CLARION
U N I V E R S I T Y

M A G A Z I N E

WINTER 2020

PIONEERS OF CHANGE

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a shift in educational experiences for some
Clarion University graduate students this summer, but it also provided them with
another opportunity to help some eager students in Spain learn English.
Dr. MaryPat McCarthy, a professor in Clarion University’s communication
sciences and disorders program, explained that some CSD students were
scheduled to begin their clinical experiences in healthcare this summer but
were unable to do so because COVID-19 had forced facilities to refuse outside
participants as a preventative health measure for patients.
At the same time, Dr. William Naugle, Clarion’s former English as a Second
Language coordinator, reached out to McCarthy through the dean of the College
of Education, Health and Human Services about having students participate
in a pilot project. The project involved teaching English to clients with Global
Developmental Delays, McCarthy said.

READ MORE
OF THIS
EXCITING
ADVENTURE
HERE:
WWW.CLARION.EDU/CSDSPAIN

CLARION

WI N T ER 2 0 2 0
VOLUME 7
NUMBER 3

FEATURES
12 Pioneer of Change

John Shropshire ’61 mentored his colleagues, fostered
racial tolerance in his community, and was the beloved
Poppa Shrop to Black students whom he counseled to be
a credit to their race.

18 The Work Continues

Alicia Shropshire grew up watching her father lead with
love. Now, she’s making it her life’s work to help people
understand and appreciate differences.

20 Building Better Lives

Dr. Brenda Sanders Dede’s first degree was in social work,
to help Black people live better lives. Through working
with students, serving her community and establishing
cultural celebrations, Dede’s reach has gone beyond the
boundaries of race.

24 Building Bridges

Rogers Laugand’s 30 years of working with minority
students has turned diamonds in the rough into polished
GEMS and RUBIES, many of whom help to bridge the gap
in understanding other cultures.

28 A Matter of Perspective

DEPARTMENTS
4 Clarion Digest
Theatre students present “The Marowitz Hamlet”
through Zoom; LaTrobe Barnitz ’17 publishes debut
novel; partnership provides business attire to students;
innovation brings bedside experience to nursing
students; student retention at Clarion highest in 29
years.
10 Vigil for Unity and Peace
32 Sports Roundup
Athletics gets creative in keeping student-athletes
safe during practice, conditioning; Clarion chosen to
host four NCAA championships.
40 Class Notes
46 Frederick Douglass Institute Collaborative
brings six student scholars to campus.
48 #WINGSUP
Masaim Nouh resolved as a teenager to one day work
in a library. As an IT supervisor at a public library in
Connecticut, she finds fulfillment in being at the heart
of her community.

Through the refreshed Black studies minor, Dr. Brian
Roberts helps students learn how the American
experience is viewed through the lens of Black citizens.

32 Embrace Melanin

Student Kiara Nixon’s senior project for her Bachelor of
Fine Arts degree celebrates the regality of Black people.

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

1

President:
Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson
Executive editor:
Tina Horner
Co-editors:
Sean Fagan (sports);
Amy Thompson Wozniak ’02, ’06G
Layout:
Bryan Postlewait ‘04
Contributors:
Michelle Port
Shawna Bish
Photographers:
Adam Reynolds ’15
Ashby Diaz
Riley Hilbrandt
Jared Sullenburger
Address comments and questions to:
Clarion University Magazine
Center for Advancement
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
840 Wood St., Clarion, PA 16214
Email: alumni@clarion.edu
Visit Clarion University on the web at
www.clarion.edu.
Clarion University Magazine is published by
the Division for University Advancement for
alumni, families of current students and friends
of Clarion University. Alumni information is also
located at www.clarion.edu/alumni.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania is committed
to equal employment and equal educational
opportunities for all qualified individuals
regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national
origin, affection or sexual orientation, age,
disability or other classifications that are
protected under Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, and other pertinent
state and federal laws and regulations.
Direct equal opportunity inquiries to:
Director of Social Equity
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
216 Carrier Administration Building
Clarion, PA 16214-1232
814-393-2109

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Board of Governors
Chair: Cynthia D. Shapira
Vice Chair: David M. Maser
Vice Chair: Samuel H. Smith
Rep. Tim Briggs
Audrey F. Bronson
Joar Dahn
Donald E. Houser Jr.
Rodney Kaplan Jr.
Barbara McIlvaine Smith
Marian D. Moskowitz
Thomas S. Muller
Noe Ortega, designee for Sec. Rivera
Pedro A. Rivera, secretary of education
Rep. Brad Roae
Sen. Judith L. Schwank
Meg Snead, designee for Gov. Wolf
Neil R. Weaver '00
Gov. Tom Wolf
Janet L. Yeomans
Council of Trustees
Chair: J.D. Dunbar ’77, ’79G
Vice Chair: Milissa Steiner Bauer ’84
Secretary: James L. Kifer ’83G
Susanne A. Burns
The Honorable R. Lee James ’74, ’83G
Kaitlyn Krupa, Student Trustee
The Honorable Donna Oberlander ’91
Larry Pickett ’77
Brendan Shepherd ’16
Howard H. Shreckengost ’83
Neil Weaver ’00
Alumni Association Board of Directors
President: Theresa Zacherl Edder ’91, ’05G
President-Elect: David Reed ’09
Treasurer: Michael Phillips ’03, ’04G
Secretary: Samantha Noblit Thauvett ‘09
Michael Chapaloney ‘99
Brian Cook ’03
Henry Crawford ’02
Jeffrey Douthett ’79
Chelsea Signorino Ewing ’15
Lee Grosch ’62
Sandra Hollenbaugh Jarecki ’69
Bridget Linnan Kennedy ’90, ‘07G
Thomas Launer ’10
John Marshall ’87
Barry McCauliff ’72
Sean McDonald ’97, ’01G
Chris Myers ’12
Ryan Peffer ’03
Robert Schmidt ’69
Joseph Sciullo ’02
Samantha Noblit Thauvette ’09
Shannon Fitzpatrick Thomas ’92
Virginia Cole Vasko ’88
Sydney Spang
Eagle Ambassadors President
Ann Thompson ex-officio
Director of Alumni Engagement
Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson ex-officio
President, Clarion University

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PEHRSSON'S LEADERSHIP
EXPANDS WITH
INTEGRATION PLANNING
By now, you may have heard about the
plan of Pennsylvania’s State System of
Higher Education to integrate several universities with the dual purpose of providing
financial sustainability to these universities
and reduce the cost for students to attend.
Clarion President Dale-Elizabeth
Pehrsson is the presidential lead for the
integration of Clarion, Edinboro and
California universities, which will unite the
institutions into one entity with a single
leadership, enrollment management
strategy and faculty, while expanding
programmatic opportunities for students
and reducing their cost to attend.
As of Dec. 31, President Pehrsson will
also serve as interim president of Edinboro,
which will puts her in a unique position to
foster continuity and consistency as integration plans progress.
As a member of the Clarion University
family, be assured that our campus will
continue to offer the experiences that
are so valuable to our students. All three
universities, in fact, will retain the identities
that make them unique.
As the planning process moves forward,
we invite you to stay updated at
www.clarion.edu/integration and
www.passhe.edu/systemredesign
(click on University Integrations).

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
The calendar year is ending, and it certainly was an exciting one. I hope that
you and your loved ones have remained safe and healthy. At Clarion University,
we learned much about ourselves. More accurately, we reaffirmed that
whatever the situation, Golden Eagles soar.
Since March, when the pandemic necessitated a shift to remote instruction,
our faculty, staff and students have nimbly adapted to new ways of working
and learning. If conditions permit, we will resume some face-to-face instruction
for spring semester. If not, we know that we can still provide top-notch
educational experiences.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education is in the midst of redesign,
with financial sustainability as the end goal. As part of that, the Board of
Governors authorized planning for integrations involving six of its 14 schools:
three in northeastern Pennsylvania and three in western Pennsylvania. The
move is expected to increase academic opportunities for students while
reducing cost of attendance. Clarion, along with Edinboro and California
universities, comprise the western integration.
Working groups with people from all three campuses are mapping out what an
integration might entail. The goal is for the three universities to have one
leadership team, with one faculty and one enrollment strategy. Among the
priorities is for all three to retain the identities that make them unique. That’s
good news, for it means that each campus can keep its original name.
The redesign also places emphasis on diversity and inclusion. The State System
welcomed Dr. Denise Pearson, a recognized leader on national education policy,
as vice chancellor and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. Those areas
have our attention, too.
This magazine tells the stories of some of the pioneers who have led diversity,
equity and inclusion on our campus. Those efforts are ongoing. This year, I
established a new Office of Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs. Also, our
new Presidential Diversity Advisory Council and existing Presidential
Commissions continue to work toward social justice in all campus environments.
Yes, it’s been a busy year. We Golden Eagles see opportunities amid the
changes, and rise high to the challenges. Wings Up!

Dr. Dale

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

3

STUDENT NEWS I CLARION DIGEST

THEATRE
STUDENTS
GET NEW
TAKE ON
PERFORMING
Assistant professor Rob Bullington isn’t letting the pandemic stop
theatre production and performance opportunities for students. The
production and November Zoom presentation of
“The Marowitz Hamlet” is proof.

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STUDENT NEWS I CLARION DIGEST

"There are plays that work in this format, and obviously
plays that don't. Traditional staging is gone, as are scenery,
crowd scenes, special lighting effects and a host of other
elements we take for granted when we go to see a play,"
he said.
What's left? Words. And the actors' faces.
"'The Marowitz Hamlet' was in our planned season, and I
decided to stick with it and try it on Zoom because, after all,
it's Shakespeare. In Shakespeare, nothing is more important
than the words," Bullington said.

"My primary objective has been to make sure the student
actors have a valid experience of working with Shakespearean text, and to create something that is interesting to look
at," Bullington said. "We do have costume pieces and props,
and our technical theatre students – who would ordinarily
have been concerned with designing and building scenery
or working on lighting and sound – have been busily learning and implementing the software needed to "control" and
edit Zoom."

CLARION UNIVERSITY
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ALUMNI NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
FAMILY TIES
Hannah Wagner (center) will continue her
family’s Clarion University tradition when she
begins classes in fall 2021. Hannah plans to
major in business and will play soccer for the
Golden Eagles.
Her parents, Steve ’96 and Kim Freeman ’96
Wagner, met as students at Clarion University
and married after graduating. Kim earned a
Bachelor of Science in Business/Marketing and
is director of people operations for Idelic, Inc.,
Pittsburgh. Steve earned a Bachelor of Science
in Communications and is a senior marketing
manager for Webbula, Wexford.
The family lives in McDonald.

CASEY PROMOTED
IN WORK FOR
THE ADVOCATE

LaTrobe Barnitz ’17, MS ’19 has published his debut novel,
“Soul Crystals: Arc of the Amuli.”
John Casey ’86 has been promoted to
editor-at-large for the Advocate, the largest and
oldest LGBTQ news outlet in the world. He has
had the opportunity to interview and write about
Dr. Tony Fauci, Mary Trump, first LGBTQ
Supreme Court Justice Martin Jenkins, former
chief White House photographer Pete Souza and
many others.
In addition to his work for the Advocate, Casey
is an adjunct professor at Wagner College in New
York City and a public relations professional.

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Classified as an alternate reality fantasy, the book tells the story
of Paul Engel, an ordinary, awkward teen who lives in a world ruled
by superhumans called Amuli. Paul’s hope for a normal life flickers
away after he receives a package containing a crystal-embedded
sword which conveys to him incredible powers. Recruited into the
shadowy organization A.R.C., he is forced to undergo intense combat training and become a living weapon to fight against the even
shadier Amuli organization to protect his family and gain control
of the world’s governments and major corporations.
Barnitz is director of Foxburg Free Library. His book is available
through Amazon, Apple Books and Barnes & Noble. For more
information about the book, visit www.privatedragon.com.

VENANGO NEWS I CLARION DIGEST

Oil City native Tayler Berry (right), a senior majoring in business management, is assisted by Keely Ritter as she selects
appropriate attire for her future interviews. Ritter, a medical imaging major from Conneaut Lake who works in the Career
and Professional Development office, has organized the space under the direction of Mark Conrad, coordinator.

LOCAL BUSINESS DONATION OUTFITS STUDENT SUCCESS
A formerly unused office in Clarion University – Venango’s
Suhr Library and Learning Commons has been transformed
to accommodate a closet for work wear available to students.
Brittany A. Kerchersky, assistant vice president and
director of human resources for Farmers National Bank of
Emlenton, worked with Will Price ’09, ‘11 to donate gently
used uniforms – black slacks and black blazers. The
clothing will benefit students who need appropriate attire
for an interview or to begin a new job.
“As an alumnus of both (Clarion University) campuses and
now as executive director of the United Way of Venango
County, Clarion and Venango are still very near and dear to
my heart,” Price said. “When the opportunity arose due to
a conversation with Farmers National Bank of Emlenton, I
wanted to make sure that professional clothing could be
put to good use. The Career and Professional Development
staff are a key component to getting future grads ready for
new jobs.”

The initial donation of clothing made by Farmers National Bank of Emlenton is an asset for the Venango Campus
students as they enter the workforce. With retail clothing
stores closing in the region, fewer choices are available for
students to buy appropriate clothing. Additionally, many
students simply don’t have a budget for a quality outfits
expected for a work setting. Students can select two outfits
for future interviews or other formal functions.
“This campus cannot begin to thank Farmers National
Bank of Emlenton and Mr. Price for making such a worthy
project come to fruition,” said Mark Conrad, Venango director of Career and Professional Development. “This area is
blessed with both agencies and employers who always step
up to the plate when a need is brought to their attention.”
Farmers National Bank employs several Clarion University
alumni, including William C. Marsh ‘88, president and CEO,
who are dedicated to building the next generation of leaders and furthering the principles of financial literacy.

CLARION UNIVERSITY
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CAMPUS NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
STUDENT NURSES LEARN ESSENTIAL SKILLS VIA ZOOM

Nursing instructor Dr. Melanie Best discusses the vital signs of a simulation lab mannequin with a student via Zoom.
When the university moved classes to remote delivery for
the fall semester, Dr. Deborah Kelly, chair of the nursing department, and Steve Selker, associate director of computing
services, brainstormed to replicate classroom experiences
for nursing students.
They outfitted existing electronic health record carts
to transform them into mobile Zoom carts. Traditionally,
students use the carts to scan medication bar codes and
update electronic records to learn documentation, implementation of physician orders and administration of medications.

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In the nursing simulation labs, cameras enable faculty
to teach from the bedside. They place lapel mics on the
patient, and students listen remotely to heart and lung
sounds. Students perform a virtual assessment and check
the patient’s vital signs, just as they would in a real situation.
In breakout rooms, student groups go through scenarios,
document their findings in the electronic health record, and
are graded on their performance.

CAMPUS NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
Elementary teacher prep

earns an A

on national report card
The National Council on Teacher Quality has
included Clarion University’s undergraduate
elementary teacher preparation program among
the top in the country for its strong training in
classroom management strategies.
The center assesses teacher preparation
programs’ adoption of evidence-based
classroom management strategies that are
universally effective, regardless of student age
or the subject being taught.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania’s undergraduate program is among only 14 percent of elementary programs that earned an A, and serves as a
model of excellence for others.

CU 29 YEARS

RECORDS HIGHEST
STUDENT RETENTION IN

Data shows that bachelor’s degree-seeking
students who began as freshmen in fall 2019
returned for the second year of their programs
at a rate of 77 percent, the highest rate in
29 years.
The retention rate for second-to-third year
students is 69.5 percent, the highest rate
recorded since Clarion began recording retention
data in 1990. Student retention is a focus for
Clarion University.
“I can’t say enough how proud I am of our
students faculty and staff. They all contribute
every day and it’s making a difference in the
lives of our students,” President Dale-Elizabeth
Pehrsson, Ph.D. said.
“It is mission-critical for us to help move
students closer to their dreams and toward
transforming their lives,” said Dr. Pamela Gent,
provost.
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Clarion University and the Clarion
community joined June 11 for a Vigil for
Unity and Peace as a response to the
death of George Floyd May 25 in
Minneapolis. The vigil began with
speakers at the university’s Becht
Hall, then proceeded down Main
Street to Memorial Park for a prayer
and silent vigil lasting eight minutes,
46 seconds, the length of time George
Floyd was pinned to the ground under a
police officer's knee.

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John Shropshire
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was a pioneer.
Shropshire with daughter Alicia and wife Jamie

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In much the same way that pioneers in the Old West bravely
settled in new territories, Shropshire ’61 settled in Clarion. It wasn’t
1839, and he wasn’t among the first residents of the town. It was
1972, and the civil rights movement of the 1960s was still fresh in
people’s minds. Nine years prior, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
had delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech as the closing
address for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
And just four years prior, King was assassinated.
Shropshire first came to Clarion University in 1957 as a
student. He earned three letters as a member of the Golden
Eagles football team and graduated in 1961 with degrees
in English and secondary education/social studies. As one
of the first Black teachers in the newly segregated Central
Dauphin East High School, he taught world cultures, European history, humanities, English and Black history for
11 years. He was the first Black head coach of high school
athletics in central Pennsylvania.
In 1972, Walter Hart, then director of admissions, recruited
Shropshire as assistant director of admissions. When Hart
retired, President Clayton Sommers elevated the open position to dean level and promoted Shropshire. He was Clarion
University’s first Black dean.

IT WAS LIKE BREATHING
Shropshire’s widow, Jamie, said her husband advocated
for equity, but not just racial equity.
“He wanted everybody to be equal,” she said.
Shropshire was raised in a family with roots in Christianity.
His grandfather became a Christian as a young man in North
Carolina and preached on the streets there. When the family
moved to Pittsburgh to pursue work opportunities, the
grandfather started the Church of God in Christ, Jamie said.
“It’s still in existence.”
Leading the church is a family legacy. After the grandfather passed, other family members, including John’s
brother, then his mother, and now his uncle, have pastored
the church.

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“He grew up in the church. The church was their life,”
Jamie said. “John didn’t minister in the church, but he
followed Christian thought. It was like breathing with him –
taking care of anyone who was disadvantaged.”
“Whatever position he was in, he was taking care of people,” Jamie said. “If you were around John, you always felt
like whatever happens, that guy can handle it.”
Shropshire pushed for education in rural areas as part of
the Rural Advocacy Taskforce. He served as a Paint Township supervisor and, as a Clarion County Commissioner, he
was the first Black person to be elected to public office in
Clarion County.
“There weren’t many people who didn’t like him,” Jamie
said. “They might have disagreed with him, but he was fair
and honest. He had a manner, an aura of calmness. He was
intelligent and well read. People respected him.”

BE A CREDIT TO OUR RACE
In 1988, while he and his father were visiting his older
brother on campus, current English professor Dr. Brian
Roberts ’91 had the opportunity to meet John Shropshire.
Roberts’ father and Shropshire had been roommates at
Clarion – one of few places that accepted Black students in
the 1950s – and they reunited during the visit.
“He was an amazing man,” Roberts said. “He was six feet,
five inches tall, handsome, had an infectious smile and a
very warm demeanor. He gave me a big bear hug.”

When Roberts became a Clarion student the following
year, Shropshire was a great influence on him and other
Black students.
“He would have these beautiful meetings where he
would call the Black kids together,” Roberts said. He
remembers Shropshire’s words:
“You have a responsibility. You have to represent
African Americans and show that we can do as well as
other groups of people. You have to be a credit to your
race,” Shropshire told them.
“It was like he was our teacher,” Roberts said, “but he
was also Poppa Shrop – that was his nickname. He was
like our dad away from home.”

COLLEAGUE, MENTOR, FRIEND

Dr. Brian Roberts

Dr. Brenda Sanders Dede

As a member of the Dean’s Council, Shropshire was
part of the group that hired Roberts in 1993. He helped to
hire several Black women and men – including Dr. Brenda
Sanders Dede and Rogers Laugand – who have continued
Shropshire’s advocacy.

Shropshire and Dede

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“John Shropshire was my go-to person,” said Dede, who
retired as associate vice president for academic affairs in
2018. “He talked me through some of the issues of being one
of so few Black people working at Clarion. He helped me to
understand so I could work at Clarion.”
Dede, too, described his aura as a result of his faith.
“When you come from a (Christian) family like that, you’re
taught not to look at color, but to look at people, period.
There’s a gospel song by the Williams Brothers, ‘I’m just a
nobody trying to help somebody.’ That’s how he was raised
and lived his life.”
Laugand, director of minority services, said he, too, benefited from mentorship and friendship with Shropshire.
“He truly believed in education, not just as it related to
students of color, but for all students. Everything he thought
was about the students,” he said. “All decision making was
driven by that. I try never to steer away from that: If we keep
the students center, we end up in the right place.”

LIFE OF SERVICE
A longtime supporter of minority education opportunities,
Shropshire received the prestigious Mary Davis Baltimore
Award in 1998, named in honor of one of the co-founders of
the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education.
Shropshire was active in PBCHE. He was past president
from 1996 to 1998 and was chair of the Education Policy
Committee from 1996 until the time of his death in 2001.

Joe Pailin ’79
presents PBCOHE’s
Mary Davis Baltimore
Award to Shropshire

Shropshire with a group
at PBCOHE meeting

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At the time of his death, he had been a member and past
president of the Clarion Chapter of the International Rotary
Club since 1978; a founder of the Clarion county Ethic Tolerance Coalition and chairman since 1998; and a member of the
board of directors of the Jefferson-Clarion County Community
Action since 1984.
Shropshire was a guest speaker on many occasions regarding rural education issues; he gave testimony on public
education to the House Education Committee. He was a Paint
Township supervisor from 1983 to 2000, and in 1999, he was
presented the Outstanding Township Supervisor Award by the
Clarion County Municipal Officers Association.
He also had been on the boards of directors of the Clarion
county Red Cross and Greater Harrisburg Area YMCAs. He was
president of Clarion County Municipal Officers Association
from 1990 to 1994; a member of the Clarion County Tax Reform
Committee; Pennsylvania Association of College and School
Counselors from 1973 to 2000; faculty of Associations College
Admissions Course at Bucknell University, where he served five
years on the executive board; American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission chair of Enrollment
Management Committee; and Pennsylvania Universities Admission Association president for three years.
At Clarion University, he was honored in 1999 with the Distinguished Service Alumnus Award, in 1997 with Student Senate’s
Outstanding Service Award; and in 2001 with the Black Alumni
Association’s Outstanding Service Award.

Shropshire and Pailin

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ALICIA SHROPSHIRE:
The work continues.
When Alicia Shropshire ’04 thinks about her father, she likens him to Mufasa from “The Lion King.”
He was strong, brave, wise. He was dignified; proud but not prideful. He was powerful, yet gentle.
He was a teacher, a mentor, a protector, a leader. He was admired and respected.
He was loved.

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One of the prominent memories Alicia has of her dad was
when he spoke about affirmative action in one of her high
school classes.

FORMAL EDUCATION WAS A PRIORITY.

A classmate raised his hand to challenge the policy of
hiring a Black person over a white person when the two are
equally qualified.

“My dad put into my head that I could go to college early,”
she said. Her senior year of high school and freshman year
of college were simultaneous. “He was there for my first
year of college. It was monumental to be a student up there
(at Clarion University).”

“To watch my father roll out the history lesson,” Alicia
said. “He didn’t lose his cool. He just continued to breathe
this establishment of understanding. He was so gifted that
way.”

Alicia graduated from Clarion in 2004 with a Bachelor of
Science in liberal studies. She has built a life in Pittsburgh
that combines performing arts with continuing her father’s
legacy of advocacy and education.

“He had such a warmth. He loved looking out for people,”
she said. “He was a shelter.”

She works with Social Justice Disco, a group started by
Jewish performers Phat Man Dee and Liz Berlin. The group
uses music to deliver messages addressing various social
justice issues. Through the group, Alicia leads workshops
that bring to light the issue of cultural appropriation.

Their home, in fact, was a popular place for Alicia and her
friends to hang out.
“It was a haven for kids growing up. He just wanted to
make sure everyone was safe. He and Mom had such a way
of facilitating spaces and conversations where everyone was
learning.”
Alicia said her dad had an awareness that he had gotten
himself into a place where he could give people chances –
sometimes he was the last chance.
“He gave opportunities to people who were climbing out
of somewhere. He’d throw them into that pond that was the
university,” she said. “They were on their way (to something
better), and he got to be a part of that.”
John Shropshire passed away when Alicia was 18, but in
that comparatively modest number of years, she learned a
lifetime of lessons.

“You’re born into it, because people have questions and
you have to explain things,” she said. “I’ve had tough conversations. There are those who see there’s a problem going
on, and those who have a hard time seeing reality. The
answer is really simple: ‘OK, I see where you’re coming from.
Where do we go from here?’”
Through her work, Alicia wants to expose opposition and
fear of change.
“We must look into that dark closet of America’s history,
but it does not determine our future. It means we need to
know this and understand our roots, understand what we’ve
come from, to get to that level playing field.”
Alicia and mom Jamie at the May Vigil for Unity and Peace

Her parents crafted a family life in which learning was
central, but it was fun. She accompanied her dad often as
he met with groups on campus and in the community. He
took her along to listen to jazz music, and they had lively
conversations. She recalls going with her mom and brother
to protest a toxic waste dump that had been proposed for
location in the community.
Family vacations were often buying trips for Jamie Shropshire’s shop that sold Native American jewelry and pottery.
“We’d drive cross country experiencing so much culture
and American history. I was always having a blast,” Alicia
said. “It wasn’t until junior high that it sank in how novel our
experiences were.”
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Brenda Dede
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It wasn’t long after Dr. Brenda Sanders Dede began
working in Clarion that she was driving home and noticed
she was being followed. With every turn she took, the
vehicle behind her took the same turn. It was a local police
officer. Eventually, he turned in a different direction.
The next morning she called the pastor of First Baptist
Church, which she had begun to attend, and she called John
Shropshire, who worked to promote ethnic tolerance in the
community.
By the end of the day, the police chief called Dede and
apologized to her.
“When he asked the officer why he followed me, the
officer said I fit the profile of a young, Black male. Once he
ran the plates and they came back that I was female, he
stopped following me,” Dede said.
It’s not unusual for people to be a bit nervous when they
notice a police car behind them; no one enjoys being pulled
over. Dede, however, was afraid for her safety. Not because
she was doing anything wrong, but because she is Black.

If not for Shropshire, Dede might have decided that
predominantly white Clarion wasn’t a place she wanted
to be.
He introduced her to the Pennsylvania Black Conference
on Higher Education, introduced her around town, helped
her get involved in politics, the borough and Kiwanis.
“I came here from an HBCU. I had been to all Black
schools, all Black everything. I would have people tell
me my degree from an HBCU was not up to par with a
university like Temple, but it was,” Dede said. “John helped
me understand it’s not about the degree or the school, it’s
about the person and how you apply your education.”
The way in which Dede applied her education was to help
people. She had decided that long before coming to Clarion.
“My first degree was sociology,” Dede said. “I wanted to
change how Black people lived and help people who were
marginalized.”

HER OWN LIFE WAS FIRST.

Around the same time, a friend invited Dede to work with
her in the library during the Knox Ladies’ Seminar.

Dede grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward, a poor, Black
neighborhood where young girls were “supposed to get
married and have babies, not necessarily in that order.”
Neither her grandparents nor parents went to college.

“I went to eat lunch, and a little old lady walked up to me
and said, ‘Hello. How are you? What do you do for us? Clean
our bathrooms?’”

She earned her degree through a weekend college
program at Texas Southern University. During that time she
worked as a clerk typist in the dean of students office. She

IT WAS THE LATE 1990s.

Dede with fellow Equity Award recipients
Dr. Paul Klenowski, Ron Radaker ’99 and Kiara Green ’18

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finished her first degree at age 27, then continued through
master’s and doctorate programs. She knew that education
would allow her to have a say in what happened to her in
her life and career.
An ad in The Chronicle of Higher Education brought
Dede to Clarion University. She was in her 40s and her
child was grown. She accepted a position as director of
faculty research and development. With John Shropshire
as mentor, she immediately became a member of the Black
Conference in Higher Education.
“I found myself seeing the needs of students, and I
started working with them. It helped me in my daily job; it
helped me help the faculty,” she said.
As much as John Shropshire was “Poppa Shrop,” Dede
gave the students the motherly love – often tough love –
that many lacked.
She recalls working with a student who eventually
revealed that she had been adjudicated to Shuman Juvenile
Detention Center in Pittsburgh.
“What does that have to do with you being at Clarion?”
Dede asked. “She had nothing to build on. She had been in
foster homes, in Shuman, everywhere.”
Dede and Shropshire were a key part of keeping her at
Clarion for four years. She graduated, got her degree and
moved to the eastern part of the state to work with youth.
A freshman basketball recruit’s introduction to Dede was
the demand, “Where you going in those pajamas? You go
back to your room and put on some clothes.” Dede also
challenged her when she conducted herself in a way that
was unacceptable. That same young woman had nowhere
to go after commencement when her mother told her she
wasn’t welcome back home. Dede took her in. Why?

“Because she needed me.”
Clarion University and the Clarion community need Dede,
too. What does she see as her contributions?
“The university wouldn’t have the Martin Luther King
breakfast, Juneteenth and the NAACP chapter. And they
wouldn’t have some of the common knowledge as related
to minorities, race and equality.”
Dede is a charter member of the American Association
of Blacks in Higher Education. She has served the
Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education
in multiple capacities, including president, scholarship
committee chair, and historian. Her recognitions include

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Clarion Chamber of Business and Industry Citizen of the
Year, Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education
Presidential Award, National Resource Center and Cengage
Learning’s Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate,
and PASSHE Frederick Douglass Institute Support and
Encouragement award.
Her love for America continues to inspire her.
“When the Constitution was written, because the South
had slaves and outnumbered the North, they wanted slaves
to be counted. The North said no. When the Constitution
was finally ratified, slaves were counted as three-fifths of a
person. They didn’t count Native Americans at all. It took an
amendment to the Constitution to make us whole people.

The Emancipation Proclamation spoke to it and said we
would have all the rights of an American, but how long did
it take for people to really act the way the emancipation
proclamation talked about?”
“I was born in the United States of America. Yes, I visited
Africa, and yes, I loved it and was overjoyed to be there, but
I’m an American. I love this country so much that it must be
better,” Dede said.
Dede retired from Clarion University in 2018 after
serving as associate vice president for academic affairs for
the previous six years. She remains active in the Clarion
community, including as an elected member of Clarion
Borough Council since 2010.

Dede at campus events including the Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations she initiated.

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Rogers
Laugand
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"We are all one with
many differences"
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As dean of admissions, John Shropshire hired Rogers
Laugand in 1990 as assistant director of admissions for
minority recruitment. Although Laugand worked just a
couple of years in admissions before becoming director of
minority services, his work has, in many ways, paralleled
that of Shropshire.
The two worked in tandem to begin the WEB Dubois
Scholarship, which continues today. Over the years the
scholarship has awarded more than $11,000 to help minority
students realize their dream of a college degree.
They collaborated to begin the Building Bridges program,
the goal of which is to create a culture that’s open to dialog
about race. Through Building Bridges, student diversity
ambassadors visit classrooms by invitation of faculty or
student organizations and facilitate conversations around
diversity and race issues.
“We have open and honest discussions,” Laugand said.
“We try to formulate simple actions to incorporate into our
lives to facilitate change.”
After the program, the students in the classroom are
asked to fill out an evaluation. As part of that, they are
asked what action they plan to take. Answers vary, but
some students might say they plan to join a multicultural
organization, while others vow to challenge incidents of
racism that they witness, or simply be open minded.
“We’re trying to change the culture for our students
to one that’s welcoming and accepting and celebrates
diversity,” Laugand said. “The beauty of it is it’s peer to
peer.”
Since the program began, close to 300 students have
served as diversity ambassadors, but their work didn’t
stop when they graduated. They have gone on to become
teachers and superintendents who implement similar
programs in their own schools, or professionals who begin
programs in their fields of business.
Currently, the program has 20 diversity ambassadors who
have continued Building Bridges via Zoom this fall, due to
the majority of students living off campus because of the
pandemic.
Under Laugand’s direction, the Office of Minority Student
Services launched the GEMS program for African American
and LatinX males, then a couple of years later, the RUBIES
program for African American and LatinX females.
“Our overall goal is to work with students to increase
retention and graduation rates,” Laugand said. “Some of the
students aren’t as strong academically; we meet with them

and make sure there are a lot of contacts between them and
mentors,”
“It’s a little more intrusive,” he said. Ideally, the student
participants are paired with peer mentors. Along with
academic support, building leadership qualities in the
students is a component of the programs.
“We try to help them get involved with an organization
based on their interests. Around the sophomore year, we
might encourage them to hold a leadership position,” he
said.
Another main area of focus is supporting the students in
applying for financial aid.
“For this group, financial aid and retention go hand
in hand,” he said. Laugand likes to have a supplemental
program for each cohort. “One time the group had lunch
with Reggie Wells Sr. We’ve sponsored them to attend
leadership conferences, and we had a book club in which we
read the Malcolm X autobiography,”
This fall, Clarion combined Minority Services, International
Programs and Social Equity to form the Office of Diversity,
Equity and Multicultural Affairs. The move supports the
ability of the three offices to work in conjunction to meet
diversity goals.
Laugand, who directs multicultural affairs and diversity
education, said his goal will continue to be fostering
diversity through education. As part of that, he is creating
an Inclusive Community Assessment Team which will focus
on issues of bias speech.
“We’re trying to navigate the fine line between free
speech and hate speech,” he said. “Somebody might say
something we might not like, but the First Amendment right
has to be protected; we can’t penalize for speech.”
He'll refer incidents that rise to the level of a hate crime to
the Public Safety Office, but he sees biased or hate speech
as an opportunity for a conversation to educate both parties
and encourage self-expression in a different way.
Laugand’s work continues what Shropshire began.
“It’s our business. We’re about educating, and a diverse
student population is good for all students,” he said. “We’re
preparing students to work and live in a society that’s
diverse.”

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New office
advances work in diversity,
social equity, multicultural
education.

Amy Salsgiver

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Marcy Schlueter

Clarion University has established a new Office of
Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, effective Sept.
1. The office brings together professionals who will
work together to develop policies and procedures to
advance student and employee equity, diversity, inclusion,
multicultural and international education, and social justice.
It includes Rogers Laugand III, who moved from director
of minority student services to director of multicultural
affairs and diversity education; Amy Salsgiver, director of
social equity; and Marcy Schlueter, international student
advisor and study abroad coordinator.

environment that is welcoming and accepting of all people,
and more specifically, people of color.”
As part of his expanded role, Laugand advises the
President’s Executive Council on issues, ideas and concerns
of students of color who attend Clarion University. Laugand
reports directly to President Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson.
“Hearing the voice of students through the lens of
diversity is critical to better support of student progress,
retention and graduation,” Pehrsson said. “Rogers’ input at
this level will influence, shape and change policy.”

Laugand, a specialist in student affairs and
multicultural education, has been involved in diversity
leadership since his arrival at Clarion University in August
1990. Among his accomplishments, he started GEMS and
RUBIES, programs which focus primarily on the retention
and graduation of African American male and female
students. He established the W.E.B. DuBois scholarship
Fund to assist minority students with the purchase of
books, and he co-founded the Building Bridges Program,
which promotes diversity and builds race relations through
open and honest dialogue, both on campus and in the
community.

Salsgiver’s work as director of social equity expanded
to include coordination of Title IX, part of the Education
Amendments Act of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on
the basis of sex in educational programs and activities at
institutions that receive federal financial assistance. She also
provides support for international students.

“My main goal is to work with the university community to
advance diversity efforts both on and off campus,” Laugand
said. “Through collaboration, the hope is to create an

Schlueter continues as the international student advisor.
She provides support and guidance to domestic students
that have a desire to study abroad.

“The new office offers an exciting opportunity to
expand our work in diversity and equity for the university
community,” Salsgiver said. “The last several months have
shown that Clarion can and will come together to meet the
needs of our students and employees. The creation of this
office is another step in that path forward.”

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ROBERTS TRILOGY
LOOKS AT EXPERIENCES OF
BLACK AMERICANS
When Brian Roberts decided to pay tribute
to his heritage and how he became who he
is, he did it in the way that he knows best –
the written word. More specifically, Roberts
embarked on a project to pen a trilogy of plays
that told the stories of his grandfather, uncle
and father and their experiences as Black men
in America.
“I wanted to write about three generations of
Black men. My grandfather, Edward, was born
in 1889, so my great-grandparents were most
likely slaves. Uncle Hugh was born in 1926, and
my father was born in 1939,” Roberts said. “To
recognize my heritage, I thought it would be
great to write a play about my grandfather and
how he influenced my uncle, and how my uncle
influenced my dad. That’s the trilogy.”
He completed “Edward’s Blues” about six
years ago. “Hugh’s Blues,” also complete, tells
his uncle’s story. He is in the process of writing
the third play, “Danny’s Blues,” about his father.
“’Edward’s Blues’ focuses on AfricanAmerican blue collar workers, ministers, and
World War I soldiers and veterans who lived in
the Hill District in Pittsburgh during the early
part of the 20th century,” Roberts said.
Through the play, he shares the unsung
heroism of the men, who survived oppression,
racism and discrimination in the workplace, in
their neighborhoods and on the battlefields in
Europe.

Brian Roberts
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“It is a historical, yet fictional account of
what it was like for Black men to work in
harsh working conditions and oppressive
environments during this time period,” Roberts
said. “My grandfather actually worked as a
custodian and minister in Pittsburgh after
World War I, but I wanted to write a scene
that represented the plight of many African
American men during the first 20 years of the
20th century.”
In “Edward’s Blues,” his grandfather works in
a Pittsburgh steel mill in the early 1900s, prior
to World War I.

Excerpt from Scene 3
Homestead Steel Works – 1914
Lights come up on stage. Edward and Mason are wearing dust-covered, white khaki shirts, overalls and brogans. They are
shoveling piles of ore into a blast furnace. Sweat is pouring off their brows and into their ears. They can feel the intense heat
coming from the blast furnaces. They have almost completed their 12- hour shift.

Edward: Mason, why are we still working in this Godforsaken place? I’ll never get used to this heat. I always feel
like my lungs are about to burst. We’ve been working here
for almost three years now, and we still got the worst jobs at
the mill.
Mason: Well, my good man Edward, this is the only work
we can get right now. They need our Colored asses to do
the dirty jobs that the white man don’t want to do. They
think we were built for these jobs. Colored man loves the
sun so much so he must love the heat. These furnaces are
over 2,000 degrees hot! Colored folks don’t love this much
heat.
Edward: We sure don’t. (Edward wipes his brow with his
hand and looks around.) Where’s Saul? I haven’t seen him all
day.
Mason: Saul’s working with another shift crew. They got
him and Benny, that older Colored fella, working with the
Serbs. You know they give the colored men and the Serbs
the most dangerous jobs here at the mill.
(Saul comes running towards them. He is panting and
trying to catch his breath.)
Saul: Did you hear about Benny? (Still panting) Did you
hear about Benny?

Mason: Yeah, what’s wrong with Benny?
Saul: (Finally catching his breath and shouting) Benny’s
dead man! Benny’s dead! (A look of horror comes over
Edward’s and Mason’s faces.)
Edward: How can Benny be dead? I thought you two were
working the shift together with the Serbians?
Saul: We were, Edward. We were, man. You know they
give us and the Serbians the hardest jobs here at the Mill.
We only had an hour to go in our shift. We were tired but
feeling good. Benny started humming a blues song. He
even had them Serbians whistling along. Benny’s singing
was making the time go by faster. Benny had his head
down. He was shoveling that ore into the furnace. He was
not looking up. Just nodding his head back and forth to
his song. One of those ladles came loose from the crane
hanging overhead. I saw it swinging back and forth. I tried
to warn Benny. I screamed, “Benny! Get out of the way!” It
was too late. Before Benny could move out the way, that
ladle tipped over and that molten steel fell over him. His
body was covered in molten steel and he died screaming
in excruciating pain. The Serbians and I just stood there
speechless, man. Now I know why the say working at the
Mill is a man-killing job. Now I know why.

Edward: Catch your breath, Saul. What’s wrong with
Benny?
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BLACK
STUDIES
MINOR

The Sankofa bird, a West African symbol
representing the need for one to reflect on
the past to build on the future.

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Minor examines American experience
through the lens of Black citizens
Last year, African Americans nationwide celebrated their
400th year in America. In August 1619, the first slave ship
with African people arrived in the land that became the
United States of America.

Of the two students whose interest generated the
refreshed program, one graduated last May with the minor,
and the other will complete requirements this spring.
Momentum is building.

Clarion University marked the milestone with its own
celebration, “400 Years of Resilience,” held during
homecoming.

“Now, we have nearly 10 Black studies minors,”
Roberts said.

“Dr. Dale Pehrsson was 100 percent in support. She
provided funding and leadership, and she did so much to
help,” said Dr. Brian Roberts, assistant professor of English.
“We had a big celebration at Hart Chapel with dancers,
musicians, actors and speakers. We had a big dance at end
of evening in Gemmell. We wanted Black kids, white kids –
kids of all races.”
The event was also a promise that Clarion University
students would have the opportunity to learn the history of
Black experiences in America; the celebration marked the
relaunching of the Black studies minor.
The minor was first developed in 1994 when a group of
Clarion faculty collaborated to initiate the program. Roberts
was a founding member of the resulting Black Studies
Committee.

“We’re all connected. We’re all part of the human family,”
Roberts said. “America isn’t monolithic – it’s not one race.
Black people have contributed to world history. We bring
our heritage, our cultures, our traditions,” Roberts said.
“Why should others take these courses? They’re not just
learning about Black people, but about other races of
people. You're learning it from the perspective of people of
African descent from all over the world.”
He said his job as an educator is to present the
information from different viewpoints.
“We go to a movie and watch the same movie. You may
see it one way, I see it another. We saw the same movie.
Your experiences, to some degree, influence how you see
American History,” he said. “I might laugh at certain things,
you might laugh at certain things. There are some things
we’ll both laugh at, because it’s human.”

“It was a good program,” Roberts said. “It was anchored
in the history department. English had two courses,
geography had a course, communications had courses, and
the art department had a course on African art.”
Two years ago, two students who were interested in
adding Black studies as a minor inspired Roberts and
English department colleague Dr. Uraina Pack to revamp the
program, now offered through their department.
“Uraina and I worked on reviving it, updating courses,
adding new courses,” Roberts said.
The Sankofa bird, a West African symbol representing the
need for one to reflect on the past to build on the future,
illustrates the goal of the minor.
Through the Black studies minor, students investigate
the variety of Black experiences in Africa and the African
diaspora including North America, South America, the
Caribbean, Europe and Australia. It offers courses that study
in depth African and African-American art, communication,
education, geography, history, literature, music and
sociology.

From Kiara Nixon’s senior BFA project, “Melanin.”
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ARTIST’S BRUSH REFLECTS
BEAUTY OF BLACK CULTURE

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Kiara Nixon grew up in Philadelphia. Her senior Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition, “Melanin,” is on display in the university’s
Empty Set Gallery. Nixon worked with art faculty members Melissa Kuntz, Kaersten Colvin-Woodruff and Gary Greenberg.
Below, she shares the inspiration for her paintings and what the work conveys.
Growing up in the city, and in the neighborhood that I grew up in, has influenced the type of artwork that I create. My
paintings and my style of art are very cultured and often portray people of color in the most empowering and uplifting way
possible.
I strongly believe that representation matters, as I am a young, Black woman. Often times, when people think of Black
people, there is a negative connotation to our history: slavery, oppression, police brutality, injustice, etc. I want my artwork to
reflect that Black people are far more than the negative connotations often attached to our names.
I want my audience to recognize that Black people are mighty, regal and royal creatures. We are descendants of greatness
and royalty. We have so much power that has yet to be tapped into, and I want my artwork to help people of color recognize
that about themselves.
I do this by painting people of color in a way that embodies their beauty and captures their elegance, which may further
prove to them that the pigment in their skin, their hair and their curves are something to be admired.
I hope that it also portrays to the non-Black community that we are more than the stigmas society has placed on us. We are
so much more than the stereotypes and labels attached to our people, and it is about time that everyone take notice of it.

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

SAFETY

IS THE GAME PLAN IN

FALL ATHLETICS
It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that the COVID-19
pandemic has made this past year a challenging one for
Golden Eagle student-athletes and coaches, who saw their
spring competition seasons cut short in March and later
found out the fall would bring a similar result. Football
did not play a down for the first time since World War II
scuttled three straight seasons in the 1940s. The volleyball
team failed to take the court for the first time in more than
50 years. Current members of the soccer team were still in
diapers in 2001, the last time there were no Golden Eagles
on the pitch.
The lack of competitions this fall did not equate to a
lack of activity, though. Thanks to the belief of Clarion’s
administration and a comprehensive resocialization plan
that drew from the NCAA and Clarion’s own athletic training
staff, Golden Eagle student-athletes returned in August for a
unique fall semester.

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“We used the NCAA resocialization plan as a guide to
creating our approach, in particular in figuring out the
phases of reopening,” said Dr. Wendy Snodgrass, director
of intercollegiate athletics. “In addition, we looked to (head
athletic trainer) Jim Thornton and his staff to provide
additional expertise in crafting our return to activity.”
Clarion’s return policy involves several progressive
phrases, based on 14-day periods that take into account the
trajectory of documented cases of COVID-19 on campus.
There were no athletic-related activities for the first two
weeks following student-athletes’ arrivals. Coaches then
began small group instruction, starting with groups of 10
and gradually working toward full team practices in late
October. In addition, expanded cleaning protocols and
improved sanitization methods have been employed to
minimize risk to student-athletes and university staff.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

For some teams, small group instruction did not provide any
sort of extraordinary disruption. However, larger teams worked
harder to manage the logistics of small groups. For example, Bree
Kelley, head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach, had
to reconfigure workouts for more than 50 student-athletes at a
time. In some ways, it was a blessing in disguise.
“It was actually really nice in some aspects,” Kelley said. “We
took the time to focus on specific things in our training. We did a
lot of individualized work focusing on starts, turns, underwaters,
technique. Usually I feel like we have to get going and get kids
back in shape right away, but this year we actually have the
chance to stretch it out and master some of the fundamentals.”
Kelley said that one of the new training methods she
implemented this fall involved filming each individual swimmer’s
technique while narrating feedback into the camera. These
critiques – as well as increased emphasis on outside factors such
as mental preparedness, nutrition and conditioning – are things
Kelley said she could not previously emphasize to the extent she
is now.
“In years past, we’ve kind of run out of time to do that during
the preseason,” Kelley said. “We have spent a lot of time working
on things besides just training.”
Women’s swim team members work on strengthening.

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SPORTS ROUNDUP
Two programs on the opposite side of the roster-size
equation, the men’s and women’s basketball teams,
actually hewed somewhat closer to their normal
schedules than most squads in the fall. Both teams rely
heavily on individual instruction during the early part
of the fall and started their full team practices just a
few weeks later than they would have during a normal
season.
“For us, we would usually be working in small
groups until Oct. 15,” said Jana Ashley, head
women’s basketball coach. “We focus a lot on player
development in those small groups, trying to be
position-specific. So a lot of our fall looked the same,
even though we had a few more weeks to get kids
some extra reps in those situations.”
Men’s basketball
coach Damian Pitts

The start of full team practices may have remained
the same, but the start of the basketball season has
been pushed back substantially, with the year set
to begin in January. Both Ashley and head men’s
basketball coach Damian Pitts acknowledged that one
of the key aspects of training this year is to maintain a
balance between getting ready and staying fresh.
“I feel like the most important thing in this period of
time, with everything going on, is to not run the team
into the ground physically and mentally,” Pitts said.
“We need to get them focused on a positive mental
attitude during November into December, and from
there work toward getting ready for the season.”

Soccer player Dani McNally
practices with a teammate

Another team that generally finds itself in familiar
territory is softball. Though the Golden Eagles lost
their entire conference season in spring 2020, their
fall schedule remains mostly unchanged, save for the
cancellation of their typical fall slate. In a fall filled with
uncertainty for so many student-athletes, sport has
provided a necessary release.
“This definitely has not been normal,“ said Lis Fee,
head softball coach. “They have had to overcome a lot,
between schoolwork changing, practices changing, and
the usual challenges with weather in the region. It’s
been a lot of stop and go, but they have been working
really hard. They are using softball as a place to relax
and hang out with their team.”

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Volleyball team
members
Alexa Cundy,
Julia Piccolino and
Lydia Leiner

SPORTS ROUNDUP
The idea of athletics providing some level of normalcy in
a year that has been anything but is a theme that has stood
out among Golden Eagle athletic programs, especially when
considering how many of their fellow conference institutions
were not able to do so.
“I feel bad for the other teams that haven’t had this
opportunity,” Kelley said. “The pool has been a huge
outlet for these kids. They just spent a summer where they
couldn’t train, go to the gym, or even socialize normally.
Being able to come back here and be together with their
teammates has been huge for them psychologically and
emotionally.
“I explained to them from day one that this is a huge
advantage and that we cannot risk this or take it for
granted,” Kelley said. “We need to make sure that every
time we step into this pool, we are working to the best of
our ability.”
“We are incredibly fortunate to have an administration
on campus and in the athletic department that trusts us to
make the right choices so that we can get back on the court
and start to grow together as a team,” Ashley said.

The football team runs a drill

“I think it’s huge,” said head football coach Chris Weibel,
who saw 57 of his rostered players return to campus for
the fall. “We feel very blessed and fortunate that our
administration trusted us to do this, and as such we are
making sure we follow every procedure regarding cleaning,
distancing and safety to show it can be done.”
Of course, not every program had the option to merely
adjust their plans. The Golden Eagle football team, for
example, lost nearly an entire spring training season and
saw their fall competition schedule postponed until spring
2021. For Weibel, it has meant a slow and steady approach
to ease his team back into the swing of things. After getting
through their smaller group sessions in the early part of
the fall, the football team had a handful of practices in light
pads late in the semester.
“What we are trying to do right now is stay in shape and
get back into football,” Weibel said. “Not having a spring
and a very limited fall, you have to be very careful and ease
back into it so we don’t get anybody hurt this early. So
we’re doing a lot of the basics, keeping things simple, until
we can get everyone here and start to expand on that.”

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

37

SPORTS ROUNDUP

CLARION
SELECTED AS HOST

FOR FOUR

NCAA

CHAMPIONSHIPS

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse – Pittsburgh, Pa.
The NCAA has awarded four NCAA Division II Championships events to Clarion University, in conjunction with
SportsPittsburgh, to be held over three years from 2023-26.
Clarion will serve as the host institution for each of the following NCAA Championship events from 2023-26; the event
venues are also listed:
• 2023 NCAA Division II Volleyball Championship Finals (UPMC Events Center – Moon Township, Pa.)
• 2025 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship Elite Eight (UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
• 2026 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship Elite Eight (UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
• 2026 NCAA Division II Basketball Festival – Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships (UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse –
Pittsburgh, Pa.)
“We are honored and thrilled with the NCAA’s decision to name Clarion a host institution for these prestigious
championship events,” said Dr. Wendy Snodgrass, Clarion director of intercollegiate athletics. “It is representative of the
hard work and commitment from everyone in our athletics department and across campus, and it gives us the opportunity
to showcase our institution on a national stage.
“I would like to thank Dana Kramers, Brady Inners and all of the staff at SportsPittsburgh for their advocacy and promotion
of the strong athletic tradition of western Pennsylvania,” Snodgrass said. “This successful bid would not have been possible
without their dedication and passion.”
Clarion most recently served as a championship host at the 2018 NCAA Division II Fall Festival, where they managed the
national championships for women’s volleyball as well as men’s and women’s soccer.
CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

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A LOOK BACK: International Culture Night

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ALUMNI NOTES
1959
Lydia (Jackson) Main is retired and works
part time for East Lyme Public Library,
Niantic, Conn. She resides in Niantic. Lydia
has six children: Laura, David, Deborah,
Mark, Julia and John.

1973

Rose (Yeropoli) and Lynn Knepp ’70
reside in Hummelstown, Pa. Rose is a
realtor for Berkshire Hathaway Homesale
Realty, Hershey.

1976

Bradley Mitchell is corporate faculty-project management for Harrisburg University
of Science and Technology. He resides in
Carlisle, Pa.
Susan (Marttala) Bowman retired from
teaching in Columbus City Schools, Columbus, Ohio. She resides in Youngstown.

1978

Patricia (English) Bush is retired from the
Warren County School District where she
taught kindergarten through 12th grade
music. She and her husband David reside
in Pittsfield, Pa. They have two daughters,
Erin and Erica.

1980

L. Douglas Martin is retired from the
University of Pittsburgh. He resides in
Pittsburgh, Pa.

1981

Dr. Joseph Martinelli is an associate
dean for academic affairs for Seton Hall
University College of Education and
Human Services, South Orange, N.J. He
resides in Branchburg, N.J., with his wife,
Lysa. They have a son, Joseph.

1988

Susan (Kurtz) Johnson is a data specialist
for Fulton County Schools, Atlanta, Ga.
She resides in Atlanta with her husband,
Rick. They have two children, Emily and
Carter.

WINTER 2020

1991
Bronwyn (Piccolo) Dietz is employed with
Harborcreek School District. She resides
in Erie, Pa., with her husband Robert and
daughter Sydney.

2000

Tonya (Thompson) Ackley is the associate
director of civic and community engagement for Buffalo State College, North
Tonawanda, N.Y. She resides in North
Tonawanda.
Dr. Chris and Jennifer (Kibler) Davis
reside in Washington, Pa., with their
children: Emma, Noah, Addison, Kristen,
Victoria and Carter. Chris is director of
information technology services for
Franciscan University of Steubenville,
Ohio.

2004

Heather (Kropiewnicki) Jones is an
assistant professor for Luzerne County
Community College, Nanticoke, Pa. She
resides in Nanticoke with her husband
James.

2007

Dr. Steven Potwin is an optometrist for
West Virginia Eye Consultants, Charleston,
W.Va. He resides in Charleston with his
wife Stacy.

2009

Dustin Starr, CPA, is a senior manager at
Maher Duessel. Dustin began his public
accounting career in 2009 and joined
Maher Duessel in 2010.

2013

2016
Lauren Bovard is a human resources
generalist for Graham Packaging, Lancaster, Pa. She resides in Lancaster.

2017
Ryan Wolbert received a M.S. in Geology
from Ohio University. He is a hydrologist
for the state of North Dakota.

2018

Zachary ’17 and Rebecca (Myers) Kruise
reside in Lewistown, Pa. Rebecca is
employed with Genesis Healthcare.
Lily Port earned an M.Ed. in health and
physical education from Indiana University
of Pennsylvania. She is a ninth through
12th grade health and physical education
teacher for Commonwealth Charter
Academy, Seven Hills, Pa.

VISIT

clarion.edu/update
to let us know
about your career
milestones and to
update your contact
information.

Christina Loscar is an executive producer
for WXII 12 News – Hearst Television,
Winston-Salem, N.C. She resides in
Winston-Salem.
Jaimie Weyant is a surface mine
conservation inspector for Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection,
New Stanton, Pa.

Rev. Scott and Linda (Loichinger) Schul
reside in State College, Pa. They have two
children, Annika and Emilio. Reverend
Schul is senior pastor at Grace Lutheran
Church, State College.
CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

41

UNIVERSITY
NOIRBABY
ACLARION
LC
EAGLES

Y TISROUR
EVGIFT
INUTO BABY EAGLES OF CLARION ALUMNI
IS A DASHING NEW BIB!

To receive a bib, visit www.clarion.edu/babybib and complete the online form.
Once you receive your bib, take a picture of your Eaglet putting the bib to
use, and email a high-resolution photo to us for inclusion in Clarion University
Magazine.
For more information, call the Office of Alumni Engagement at 814-393-2572.

GARRETT

Garrett Anthony Dixon, son of
Evan and Jaclyn Radcliff ’12 Dixon,
born Aug. 18, 2019

REESE

Reese Anne Anderson, daughter of
Jay and Kiley Martin ’12 Anderson, born
Dec. 16, 2019

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LYLA

Lyla Ann Blatt, daughter of
Elanina Tomsey ’13 and Clint Blatt,
born Nov. 28, 2019

LANDEN

Landen Robert McArdle, son of
Jessica ’10 and Lindsay Vevers ’09
McArdle, born Dec. 21, 2019

MARRIAGES
Jessi Miller ’13 and Michael Rasley
Nov. 2, 2019
John Lis ’98, MS ’99 and Jafa Armagost
June 27, 2020

CASSIDY

Cassidy Rose Espey, daughter of
Margie Savolskis ’04 and Ian Espey,
born April 18, 2020

COLE

Cole Walker Allen, son of
Lucas ’12 and Laura Ferruchie ’08 Allen,
born June 5, 2020

LAWRENCE

Lawrence Alexander Hernandez, son of
Alex and La-Aja Wiggins ’06 Hernandez,
born May 8, 2020

ROSALEE

Rosalee Jane Reed, daughter of
David ’09 and Kayla Rush ’09 Reed,
born June 24, 2020
CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

43

IN MEMORIAM
1940s
Ruth Kapp Kissell ’43
Sept 20, 2020

1950s
Mildred McClune Rapp ’53
Sept. 27, 2020
Margery C. Cross Turner ’56
Oct. 24, 2020
Evelyn A. Radaker McGuirk ’57
Sept. 27, 2020
Thomas F. Jodon ’57
Oct. 21, 2020
Dale O. Swanson ’59
Sept. 30, 2020

1960s
Elaine A. Aaron Daugherty ’62
Sept. 19, 2020
Mary P. DeCaria Graves ’65
Sept. 18, 2020
Charles Leroy Kammerdeiner ’65
Oct. 2, 2020
Harry Roger Acton ’65
Oct. 11, 2020

Peter P. Bosin ’66
Sept. 21, 2020
Robert Ira Morris ’67
Sept. 28, 2020
Carolyn L. Carl ’68
Sept. 23, 2020
Joan D. Durham Wilson ’69
Sept. 11, 2020
Larry G. Siegel ’69
Sept. 15, 2020

1970s

Susan Marie Fair ’71
Oct. 7, 2020
Thomas B. Mays ’72
Oct. 8, 2020
Richard A. Simoni ’76
Oct. 9, 2020
David J. Jarzab ’79
Nov. 1, 2020

1980s
Michael G. Thompson ’85
Sept. 22, 2020
Lisa A. Welms ’86
Oct. 23, 2020

CELEBRATE
MLK JR. DAY
AT VIRTUAL EVENT
The 9th Annual Martin Luther King Jr.
Community Breakfast will be held virtually
this year to safeguard against the spread of
COVID-19.
The theme is “The King Legacy: What Are
You Doing for Others?” Alicia Shropshire ’04
will present the keynote address. Prepare your
breakfast and join us at 9 a.m. Jan. 18, 2021, at
https://clarion.zoom.us/j/96731051004.
Event sponsors are Clarion University with
Clarion community organizations, churches and
charities.

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1990s
Blaine Taylor ’90
Sept. 24, 2020
Frances J. Miller ’90
Oct. 6, 2020
Gerald Lewis Ferraro ’95
Oct. 20, 2020
Dorothy W. Rhoads Rodgers ’95
Oct. 20, 2020
Susan Lorraine Burford ’97
Oct. 11, 2020

2010s

Donald David Murdock ’10
Oct. 14, 2020
Brett James Palmer ’15
Sept. 21, 2020
Stefanie Ann Rankin ’19
Sept. 23, 2020

Friends
Raymond S. Knotick
Sept. 15, 2020
Francis D. George
Sept. 20, 2020

PEARSON

leads diversity, equity and inclusion strategy for State System

Dr. Denise Pearson, a recognized leader on national
education policy, has joined Pennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education as vice chancellor and chief diversity,
equity, and inclusion officer.
Pearson works with stakeholders across the State System
to develop a strategy focused on improving the social
equity climate and enabling data-driven decision-making.
She is helping to identify and address student achievement
gaps, seek to improve faculty and employee recruitment
and retention, and implement policies that will lead to a
more diverse, equitable, and inclusive system.
“As the largest provider of public higher education for
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State System is
unequivocally focused on creating and maintaining higher
education that supports positive outcomes for all students,
regardless of their starting point in life,” Pearson said.
“It is imperative, and a core part of our public mission,
that the State System address itself with vigor and purpose

to the eradication of inequities while ensuring our university
communities are inclusive of all of their students, faculty,
and staff,” Chancellor Dan Greenstein said.
Before joining the State System in August, Pearson was
vice president for academic affairs and equity initiatives at
the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.
“I am especially inspired by the commitment of the Board
of Governors, the chancellor, university presidents, and
faculty to transform the State System into a leading
organization recognized for comprehensively addressing
opportunity and achievement gaps, particularly from
diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and between
students from low- and high-wealth communities,”
Pearson said. “As a first-generation college graduate from a
historically excluded group, I know firsthand the value and
multi-generational impact of higher education. I look forward to embracing the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

45

D

ivisiveness has been the hallmark of 2020, but Clarion University
is working to unify in the spirit of Frederick Douglass, the famous former
slave, abolitionist, social reformer, orator, writer and statesman.
Clarion University will welcome six Frederick Douglass
student scholars this spring as part of the Frederick
Douglass Institute Collaborative, an initiative of
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
The Frederick Douglass Institute Collaborative exists
across the 14 State System universities and is committed
to creating inclusive university communities and transformative connections among historically underrepresented
students and faculty, as well as other communities across
the commonwealth and beyond. It's one of the ways schools
in the State System seek to promote inclusive excellence
and enhance access and success.
Clarion University English professor Dr. Brian Roberts
remembers the formation of the Frederick Douglass Institute more than 20 years ago. Roberts had the opportunity
to meet Dr. Jim Trotman from West Chester University, who
started the first Frederick Douglass program. West Chester
was the last place Douglass spoke before he died in 1895.
“Dr. Trotman believed that all 14 universities should have
some type of Frederick Douglass program,” Roberts said.
Roberts believes liberal arts colleges have a natural
connection with Douglass’ mission of equality.
“As you know, Frederick Douglass was a renaissance man
in the 1800s,” Roberts said. “Douglass fought for education,
politics, minority rights, women's rights, the fine arts.
Clarion University is a liberal arts school, and Douglass, in
many ways, falls under liberal arts.”

Cheyanne Potter

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Amy Salsgiver, Clarion University director of social equity,
agrees.
“For me, the importance of the Frederick Douglass
Student Scholars is the vital link between the past and
present. Douglass fought for equality for people of color, for
men and women alike. He was a fierce believer that
underrepresented peoples deserve the same opportunities
and rights as others. While we have progressed since his
time, we are still – very much – continuing to press for some
of the same values and morals that he did. To have students
rise to that challenge on Clarion’s campus is exciting, and, I
believe, will be rewarding,” Salsgiver said.
This spring’s cohort of scholars includes Corey Mock,
Aayana Cuffie, Ayanna Squair, Cheyanne Potter, Kyle Moyer
and Nyshae White. Another six scholars will be recruited for
the 2021-22 academic year.
“My hope is the student scholars will make lifelong connections with those in their cohort and those they partner
with to mentor,” Salsgiver said. “The program is designed to
assist and build upon the skills the students already have to
propel them forward into leadership positions that are often
not equitably available to students of color, first-generation
students, students coming from low socioeconomic
backgrounds and so on.”
The students are eager to begin their journey as scholars.
“Being a Frederick Douglass scholar means the world to
me. Not only does this help me be a better student, but a

Kyle Moyer

Nyshae White

better woman altogether,” said Ayanna Squair, a sophomore
criminal justice major with a minor in sociology. “What I
expect to get out of this scholarship experience is more
responsibility for myself. This program requires me to be
more proactive on campus, which benefits me overall. I am
beyond grateful for this opportunity, and I hope to help
others with this opportunity as well.”
The six scholars must meet established academic
standards and attend the Frederick Douglass conference
normally scheduled in the spring (COVID-19 may alter how
or if the conference is presented). The hope is that the
scholars will eventually present at the conference.
“To me being a Frederick Douglass scholar just makes
me feel honored. When I received the news, I felt humbled
that the faculty and staff saw me as a proper scholar for
this award,” said Corey Mock, a junior secondary education
history major. “I also think it is very cool being an education
major with a history focus and learning about Frederick
Douglass in a multiple number of my classes.”
Each scholar also will receive scholarship funding until
graduation, provided they continue to meet the
requirements of the program.
In addition to supporting student scholars, Clarion
University has been working to grow its programs,
curriculums and library to educate not only the students,
but also the entire community, on equality.
“Fortunately, for the last 20 years, Clarion University has
been able to offer curriculum and programs that deal with
Frederick Douglass' life,” Roberts said.
Dr. Uraina Pack, the first Frederick Douglass Scholar at
Clarion in the early 2000s, and Roberts teach Douglass’
work in their courses, including Black Folk Culture,

Ayanna Squair

Introduction to African American, and Studies in African
American Literature courses. Others incorporate lessons on
Frederick Douglass into their classes.
Carlson Library also supports Clarion’s educational
enrichment. Dr. Basil Martin, associate professor in library
services, maintains the Frederick Douglass collection, which
contains 481 items for children and adults.
As part of its Frederick Douglass Collection, Carlson
Library acquired the “American Slavery: A Composite
Autobiography” database. This database contains nearly 4,000 narratives told by ex-slaves, collected under the
auspices of the Works Projects Administration between 1936
and 1938. The database is on the CU Libraries website and
can accessed using the Databases A-Z link.
In addition to the collection, the university seeks
opportunities to entertain while educating.
Roberts recalls an oratory performance in the mid-1990s
at Hart Chapel in which different professors portrayed
famous people from the Women's Suffrage Movement, such
as Susan B. Anthony, William Lloyd Garrett, Harriet Beecher
Stowe and Frederick Douglass. Roberts portrayed Douglass
by delivering his famous speech, "What is the Fourth of July
to a Slave?"
Also, in the early 2000s, Clarion University partnered with
California University of Pennsylvania to bring actor Fred
Morsell to both campuses to deliver some of Frederick
Douglass' famous speeches.
“Our Frederick Douglass Program represents the
definition of diversity: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, etc., and I believe this is why others should
know the Frederick Douglass Program's worth and
contribute to the cause," Roberts said.

Aayana Cuffie

Corey Mock
CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

47

#WINGSUP
MAISAM NOUH

Clarion University Master of Science in Library Science
alum Maisam Nouh grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, where the
oldest library once stood.

digital archive project of our local collection in the library.
I really wanted to pursue that and get my Ph.D. in archiving
because of how much I enjoyed it.”

This rich environment of historical sites, which also
happened to be full of small libraries and bookstores,
fostered her love of reading and libraries.

Her dreams certainly have taken flight. Nouh is the IT
supervisor at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut.
Her job includes being the Integrated Library System
administrator, working with cataloging and acquisitions,
reference and circulation.

“As a small child, we would go to one library, and my
friends and I would love to put books in order and just sit
and read. I was a reader, especially mysteries and thrillers,
but I also loved the library,” she said. “During the summer of
entering 10th grade, I started volunteering for the summer
reading program, and I just fell in love with the library. I told
my mom one time that one day I will be behind one of those
desks working.”
That resolve led her to Clarion’s MSLS program.
“I love everything that has to deal with the back end of
the library. I feel we are the backbone of the entire organization.”
Her work in the program highlighted her interests
“I did an internship as part of my master’s, and it was a

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Nouh loves how the library collaborates with the
community, including schools. “I truly believe that we are
the heart of the community, and we are the glue that
connects everyone together.”
Nouh credits the faculty with helping her achieve her
goals.
“I did my entire degree online because I was working full
time and had a toddler and a baby at home. The professors
were very understanding and knew that we (students) were
juggling a lot of hats while working on getting our degrees.”
Nouh was featured in the Library Journal’s May edition as
one of 2020’s Movers & Shakers.

We’re Here
TO HELP

The pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways –
including my ability to travel to see you. I am working from
my home office, but my commitment to Clarion University
remains the same.
If you are pondering what your Clarion legacy will be, I am
here to help. I remain available to provide expertise via phone,
email, FaceTime or Zoom meetings.
Let’s grab a virtual cup of coffee or tea and discuss what’s right
for you. There are many ways to provide support, including
some that don’t even require your checkbook!
-Larry Jamison ‘87
Director of Planned Giving

840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214

You can reach me by email at
ljamison@clarion.edu or by phone at
814-764-6388 (home).
To preview some options for building
your legacy, please visit
www.clarion.plannedgiving.org.
CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

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840 WOOD STREET
CLARION, PA 16214-1232
WWW.CLARION.EDU

ALUMNI

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SERIES

Facilitated by the
Center for Career and
Professional Development
JANUARY 19, 2021 – 7 P.M. EST
REPACKAGING YOURSELF FOR TODAY’S JOB MARKET
• Trends and insight into today’s job market
• Reflect on a career and creating SMART goals
• Available resources to support your career journey
• Skills, steps and strategies to advance in or shift careers

FEBRUARY 16, 2021 – 7 P.M. EST
STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH
• Create a plan to conduct a proactive job search
• Keywords, job titles, industries to expand the search results
• Job search resources
• Customize application materials
• Leverage personal and professional relationships

MARCH 16, 2021 – 7 P.M. EST

REGISTER AT

clarion.edu/alumni-and-friends/
alumni-association/events.

MAKING THE CONNECTION: CREATING A MEANINGFUL
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK IN THE DIGITAL AGE
• Redefine networking so it works in your favor
• Online platforms for professional networking
• Whom to connect with and where to spend your time effectively
• Create a strong community of goal-oriented connections