
Two staff members are the inaugural
recipients of awards recognizing
outstanding job performance and
customer service.
Cindy Speer ’97, administrative assistant
for the Department of History, Politics,
Society and Law, received the Vulcan
President’s Circle Award.
Rhonda Gifford, director of the Career and
Professional Development Center, accepted
the Vulcan Exceptional Service Award.
The Vulcan President’s Circle Award
recognizes a staff member for outstanding
job performance. The Vulcan Exceptional
Service Award honors a staff member who
consistently provides superior service to
students, parents, fellow employees and/or
community members.
“Staff members play a critical role in University
operations and campus life,” says University
President Geraldine Jones. “Our first two
awardees demonstrate Cal U’s commitment
to excellence in everything they do.”

Cal U was one of four schools honored
for overall performance among public
comprehensive institutions with
endowments under $35 million.
CASE bases its selection on a review of
data submitted to its annual Voluntary
Support of Education (VSE) survey. Among
other characteristics, award recipients
demonstrate “solid program growth”
and “breadth in the base of support”
for fundraising initiatives.

FA L L 2 0 1 9

CAMPUS CLIPS

15

Training reaches
Taiwan
Crime scene officers from the
Tainan City Police Department
in Taiwan receive certificates
after completing computer
forensics training at Cal U. The
three-day training was sponsored
by the Pennsylvania Center
for Investigative and Forensic
Sciences, housed at the University.
Celebrating the cultural exchange
are (from left) officer ChangHan Yang; Dr. John Cencich, the
center’s coordinator and director
of Cal U’s criminal justice graduate
programs; officer Pei-Fang Chung;
and cyber forensics expert Dr.
Raymond Hseih, who developed
Cal U’s new academic program in
cyber forensics.

ALUMNUS TO LEAD
COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES
Attorney James T.
Davis ’73 has been
elected to chair the
University’s Council
of Trustees.
A founder and
partner of Davis
and Davis Attorneys at Law, in Uniontown,
Pa., he has served on the council since 2009.
At its reorganization meeting in September,
the council also elected Washington County
Commissioner Larry Maggi ’79 as vice chair
and student Alex Arnold to continue his role
as secretary.
Each university in Pennsylvania’s State
System of Higher Education has a Council
of Trustees that serves as a policy-setting
board. The governor nominates trustees
for a six-year term, and the state Senate
confirms the appointments.

CAL U REVIEW

GRADUATE DEGREE
HELPS YOU GET AHEAD

16

Looking to enhance your resume or advance
your career? Discover how a master’s degree
or doctorate from Cal U’s School of Graduate
Studies can help you build your future.
Information sessions for prospective
students are planned for 6-8 p.m.
March 26 and June 24, 2020.

Cal U offers both on-campus classes
and graduate-level degree programs
delivered 100% online – a convenient
choice for busy professionals.
At the information sessions, you can meet
with faculty, financial aid staff, grad students
and alumni to learn about the benefits of a
Cal U graduate degree. Campus tours, free
applications and information on graduate
assistantships also are available.
The sessions are free, but online registration
is requested at calu.edu/gradopenhouse.
For details, contact the School of Graduate
Studies and Researchat 724-938-4187 or
gradschool@calu.edu.

ROTC CADET TAPPED
FOR BEST WARRIOR EVENT
First-year student Jordan Amrhein, a private
first-class in the U.S. Army Reserve and an
ROTC cadet, was selected to compete for
the title of Best Warrior this fall.
The annual competition, held at Niagara
Falls, N.Y., is a preliminary event used
by major Army Reserve commands to
select the best junior enlisted soldier and
noncommissioned officer in their ranks.
Winners represent their units at the annual
U.S. Army Reserve Command Best Warrior
Competition.
Amrhein, of Bentleyville, Pa., serves with
the 393rd Medical Company, based in

Coraopolis, Pa. He was nominated to
represent the 99th Battalion.
He took on a variety of challenges at the
competition – firing weapons, marching with
a heavy pack, taking part in written exams
and formal interviews, and tackling the Army
Physical Fitness Test, among others.

CUSTOM BREW
Craft beer created for Vulcan Fest and Homecoming

A

t the heart of every craft beer
is a great community. From
locally sourced ingredients to
unique flavor profiles, craft beer draws
inspiration from the area where it’s
produced and becomes a delicious
source of hometown pride.
Now the Cal U community has a brew
to call its own.
“Like all of our beers, the recipe starts
out as a vision of who, how and where
the beer will be enjoyed,” says Matt Smiley,
co-owner and brewer at Laurel Highlands
Brewing in Uniontown, Pa.
The small craft brewery created a special
Cal U Brew for this year’s Vulcan Fest
and Homecoming celebration.
“Knowing that it would be served at
Homecoming, we wanted to go with a
light, approachable, lower-alcohol beer
that you could drink all day. We decided
to add some light blackberry notes to
keep the beer interesting and play on
the school colors and local flora.”

A computer engineering technology major,
Amrhein says his goal is to graduate and be
commissioned as a second lieutenant. Then
he hopes to attend Ranger School and train
for Special Operations before beginning his
active military service.

Amy Smiley ’07 majored in public relations,
with a minor in marketing. She consults on
social media efforts and events.
To create a beer specifically for Cal U,
the husband-and-wife teams worked
with Ryan Barnhart '08, '09, the University’s
director of Alumni Relations.
“We are beyond thrilled to have this
come full circle,” Allison Kotarsky says.
“Being a part of our University and
showcasing the business our husbands
have built is really exciting.”
The popularity of craft beer has
exploded in the last five years, and
drinkers value its local connections.
According to the Nielsen research firm,
66% of craft beer drinkers purchase only
brews produced in their region, and 57%
prefer brands with ties to their city or town.
“Beer has always been a community
experience,” Bob Kotarsky says.
“Being the first brewery in the Uniontown
area since Prohibition, we have an
obligation to educate and bring back local,
handcrafted beer to a community where it
has been absent since the 1920s.”
While the process of fermenting grains to
produce alcohol is more than 5,000 years
old, the scientific understanding and artful
appreciation of the brewing process has
advanced significantly.

“Growing up I’ve always wanted to be in the
military … but I also really enjoy working with
computers,” Amrhein says. “My academics
can only help me in my military career.”
The University is represented in both
the beer and the brewery.
Matt Smiley and Bob Kotarsky started
brewing beer together before opening
Laurel Highlands Brewing in 2016. Their
wives, best friends since high school,
attended Cal U together.
Allison Kotarsky ’07 studied graphic
design, with a minor in graphic
communication technology. She
creates the artwork for the brewery’s
labels and website, as well as graphics
used on social media and apparel.

Every new brew is a carefully calculated
experiment involving glucose, ethanol,
carbon dioxide and the local water’s
mineral content. Colors and flavoring
can turn a blank, water-based canvas
into a masterpiece.
“Higher education and brewing actually
go hand-in-hand,” Matt Smiley says.
“Partnering with the University and
discussing the brewing process allows
us to show how an education can lead to
opportunities and careers outside of the
traditional corporate structure.” 
By Jeff Bender
Digital communications director at Cal U

FA L L 2 0 1 9

CAMPUS CLIPS

17

Veteran California Borough firefighters and the parade's
grand marshals (from left) Wesley Sheets, Jon Bittner
'68, and Tom Hartley Jr. all have ties to Cal U.

Bria Thomas '15, aka DJ Femi,
takes the stage at Vulcan Fest.

University President Geraldine Jones crowns the Homecoming
royals: King Eric Townsend, with 1-year-old daughter Aubree,
and Co-Queens Maddie Rush and Cynthia Obiekezie.

Senior McKenna says 'yes!' and confetti flies
when senior Nicholas Ferris proposes during
the Homecoming Parade.

Junior Maggie Cave, a member of the Homecoming
Court, puts the finishing touches on a parade float.

FLOAT AWARDS

WELCOME HOME

1st PLACE

Rolling Thunder: Tribute to the Vietnam War
by Alpha Kappa Lambda, Cheerleaders

2ND PLACE

Man on the Moon by Acacia, Delta Zeta

3RD PLACE

Nonstop fun at Vulcan Fest and Homecoming

The second annual collaboration with the
Washington County Tourism Promotion
Agency brought thousands of visitors to
California and surrounding communities.

CAL U REVIEW

Her cheerleading teammates
surround newly crowned
Homecoming co-queen
Maddie Rush.

18

After a week of student activities and alumni
gatherings, Vulcan Fest and Homecoming
Weekend got off to an early start Saturday
as about 100 runners and walkers raced
around campus in the first Vulcan Fest 5K.
By noon a carnival atmosphere prevailed
on Third Street, where the traditional
Homecoming Parade rocked to the beat
of the Cal U Marching Band, a dozen high
school bands, and the Pittsburgh Steelers’
Steeline drum line.
The lineup of student-built floats paused
for a moment while senior Nicolas Bishop

proposed to his sweetheart, senior
McKenna Ferris, in a shower of confetti.
Then it was off to Roadman Park, where
DJs provided a soundtrack for food-truck
dining, tailgate parties and samples of
Cal U Brew.

HIGH SCHOOL BAND AWARDS

Runners take off at the Vulcan Fest 5K.

1st PLACE

Ringgold High School

2ND PLACE

After the Homecoming King and Queens
(yes – two!) were crowned, Vulcans
football capped off the day with a win.

Peters Township High School

3RD PLACE

Carmichaels High School

“You meet a lot of people … and do a
lot of socializing,” says alumnus Frank S.
Ptak ’59, who race-walked the 5K course
and watched last year’s Homecoming
Queen, his granddaughter Whitney
Ptak ’19, crown this year’s royals.

4th PLACE

California Area High School

VULCAN FEST 5K AWARDS

“It’s fun!”
Visit calu.edu/review online for more
photos and a story about three veteran
firefighters who were the Homecoming
Parade’s grand marshals. 

TOP MALE RUNNER

Matthew Jenkins
The Vulcans gear up for the
Homecoming game against Clarion.

Cal who? Cal U!

TOP FEMALE RUNNER

Ally Wilson

FA L L 2 0 1 9

F

rom racing to romance, there was
something for everyone at Vulcan
Fest 2019.

Surfin’ Thru the ’60s Safari by Alpha Sigma
Tau, Kappa Alpha Psi and friends

19

ALUMNI CALENDAR

UPCOMING EVENTS

HEY THERE,
Vulcan Fest and Homecoming Weekend was a smash hit for
our alumni and the Cal U community.

JAN

21

Thanks for celebrating Homecoming’s 70th birthday with us!
We’re already making plans for Homecoming 2020. (Details are
coming soon.) Don’t miss out on any of our news and events:
Update your information now at calu.edu/alumni.

WE SALUTE YOU!
Our Alumni Office wants to tell the unique, inspiring and
powerful stories of our graduates and their experiences after
Cal U. To do that, we need to hear from you!

MAR

1

I invite you to share your story for possible inclusion in our
monthly newsletter, The Vulcan Gazette, or our monthly podcast,
The Vulcan Nation. We might even consider you for our annual
alumni awards or “Under 40” recognition.
You can nominate yourself (it’s OK to brag a little) or others by
sending email to alumni@calu.edu.

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS
The Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Career
and Professional Development Center have partnered to help
students dress their best for job interviews.

MAY

2

The new Campus Closet is a free option for students in need of
business attire and business-casual clothing for internships and
job opportunities.
The Campus Closet is accepting donations of gently used men’s
and women’s business or business-casual attire and accessories.
To ask questions or make a donation, contact the career center’s
Bridgett Nobili at nobili@calu.edu or 724-938-4413.

AFFINITY PARTNERSHIPS

MAY

7

The Alumni Association continues to provide value through our
growing list of affinity partnerships. These relationships provide
discounts and access to services and products specifically for
Cal U alumni.
In addition to our existing benefits with Enterprise Rent-A-Car,
Nationwide Insurance and PSECU, we are proud to announce
our newest affinity partner, NovaCare Rehabilitation.
A leading physical therapy service provider, NovaCare offers an
on-campus location in Hamer Hall and physical therapy services
around the nation. Stay tuned for details about our partnership
with NovaCare.

CAL U REVIEW

Let’s keep in touch,

20

Ryan Barnhart ’08, ’09
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

JUNE

13

ALUMNI PHOTO ALBUM

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

ORLANDO ALUMNI DAY

50 YEARS

Meet us in sunny Orlando, Fla., for a full day of fun!
Tee up with Professional Golf Management alumni
at one of Disney’s premier resort golf courses. Then
get together with fellow grads and their guests at Bar
Louie, on I-Drive, for the official Cal U alumni reception.
To reserve a tee time or RSVP for the evening reception,
contact alumni@calu.edu or call 724-938-4418.

California’s Class of 1969 gathers
on the patio at Kara Alumni House
during their 50th reunion. Members
came from as far away as Florida
and Connecticut to spend time with
former classmates.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
TRAINING CAMP
If the Pirates are in Bradenton, can Cal U be far behind?
Join us for our annual spring training event with the
Bucs. We’ll enjoy a pre-game picnic in the outfield
(watch out for fly balls!) and then watch the Pirates as
they take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Reserve your spot
online at calu.edu/alumni or call 724-938-4418.

MOVE-IN DAY
MADNESS

A COUPLE OF VULCANS

Development associate Justin James
’12, ’14 and administrative assistant
Staci Tedrow get wacky as they
prepare for the 10th annual Move-In
Day Picnic. Sponsored by the Office of
Development and Alumni Relations,
the ‘indoor picnic’ in the Convocation
Center gives new students and their
families a chance to enjoy lunch
together after students move in to the
residence halls.

Alumni couple Phil Stewart '68 and
Emmilou Stewart '71, of California,
Pa. enjoy tailgating at Roadman
Park during Vulcan Fest and
Homecoming Weekend.

BOW TIES AND PEARLS BALL
Plan to dress up and get down at our second annual
Bow Ties and Pearls Ball. Celebrate our 2020 Athletic
Hall of Fame inductees as we raise funds for student
scholarships and alumni recognition projects on
campus. This ‘black tie optional’ affair features
elegant cuisine, delectable desserts, dancing to
music by DJ Sosa, and your chance to bid on
exclusive gift items. Last year’s event sold out! For
details and reservations, visit calu.edu/bowtiesball.

SAVE TH E DAT E

SENIOR CLASS SEND-OFF
Don’t miss this chance to network with our May
2020 graduates and welcome them to our alumni
ranks. We’ll enjoy hors d’oeuvres and make a
toast to the graduating class as they get ready for
Commencement. Alumni and members of the Class
of 2020 also have an opportunity to update their
professional headshots at this event, so be sure to
dress in business-casual attire.

CAL U DAY AT KENNYWOOD PARK
Plan to join our Cal U community at the third annual
Cal U Day at Kennywood! Enjoy the park's new Steelers
Country area, then meet us at the designated Cal U
pavilion for an ice cream and soda social.

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.

2 ND ANNUAL

AFTERNOON TEE
Golfers (from left) Bryan Lipchinsky
’07, ’09, Eric Spurlin ’11 and future
alumnus Thomas Victor pose at the
annual Washington County Chamber
of Commerce golf outing. Their
team represented Cal U and placed
fourth in the event.

Bow Ties & Pearls Ball
MAY 2, 2020

|

CONVOCATION CENTER

GET TICKETS AT C ALU . EDU/BO WTI ESB A L L

FA L L 2 0 1 9

ALUMNI NEWS

21

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

TRANSFORMING LIVES

geolOGy
A

n undergraduate elective changed Jaime
Ritz Johnson’s plans. “I started in sports
medicine and ended up in geology,” says
the 1998 Cal U graduate.

“My professor (Robert Vargo) was a fantastic person
and mentor. He made me fall in love with geology,
and that’s where I stayed.”
Johnson works as an asset development coordinator
for Edgemarc Energy, a natural gas producer based
in Canonsburg, Pa.
“I do all of the permitting,” Johnson says. “I am
responsible for all the environmental permits, road
permits, well and surface permits. If it needs a permit,
they come to me for it.”
She also helps to determine the costs associated
with drilling.
“Our land agents sign the leases, and then I go out to
the locations as we site them to determine where we
want to build the well pad. I help the company determine
how much it will cost for permits and to get surveyors
and environmental consultants out to the site — what
it will cost to get a location ready to build a well site.”
Environmental erosion and sedimentation control, road
permitting and pipeline construction are all within her
areas of expertise.
Johnson has been employed in the geology field
since 2001, spending a decade as an environmental
consultant. She also has worked in the “midstream
phase” of the oil-and-gas industry, or the processing,
storing, transporting and marketing of the product.
At Edgemarc, she’s in the “upstream” exploration
and production sector.
“We’re a small company, so you need to know how
to do everything,” she says. “Having a background
in environmental consulting helps me to know the
regulations and what our outside contractors are
doing in the field. It helps me to speak on their level.”

CAL U REVIEW

Her career advice: Be versatile.

22

“It takes time to determine what you’re interested in
or what you’re good at. You don’t know what’s out there,
and you need a lot of different skills.
“People are in such a hurry to become a director or
vice president. You have to earn those stripes.” 

F

“I ran into a woman we'd encouraged
to go to school to be a certified nurse
assistant. We helped her go to school
and earn her CNA. She told me she’s now
married, got her first house and is an RN.

The PIC assists youth, adults, dislocated
workers and economically disadvantaged
people in reaching their educational goals,
supporting their family growth, and
obtaining training and employment.

“Stories like that make everything worth it,”
Martin says.

Martin, who earned her degrees in business
administration, manages a $23 million budget
for the organization, which operates over 24
programs and has more than 300 employees.

At Cal U, Martin was a member of the
women’s basketball team and the Zeta
Phi Beta sorority.
“Being a student-athlete teaches you many
things,” she says. “It teaches you balance,
and today I need to balance being a COO,
wife, mother and church elder.

She has worked for the PIC as a case
manager, supervisor and director of the
agency’s Head Start program and, most
recently, as vice president for early
childhood development.

“It teaches you to handle yourself well
under pressure. As a team leader, you
learn that people look to you for your
responses to tough situations.

The role of the Private Industry Council
in transforming people’s lives is what
drives Martin.

“Zeta Phi Beta taught me to volunteer
and pay attention to the needs in my
community.”

The University recognized Martin’s abilities
in 2013, when she received the Jennie Carter
Award, presented annually to a young leader
who exemplifies the spirit of Cal U’s first
African-American graduate.
“True leadership isn’t lording over people,”
Martin says. “It’s serving people.” 

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

Y

our refrigerator will break in three
days. You don’t know it, but relax:
It does.

Welcome to the Internet of Things, familiar
household gadgets and appliances that can
be connected online.
Aaron Tuomi ’04, a computer science graduate,
manages a team of 40 developers who make
the software for these “smart” devices.
“The software pulls data from the appliance
and can predict when something is going
to fail, why, and what part,” says Tuomi, a
Center of Excellence senior director for PTC,
a global software company with 70 locations
in 30 countries.
“A new part could be shipped to your house,
and a technician can call to schedule an
appointment before you even realize there is
a problem,” he says.
“PTC’s augmented reality software can
overlay holographic images on the device
to help with the repair.”
Tuomi’s team also creates engineering
collaboration software.
“This allows us to distribute engineering
over various locations, minimize scrap and
maximize reuse,” he says.

“If you’re manufacturing an airplane, you
can develop the landing gear in Boston,
the wings in Texas and the fuselage in
Seattle. Our software can identify conflicts
and how they may affect the process
downstream.”

“Having graduates who fit the job market
benefits the businesses, the students and
the University’s reputation,” Tuomi says.
“It’s win-win-win.” 
By Wendy Mackall
Communications director at Cal U

Tuomi, who works in PTC’s office in
Uniontown, Pa., is responsible for $6 million
in revenue per year. In 2018 the company
recognized him for his innovative leadership
and success as a brand ambassador.
His grandfather, who loved computers,
sparked his interest and nudged him to
attend Cal U.
“It had a strong reputation for its computer
and computer technology programs,” Tuomi
says. “Without him pushing, I don’t know
what I would have decided to do. I liked
computers and technology, but I wasn’t a
huge fan of school.”
Fifteen years later, Tuomi remains connected
to his alma mater.
PTC Uniontown welcomes Cal U students
as interns. About half of the location’s 70
employees are alumni, he says. And he
provides the computer science-related
programs at Cal U with a business
perspective on curriculum development.

MEET THE

CHANGE MAKER
Visit calu.edu/review to watch a
video of Aaron Tuomi, who was
honored with a PTC Change Maker
award in 2018.

FA L L 2 0 1 9

IN LOVE WITH

rom case manager in 2003 to chief
operating officer in 2019, Shujuane
Martin ’01, ’03 is settling into her
leadership role with the Private Industry
Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc.

23

SPORTS PROFILE

under 40
R E C E P T I O N R E C O G N I Z E S I M PA C T F U L YO U N G L E A D E R S

This fall the Office of Alumni
Relations recognized a
notable group of graduates –
all younger than 40 – for their
wide-ranging achievements.
“We started ‘Under 40’ to
recognize those Cal U alumni
who are making significant
impacts in their field, in
society and for their alma
mater early in their careers,”
says Ryan Barnhart, director
of Alumni Relations.
Honoree Jesse Hereda
’04, executive director
of the Disciplinary
Board of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania,
greets a friend at the
'Under 40' reception.

“We have a varied group of recipients,
from NFL team captains to entrepreneurs
to award-winning educators and leaders
of billion-dollar companies. This group of
inaugural recipients represents thought
leaders in conversations on the local,
regional, national and international stages.”
Caris ’14 and Marshal ’09 Carper, of
Canonsburg, Pa., have remained connected
to Cal U through the Career and Professional
Development Center. She is a recruiter for
WVU Medicine and he is an author, game
designer and marketing expert.
“I’m thankful to all the Cal U professors who
poured so much into me,” Caris Carper says.
“I hope to be able to pay that forward.”
“It’s humbling to be honored in the inaugural
class – I graduated with some exceptional
people,” Marshal Carper adds.

CAL U REVIEW

Cody Elias ’12 is a multimedia producer for the
Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.

24

“All the (Cal U) professors were great,” he
says. “I moved to (the state of) California
six months after I graduated. I’m just 30
years old, and this has been a chance to
look back and reflect on how much my
career has evolved.

A COMMON

“My company was so supportive of me
coming back to Cal U, even though the
A’s are in the middle of a playoff run!”
Caitlin Brown ’15 says Cal U has been
part of her family for generations.

‘We’re here to help these teams succeed’

“My grandfather (Edward Stankovich) was
a janitor here. And my mom (Catherine
Stankovich Brown) and aunt (Susanne
Stankovich) are both graduates,” says the
adaptive exercise specialist, gym owner
and Paralymic coach from Virginia.

C

al U’s newest head coaches bring
a blend of experience and familiarity
to Vulcans athletics.

Alumna April Gitzen '09, '10 has returned
to coach swimming. Anita Onufer joins
Cal U as head tennis coach and assistant
swimming coach.

Dr. Carl Jay ’08, ’09 is a podiatrist in
Texas who is about to open a practice
in Michigan.
“The professors in the
science department at Cal U
were above and beyond,”
he says. “I’ve been at bigger
universities, and this school
easily prepared me for the
basics I needed to know in
medical school.”

“Without a doubt the opportunity to return
to my alma mater was a driving force,” says
Gitzen, who calls retired swim coach Ed
Denny a mentor.

University President Geraldine
Jones, herself a successful
alumna, addressed the “Under
40” group at a reception in
their honor.

Gitzen comes back to Cal U after eight
seasons as head coach for men's and
women's swimming at West Virginia
Wesleyan. She received Mountain East
Conference Coach of the Year honors
three times and guided both teams to
MEC championships in 2019.

“Your accomplishments demonstrate
the value of a Cal U degree, and the role
it has played in fulfilling your potential.
As one graduate to another, it’s great to
see the progress you have made.” 

meet the honorees
Learn more about all the recipients of Cal U’s
inaugural ‘Under 40’ recognition at calu.edu/review.

“This University has given me so much,
and the chance to give back and help
others here is an honor.”

'Under 40' Power
Couple: Becky '05, '17
and Eron '15 McMillen

As a Vulcans swimmer, Gitzen earned AllPSAC honors in both the 400 individual medley
and the medley relay team. She was a College
Swimming Coaches Association of America
(CSCAA) Scholar All-America honoree in 2009.
Onufer spent the past two seasons on the
coaching staff at PSAC rival Seton Hill.
A three-sport athlete at Saint Vincent
College, she was a member of the Bearcats’
tennis, swimming and lacrosse teams.

As a tennis player, Onufer posted a
combined 10 wins in singles play and
15 wins in doubles over her last two
seasons. In the pool, she was a member
of the conference champion 200 freestyle
relay team and earned all-conference
recognition in the 100 butterfly.
“Competing just a few years ago really helps
me relate to student-athletes and all the
demands placed on them,” Onufer says.
“Being in their shoes so recently allows
me to have compassion for them, but also
to share my experiences and help them
work through their struggles so they can
be their best in all aspects of life.”
Both coaches emphasize academic
commitment.
“It is vital that each of our student-athletes
earns their degree with a strong grade-point
average,” Gitzen says.
“That degree will not read ‘women’s
swimming,' which is why grades will
always come first. College is the start
of their careers.”
Overall, Cal U Athletics has compiled a
GPA of 3.10 or higher for 18 of the past 19
semesters. The swimming team has earned
CSCAA Scholar All-America Team status
for 17 consecutive years and had a 3.48
cumulative team GPA last spring

That degree will
not read ‘women’s
swimming,’ which
is why grades will
always come first.
College is the start
of their careers.”
A PRIL GI T ZEN ’09 ’10

“That is something that each and every
student-athlete and coach should be proud
of,” says Onufer, who owns two degrees.
“We have very motivated ladies … but I still
remind athletes to strive to be the best they
can be, ultimately setting themselves up for
success in the future.”`
Gitzen and Onufer met only recently, but their
philosophies already are in sync.
“Anita is a talented coach with energy,
innovative ideas and the passion to be
successful,” Gitzen says. “Both of us are
here to help these teams succeed.” 
By Bruce Wald ’85
Information writer at Cal U

FA L L 2 0 1 9

A

s change-makers, trailblazers
and trendsetters, Cal U alumni
are making a difference in their
professions and their communities.

25

SPORTS ROUNDUP

72 EARN DIVISION II
ACADEMIC HONORS
As the fall semester began, Cal U received
word that 72 of its student-athletes,
representing all sports, had earned
Division II Athletics Directors Association
Academic Achievement Awards for the
2018-2019 academic year.

TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS

V

ulcans sports fans stepped up to support Cal U’s studentathletes on the second annual Athletic Day of Giving.

More than 150 donors answered the call, contributing
more than $20,000 to boost the Athletic Scholarship Fund.

FOUR VULCANS IN NFL UNIFORMS

Both the number of participants and the fundraising total exceeded
last year’s inaugural Athletic Day of Giving by more than 15%.

Four former Vulcans players took the
field with National Football League
teams this season.

“Because state funds cannot be used for athletic scholarships,
we count on the generosity of alumni and friends,” says athletics
director Dr. Karen Hjerpe. “Their support is essential – and our
coaches, staff and student-athletes appreciate every contribution.”

Offensive lineman
Eric Kush ’12 was a
starter at right guard
for the Cleveland
Browns after
previously playing for
the Chicago Bears and
Kansas City Chiefs.

Visit calu.edu/review to meet four Vulcans and find out what
scholarships mean to them.

A three-year starter for the Vulcans, Kush
was named a D2Football.com secondteam All-American and earned first-team
all-conference honors in 2012.

CAL U REVIEW

BASKETBALL SCHEDULE STARTS 2020 AT HOME

26

Cal U student-athletes were among 975
Academic Achievement Award recipients
from the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference, which led all Division II
conferences in the number of honorees.
In all, 185 institutions and 11,600
student-athletes were recognized.

As the new year begins, PSAC-West
women’s and men’s basketball take
over the Convocation Center.

Vulcans advanced to the regional final
of the NCAA Tournament for the third
time in five years.

Six home doubleheaders are on the
schedule in less than a month, beginning
Jan. 3 when the Vulcans host PittJohnstown. The women’s game starts at
5:30 p.m., and the men’s game follows.

One of Cal U’s top returners is senior
guard Gina Vallecorsa, who led last
season’s team in three-point baskets
(37) and was second best in minutes
played per game (27.7).

In other early 2020 home games, the
Vulcans face divisional rivals Shepherd
on Jan. 28 (5:30 p.m.), Edinboro on
Jan. 11 (1 p.m.), Mercyhurst on Jan. 25
(1 p.m.), Clarion on Jan. 29 (5:30 p.m.)
and Slippery Rock on Feb. 1 (3 p.m.).

Optimism abounds with the men’s
team, which begins its second season
under head coach Danny Sancomb.
Leading Cal U’s returning cast is allconference junior guard Brent Pegram,
who ranked eighth in the PSAC in
scoring, with 18.5 points per game.

The women’s team, under ninth-year
head coach Jess Strom, is coming
off a 26-6 record last year, when the

For complete schedules and
information, visit calvulcans.com.

Erik Harris ’13 is in his third season
with the Oakland Raiders, playing
strong safety and on special teams.
A two-time all-conference selection at
Cal U, he previously played for the New

PSAC HONORS SPORTS
BROADCASTER
The Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) honored Gary
Smith ’98, ’01, director of CUTV
operations and adviser for Cal U’s
student TV and radio stations, with
the 2019 George Heaslip Award.

Orleans Saints and spent three seasons
with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the
Canadian Football League.
In this season’s fourth week, Harris
intercepted a pass and returned it
30 yards for what proved to be the
winning touchdown in Oakland’s
31-24 win at Indianapolis.

The award is presented to a
media professional selected
by the PSAC's sports information
directors. It recognizes meritorious
service while covering the
conference's student-athletes,
coaches and teams.

Safety Rontez Miles ’12 is special teams
captain with the New York Jets, his
seventh season with the team.
A two-time first-team All-American,
he was the PSAC-West Defensive
Player of the Year in both his junior
and senior seasons with the Vulcans.

Smith has covered Cal U athletics
for more than 25 years with CUTV
and WCAL, breaking ground with
home-and-away coverage of the
Vulcans and PSAC playoff teams.

CJ Goodwin is a second-year defensive
back and special teams standout with
the Dallas Cowboys. He previously played
two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons
and one with the Arizona Cardinals.

The award is named for the
late George Heaslip, a sports
information director at Cheyney
University.

SOCCER SCORES NATIONAL UPSET
More than 75% of this year’s roster
consists of first- or second-year players,
but the men’s soccer team is serving
notice that it’s on the rise.

13 shots, while freshman Chance Pursifull
made his first collegiate goal a memorable
one, scoring into the right bottom of the
net at the 66:04 mark.

An early sign of the team’s promise came
in early October, when the Vulcans handed
Gannon – ranked No. 4 in the nation – its
first defeat of the season, 1-0.

This was men’s soccer’s first win over
a nationally ranked opponent since
2016. The last time the team knocked
off a similarly ranked opponent was
in 2011, when the Vulcans beat No. 4
Mercyhurst, 2-0.

Goalkeeper Joseph Valeriano, one of three
seniors on the team, successfully faced

FA L L 2 0 1 9

FANS

The award requires a student-athlete to
post a cumulative grade-point average
of 3.50 or higher, have attended at least
two years (four semesters) of college,
and have been an active member of an
intercollegiate team during their last
academic year.

27

GIVE TO CAL U

MILESTONES

60s
David Tanner ’67 and Janet Patterson Tanner
’67, ’73 live near Harrisburg, Pa. Janet is a
retired elementary school teacher and a
certified volunteer counselor at a pregnancy
center. David is a retired professional
architectural consultant and a retired military
officer. The couple has lived and traveled in
several states and foreign countries. After
being named a distinguished naval graduate
in Officer Candidate School and flight school,
David served for nine years as a Navy P-3
pilot. Eventually transferring to the Air Force
Reserve, he flew special operations EC-130
aircraft. While a director of a century
architectural firm in Elmira, N.Y., he completed
U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff
College. In 1989 he was named a
distinguished graduate of the Air Force senior
intelligence officer school in San Angelo,
Texas. Following active duty in the Persian
Gulf War, David served as senior intelligence
officer at Niagara Falls ARS until his
retirement in 1997. He recently received
the lifetime achievement award from
Marquis Who’s Who in America.

Empower
students

70s

CAL U REVIEW

Did you know that all donations to Cal U
are 100% tax deductible?

28

At this time of year, we all are looking for
additional deductions to include in our
yearly tax returns. Donating to a scholarship
fund at Cal U is a great way to help our
students pursue their dreams of earning
a college degree – and it also provides
you with a tax deduction.
Your gift to Cal U can be applied to an
existing scholarship fund for an affinity

You can mail your gift in the pre-addressed
envelope found in this magazine. To give
online, visit calu.edu/giving and click on
“make your online gift today.”

Mary Beth Zavislan Kerekes ’86 is
development director for The National
Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pa.
The largest museum of its kind in the
United States, it tells the full story of
the American Civil War from its causes
through Reconstruction. She also serves
on the board of directors of the Association
of Fundraising Professionals – Central
Pennsylvania Chapter. After a life
of travel and building a career in nonprofit,
museum and association fundraising,
Mary Beth has settled in Camp Hill, Pa.,
with her husband of 30 years, George
Kerekes, who retired as a chief warrant
officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Barry Sechler ’74 was inducted into the
Somerset County (Pa.) Baseball Oldtimers
Hall of Fame. He was an industrial arts
teacher at Shanksville-Stonycreek High
School and the school’s baseball coach.

group, your fraternity, sorority or major.
It can be used to establish your own
named scholarship fund. Or it can
support an academic department or
our student-athletes.
Today’s students are just like you were
– hard-working and dedicated to their
studies. Your support will help to shape
the future of Cal U and make a difference
in their lives.

Lynn Romboski
Messman ’82 is
retired and living in
Georgetown, Mass.
For 20 years she
worked in the areas
of corporate
communication, training and education
for high-tech companies in the Philadelphia
and Boston areas, including Unisys Corp.,
Digital Equipment Corp., Epsilon, Thomson
Financial and Nuance Corp. After changing
careers, Lynn was a teacher for 14 years,
providing instruction in English and
components of the Adobe Certified

Richard Cramer ’82 retired from FedEx.
He started as an operations auditor and
spent the past 23 years as a software
quality assurance analyst.

Maximize
your impact!
Contact the Office of
University Development
and Alumni Relations
at 724-938-5775 or
email Vice President
Tony Mauro at
mauro@calu.edu.

Linda Simpson ’76, ’78 is security manager
for Planned Parenthood of the Great
Northwest and Hawaiian Islands (PPGNHI)
in Seattle, Wash. Linda majored in
anthropology and psychology at Cal U
and was a member of WVCS-FM. She
and Jeri Simpson live in Kent, Wash.
Craig Ruokonen ’75, of Clarksville, Tenn.,
is retired from the Norwin School District,
which serves the communities of North
Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin, Pa.

FIRST SWIM TEAM REMEMBERED
Cal U’s recently retired head swimming coach, Ed Denny (left), and the late
Ray Kist ’69 pose with a picture of the first California State College swimming team,
taken in 1967. Ray, whom Ed points out in the photo, became a three-year letterman
under swim coach and emeritus professor Terry Scott. A former speech therapist,
lifeguard and postal worker, Ray passed away in November 2019, not long after
giving Cal U the photo. It’s now on display in the Hamer Hall trophy case.

FA L L 2 0 1 9

W

John McCoy Jr. ’80,
of Philadelphia, Pa.,
has been inducted
into the 25 Year
Club as an
administrator for
The Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania Department of
Emergency Medicine, where he works in
registration and quality assurance. In June
2019 he retired after 10 years with the
Consumer Product Safety Commission,
where he reviewed unsafe products. In
September 2019, he and Cynthia McCoy
celebrated their 32nd anniversary. They
have two children, Fiona and Drake.

Associate curriculum in a high school
vocational education environment. Most
recently, she taught freshman and
sophomore English at Whittier Regional
Vocational Technical School in Haverhill,
Mass. She retired from Whittier in June 2019
and also received the school’s 2019 WREA
Educator of the Year Award. Lynn studied
communications at Cal U and was active
with WVCS, the campus radio station.
She and her husband, Chris, have been
married for 31 years. Their two children
are Michael and Molly.

William Viola II ’69, ’70 was honored by
Allegheny County, Pa., for popularizing karate
in western Pennsylvania and advocating for
the sport worldwide, leading to its acceptance
as an Olympic sport in 2020. “Sensei Bill Viola
Day” recognized him as a co-creator of the
sport of mixed martial arts and the subject of
a book, a documentary and a museum
exhibit. He was the owner of Allegheny
Shotokan, now known as Viola Karate.

Get a tax deduction.
ould you like to make an
end-of-year donation to Cal U?
And receive a tax deduction?

80s

29

90s
William Merrell ’90 was recognized by the
Pennsylvania School Boards Association for
his eight years on the Peters Township (Pa.)
School Board. A U.S. Air Force veteran,
William studied geography and regional
planning at Cal U. He taught civics and
government before he retired.
Nino Sapone ’92 is the interim airport
director for Flint Bishop International
Airport in Michigan. Previously he was
deputy airport director for operations
and maintenance at Flint Bishop. He
also worked as vice president of airport
operations at Pittsburgh International
Airport. Nino majored in education at Cal U.
Michael Andresky ’79, ’92 is a special
columnist for the Mon Valley Independent,
based in Monessen, Pa. His newspaper
column, “The Bottom 5,” publishes Thursdays
during the NFL season. It is a satirical look
at the five worst teams, cities, officials or
other notable items. Michael and his wife,
Judy, celebrated their 41st anniversary in
September 2019. Judy was an administrative
assistant to the dean of the College of Liberal
Arts at Cal U until she retired in 2010.

Kellie Ketchum-Umphrey ’93 is program
manager for 23 Early Head Start programs
in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
She works for the Council of Three Rivers
American Indian Center, in Dorseyville, Pa.
Kellie studied elementary education at Cal U.
She and Mark Umphrey live in Wilmington, Del.
Gene Theodori ’93,
professor of
sociology at
Sam Houston
State University in
Huntsville, Texas,
has received the
2019 Distinguished Rural Sociologist award
from the Rural Sociological Society. The
award recognizes recipients’ outstanding
contributions to the discipline of rural
sociology through research, extension,
teaching, public service and public policy.
Gene has been at Sam Houston State since
2007. He was a sociology major at Cal U.
Kelly Parsley ’96 is the track and cross
country coach at Bethel College, Kansas.
He studied communications at Cal U and
was on the track team.

Gino Spinos ’95 is director of manufacturing
engineering at the National Center for
Defense Manufacturing and Machining
in Chambersburg, Pa. He studied
environmental science at Cal U.
Kenneth M. Truver ’95, chief of the Castle
Shannon (Pa.) Police Department, was
among the participants in a School Shooting
Prevention Leadership Forum held at Cal U.
Kenneth is a graduate of the FBI National
Academy and second vice president of the
executive board for the FBI National
Academy Associates (FBINAA).

00s
Jessica Urbanik ’00, director of community
relations and education at SecondHalf
Coach Wealth Management in Latrobe, Pa.,
has been named chamber member of the
year by the Westmoreland County Chamber
of Commerce. She studied communications
at Cal U, where she previously worked in
the Office of University Development and
Alumni Relations.

Don Record ’86, ’99 is senior project
manager at LCK. The regional firm is
certified by the National Women’s Business
Owner’s Corp. as a woman-owned business
offering project management solutions for
institutions, corporations and private entities
in the development of real estate. Don
studied business administration at Cal U.
Donald Martin ’89, ’94 was named executive
director of Intermediate Unit 1 after eight
years as assistant executive director.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in
speech communications and his M.Ed.
in elementary education at Cal U, where
he is pursuing a doctorate in education
administration and leadership.

CAL U REVIEW

Hollie Konek-Morgan ’94 teaches special
education at James M. Bennett High School
in Salisbury, Md. At Cal U, she was a Delta
Chi little sister and a member of Delta Phi
Epsilon sorority. Hollie lives on the Eastern
Shore of Maryland with her husband and
three children.

30

Joe Bonadio ’95 is a longtime teacher at
Connellsville (Pa.) Area High School. He was
an assistant coach in football and basketball,
coached baseball, and is now coaching the
Connellsville American Legion team.

Meaggan Wilton Pettipiece ’00 is the
softball coach at the University of Akron,
Ohio. She spent three years as an assistant
coach at Kent State University and was
Northwood University’s head coach for
10 seasons. She was an assistant coach
at Cal U, where she was a two-time
All-American outfielder and helped the
Vulcans win the 1998 NCAA Division II
championship. She played for Canada
at the 2000 Olympics and was an alternate
on the 2004 team.
Cristine Maser ’00, of East Hempfield
Township in Lancaster County, Pa., is a
member of the board of directors for the
Lancaster Division of the American Heart
Association. She has served as director
of programs for the Hempfield Area
Recreation Commission for the past nine
years. In this role, she promotes health
and wellness through youth and adult
sports, environmental and educational
programming, and a playground program
that serves more than 600 families.
She studied parks and recreation
management at Cal U.
Francesco Amati ’01 is a community
development manager for the Fort Myers
(Fla.) Community Redevelopment Agency.
He has worked for the City of Fort Myers
Community Development Department as a
real estate specialist since 2013 and was
promoted to the CRA. Francesco studied
business administration at Cal U.
F. Dean Connors II ’01, who earned bachelor
of arts and bachelor of science degrees at
Cal U, has been the CEO and president of
CMS Bankcard Services in Wheeling, W.Va.,
for more than 10 years. He is a real estate
investor with several commercial and
residential units in the area, as well as a
recording artist and father of two.

LIFELONG FRIENDS
Beverly Thornton James ’73 (left), Fontana Smith Crable ’73 (center) and
Caryl Sheffield ’73 recently celebrated 50 years of friendship. The three met in
1969 as first-year students at California State College, and all graduated from the
teacher education program. ‘Not many people can say they have close friends for that
long,’ Caryl says. ‘We are all members of the same sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, as is
President (Geraldine) Jones ’72, ’80. As you can imagine, we’ve been through so
many life events over the years.’ Caryl and her husband, Jim, live in Sarasota, Fla. She
was chair of Cal U’s Department of Early, Middle and Special Education from 20022012 and associate provost from 2012-2015. Beverly is retired from PPG Industries Inc.
after 33 years in sales, marketing and development roles. She lives in the Pittsburgh
area with her husband, Alan James ’62, who retired as Cal U’s dean of Student Affairs
in 2007. Fontana retired from the Monessen City School District after more than
40 years as a teacher and counselor. She and her husband, Eric, live in Clairton, Pa.

Chris Dountas ’03 is director of football
equipment operations for the University
of Colorado. He spent three years as the
assistant athletic director-equipment
manager at Stanford University. Chris
studied sport management at Cal U.
Brad Schulte ’02, ’04 received Drexel
University’s Harold W. Pote “Behind Every
Graduate” Award. He was nominated by a
former Drexel student for his mentorship.
Brad earned his master’s degree in
technology education from Cal U and
teaches at Baldwin (Pa.) High School.
Brent Carbonara ’09, of Fairmont, W.Va., is
a general maintenance supervisor at Murray
Energy. He and Kristin Carbonara were
married in October 2018. Brent studied
electrical engineering technology at Cal U.

SOCCER
SWEETHEARTS
Pierre Soubrier ’19 and Crystal Dunn
were married in December 2018. Pierre
is head athletic trainer for the Portland
Thorns, of the National Women’s Soccer
League. He shares the sport with Crystal,
who plays for the North Carolina
Courage, also of the NWSL. Crystal was
a member of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, which won the World Cup in
July 2019. ‘We met when I was the head trainer for the Washington Spirit, and she
got drafted by the team in 2015,’ Pierre writes. ‘The tournament was in France, and
I’m from France, so it was nice to go there for 10 days to see her play.’ Pierre earned
his Cal U master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion, with
a concentration in performance enhancement and injury prevention.

Carol L. Ackerman ’05, who earned her B.S.N.
at Cal U, is retired from UPMC after a 40-year
nursing career. She worked for 25 years as a
staff nurse at UPMC Braddock. She
transferred to UPMC McKeesport, where she
worked as a clinician for 15 years. During her
career, Carol was awarded the 2011 Clinical
Nurse Leadership Award from the Academy
of Medical-Surgical Nursing. She published a
book, Chemotherapy for the Medical-Surgical
Nurse, in 2007 and an article, “Not on My
Watch: Treating and Preventing Pressure
Ulcers,” in MedSurg Nursing, March/April
2011. She also was featured on the cover
of MedSurg Nursing in 2009. Carol is
courageously battling ovarian cancer.
Krista Mathias ’05 extended her contract as
superintendent of the Somerset (Pa.) Area
School District. She earned her bachelor’s
degree in secondary education and a
superintendent letter of eligibility from Cal U.
Scott DiTullio ’06 recently earned his
doctorate in education from Northeastern
University, Boston. He is director of bands
and athletic director at the Allegheny-Clarion
Valley Area School District in Foxburg, Pa.
Scott also is an adjunct instructor at St.
Vincent College, near Latrobe, Pa., where
he directs the jazz band, teaches the trumpet
studio and consults with the marching band.
Scott earned his principal’s certification
at Cal U.
Jessica Curran ’06 is associate professor of
graphic design and communications at Salt
Lake Community College, Utah. She majored
in graphic design at Cal U.
Ashley Krenn ’08, who studied secondary
education at Cal U, is the curriculum

manager for the middle school science
department at Lincoln Learning Solutions,
where she oversees the development of all
new middle school science courses. She
also is a volunteer for the Big Brothers Big
Sisters Career Development program and is
active with the United Way of Beaver County.
She and Jarrod Krenn ’08 have a daughter,
Gabrielle, who will be 3 in December 2019.
Tim Fusina ’07, ’08 is head men’s basketball
coach at Waynesburg (Pa.) University. He
was the head coach at Centenary University
in Hackettstown, N.J., for five years.
Dr. Neil Cronin ’09 is vice president for
Academic Affairs, Curricular Innovation
and Professional Learning at Wyoming
Seminary, a private school in northeastern
Pennsylvania. His Cal U master’s degree is in
educational administration and leadership.

10s
Nicholas Robinson ’10, of John Brown
University in Arkansas, was named the 2019
Sports Information Director of the Year for
the Sooner Athletic Conference. He earned
his master’s degree in sport management
from Cal U.
Jeremy Stockdill ’11, of McKeesport, Pa.,
is a photographer, editor and drone pilot
for KDKA-TV, CBS Pittsburgh. He majored
in communication studies at Cal U and
was involved in CUTV and WCAL.
Eric Lauver ’12, of Jefferson Hills, Pa., is
an elementary principal in the Trinity Area
School District, Washington, Pa. He earned
his principal’s certification at Cal U.

FA L L 2 0 1 9

MILESTONES

31

Tony Mehalic ’10
was inducted into
the Ocean City (N.J.)
Beach Patrol Hall of
Fame and received
the 23rd Robert
Stowe Award for
contributing to the profession of ocean
lifesaving. Tony has worked for Ocean City
Beach Patrol for 13 years; he also competes
in lifeguard races. He’s a physical education
teacher at Latrobe (Pa.) Elementary School,
where he coaches cross country and track and
field. Tony lives in Latrobe with his wife, Abigail
Wilson Mehalic ’07, and daughter, Sadie.
Austin Stoddard ’12 completed an unusual
challenge to benefit St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital: walking his way through
100 holes at Conewago Valley Country Club
in Warren, Pa. That was 53 more holes than
he’d ever played in a day and included roughly
27 miles of walking, all for a good cause.
Tyson Brown ’12 is the strength and
conditioning coach for football at
Washington State University.
Bryan Kline ’12 has been accepted into
the Doctor of Criminal Justice program
at Saint Leo University in Florida.
Kaitlynn Fratz ’15 is assistant coach for the
University of Maryland women’s basketball
team. In 2015 she helped lead the Vulcans
to the NCAA Division II women’s basketball
championship.
Blayre Holmes Davis ’12, who earned a
degree in communication studies at Cal U,
is the director of community relations for
the Pittsburgh Steelers. She previously
held positions with the Women and Girls
Foundation of Pittsburgh and Adagio
Health. Blayre received the 2017 Jennie
Carter Leadership Award from Cal U.

CAL U REVIEW

CADET COMMISSIONED
ROTC cadet Daniel Mraz ’19 was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S.
Army at a Department of Military Science Reserve Officer Training Corps ceremony
this fall. Daniel, who studied criminal justice, was recognized as a Distinguished
Military Graduate, one who ranks in the top 20% of more than 5,500 Army ROTC
graduates nationwide on the basis of scholarship, moral character, military
aptitude and leadership ability. Commissioned as an active-duty Army Medical
Service Corps officer, he will attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course this spring
at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Margaret Campagna ’14 is a project
manager and scrum master for Keystone
Collections Group. She majored in
technology management and robotics
engineering technology at Cal U. She and
her husband, Chris Joseph, live in Irwin, Pa.
Erin Moran ’14 is head coach of the
field hockey team at Wilkes University
in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Kyle Halfpop ’14 is head women’s soccer
coach at the University of Minnesota
Crookston. He comes to the job from the
University of Sioux Falls (S.D.), where he was
an assistant coach. Kyle earned a master’s
degree in sport management from Cal U.

Kelly McGowan ’16 is the principal at Belmont
Hills Elementary School in Bensalem, Pa. Kelly
earned her principal’s certification from Cal U.
Jodi VanderSchaaff ’17 is the acting principal
at East Union Intermediate Center, in the Deer
Lakes School District, Cheswick, Pa.
Lisa Cushing ’17, ’19 lives in Modesto, Calif.
She studied sport management and exercise
science and sport studies at Cal U.
Kerry Jo Green ’17, who studied history
at Cal U, lives in Waltham, Mass.

Robert Rizzo ’15 is assistant superintendent
of the Spring-Ford Area School District in
Montgomery County, Pa. He earned his
superintendent letter of eligibility from Cal U.

Cody Maimone ’16, Jeremy Rosinger ’16
and Dom Pomposelli ’16 are members of
the musical production team One800. One
of their projects was a collaboration with
Anthony Willis ’16, also known as My Favorite
Color. The project was part of The Pittsburgh
Sessions, where Cody, Jeremy and Dom
worked with 20 Pittsburgh-area artists.

Michael Price ’13 is director of athletics for
the Oxford (Pa.) Area School District. He
studied sport management at Cal U. Michael
and Ann Marie Price live in Coatesville, Pa.

Michael Meketa ’16 graduated from New
York University’s Tish School of the Arts
with a Master of Fine Arts in musical theatre
writing. He works at Lake Dillon Theater
in Silverthorne, Colo.

Nathan Kaylo ’17 is manager of guest
services and tours for Chicago Theatre.
He studied business administration at Cal U,
where he played hockey and volunteered
with the Habitat for Humanity Club.

Ryan Deveney ’15 is the principal at Red
Mill Elementary School, in the West Shore
School District, Lewisberry, Pa. He earned
his master’s degree and principal’s
certification from Cal U.

Melissa White ’16 is a sixth-grade teacher
at Wendover Middle School in the Hempfield
Area School District, Hempfield Township,
Pa. She also is a mental performance coach
for Hempfield Area High School.

Barry Luciani ’18 is executive vice president
and chief operating officer of Carroll
Community Bank, Maryland. He has a B.A.
in liberal arts and history from Cal U.

Anthony Kane ’11, ’12 is assistant director
of Residence Life at Duquesne University in
Pittsburgh. He studied social work at Cal U
and is engaged to Ashley Geese. At Cal U,
Anthony was active with the Black Student
Union, Cal U Men United, SABUG and STAND.

32

Work by Samantha Middlemiss ’17 and
Dr. Peter Cormas, an associate professor
of childhood education at Cal U, was
accepted for publication in the journal
School Science and Mathematics. Their
work also yielded conference presentations
at the annual meeting of the National
Association for Research in Science
Teaching, in Baltimore, Md., and at annual
conferences presented by the State
System of Higher Education and Cal U.
Paul Sheppick ’15, ’17 is a test specialist for
Argo AI, an autonomous vehicle company
operating in Pittsburgh. He studied
commercial music technology and business
administration at Cal U. He’s also a member
of the Mon Valley Push band.

WEDDINGS
Mark Novak ’10 and Melissa Wilson
were married in July 2019. Mark studied
environmental science and now works
for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission. They live in Meadville, Pa.
Mariah Howze ’18 and Demetrious
Peoples Jr. were married in July 2019.
Mariah is a development assistant at
Cal U, and Demetrious is a student in
Cal U’s computer science program.

Joseph Gibbons ’16 and Colby Cottell were
married in September 2018. Joseph has a
Cal U master’s degree in sport management
studies, with a concentration in intercollegiate
athletic administration. He is a project
coordinator at Pride Mobility and head
boys basketball coach at Mountain View
High School in Kingsley, Pa.
Emilee Richardson '16 and Lukas Miller '17
were married in July 2019 in Somerset, Va.
Emilee studied Spanish and secondary
education at Cal U; she teaches high school
Spanish in Orange, Va. Lukas, a Theta Xi
alumnus, studied technology education at
Cal U, and he’s pursuing a master's degree
from the University. He teaches technology
in Culpeper, Va.

Russ Joy ’18 writes for the Crossing Broad
website and is co-host/producer of several
sports podcasts.
Brett Mooney ’19 is unit director of the
medical/surgical intensive care unit at UPMC
Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh. His Master of
Science in Nursing practicum project, on
alternatives to the use of restraints, won first
place as a poster presentation at the 2019
Southwestern Pennsylvania Organization of
Nurse Leaders conference.
Stephanie Anderson ’13, ’17 is head women’s
basketball coach at Fairmont State University.
Sam Swetz ’19 is the women’s volleyball
coach at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly
Campus, in Fayette County, Pa. She earned
her master’s degree in sport management
studies with a concentration in intercollegiate
athletic administration.
Arielle “Ari” Alex ’18 is director of Queenpin
PGH, a community organization for the
advancement and empowerment of black
women and women of color in the
Pittsburgh area.
Julie Kerlicker ’18 was named Propel
Schools’ 2018-2019 Rookie of the Year.
She is a special education educator at Propel
Pitcairn (Pa.). She studied education at Cal U.
Rachael McKriger ’18 works in marketing
for Dick’s Sporting Goods. She’s also a
commentator for the University of Pittsburgh
women’s soccer program on the ACC Network.

ENGAGEMENT
Cassidy Zemrose ’18 and Kyle Snyder ’17, ’19
are engaged. Cassidy teaches seventh-grade
English language arts, and Kyle is an
emergency management planner. They met
while working as Community Assistants at
Cal U and plan to be married in October 2020.

IN PRINT
Dr. Brian Johnson ’94, ’96 is the author of Send Judah First:
The Erased Life of an Enslaved Soul. Based on a true story,
the book honors Judah, an enslaved cook at Belle Grove
plantation in Middletown, Va. Brian read from his book
at a special event on campus this fall.
David L. Anderson ’70 is the author of Archetypal Figures
in ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’: Hemingway on Flight and
Hospitality. David’s book examines the story in a more
universal, rather than strictly historical, way. The author is
a retired professor of English at Butler County Community
College and managing editor of the August Wilson Journal.
Michael Barrett ’11 has written his second novel, Skyler’s
Sophomore Soundtrack. His first book, Little Bram, was a
finalist in the young adult category of the 2018 Next Gen
Indie Book Awards.
Dan Clendaniel ’78 is the author of Such Hard and Severe
Service: The 85th Pennsylvania in the Civil War, Volume I,
1861-1863. It’s the first of a three-part series and an homage
to his great-grandfather, who served in the regiment. Read
Dan’s blog at 85thpennsylvania.blogspot.com.

FA L L 2 0 1 9

MILESTONES

33

ONLINE READERS:
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digital magazine ONLY, please let us know!
Email alumni@calu.edu or check this box,
complete the info below and return by mail.

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Anissa Comunale ’95, ’00 and Dennis King
were married in October 2019. Anissa is in
her 21st year of teaching at East Allegheny
School District. Dennis is a masonry
foreman for the Sidley Corp. They live in
Monroeville, Pa.

KEEP IN TOUCH!
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REQUEST TO:
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Jared Long ’17 and Jennifer Babiak ’14 were
married in May 2019. Jared is an automation
engineer for STIHL, and Jennifer is the public
affairs officer for the City of Virginia Beach
Department of Emergency Medical Services.

NAME

MAIDEN NAME

CLASS YEAR

EMAIL

square Yes, list my email on the Cal U website.

Crystal Erb ’13, ’15, ’19 married Brandon
Joyce in June 2019 and welcomed baby
girl Remi Hope Joyce in August 2019.
Crystal studied criminal justice throughout
her 10-year academic career at Cal U.

ADDRESS

OCCUPATION

EMPLOYER

SPOUSE'S / PARTNER’S NAME

CLASS YEAR

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
photos, as they will not reproduce well.

Tamba ’11 and Paige ’14 Rape Marenah
were married in September 2019 in Topsail,
N.C. The wedding party consisted of many
Cal U graduates, and more than 50 alumni
attended the ceremony. The couple lives
in Charlotte, N.C.

ANNIVERSARY

Gary Hicks Sr. ’01 and Jamie Ford Hicks
’01, of South Euclid, Ohio, celebrated
their 15th anniversary in August 2019.
Gary is an intervention specialist,
basketball coach and founder of Young
Men Growing mentorship program.
He works for the Cleveland Metropolitan
School District. Jamie is a loan officer
at Third Federal Bank.

IN MEMORIAM

Isabelle Harris Anderson ’53
Susan E. Behrendt ’70, ’73
Cynthia J. Schaude Buckley ’75
Richard D. Carter ’63
Dr. Albert Dascenzo ’67, ’69,
emeritus professor of education
Ann D. Fisfis,* emerita professor,
Manderino Library coordinator
E. Ray Kist '69
George Benjamin “Ben” Gapen ’88
Darlene Ann Lozosky Klus ’65
Donald Joseph Lang Jr. ’70
Pauline Marie Law ’68
Marguerite “Margie” Salva Lawrence ’65
Alan Ludwig ’64
Paul Madaras ’69
Joseph R. Markulike Sr. ’64
George A. Martin IV ’67
Dolores “Doe” Mendola Mascara ’79
Jimmie R. McGinnis ’61
Dr. Thomas Moon,*
emeritus professor of biology
David L. Moskovitz ’82
Carolyn S. Orbin ’98
Virginia Alger Peterson ’05
John L. “Jack” Pratt ’74
Dr. Carmen Putorti ’57
Rosemarie Quayle*
Audra Marie Stepp ’88
Kaelyb Suchevits ’16
Adam Charles Tarbert ’07
Frank Taucher ’98
Bruce Nicholas Wells ’72
Bill Wilson ’73
Angela Zondos,* emerita professor
of health and physical education
*No class year available or on file.

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Whether you study online or on campus, we’ll connect you with the opportunities,
resources and knowledge to make your graduate degree a reality.

Explore the possibilities at

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TIME OUT
Timepieces that were carefully
removed from the Old Main
clock tower await restoration.
The storm-damaged clock
faces have now been repaired
and will be returned to the
landmark tower.