WINTER 2024

A LEGACY OF GIVING:

Ed & Julie
Breiner
Page 14

Husky Homecoming

Page 8

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Greetings Bloomsburg Family,
The life of a university is marked by many notable
milestones. As Commonwealth University continues to
grow and evolve, the launch of our first strategic plan is an
important accomplishment. I am proud beyond measure
of the talented team members who have devoted their
time and energy to the strategic planning process over
the past year. Their collaborative efforts have brought
forward a long-range plan that is notable for its focus and
commitment to putting students first.
Each of the plan’s four strategic priorities is built around
the principle that students are at the heart of our mission,
goals, and purpose. Not only does the plan lay out
measurements of success through well-defined metrics,
but each of the plan’s strategic priorities is buoyed by three
core commitments that will guide and inform our work well
into the future.
I hope you’ll read more about the launch of our first
strategic plan in these pages. It is a bold and ambitious
plan and I am proud of the focus on student success.
Witnessing our university community work through the
process of developing a strategic plan and now beginning
to bring it to life through dynamic and impactful initiatives has affirmed my belief in the strength and heart of our
Commonwealth University family.
There are many great things happening at Commonwealth University, and we bring them to you in the pages that
follow. From the launch of the strategic plan, to earning landmark grants, and launching a fully updated academic
curriculum, we continue to hold an exceptional student experience as our north star.
Our cover story profiles the remarkable generosity of Ed and Julie Breiner, who have made the first-ever
transformational gift to Commonwealth University. The Breiners’ $5 million gift will support nursing education
at all CU locations—Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, and Clearfield. The Breiner’s incredible gift will
empower the newly named Breiner School of Nursing to provide an affordable, top-tier education and produce
exceptional nursing graduates.
To our Bloomsburg alumni and supporters, it has been wonderful to see so many of you on campus over the past few
months as we celebrated homecoming and all the joy that comes with Fall on a university campus. If you have not
been back to campus recently, I hope you will visit and explore how to stay engaged with the Husky community and
support our students in achieving their goals. There are so many ways to get involved and share your generosity with
our students—from mentorship, to internships, or professional experience grants—your involvement in our students’
experience has the power to transform their lives.

Dr. Bashar W. Hanna,
President

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education
Darrek Harshberger
Senator Judith L. Schwank
Cynthia D. Shapira, Chair
Governor Josh Shapiro
David M. Maser, Vice Chair Akbar Hossain
Dr. Kate Shaw
Samuel H. Smith, Vice Chair Allison Jones
Daniel A. Klingerman
Larry C. Skinner
Senator David Argall
Marian D. Moskowitz
Skylar Walder
Robert W. Bogle
Acting Sec. of Education Neil R. Weaver
Representative Tim Briggs
Janet L. Yeomans
William “Bill” Gindlesperger Dr. Khalid N. Mumin
Representative Brad Roae
Abigail Hancox
Commonwealth University
Dr. Bashar Hanna, President
Albert Jones, Chief Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Dr. Diana Rogers-Adkinson,
Provost and Senior Vice President
for Academic Affairs

Timothy Shuey, Vice President for
Fiscal Affairs, Chief Financial Officer

Suzanne Williamson, Chief of Staff
and Vice President for Administration

Erik Evans, Vice President for
University Advancement

Dr. Stephen Lee, Vice President for
Enrollment Management

William Walker, Interim
Vice President for Strategic
Communications and Marketing

Dr. Marty Wygmans, Vice President
for Student Success and Campus Life
Council of Trustees
John Wetzel ’98, Chair
Karen Russell, Vice Chair
Michael Hanna Jr. Secretary
Daniel Elby, Trustee at Large
Amy Brayford ’91
Krystjan Callahan
Steven Crawford

8

Jessica Dodge
Patrick Henderson ’96
Tynesha Holloway
Susan Kefover
Brian O’ Donnell ’87
Angela Smith
Ray Zaborney ’16

Executive Editor
Elizabeth Arnold
Editorial Board
Julie Stellfox, Eric Foster, Doug Spatafore , Lynda Michaels, Ashley Koser
Andrea, O’Neill, Tom Schaeffer, John Vitale, Dawn Wooster
Contributing Writers
Eric Foster, Andrea O’Neill, Tom Schaeffer, Julie Stellfox, Gabrielle DeMarco,
Doug Spatafore, Mary Raskob, Robert Dunkelberger, Tom McGuire
Photography
Jaime North, Eric Foster
Design
Kerry Lord
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine is published two times
a year for alumni, students’ families, and friends of the university
Back issues may be found at bloomu.edu/magazine.
Address comments and questions to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

14
FEATURES

Commonwealth University's Landmark Strategic Plan

6

Homecoming 2023

8

Legacy of Giving: Ed & Julie Breiner

14

Alumni Spotlights

24

Email address: magazine@bloomu.edu
Visit Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg on the web at bloomu.edu.

DEPARTMENTS

Commonwealth University is an AA/EEO institution and is accessible to
disabled persons. CU-Bloomsburg does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin,
ancestry, disability, or veteran status in its programs and activities as required
by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and
University policies.

Common Ground

© Commonwealth University 2023

18

2

Athletics

18

Husky Notes

27

Then & Now

31

COMMON GROUND

President Hanna Launches
‘Common Ground’ Podcast
The podcast, “Common Ground,”
hosted by President Bashar Hanna, has
released one episode a month since its
first on May 1 this year.

Cynthia Shapira, PASSHE Board of Governors chairwoman

Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield
to Launch Partnership with Google
Commonwealth University (CU) and
Google are coming together to support
a new public-private partnership to
enable students to earn industryrecognized certificates during their
regular undergraduate programs to
support their career readiness and help
meet the workforce’s evolving needs.
The partnership provides skills training
in the fields of cybersecurity, data
analytics, digital marketing/e-commerce,
business intelligence, IT support, project
management, and user experience (UX)
design, with no experience required.

Google employees developed the Google
Career Certificates to support skilling for
in-demand fields. The program includes
an employer consortium of over 150
companies—including Pennsylvaniabased companies such as SAP,
Expedient, the Project Management
Institute, and Google—that hire talent
trained in the certificate fields. More than
200,000 people have graduated from
the program in the U.S., and 75% report
a positive career impact, such as a new
job, higher pay, or a promotion, within six
months of completion.

Commonwealth University’s offering
is part of a larger partnership between
Google and Pennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education (PASSHE) that will
reach thousands of students and workers
across Pennsylvania, with training for
some of the state’s most in-demand jobs,
including those within the communities
near the Commonwealth UniversityBloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, and
Clearfield locations.

The university is currently exploring
several options for the first steps of the
partnership, according to Hope Lineman,
CU Executive Director of Workforce
Development.
“History majors who acquire data analysis
skills or English language and literature
majors with project management skills
such as those offered in partnership with
Google, often increase their entry-level
salary by at least 30%,” says Lineman, who
is also Strategic Advisor to the Chancellor
on Workforce Innovation at PASSHE.

2 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

The Common Ground podcast brings
together leaders from across Pennsylvania
to engage in meaningful conversations
and explore the pressing issues
our institutions, communities, and
students and their families face on
their path to earning a degree.
Podcast guests have included
John Wetzel, Chair of the council of
Trustees and former PA Secretary
of Corrections; Jennifer Wakeman,
Executive Director of DRIVE and Hope
Lineman, PASSHE Executive Director
of Workforce Development; Deans
Dr. Leo-Felix Jurado from the College
of Health Professions and Dr. Ann E.
Larson from the College of Education
and Human Studies; Chad Lassiter,
Executive Director of the Pennsylvania
Human Relations Commission; Dr. Diana
Rogers-Adkinson, CU Provost and
Senior Vice President for Academic
Affairs; Lynda Schlegel Culver, State
Senator and Bloomsburg alumna,
PA State Treasurer and Bloombsurg
alumna Stacy Garrity, as well as
Mansfield alumnus and ESPN Radio
Host Freddie Coleman. Listeners can
subscribe to Common Ground on
Spotify, Apple Music, and other major
streaming platforms, or visit www.
commonwealthu.edu/commonground
to listen to episodes, learn more about
the podcast, and submit ideas for
future episodes or guests.

COMMON GROUND

University Awarded
Grant to Accelerate
Special Ed Teacher
Certification
Commonwealth University’s special
education program was awarded a
$100,000 grant from the Pennsylvania
Department of Education to accelerate
programming for PK-12 Special Education
Teacher Certification. Commonwealth
University was one of 15 universities
awarded a portion of the $1.5 million grant.
“These grants will expedite the process of
becoming a certified special educator and
enable more teachers to enter the field
faster,” says acting Secretary of Education
Dr. Khalid N. Mumin.
The grant addresses the need for certified
special educators across the state amidst
the dramatically increasing number of
emergency-certified teachers in the field of
special education. The accelerated program
includes courses and fieldwork beginning
this summer and extending through next
summer. The grant will provide graduatelevel students working on emergency
certifications tuition and fee incentives at
the program’s beginning, mid-point, and end.

Zach Hicks '23, special education, now teaches at Shikellamy Middle School.

“This grant funding gives an opportunity for
Commonwealth University to be a leader
in presenting an accelerated, sustainable
model for certification within the context
of a master’s level program,” says Dr. Brooke
Lylo, Associate Professor in the Department
of Exceptionality Programs at CU.
“We’re very excited about the
Pennsylvania Department of Education
award. Preparing and certifying special

education teachers is a high-need area in
the education employment sector,” says
Dr. Bashar W. Hanna, President of
Commonwealth University. “We’re
grateful for this funding from the
Pennsylvania Department of Education
and thank Dr. Mumin and the department
for their confidence in special education
teacher preparation at our university.”

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Office Awards $91,000 in
Grants to Support DEI Efforts
Across Campuses
Commonwealth University’s Office
of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has
awarded 22 individuals across four
locations in Bloomsburg, Lock Haven,
Mansfield, and Clearfield mini-grants for
the 2023-24 academic year totaling more
than $91,000.
The mini-grants, used by the 14 faculty,
seven staff, and one student, will
provide financial assistance for trainings,
conferences, research, immersion
activities and programming that
strengthen excellence in diversity and
inclusion for individuals or the community
at Commonwealth University.

Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg held its ninth annual White Coat
Ceremony for second-year nursing students on Saturday, Sept. 17, in Haas
Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall. More than 130 students participated in the
ceremony, which celebrates sophomore nursing students who are entering
the next phase of their education.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 3

COMMON GROUND

Two New Student Members Appointed to Council of Trustees
Buck Memorial Food Bank in Orangeville and at the Millville
Elementary School where she helped organize and conduct
activities for elementary students. Dodge also is a member of
several organizations including Nursing Christian Fellowship,
Student Nurses Association, Nursing Learning Community and
Bloomsburg’s chapter of Rotaract. She is involved with the Lives
Changed By Christ organization and is employed by Geisinger in
Danville as a nursing assistant.

Jessica Dodge

Tynesha Holloway

The Commonwealth University Council of Trustees has named
two new student council members for the 2023-24 academic
year. Jessica Dodge has been appointed as the student
representative for the Bloomsburg location and Tynesha
Holloway has been appointed to represent Lock Haven.
A nursing major in her second year at Bloomsburg, Dodge is a
resident of Orangeville and a 2022 graduate of Millville School
District, where she was class valedictorian. At Millville, she was a
Mid-Penn All Star for varsity soccer and basketball, and served
as student council president as well as class president.
“The student trustee position provides an opportunity to be
the voice of the students of Bloomsburg, while being involved
in monumental changes of an integrated Commonwealth
University. It was something I knew I had to pursue,” Dodge says.
“I am blessed to be able to challenge myself to make a better
future for Commonwealth University.”
Dodge has been active in numerous community organizations and
an employee and volunteer at Camp Victory of the Nicholas
Wolff Foundation in Millville. She has volunteered at the John

Holloway, of Philadelphia, is a senior criminal justice major at
Lock Haven. She is a 2020 graduate of Preparatory Charter High
School, where she was a member of the step team and student
council. At Lock Haven, she is the president of the Black
Student Union and handles public relations for the Multicultural
Activities and Advisory Council.
“I wanted to become a student trustee because I believe that I
have a strong voice and am able to communicate what needs
to be done on campus in a respectful way,” Holloway says. “I
want to advocate for students because we are important and
our wants and needs matter. I want to see real changes before I
graduate and I believe with the voice that I have on campus that
can be accomplished.”
Holloway also is a student representative for the Middle States
Commission on Higher Education, a student member of the
Commonwealth University Senate for first-year experience (for
students in their first year at Lock Haven) and is a volunteer at
the Haven Cupboard, a food pantry for Lock Haven students.
“Student trustees serve an integral and valuable role at
Commonwealth University through their representation to the
university's Council of Trustees. I would like to congratulate
Jessica and Tynesha on their appointment and thank them for
their service to their fellow students and the university. Jessica
and Tynesha are strong examples of leadership in action and I
look forward to their valuable insights and contributions,” says
Bashar W. Hanna, President.

Jeff Emanuel Named ZIPD Director
Jeffrey Emanuel has been appointed director
of the Zeigler Institute for Professional
Development (ZIPD) in the Zeigler College of
Business at Commonwealth University.
Formerly director of the Foundation of the
Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce,
Emanuel’s career has been focused on
experiential and lifelong learning.

Jeffrey Emanuel

This program is about making students more
well-rounded by building their career skills. They
don’t know what they don’t know. Through ZIPD
we help them strengthen skills employers seek
the most—leadership, team work, communication,
problem solving, and professionalism. By attending
the annual ZIPD conference and meeting with
alumni and employer partners working in the field,
we fill in those gaps.”

“ZIPD gets to the heart of what makes people
truly successful and happy in life,” said Emanuel. Emanuel plans on strengthening the community
service requirements and add wellness
“It’s finding a career that aligns with your skills,
passions and values that leads to true success. opportunities to the ZIPD program.

4 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

COMMON GROUND

Lura Good Brings New Voice to Campus Media as Confer Center Director
Radio has a new voice on Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg’s
campus. Lura Good, a veteran on-air personality for
Selinsgrove-based Hanna Radio (92.3-97.5-106.1 FM) has been
appointed Director of the Kerby Confer Media Center.
The Kerby Confer Media Center was established with a $5.3 million
gift from radio legend Kerby Confer. The center's home will be
in McCormick Center, currently undergoing renovation, and will
encompass interactive collaboration spaces where students and
faculty can explore radio, video, podcasts, live-streaming, and other
forms of broadcasting on campus.
“Going on air is a privilege. You are being invited into a person’s
life,” says Good. “Radio is where you connect to someone personally.
You become part of their routine and you get to be a storyteller.”
A graduate from Bucknell University with a master’s degree in
higher education and curriculum development, Good recalls
how radio was a part of her routine as a listener. “When I was
working as a teacher in New York, I knew I was running late in the
morning if I missed the birthdays on the radio.”
She finds it interesting how audio is being used in new forms
and is excited to work with students and explore all mediums
of broadcasting.
“I fell into radio by accident,” Good admits. “A friend worked at
one of the local radio stations.” She soon became a promotions
assistant with the station and gradually transitioned to on-air roles.
Good currently has her own show at WHNA, Hanna Radio, part
of Seven Mountains Media, and a podcast, The 57Oh!. She has
also served as Promotions Director and morning show co-host
at the crosstown Sunbury Broadcasting Hot AC “94KX” WQKX
Sunbury radio station in the past.
Good’s commitment to community extends beyond the airwaves.
She holds a Walk for Hunger with the Central Pennsylvania Food
Bank, where she walks from Selinsgrove to Bloomsburg with
an empty shopping cart to spread awareness and raise money

Established through a gift from Terry ’76
and JoAnn Schultz Zeigler ’77, the Zeigler
Institute for Professional Development
(ZIPD) prepares students for professional
success by supplementing coursework
with real-world and experiential learning
opportunities.
While with the Chamber Foundation
he used his experiences to created
a leadership program for the medical
residents and involved them in the
community. Emanuel was formerly
manager of graduate medical education
and med-peds residency coordinator at
Geisinger Health System. He has also

Lura Good recently took the helm of the Confer Media Center

for the people who go hungry during the holiday season. She
has raised just over $14,000 in the past, with each dollar feeding
someone in need. With a colleague, Good also has launched a
weekly feature, “Four-Legged Friend Fridays,” to help find homes
for adoptable animals.
She plans to expand the curriculum around the media and
journalism program to use the Kerby Confer Media Center to
the fullest.
Good also wants students to branch out and explore all the
opportunities held in the new media center, including CUBloomsburg’s own station, Husky Student Radio (WHSK). “Radio
is a community resource. I want students to think of WHSK as a
community resource,” Good says. “Right now, radio is a club on
campus. But in the future, it will be part of the curriculum.”

been employed by Lockheed Martin as
an associate chemist and the American
Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology as
a quality analyst and laboratory assessor.
Emanuel is the secretary of the board of
directors for Smart Futures, a nonprofit
software development organization
dedicated to providing an online career
planning and portfolio platform that helps
schools easily implement the career
education and work standards within any
classroom or virtually. He has also been
involved with the Maria Joseph Continuing

Care Community, the Danville Child
Development Center, and the Young Life
Ministry nonprofit organizations.
Emanuel holds a bachelor’s degree in
Geo-Environmental Engineering from
Pennsylvania State University and a Master
of Business Administration from the
University of Phoenix. In addition, he has
a Talent Pipeline Management Certificate
and is a Business Leads Workforce Policy
& Program Fellow with the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce Foundation and has obtained
Executive and Performance Leadership
Certificates from Cornell University.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 5

FEATURE

Commonwealth University Launches

LANDMARK STRATEGIC PLAN
THE UNIVERSITY’S FIRST-EVER STRATEGIC PLAN PUTS STUDENTS AT ITS CENTER

In October, the Commonwealth University
of Pennsylvania Council of Trustees formally
approved and endorsed the university’s
first-ever strategic plan. The approval marks
the culmination of more than a year of
planning that involved input and perspectives
from across all locations and levels of the
university. The University Senate previously
endorsed the plan at its September 14 meeting.
The plan has measurement of success built
into it. Each of its four strategic priorities
is coupled with selected metrics, such as
average unmet need and average net prices
compared to Pennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education average, placement rate
of graduates, and student retention, that the
university will monitor to determine the overall
success of the plan.
The plan’s four strategic priorities are:
Student Success; Academic Excellence
and Innovation; University Success; and
Welcoming and Inclusive Community. Each
of these strategic priorities is undergirded by
the plan’s three core commitments: Diversity,
Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB);
Strategic Communications; and Thriving
Students, Faculty, and Staff.
“I believe one of Commonwealth University’s
greatest strengths is our steadfast
commitment to putting students first.
That commitment is on full display in the
university’s first strategic plan. This ambitious
and comprehensive plan places student
success at the center of our goals, planning,
and initiatives and promises to continue
the great work we have begun. With a focus
on four strategic priorities that are layered
throughout the institution we will build upon
our mission to provide high-quality education
through high-impact practices, career
connection, and inclusivity. I have no doubt

that Commonwealth University will continue
to grow and thrive as we launch the strategic
plan,” says Council of Trustees Chair John
Wetzel.
“Commonwealth University’s strategic plan
is built on the core pillars that will carry the
institution forward and deliver on the promise
we have made to students and families
across the state and region to provide an
exceptional education experience, rich with
opportunity and delivered affordably. The
work we have done thus far through the
integration process and our vision for the
future of Commonwealth University have
proven central to the plan’s creation. As we
move forward, the strategic priorities and
core commitments will be woven into every
area and every initiative we undertake at
Commonwealth University. I would like to
extend my sincere thanks to the Strategic
Planning Committee for shepherding the plan
to completion, especially core team members
Cori Myers, John Bodenman, and Amy
Osborne,” says Bashar W. Hanna, President.
The Student Success priority will focus on
providing holistic and inclusive support to
meet the needs of all students and prepare
them for personal and professional success.
Its initiatives will include the development of
meaningful opportunities for career readiness,
the growth of exemplary and holistic student
support services, support to graduates as
they launch their careers, and embedding of
financial literacy into the learning process.
The Academic Excellence and Innovation
priority initiatives focus on the inclusion
of high-impact practices, accelerated
programs, and innovative credentialing
opportunities into the educational
offerings as well as investments in both
employee professional development and

MISSION
Our hard-working and
determined students are
at the heart of everything
we do. Commonwealth
University leverages the
power of Bloomsburg,
Lock Haven, and Mansfeld
to provide affordable,
high-quality education
emphasizing high-impact
practices, personal and
career connections, and
inclusivity supporting all
learners to succeed in our
region and beyond.

6 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

FEATURE

VALUES
Resilient

Student-Centered

Accessible

Welcoming & Inclusive

Collaborative

Innovative & Exceptional

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Student Success
Provide holistic and inclusive support to
meet the needs of all students and prepare
them for personal and professional success.

Academic Excellence and Innovation
Provide an innovative and transformative
educational experience that prepares
graduates and credential earners to
succeed in meaningful careers and beyond.

University Success
Ensure fiscal sustainability, increase
enrollment, and develop cutting-edge systems
and processes to attract and retain diverse
students, faculty, and staff.

Welcoming and Inclusive Community
Create an inclusive and welcoming university
culture while developing and strengthening

student-faculty engagement to foster innovation
and the development of scholarly and creative works that make an impact
far beyond the campus community.
The Welcoming and Inclusive Community priority seeks to build a culture
that embraces change, improves communication across the complex
organization, supports the affinity groups that foster a sense of belonging
(student organizations, athletics, etc.), and enhances the university’s
mutually beneficial relationships with its surrounding communities.
The University Success priority focuses on student enrollment, retention,
and graduation rates as well as employee recruitment and onboarding.
It includes the launch of strengthened marketing efforts and fundraising
campaigns to support plan progress.
Following approval of the plan, execution began immediately, with each
unit including efforts under its purview that directly support the priorities
and move the university toward meeting the selected metrics for
measurement.

connections among our multiple locations and
within our local communities

CORE COMMITMENTS
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Belonging (DEIB)
Serve as central guiding principles and
efforts that ensure all students and university
personnel can feel valued, supported, and
empowered.

Strategic Communications
Ensure effective communication across the
organization while elevating our reputation
externally.

Thriving Students, Faculty, and Staff
Foster a culture that embraces growth and
wellbeing so that students and university
personnel can thrive.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 7

HOMECOMING

HOMECOMING 2023
The weather was wet and raw on Saturday, Oct. 14, but Huskies maintained their
warmth and good cheer for Homecoming. In addition to football, Bloomsburg
athletes competed in field hockey, women’s club rugby, and water polo. At the
Fenstemaker Alumni House, the Husky pack gathered for the annual Alumni
Tent Party, which featured food trucks, a photo booth, and children’s activities.

The Bloomsburg State College Class of 1973 returned to campus for their 50th
reunion reception on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at the Greenly Center in downtown
Bloomsburg. Class members were greeted by Commonwealth University
President, Dr. Bashar Hanna and gathered for a cocktail hour and buffet dinner
while reconnecting with former classmates.
A Multicultural Student-Alumni Networking Social was held on homecoming
Saturday in Monty's.

ACADEMICS

Commonwealth University Launches Entirely

New Academic Curriculum
Every Course, Within Every Program, Within
Every Degree, Within Every College was Rewritten,
Reviewed, and Updated—In a Single Year
Commonwealth University (CU) has done
what perhaps no other institution of higher
education has done before—update and
launch an entirely new curriculum in a
single year. The change, which began
with the Fall 2023 semester following
the integration of three historic public
universities (Bloomsburg University,
Lock Haven University, and Mansfield
University) in 2022, has allowed CU
to quickly create an academic array
that is modernized for the educational
needs of students and relevant to the
requirements of today’s employers.
“With the integration of the new university,
we were offered the opportunity to do
something enormous for our students,”
says President Bashar Hanna. “Change
of this magnitude often takes several
years in higher education,” he adds.
“Instead, we took the bull by the horns,
collaborated with our faculty, regional

employers, and area experts, and created
an academic array that puts students,
their employability, and quality academic
experience at the center.

many cases, three different programs at
three different institutions, and determining
how best to identify their strongest
attributes, modernize them for changing
workforce and student needs, and ensure
a quality experience for all students
regardless of campus location.

The work was then expanded to invite
key strategic partners to join curriculum
advisory boards. These advisors included
“With this new curriculum, we truly
top area employers
embrace the power
who shared their
of three, bringing
workforce needs,
together the best
including what
With
this
new
curriculum,
of what each CU
skills graduates
we truly embrace the power require to succeed
location offers and
building out the
immediately on the
of three, bringing together
programs that create
job. Finally, in some
the best of what each
the opportunities
cases, feedback
our students need
location offers…
was gathered
to succeed while at
from the students
Commonwealth U.
themselves.
and after graduation.” Hanna says.
“While students are at the heart of this
The review and launching process for the
new curriculum, the faculty were most
new curriculum began with the faculty.
definitely its champions,” says Provost
Through a variety of sessions, the faculty
and Senior Vice President for Academic
and university leadership came together
Affairs Diana Rogers-Adkinson. “Yes, our
to begin the critical work of examining, in
leadership could have simply picked one

10 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

ACADEMICS

of the three campus programs and been done with it. However,
that would not have coalesced the faculty at our three locations.
The faculty needed the opportunity to come together as one
department, one mind, one soul, one curriculum.”
Relevance and modernity are the two words that come
immediately to mind when discussing the new array, she noted.
To accomplish those goals, the faculty worked with regional
employers and advisory groups to suggest outcomes desired
from graduates. These outcomes were taken into consideration
in the development of course offerings and material. In addition,
high-impact practices such as internships and undergraduate
research were thoroughly embedded into academic programs.
“Every single year students now have the opportunity to do
some type of applied work, be that on or off campus,” RogersAdkinson says. “And a majority of these are embedded
experiences in our degree programs.”
This infusion of high-impact experience into each degree is part
of each student’s new Professional Map.
“We’ve embedded these practices across the four-year degree,
and we call that our Professional Map,” Rogers-Adkinson
explains. “Students now get to see two things right up front:
here’s my Degree Map, which includes the content I'm going
to learn over those four years and, simultaneously, here’s my
Professional Map, which includes experiences either in or out of
the classroom that tie my learning to the real application.”
The update also allowed CU to take a close look at how technology
is embedded in the curriculum. With different opportunities and
faculty at each location, it was important to ensure students at
one location did not miss out on the opportunities at another of

the three locations. To combat this, many programs and courses
have both face-to-face and remote or hybrid format offerings.
Several of these programs also take advantage of new
technologies for remote learning, such as the newly launched
WeConnect and Zoom+ classrooms. These high-tech spaces
allow students attending the remote classes to feel physically
in the learning space with their in-person professors and peers
at another campus location. The six WeConnect classrooms
across the CU campuses allow for a more immersive digital
experience for remote learning by using large high-definition
screens and sound systems to feature classmates’ faces and
voices similarly to how they would appear in a traditional lecture
hall setting. The new classrooms allow students to make eye
contact with the professor, and the professor to engage them
and the learning space in much more interactive, natural ways
than traditional online meeting platforms allow.
“We are so pleased to be able to offer the new curriculum this
semester,” President Hanna says. “It has been a labor of love
and much hard work that brings together the absolute best our
faculty and facilities have to offer, coupled with the experiences
employers need right now. I could not be more proud of our
community.”
Additional information on the new academic array was featured
on the Common Ground podcast.

Use the QR Code to listen to the
Common Ground podcast.

Council of Trustees’ Citation Recognizes
Faculty Work in Revising Curriculum
At a meeting on Oct. 6, the Commonwealth University Council of
Trustees enacted a citation commending the academic leadership
and faculty for completing the construction of the new curriculum
in just one year.
The citation, accepted by Provost Diana Rogers-Adkinson
and President Bashar Hanna, notes that faculty, chairs, deans,
academic affairs leaders, the Interim Curriculum Committee,
and University Curriculum Committee reviewed more than 2,200
individual curriculum documents over the last academic year.
The faculty prioritized the needs of the students to ensure a
unified high-quality educational experience; and contributed
extensive time, talent, and collaboration within their departments
to develop the new syllabi and programs of Commonwealth University.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 11

NSF GRANT

Kate Beishline, associate professor of Biological
and Allied Health Sciences

COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY AWARDED

$2.9 MILLION IN NSF GRANTS
By Eric Foster

Commonwealth University (CU) students
choosing to pursue majors in science will get a
boost thanks to two grants totaling $2.9 million
from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The NSF awarded a six-year, $2.5 million grant to CU through
its Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics program for the CU-THRIVE in STEM Project.
And to help students succeed once they are at CU, the
university has been awarded a three-year $400,000 Improving
Undergraduate STEM Education grant from the NSF for the
Starting Out Strong in STEM project.

SCHOLARSHIPS TO MAKE EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE
The $2.5 million CU-THRIVE in STEM Project will aid in the
recruitment, retention, and graduation of academically talented
students with demonstrated financial need.
The grant, available beginning in the Fall semester of 2024, will fund
renewable scholarships for an estimated 38 students. Qualifying
students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry,
computer science, digital forensics and cybersecurity, engineering,
geosciences, mathematics, and physics at the Bloomsburg, Lock
Haven, and Mansfield locations will receive four years of renewable
scholarships up to $15,000 in last-dollar scholarships.
“These scholarships are aligned with our mission as an institution
and with the mission of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education,” says Latha Ramakrishnan, Dean of the College of
Science and Technology. “Over its six-year duration, this grant will
provide four years of scholarship support to three cohorts of 12 or 13
students or 152 scholarships to 38 unique first-time, full-time students.
Students can receive a full, ‘free ride,’ scholarship for four years.”
The CU-THRIVE in STEM Program will also provide students with
evidence-based academic, social, and professional supports. The
program will also include summer bridge experience, first-year
learning community, service-learning research project, customizable
professional experience grants, peer and faculty mentors, and
STEM-dedicated career development, which will set CU-THRIVE
scholars up for success at CU and beyond in their STEM careers.
“It really took a village to create this grant,” says Project Principal
Investigator Dr. Jennifer Whisner. “The expertise and experience of
12 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

Principal investigators William Calhoun, Jennifer Whisner,
and David DeVallance

co-investigators Dr. Kate Beishline in biology at the Bloomsburg
campus, Dr. Mike Cullin in biochemistry, chemistry, engineering,
and physics at the Lock Haven campus, Dr. Kristen Long in biology
at the Mansfield campus, and Dr. Barry Minemeyer in mathematics,
computer science, and digital forensics at the Bloomsburg campus
were critical to the proposal’s success.”
“The CU-THRIVE in STEM program presents a dynamic example
of the power of three and what is possible at Commonwealth
University by harnessing the strengths of our locations to provide

NSF GRANT

Barry Minemyer, associate professor of Mathematical and Digital Sciences

Kristen Long, associate professor of Biological
and Allied Health Sciences

opportunities for students to succeed,”
says Bashar W. Hanna, President.

the growing need for qualified STEM job
candidates.

HELPING STUDENTS START STRONG

The learning assistant model pairs speciallytrained students with faculty who implement
an active learning approach in their courses.
Learning assistants (LA) take a one-credit
course that helps them effectively engage
and assist students and work closely with
faculty mentors to facilitate learning both
inside and outside the classroom.

Entry level STEM courses are often the
most rigorous of a college student’s
course load. The $400,000 Improving
Undergraduate STEM Education grant
is intended to increase the number of
students who successfully complete their
first-year STEM courses, and retain more,
and more diverse students in STEM majors.
The grant, “Improving STEM Student
Success Through the Integration of
Learning Assistants and Co-Requisite
Models in First-Year Courses,” will fund
implementation and expansion of two
innovative, evidence-based practices in
Commonwealth University’s College of
Science and Technology, and help CU
fulfill its workforce development mandate
by graduating more students who can fill

The co-requisite model replaces developmental math courses with additional
assistance in some sections of first-year
math courses. Bloomsburg mathematics
faculty have already replaced key
developmental courses with co-requisite
sections.
The math co-requisite model was
expanded to Commonwealth University
locations, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven,
and Mansfield, in the Fall semester. The
grant will provide students and faculty in

these transformed courses with additional
support from learning assistants. The grant
also provides support for CU faculty
teaching first-year courses in biology,
chemistry, geoscience, and physics
who have committed to adapting their
courses to include LA-facilitated active
learning, as well as faculty professional
development activities to enhance
student learning and success in first-year
STEM courses.
Project impacts will be felt beyond firstyear CU STEM classrooms as project
research results will be used to evaluate,
further develop, and share best practices
in teaching and learning.
The Improving Undergraduate STEM
Education project is led by Whisner,
William Calhoun, professor of mathematics
and digital sciences, and Dr. David
DeVallance, Associate Dean of the
College of Science and Technology.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 13

A LEGACY OF GIVING

A Legacy of Giving:
Ed & Julie Breiner’s Journey from
Bloomsburg Graduates to Philanthropic Leaders
By Tom Schaeffer '02

14 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

A LEGACY OF GIVING

Pictured L-R: past Breiner Scholarship recipients Alexis Bird '21, Lindsay Stine '21, Noah Green '21, Tyahva Wilhour '22, Lenora Pierce '21

C

ommonwealth University has received
its first-ever transformational gift. The
$5 million gift from Ed and Julie Breiner,
both 1977 graduates of the CU legacy institution
Bloomsburg University, will support nursing
education at all CU locations—Bloomsburg,
Lock Haven, Mansfield, and Clearfield.
Their commitment marks the first multimilliondollar alumni gift that supports the new
comprehensive direction of the integrated
university and largest single gift ever given to
the School of Nursing at any of the historic
campuses. In honor of their support, the
school, which has programming at all university
locations, will be renamed the Breiner School
of Nursing, within the College of Health
Professions.
Ed and Julie's story began in their hometown of
Easton, Pennsylvania where fate intervened, setting
them on a course that would bring them together
and shape their commitment to giving back.
The couple's paths first crossed when they were
set up on a blind date at the age of 15. Ed recalls
those early days, saying, “We went on a blind
date when we were probably 15 years old and
developed a friendship. We didn't get together
because we were both involved with other
people at our respective high schools, but we
remained friends.”
Ed’s academic career began at Shippensburg,
where he aspired to play college football while
pursuing his undergraduate degree. Julie's postsecondary education began at an all-girls school
in Hackettstown, N.J.

From left: President Bashar Hanna, Trustee and nursing student, Jessica Dodge, Ed
and Julie Breiner, Kim Olszewski, senior associate dean of the Breiner School of
Nursing, Erik Evans, vice president of university advancement, Leo-Felix Jurado, dean
of the College of Health Professions

Once they each realized their first choice schools weren't the right fit, they
transferred to Bloomsburg. Julie arrived at Bloomsburg in the spring of her first
year. Ed took a semester off and worked in a foundry, where he quickly discovered
that he wanted to give college another try.
“So, I followed Julie to Bloomsburg,” Ed jokes. "I knew two things: I didn’t want
to work in the foundry, and I wasn't going to be able to ask this girl to marry me
unless I had some bigger plans for the future."
After graduating in December 1977 from Bloomsburg State College—Ed
with a degree in accounting and Julie in biological sciences, they embarked on
careers close to home. Ed became an accountant at the same foundry where he
worked during his semester off, and Julie began with an internship as a medical
technology professional.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 15

A LEGACY OF GIVING

Ed’s next step was taking on a role as an accountant with
Ingersoll Rand, a job that eventually led to a sales position that
took the couple to Texas in 1981. He stayed with Ingersoll Rand
for 18 years before making the tough decision to move back to
Pennsylvania for a position with Schramm Inc., a family-held
global business specializing in drilling products and heavy
machinery.
That's where fate would play a role again, reconnecting Ed and Julie
with Bloomsburg. In 2010, two specialized mobile rotary drill rigs
produced by Schramm Inc. played a pivotal role in the rescue
of 33 Chilean minors trapped during a dangerous mining job.
The national event led to Ed being in the news, which prompted
members of Bloomsburg's marketing and communications
team to reach out for a story.
The experience rekindled a connection with Bloomsburg, which
led to Ed and Julie, who had already been regular supporters
of Bloomsburg, making their first major gift to create the Ed
and Julie Breiner Scholarship to support students majoring in
business and nursing.
Ed notes that their commitment to giving back was strengthened
by realizing the financial challenges facing students in the modern
era. “At the time, we were thinking about making a gift to support
education, and we wanted to support the state system,” he says.
“Outside of raising our family, creating that scholarship was one of
the most rewarding things we’ve ever done,” says Julie, who considers
the now 13 students who have received their scholarship as
extended family members. It’s truly a privilege to watch them
grow because we meet them as freshmen, and we say goodbye
to them right before graduation, and just to see them mature and
hear about their next steps is inspiring.”
In 2012, a few years after Ed and the management team
bought Schramm, Inc., the company was sold to private equity
investors. Ed’s journey from the foundry to the pinnacle of
the corporate world reflected his well-rounded approach to
business, which he attributes to his Bloomsburg education.
With the sale, Ed and Julie were in a position to make an even
more significant impact on Bloomsburg students through their
philanthropic support. “Sometimes in life, it's just like that,” says
Ed. “The timing was right. We knew we wanted to do something
to support one of the state schools, and we thought initially it
would be here in West Chester, where we live, but then we got
the call from Bloomsburg.”
After seeing how much their scholarship impacted their recipients,
Ed and Julie knew they wanted to support an area where they
could have a more exponential impact. The result was a $1.9 million
gift to establish the Breiner Endowed Professor of Nursing in
2014 as part of Bloomsburg's “It’s Personal” campaign.
The Breiners’ main goal for this gift was to help as many students
as they could because of the impact those students could then
make in their respective communities as healthcare providers.
Ed and Julie pictured with their current
scholarship Recipient, Jacob Schenck ’24
16 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

A LEGACY OF GIVING

Ed and Julie with Roongo, Leo-Felix M. Jurado, Dean, College of Health Professions Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, and Kim
Olszewski, Senior Associate Dean, Breiner School of Nursing.

“Our daughter is a nurse, and our niece graduated from Bloomsburg’s
nursing program, so it was a natural fit for us,” Julie adds.
“We were introduced to so many wonderful people in the
department through our scholarship recipients, which just
stirred a lot of enthusiasm within us for the program.”
The Breiners have formed special connections with scholarship
recipients and have also forged a lasting relationship with Kim
Olszewski, the second awardee of their professorship and
current senior associate dean of the School of Nursing.
“It has been amazing working with Ed and Julie; I have been so
inspired by everything they’ve done for me and our students,”
says Olszewski. “Their support embodies the definition of
philanthropy and they have positioned us to recruit and retain
the most talented aspiring healthcare professionals to make
a significant impact on healthcare, especially considering the
pressing nursing shortage we are facing within the next few years.”
Now retired and living in their home in West Chester, Ed and
Julie remain devoted to two core values: family and giving back.
With three adult children and six grandchildren, they stay busy
with grandparent duties, but Ed and Julie are active in their
community when the grandkids go back home.
The Breiners’ philanthropic journey is rooted in a profound
commitment to giving back. They have supported their
community through various avenues, including Ed's involvement
with the the Boards of the Chester County Hospital, Penn
Medicine, and the Chester County Food Bank. They have

also addressed food insecurity by volunteering at the Chester
County Food Cupboard. Julie’s engagement with various
nonprofit organizations reflects her unwavering dedication
to uplifting the lives of others, from serving on the board of
The North Star of Chester County to helping raise money for
scholarships for women in the Chester County area.
Ed and Julie’s recent gift extends their legacy of giving through
a $5 million gift from their estate to name the Breiner School of
Nursing, which will benefit students across all Commonwealth
University locations.
The Breiners’ extended support of nursing education stemmed
from their recognition of the critical need for nurses, especially in
underserved areas. Their enduring connection with Commonwealth
University, especially the School of Nursing, was a driving force
behind their latest $5 million gift through their estate.
“We need more nurses,” emphasizes Ed. “And if we need them
here, I know in the more rural parts of the country, it's even more
of a challenge.”
Julie underscored the importance of their gift, saying, “It’s really
about what's best for the students of central Pennsylvania. This
is taking the strengths from all the institutions and combining
them to provide a service for these students that surpasses
what could be done on an individual campus.”
“We’ve realized the success that we feel blessed by and what
we have,” says Julie. “And we want to share that with others.”
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 17

ATHLETICS

A HOLLYWOOD STORY
IN BLOOMSBURG

I

f Franklyn Quiteh’s story as a football
player at Bloomsburg was shopped to
Hollywood movie producers, it’d likely
be rejected as unrealistic.
There is no way that a player who landed
the starting tailback job as a redshirt
freshman through a series of strange
events, would become the secondleading rusher in NCAA Division II history
and win the 2013 Harlon Hill Award—the
D-II version of the Heisman Trophy.
But this story is true.

As a high school player at Pocono Mountain
West, Quiteh, the son of Liberian immigrants,
wasn’t highly recruited despite posting
a single-season school record of 2,278
yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior.
Few universities, not even hometown
East Stroudsburg, showed much interest.
Still, Quiteh (pronounced Kui-EH-tay)
looked to stay in the area.

By Tom McGuire

“At Pocono Mountain West, we weren’t
a hotbed for recruits, so it took a lot of
work from coaching staff to generate
interest,” says Quiteh. “I had interest
from D-I schools like Liberty, Delaware,
New Hampshire, as well as D-II schools
Shippensburg, Lock Haven, and Shepard.
But I really wanted to stay close to home so
my parents could see me play all the time.”
When the Huskies showed interest, Quiteh
jumped at the opportunity. “I attended
football camps at Bloomsburg, so I was
familiar with the school and coaching staff.”
Redshirting the first year was standard
practice for nearly all players. But, after
spring practice in 2010, Quiteh was fourth
on the depth chart.
“My initial thought was that there was
work to be done and I needed to carve
a role out for myself,” Quiteh says of his
career start at Bloomsburg. “I began to

18 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

concede mentally that I wouldn’t get any
real playing time until my junior year.”
“When spring practice ended, the feedback
from the coaches was encouraging and
made me want to do what I could to build
on it,” he adds. “My thought process was to
‘star in my role,’ whatever role that would be,
and take opportunities in stride.”
And then came the summer of 2010. The
third-string running back had academic
trouble and dropped out. The second
stringer blew out his knee doing a
workout. The starter was dismissed just
one week before the season opener.
Suddenly, the player not even mentioned
in the media guide was going to be the
starter in week one in Ashland, Ohio.
“Going from role player to starter was
quite the change. I knew what the running
back position meant to the offense and
the tremendous amount of responsibility
that came with that position,” says Quiteh.

ATHLETICS

Quiteh took his opportunity and ran with
it…literally.
Against Ashland University, Quiteh rushed
for 140 yards and a touchdown in a 24-14
loss. A star was born.
Quiteh ran for a total of 2,010 yards that
year and, remarkably as a freshman,
finished sixth in Hill voting.
As a sophomore, injury limited Quiteh
to just 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns,
a great season for most players. In his
junior year, he upped his total rushing
yards to 2,121 and 24 scores. And he put
himself in Harlon Hill Award contention.
One of three finalists, Quiteh earned a
trip to Florence, Alabama, for the 2012
Hill Awards banquet. He finished third.
“When I didn’t win the Harlon Hill that
year, I was upset,” says Quiteh. “I was
more upset with what the trophy could
have represented for my community and
how I could motivate so many athletes in
the Pocono mountains to always pursue
something much greater than themselves.”

than me—a championship. It wasn’t about
the trophy, it was about the team again, as
it should have always been. The original
motivation became the ‘new’ motivation.”
As a senior in 2013, Quiteh was even more
dominant—finishing with 2,195 yards, 29
rushing TDs, and 31 overall TDs. He led
NCAA Division II in four categories that
season: rushing yards (2,195); rush yards/
game (182.9); rushing TDs (29), and scoring
(15.7 points per game). He also set a new
school single-game record with 304 yards
rushing against East Stroudsburg.
The entire team, under head coach
Danny Hale, exceled, winning the PSAC
championship game against Slippery Rock
and earning a spot in the NCAA D-II playoffs.
Like a political campaign, a campaign
for Quiteh to win the Harlon Hill was
launched. The webpage, www.buhuskies.
com/quiteh, was created to showcase
Quiteh’s stats and highlights and can still
be accessed. Quiteh was again in the top
three, earning a trip to the awards dinner.

That third-place finish proved to be a
motivator.

This time, he came home with the prize.
Quiteh was named the best Division II
football player of 2013.

“That finish put everything into perspective,”
says Quiteh. “I was putting so much stock
into individual awards that, I didn’t appreciate
the special position I was in. It was an honor
to be in the mix. The next year I used that new
mindset to focus on something much bigger

“I was way more nervous in 2012 than I
was in 2013 before the announcement,”
Quiteh remembers. “My mindset had
changed. What I set out to do, I had
accomplished in winning a conference

title. Being there again I considered a
luxury. My goal for that trip was to enjoy
the company of other elite athletes
while taking in the experience of being in
Florence. Did I want to win? Of course.
But if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been upset.”
So if Hollywood came knocking with the
idea for a movie, how would it go?
“I don’t think anyone could have written
the script to my football career,” says
Quiteh. “Some of the best things in life
can’t be predicted, but in many cases,
those events are the most memorable.”
A story memorable enough to be a movie.
Now, who plays Franklyn?
Editor’s note: (Tom McGuire is the former Bloomsburg
sports information director (1997 to 2016). He retired
from Commonwealth University earlier this year.)

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 19

ATHLETICS

COACH MARVIN:

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
By Mary Raskob

In 15 years at the helm of the
Bloomsburg men’s and women’s
swimming teams, head coach Stu
Marvin made a splash in the sport.
A big splash.

T

hough he retired in June 2023 ripples of his legacy of
excellence will be felt for many seasons to come.

For Marvin, coaching was a dream that continued in
large part where it started—at Bloomsburg.
Marvin, a ’78 Bloom grad, had a stellar career in the pool for
the Huskies. On the deck outside the pool, his squads have
racked up dozens of individual and team championships.
As a swimmer, Marvin was an 11-time All-American performer
and won six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles.
He became the university’s first triple All-American award
winner in 1975 and repeated the feat in 1977. A two-time
Danny Litwhiler Underclass Athlete of the Year and the
Robert Redman Award winner as a senior in 1978, Marvin
was inducted into the Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame
in 1990. Marvin was also inducted into the Pennsylvania
Swimming Hall of Fame, Broward County Florida Sports
Hall of Fame, Upper Dublin High School Athletic Hall of
Fame, and the Florida Gold Coast Masters Hall of Fame.
“I want to thank former director of athletics, Mary Gardner,
for giving me the chance to lead these programs in 2008,”
says Marvin. “It’s been a dream come true to do this—to
coach the team that you swam for.”
Under Marvin’s watch, the women’s team achieved a
.650 winning percentage in dual meets, while the men
posted a .613 winning percentage. They have a combined

20 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

13 runner-up finishes at the PSAC
Championships and finished as high as
15th at the NCAA Championships.
“It’s been a pleasure to watch both teams
return to the top of the PSAC,” says
Marvin. “Sharing my enthusiasm and 50plus years of experience in competitive
swimming has been very rewarding.”
With Marvin coaching, the Huskies
produced 41 PSAC champions, won
109 PSAC All-Conference awards, and
set eight PSAC all-time records and six
PSAC meet records—five for the men
and one for the women. Marvin won a
PSAC title with the men’s team for the
first time in program history in 2021 and
completed the first undefeated season
for the Huskies in 2017.
Marvin was named the PSAC Coach
of the Year six times while he guided
six swimmers to PSAC Swimmer of
the Year, Swimmer of the Meet, and
Freshman Swimmer of the Year honors.
His Huskies have earned a pair of PSAC
Sportsmanship awards and produced
one PSAC Champion Scholar.
Marvin led eight student-athletes to
Danny Litwhiler Underclass Athlete of the
Year honors, six to Robert Redman Senior
Athlete honors, four Joanne McComb
Underclass Athlete of the Year honors, and
four Eleanor Wray Senior Athlete honors.
He also guided two individuals to Senior
Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards.

As a team under Marvin, the Huskies
have made 10 NCAA Championships
appearances, which led to 19 individual
All-Americans, earning 66 All-American
honors and 16 Scholar All-Americans
between the College Swimming & Diving
Coaches Association of America and
College Sports Information Directors
of America. They also earned six AllAmerican Scholar Team awards.
“My wife Meg is an avid international
traveler and now I will be able to join her
on her many adventures,” says Marvin.
“I can’t wait to share these countless
explorations all over the world!”
The first ripple of Marvin’s influence
is reflected in Bridget Hilferty, a star
Husky swimmer who took the reins as
head coach of the men’s and women’s
swimming teams after serving as
assistant under Coach Marvin for the
past 10 years.

There are no words to describe
the impact that Stu not only had
on me but the entire Bloomsburg
swimming and athletic family.
He will be greatly missed but is
always welcome on the pool deck.

– BRIDGET HILFERTY ’14/’22M

A four-year performer for the Huskies,
Hilferty ’14/’22M was a dominant
force in the distance freestyle events,
earning NCAA All-American honors
in the 1000 free and 1650 free in 2012.
She was a perennial top-eight finalist
at the conference championships and
was a key performer during dual meet
competitions. Hilferty is ranked in BU’s
all-time top 10 in the 1650 free (fifth), 500
free (fifth), 200 free (sixth), and 1000 free
(sixth). She was twice named the BU
Swimmer of the Year (2011, 2012) and was
a two-time team captain (2012, 2013).
The ripples of Marvin’s influence flow
outward again, as former Husky AllAmerican Eric Usbeck ’17 is the program’s
new assistant coach. Usbeck was an AllPSAC performer 19 times and a five-time
PSAC Champion. He was voted team
MVP, was the winner of the Robert B.
Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year
award in 2017, and a three-time recipient
of the Dave Gibas Award. He earned AllAmerica honors in the 200- and 400-yard
freestyle relays and the 200-yard medley
relay. Usbeck set four Bloomsburg and
PSAC records as part of relay teams.
“There are no words to describe the
impact that Stu not only had on me but
the entire Bloomsburg swimming and
athletic family,” says Hilferty. “He will be
greatly missed but is always welcome on
the pool deck.”

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 21

ATHLETICS

B LO O M S B U R G

HALLOF

Captain Tracy "Trey" Wirth '99 | Women's Soccer
Captain Wirth was a vital member of
the early success of the Bloomsburg
women's soccer program during a
four-year stint with the Huskies from
1995-1998. As a goalkeeper, Wirth was
a two-time All-American and a threetime All-Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) selection. Wirth is
among only two goalkeepers in program
history to earn multiple All-American
honors. During Wirth's career, Wirth
posted 20 total shutouts, the fourth
most in school history, and had 0.70
goals against average—allowing just
36 goals in 4.538 minutes. Wirth's GAA
stood as the program record until 2019.

FAME
The Bloomsburg athletic

department officially inducted
six alumni student-athletes
into the Bloomsburg Athletics
Hall of Fame on Sunday,
October 15, as part of the
Homecoming and Parents
& Supporters Weekend
festivities. This group marked
the 41st Athletic Hall of Fame
class and, with the addition
of six individuals, brought the
number of members
enshrined to 208.

Amber (Hackenberg) Brosius |
Women's Cross Country and
Track & Field
Amber (Hackenberg) Brosius was a standout
cross country and track and field athlete at
Bloomsburg for four years. Hackenberg joined
the Huskies in the fall of 2004. She was the
first women's cross country All-American
and earned several Academic All-America,
All-Region, and All-PSAC honors during her
career. During her track career, Hackenberg
was a four-time All-PSAC performer. In 2008,
Hackenberg qualified for the NCAA Outdoor
Track & Field Championships in the 5,000m
run after setting the school record in the event
at the Penn Relays. She took 17th overall in
the Olympic Development race at 17:16.42.

Bill Paule '65 | Wrestling
Bill Paule was a four-year varsity letter winner
for the Bloomsburg wrestling program from
1961-65. Paule was the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion and a
PSAC runner-up twice. He capped his career as
a Husky with a fourth-place finish at the NAIA
Tournament. During the 1961-62 season, Paule
went 5-3 in duals as a freshman and finished
second overall at 147 pounds at the PSAC
championships. During his time at BU, the
Huskies went 45-4-1 in dual meets.

22 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

ATHLETICS

Franklyn Quiteh '13 | Football
Franklyn Quiteh graduated as the decorated running
back and one of the most decorated studentathletes in Bloomsburg University football history.
He was the top back in the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference and NCAA DII during his four
years as a Husky. Quiteh's career culminated in
receiving the Harlon Hill Award following his 2013
campaign, and he finished third in the vote following
the 2012 season. The Harlon Hill represents the top
player in the nation in DII football. In his four years
on the gridiron, the Huskies went 39-9, were the
PSAC East champion twice, and advanced to the
NCAA DII national tournament three times.

Lindy (Altadonna) McKinney '99 |
Women's Lacrosse

Sheila (Zilinski) Hughes '04/'06M |
Field Hockey/Women's Lacrosse

Lindy (Altadonna) McKinney is one of the most decorated
defenders for the Bloomsburg lacrosse team. During her
career, McKinney collected several All-American honors
from the United States Women's Lacrosse Association
(USWLA) and the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse
Coaches Association (IWLCA). As a defender, she was a
three-time First Team All-American by both organizations
following the 1997, 1998, and 1999 seasons. McKinney was
a three-time First Team All-PSAC Defender during that
season as well.

Sheila (Zilinski) Hughes was an exceptional Bloomsburg field
hockey program member for four seasons, leading the Huskies
to two-straight NCAA National Championships and back-to-back
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships.
During her career, Hughes collected several National Field Hockey
Coaches Association (NFHCA) and Intercollegiate Women's
Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American and PSAC
honors. Following the 2002 field hockey season, Hughes was
named the PSAC Athlete of the Year and the NFHCA National
Player of the Year.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 23

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Bloomsburg
Honors
Alumni
By Andrea O'Neill '06

Every year, the Bloomsburg University
Alumni Association recognizes alumni for
their exemplary service to the university and
their communities. Alumni are eligible for The
Maroon and Gold Excellence (Young Alumnus)
Award; William T. Derricott '66 Volunteer of the
Year Award; and Distinguished Service Award.
The 2023 winners are outstanding examples
of the Husky spirit and demonstrate a
lifelong commitment to service before self.
We’re proud to recognize their dedication to
paying it forward while giving back.

Alumni Award Winners: Hakeem Thomas ’17, Austin Edgette ’18,
Wayne Whitaker ‘79/’95M, Steve Messner ‘68/’70M

Maroon and Gold Excellence Award: Austin Edgette ’18
Bloomsburg University
baseball’s second AllAmerican and most recent
MLB draft pick may have
made baseball his top
priority while on campus,
but he knew his future would
be bigger than athletics. In
fact, it was his desire to help
and inspire others that drew
him to Bloomsburg.
“Bloomsburg Baseball was
more about culture and
finding success over winning and that was exactly what I was
looking for,” says Edgette.
Austin Edgette

Once elected captain his junior year, Edgette found a renewed
focus on the MLB draft and a sense of purpose by using his role
as a ballplayer to connect with the communities where he played.
“There’s a level of happiness I found by seeing the impact I can
have just by signing a hat and having a conversation,” says Edgette.
“I realized Bloomsburg Baseball had given me a platform.”
The San Francisco Giants drafted Austin Edgette out of
Bloomsburg University, but he says what really changed his life
was the phone call that came after.
24 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

“I got a call from a freshman teammate [and] he told me that he
wanted to get drafted,” recalls Edgette. “All of a sudden, younger
teammates were acting like it was possible. When I think about
that day I don’t think about my name on that draft list I think of
that phone call.”
Edgette spent two seasons with the Giants before deciding
to utilize his degree in finance. The first stop in the transition
was Bloomsburg—specifically the annual Baseball Career
Night organized by head baseball coach, Mike Collins—to gain
perspective and get advice from fellow Huskies already working
in the industry.
“It provided some direction and allowed me to transition to
Lincoln Financial,” says Edgette.
Now a wholesaler consultant for Lincoln Financial Distributors,
Edgette has been recognized by LIncoln Financial for his
relentless mentorship of new hires and shares his wisdom and
inspiration with middle and high school students about holding
onto one’s dreams in the face of mental health, familial, and
other challenges. He is also a frequent alumni volunteer with the
Bloomsburg ZIPD Conference and Baseball Career Night.
“Bloomsburg gave me an opportunity to give hope to others.
That’s something I’ll never lose sight of.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

2023 Distinguished Service Award

Steve Messner '68/'70M

If anyone took the mission of education to heart, it’s Steve
Messner ’68/’70M. Recruited immediately out of Bloomsburg
State Teachers College by the Lower Dauphin School District,
Messner made an immediate impact on his students as tough,
but fair. In fact, his first homeroom class dedicated their yearbook
to Messner, and the district recognized him as a Lower Dauphin
Outstanding Teacher.

Hakeem Thomas and his wife, Coleen Thomas ‘17 at
Homecoming.

2023 William T. Derricott ’66
Volunteer of the Year Award:

Hakeem Thomas ’17

Hakeem Thomas ’17 was only two weeks removed from a military
deployment to the Middle East when he arrived at Bloomsburg
University as a first-generation college student. And while
Thomas’ college career started out with all the optimism of
any new adventure, the mental and physical trauma from his
deployment and a lack of career direction led to his first year
ending with an academic dismissal from the university.
“I had a lot of demons I didn’t know I had.” explains Thomas.
“In the military, we are ‘mission first,’ and I had failed my
mission as a college student.”
The feelings of failure from the dismissal compounded his
PTSD and nearly led Thomas to take his own life. But a welltimed phone call from his now wife, Coleen and a concerted
effort by Bloom faculty and staff toward his reinstatement—
Thomas’ “village” as he now describes it—helped him develop
the academic skills necessary to complete his degree and
address what had been hindering him internally.

His love of education would later prompt Messner to give back
to his community and alma mater in such a way that he was
named a 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.
But education wasn’t just a means to a living for Messner.
Messner used his personal and professional contacts to help
his students and drive his volunteer work, especially with
America's Promise, through which Messner was instrumental
in delivering more than 400,000 books to youth in the greater
Harrisburg region over two decades.
“There are small things that anybody can do to help others,” explains
Messner. “Any small idea can turn into a big deal if you stick to it. It’s
important to look for ways to help people, and it doesn’t have to be a
big project. The ways you can give back are endless.”
Messner credits Bloomsburg with the inspiration and skillset
that have driven his extensive service. In fact, when it came
time to reconnect with his classmates for the class of 1968
reunion, Messner volunteered as chair of the 50th reunion
committee and established a scholarship for students majoring
in education—encouraging his classmates to do likewise.
"I realized early on in my career that I had been exposed to
leadership skill sets at Bloomsburg that were valuable to me
throughout my lifetime,” recalls Messner. “I thought it was only
right that I would give so that others would benefit from those
same opportunities that were afforded to me."

“Without the staff and faculty, I would not be sitting here. No
doubt about it,” explains Thomas. “I was given a second chance as
a student and a second chance at life.”
That reinstatement was a turning point for Thomas, who began
to give back immediately through the Bloomsburg University
Student Veterans Association (BUSVA), and later as an alumni
volunteer through the Career Intensive Boot Camp (CIBC)
and COST Pathways events. Thomas also holds an executive
position on the Bloomsburg University Alumni Association
board of directors. This relentless involvement with his alma
mater led Thomas to be named the 2023 William T. Derricott
’66 Volunteer of the Year.
“My new mission in life is to keep giving back and keep helping
the next generation,” says Thomas. “The only way I can repay
my village is to be part of someone else’s, and I will do it every time.”

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 25

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Whitaker became a recruiter for Bloomsburg University, working
exclusively with high schools in the Philadelphia area to not
only increase the student population at Bloomsburg, but also
to provide racially diverse students from urban locations the
opportunity of higher education.
Whitaker brought the Bloomsburg story to inner city schools,
churches, youth clubs, and arranged bus trips by which prospective
students could tour the campus, meet other students, observe
classes, talk with professors, and connect with alumni from the
Philadelphia area.
“He was determined to make sure that Bloomsburg was on the
map,” says retired school counselor Beverly Tedesco.

2023 Distinguished Service Award

Wayne Whitaker Sr. ’79/’95M
A ripple effect of success that extends across regions and
generations has earned Wayne Whitaker Sr. ’79/’95M the 2023
Distinguished Service Award.
The New York City native enrolled at Bloomsburg State College
in the fall of 1975 and while he struggled at first to adjust to the
rural environment, the lessons he learned on campus allowed
him to pass along his wisdom to fellow Huskies over the next
three decades.
“I didn’t want to leave New York,” recalled Whitaker. “But I had
the greatest experience. Bloom is where I learned my purpose.”
“I cried on the bus because I didn’t want to leave New York,”
recalls Whitaker. “But I had the greatest experience. Bloom is
where I learned my purpose.”

But mostly, Whitaker brought access. A first generation college
student from a large city, Whitaker understood the challenges
that awaited students from urban areas and worked to remove
barriers from the admissions process that collided with full time
jobs, familial responsibilities, or a lack of technology.
“He would never take a student that was not qualified, but a lot
of times our students would disqualify themselves,” explains
Tedesco. “He would accept a paper application or extend a
deadline. It gave that student a chance. It made Bloomsburg a
viable option.”
“The first thing I would tell the students to do when they got to
Bloomsburg was, ‘Go find Mr. Whitaker,’” says Tedesco. “Wayne
had things in place that pulled them together and gave them a
purpose and a mentor.”
Wayne Whitaker retired from Bloomsburg University in 2020 with
a legacy that includes three generations of Bloom alumni who
have impacted their communities and professions. Equally great
has been his impact on the university itself in the form of a more
racially diverse Husky pack; the return on a 30 year investment in
the underrepresented students of Philadelphia.

Honoring the grit and determination of
Huskies who are making the climb...
Dear Fellow Huskies,
Nominating a classmate is not just about acknowledging
their success; it's a chance to celebrate the enduring
friendships and collective growth that defined our
educational experience. Your participation in this process
not only uplifts their accomplishments but also strengthens
the bonds that connect us as a community. I assure you; the process is not only
gratifying but also an opportunity to rediscover the shared pride we have in each
other's achievements.
Let's come together to honor the exceptional individuals who represent the best
of what Bloomsburg has to offer. Your nomination can make a lasting impact.
Lamar K. Oglesby '07
Alumni Awards Committee Chair, Bloomsburg Alumni Association
26 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

Call for Nominations:

Bloomsburg
Alumni Awards
2024 nominations are now
open. Deadline to nominate
is January 26.
For more info about the 2023
alumni award winners visit:
bloomu.edu/bu-alumni-awards

HUSKY NOTES

60s
Harold Ackerman ’65 has photography
featured in the Spring 2023 issue of The Penn
Review and other work forthcoming in Pithead
Chapel. Two of his poems appeared recently
in Schuylkill Valley Journal. He has published
several collections of photographs and poetry,
most recently February 2, available at the Blurb
bookstore. Ackerman earned an M.A. at the
University of Kansas and a Ph.D. at Indiana
University of Pa. and taught basic writing,
composition, and ESL classes at Bloomsburg
University for 26 years. He is married to Jane
Archer Ackerman, a ’64 BU graduate.

70s

Donato Nieman ’74 was appointed State
President for AARP New Jersey in January
2023. Nieman retired from a career in
municipal management in 2022 after nearly
40 years of public service. His last position was
as Township Administrator for Montgomery
Township, N.J., and is currently the part-time
interim borough administrator in Pennington,
N.J., mentoring the candidate for the position.
Robert DeCarolis ’76 entered Oregon
State’s Hall of Fame. DeCarolis spent 17 years
at Oregon State, including 13 as the athletic
director. Under his leadership, OSU grew the
school’s athletic budget by more than $20 million.

80s

Jean M. Runyon ’80,
Ph.D., was recently
installed as the sixth
president of Piedmont
Virginia Community
College in Charlottesville.
Previously, Runyon
was the campus vice
president at Front Range
Community College’s
Larimer Campus in Colorado from 2015–
2022. From 2007–2015, Runyon served in
progressively responsible leadership positions at
Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland.
Runyon holds a Doctor of Philosophy in
Education in Education Technology Management
from Northcentral University, Master of Arts
in Education and Human Development from
George Washington University.
Richard DiLiberto ’82 was honored by
UNICO National, America’s largest ItalianAmerican service organization. DiLiberto
received the 2023 Philip Mazzei Americanism
Award. A graduate of MMI Preparatory School
and current board chairman, DiLiberto, was
inducted into the school’s Wall of Fame
and has served on the board of directors
since 2013. He is a litigation partner in the
Wilmington, Delaware, law firm of Young
Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP.

Mary Scandle McHugh ’83 retired as a parole
agent with over 35 years of service with the
State of Pennsylvania.
Michael Boguski ’85 has retired as President of
Specialty Property & Casualty at ProAssurance.
Since stepping into his role as President of
Specialty P&C four years ago, Boguski has
brought those operations together under
common leadership and overseen the integration
of NORCAL into the ProAssurance organization.
John Reilly ’85/’21M has been named Chief
Financial Officer of Mrs. T’s Pierogies. Reilly, of
Ashland, has been with Mrs. T's for 16 years and
has most recently held the title of Director of
Finance. He also recently completed his Masters
in Business Administration and Management
from Bloomsburg University. With this new
title, Jack will continue to oversee and direct all
Financial Activity and Mrs. T's Revenue Growth
Management Team. His new role will also have
him oversee all IT activity.
Richard King ’86 was selected as the
Construction Financial Management Association’s
(CFMA) 2023 Danny B. Parrish Outstanding
Leadership Award recipient. King, CPA, CCIFP, is
Treasurer/CFO at Schlouch Incorporated, where
he manages accounting, finance, IT, insurance,
contracts, Human Resources, and administration.
King joined Schlouch in 1998 and has over 35
years of experience in public accounting and
industry. King is a founding member and past
President of CFMA’s Greater Berks-Lehigh Valley
Chapter. He has served on CFMA’s Executive and
Leadership Development, Conference Planning,
and Heavy/Highway Committees.
Keith Youtz ’86 will retire after this school
year from Lackawanna Trail Junior Senior High
School. He has taught mathematics for 33.5
years. He will also resign as the head wrestling
and cross-country coach and assistant coach for
track and field. He has been a wrestling coach
for 36 years at several schools, 24 of those years
at Lackawanna Trail, three as an assistant to Ron
Evans, and 21 years as head coach.
Julie Beck Burkhart ’88 has been named
dean of Elms College, Chicopee, Mass.,
School of Nursing. Beck joins Elms from
Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., where
she recently served as director of Nursing
and Health Sciences. The author of the book
The Meaning of Voice to Experienced Nurses in
Magnet Hospitals, Beck has more than 20 years
of higher education experience in nursing.
Charles Zwicker ’88 has been named
president and chief operating officer of
Wyomissing-based Weidenhammer, a
technology company. He is the second
president in the company’s 45-year history.
Charles G. Zwicker has been named president

and chief operating officer (COO). He has more
than 30 years of experience in consulting
and sales and marketing. Zwicker joined
Weidenhammer in 2006 as a sales manager
before moving to sales director, vice president,
and most recently COO. Zwicker co-chairs
The Chamber of Commerce for Great
Philadelphia’s Middle Market Action Team’s
Steering Committee. He also serves as a Judge
of Elections in Montgomery County, a Steering
Committee member at La Salle College High
School, and as an adult leader in Scouting BSA.
Karen Krisch ’89 has been named Pennsylvania’s
2023 National Distinguished Principal by the
Pennsylvania Principals Association. An educator
for 29 years, Krisch served in her current role as
principal at Marion-Walker Elementary School
(K-5) since 2017. Previously, she was principal at
Bellefonte Area Elementary School, principal and
vice principal at Bellefonte Area Middle School,
and an assistant administrator for the Bald Eagle
Area School District.

90s

Nelson Barr ’91
has been named vice
president field claims at
ERIE Insurance for the
Hagerstown claims office.
Barr joined ERIE in 2005
as a property adjuster.
Since then, he been
a large loss specialist,
property claims supervisor, and most recently, a
property claims examiner in the Raleigh Branch.
Barr also served in the U.S. Army Reserve and holds
Senior Claim Law Associate (SCLA) and Associate
in Insurance (AINS) and is a property arbitrator.
William Klaips ’93 has been named assistant
medical center director at the Wilkes-Barre
VA Medical Center (WBVAMC). Since 2014,
Klaips has been the executive assistant to
the director and public affairs officer at the
WBVAMC. Klaips began his career with the VA
in 2005 as an electrical engineer in facilities
management service. During his career, he
has progressed through various leadership
roles within the organization, including chief
of project engineering, associate chief of
facilities management service, and acting
chief engineer at the Wilkes-Barre and Erie VA
Medical Centers.
Jennifer (Gadomski) Orr-Greene ’94 joined
Cedarville Engineering Group, LLC, in Pottstown
as the Environmental Team Lead. She began
her career at the Susquehanna River Basin
Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, assuming various roles
in water resources management. Most recently,
she served as the Eastern Policy Director for the
conservation organization Trout Unlimited.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 27

HUSKY NOTES
Steven Keen ’94 has been named assistant
dean of Transportation Technologies at the
Pennsylvania College of Technology in
Williamsport. A veteran of regional career and
technical education, Keen was most recently
director of career and technical education and
high school principal in the Jersey Shore Area
School District. Before joining Jersey Shore
in 2013, Keen was an accounting teacher and
coach in the Sullivan County School District,
where he also taught in the Penn College
Dual Enrollment program and was a business,
computer, and information technology instructor
in the Keystone Central School District.
Wade Becker ’95 has been named chief
revenue officer at RKL LLP. Since joining the RKL
partnership in February 2014, Becker has been
active in business development and relationship
management. He was integral to launching the
firm’s Harrisburg office in 2014 and continued to
build RKL’s presence in the Capital Region.
Lisa McCracken Lehman ’96 has been
named head of research and analytics at
the National Investment Center for Seniors
Housing & Care (NIC). She was formerly
senior living research and development with
specialty investment bank Ziegler, where she
was the primary researcher for the LeadingAge
Ziegler 200, the Ziegler CFO Hotline poll, and
other publications. She began her career as a
research analyst at Holleran, a healthcare and
aging services research and consulting firm,
where she was promoted to vice president of
research, managing partner, and ultimately,
president between 2009 and 2013.
Jeffrey Matzner ’96 has been named
assistant superintendent of the Gettysburg Area
School District. Previously, Matzner served as
principal at Central Dauphin Middle School for
about 12 years. He earned his superintendent’s
letter in 2017 and then his Doctor of Education
in school system leadership a year later, both
from Widener University. His career includes
teaching at South Middleton School District,
where he taught sixth-grade math, science,
geography, reading, and English at Yellow
Breeches Middle School. He then became
assistant principal at Linglestown Middle
School in Central Dauphin School District.
Dr. Claire Watson ’98M, who directed the
initiative that created St. Bonaventure University’s
Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions
in 2016, has been named the school’s interim
dean. Watson joined the St. Bonaventure faculty
in 2013. She holds a Ph.D. in public health from
Walden University, a master’s degree in public
health from Walden, a master’s in exercise
science from Bloomsburg University, and a
bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State
University of New York at Geneseo.

Mary Murphy-Kahn ’99M was appointed
Greenwood School District’s superintendent.
She has 17 years of teaching experience,
including Saint Monica School, Central
Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, Selinsgrove
School District, and Shikellamy School
District. She began her administrative career
as Shikellamy School District’s assistant
high school principal for two years before
becoming the district’s middle school principal,
a position she held for eight years.
Donald Richardson ’99 has been named
head football coach at West Catholic
Preparatory High School in Philadelphia.
Previously, he was assistant football coach at
The Haverford School for 18 years.

00s

Lon Morris Sr. ’01 was promoted to Chief
Operating Officer for the UNB Bank in Mount
Carmel. Morris has been with the bank since
March of 1995, previously serving as Numidia’s
bank branch manager.
Lisa Slover Hivner ’02 has been named
director of student services for the Carlisle
Area School District. She is a board-certified
behavioral analyst who has worked as a transition
coordinator in the Newport School District and
as an autism behavioral educational consultant
for the Capital Area Intermediate Unit.
Jon Trosky ’03/’04M is in his second
year of teaching at the Hazleton School
District’s Career Center, where he is a mass
communications instructor. He is also beginning
his 15th year as a part-time instructor at Penn
State Hazleton and PSU Berks, where he
teaches classes in computers, graphic design,
new media, and emerging technology.
Nicole Meckes Gunderman ’06 was named
Outstanding Citizen of the Year at the Freeland
Memorial Day celebration. Meckes is a seventh
and eighth grade modern world studies
teacher at Freeland Elementary/Middle School
in the Hazleton Area School District. She has
been employed by the district since 2007 and
at Freeland Elementary/Middle School for 12
years. Along with her teaching duties, Meckes
is the adviser for the SADD and History clubs.
Tiffany Forman Myers ’06 has earned
her Pennsylvania real estate license and has
joined RE/MAX Bridges in Lewisburg as a sales
associate. She was previously the settlement
coordinator at the firm and will continue her
administrative role inside the RE/MAX Bridges
office. Before joining RE/MAX Bridges, she
worked as an administrative assistant and
finance staff member at SureHealth Pharmacy,
now Caresite Pharmacy, and was a stay-athome mother for three children for 10 years.

28 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

Patrick Anderson ’09 has been named
president and senior director of engineering
and operations at Citizen’s Electric in
Lewisburg. Anderson brings ten years of
electric utility experience to the Citizens’
team, recently serving as a senior engineer in
metering with PPL Electric Utilities.

10s

Larissa Savitsky ’11 has joined the sales team
of Bowen Agency Realtors. Bowen Agency
Realtors is a full-service real estate agency with
offices in Selinsgrove, Sunbury, and Lewisburg.
Matthew Wincek ’12M has been named
Tunkhannock Area High School principal. A
former Wyoming Valley West teacher, Wincek
was most recently curriculum director at
Wyalusing Area School District.
Joshua Roosa ’13 has been named the head
men’s wrestling coach at Misericordia University.
Roosa spent the last three seasons as the head
coach at King’s College. Previously, he spent five
years as an assistant at D-I Appalachian State,
including four seasons as head assistant coach.
Katelyn Kelleher ’14 has been promoted to
coordinator of crisis services at Scranton Counseling
Center, a community-based private nonprofit
behavioral health provider serving Lackawanna,
Susquehanna, and surrounding counties.
Gene Tunney ’14 has opened New Street Dental
in Bethlehem. The office specializes in restorative
dentistry and general dentist services.
Alyssa Sanonu Meyers ’15M was named
director of philanthropy at Community Giving
Foundation in Berwick. In her position, MeyersSanonu will work closely with the foundation’s
president and CEO to bolster referral pipelines
and serve as a spokesperson and presenter on
behalf of the foundation. She most recently
served as the Education and Enrichment director
at the Berwick Area YMCA. She previously worked
on well-being and community development
initiatives at Arizona State University.
Scott A. Koman ’15,
a manager with
Pennsylvania-based
accounting firm
Boyer & Ritter, was
recognized by the
National Association of
Certified Valuators and
Analyst and the Consultants’ Training Institute
as among its list of leading 30 professionals
30 years of age and younger. In addition to his
CPA license, Koman has obtained credentials
in Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Master
Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF). In 2022,
Koman CPA, CFE, MAFF, also earned the
Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) designation.

HUSKY NOTES
Dylan Kimbar ’16 was sworn in as an officer
in the Pennsylvania Capitol Police Department.
Before joining the PA Capitol Police
Department, he served as a patrolman for the
Portland Maine Police Department.
Molly R. Ciaccio ’19
recently joined the
law firm of Wyatt Early
Harris Wheeler in
High Point, N.C. as an
associate attorney. Her
areas of practice include
Estates and Elder Law.
Ciaccio earned her J.D.
from the Elon University School of Law in 2022.

Marriages

20s

Henry Hynoski ’20M has been named
principal of the Southern Columbia School
District High School. A Southern Columbia
graduate and former NFL player, Hynoski was
hired last week as the district’s new high school
principal. Hynoski led the school’s football
team to four state titles before playing for the
University of Pittsburgh and winning the Super
Bowl with the New York Giants.
Cristian Vazquez ’22 joined the Catawissa
Borough Police Department. Vazquez is
bilingual, speaking English and Spanish. His
family moved to Shenandoah from New York
when he was nine.

Rebecca Andrews ’16 and
Kyle Fleischood ’16 on Oct. 2, 2020
Liza Gillette and Brian Jay Lawall ’15
on Oct. 22, 2022
Cole Neff ’20 and Lindsey Sell ’19
on Oct. 22, 2022
Samantha Perna ’17 and Evan Marx ’17
on June 10, 2023
Matthew Cox ’17 and Allison Chory ’18
on Aug. 4, 2023
Megan (Dempsey) O’Malley ’10 and
Timothy O’Malley on Aug. 25, 2023
Cara Kobeski ’12 and Kevin J. Chuff
on Sept. 3, 2023

Births
Julie (Fufla) Yagielniskie ’12 and
Scott Yagielniskie, a daughter, Kira Elise,
on May 17, 2022
Katelin (Bolig) ’13 Auchenbach and
John Auchenbach ’13, a daughter,
Mackenzie, on Sept. 28, 2022
Tyler DiRienzo ’14 and Colette (Wolfe)
DiRienzo, a son, Jack, on Oct. 18, 2022
Robyn ’05 and Adam ’04 Westover,
a daughter, Savannah, on Dec. 27, 2022
Brittany (Bartol) Backer ’15 and Derrick
Backer ’14, a daughter, Caroline Anne,
on Feb. 15, 2023
Rebecca (Andrews) Fleischood ’16
and Kyle Fleischood ’16, a son, Connor Jay,
Feb 17, 2023
Terry J. Tirko ’16 and Emilee (Gearhart)
Tirko, a daughter, Ellie Deloris,
on March 11, 2023
Emily Vollmer ’14 and Troy Sayles,
a daughter, Phoebe, on March 11, 2023
Mary ’10 (Lorence) Schrader and Fred
Schrader ’11, a son, Benjamin Andrew,
on March 21, 2023
Paul ’08 and Heather (Brassington)
Scharf, a daughter, Ramona Marie,
on March 31, 2023.
Taylor William Freda ’17 and
Peter Freda ’16, a daughter, Lucy Addison
Freda, on May 26, 2023
Anna (Newcomer) Cooper ’17/’20M
and Cody Cooper ’16/’20M, a daughter,
Hadleigh Mae, on June 7, 2023

Send information to: magazine@bloomu.edu
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine | Arts and Administration Building | 400 E. Second Street | Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 29

In Memoriam
Athletics Pioneer

JOANNE McCOMB
Joanne McComb, 90, a fixture in women’s
baseball history, Hall of Fame women’s
basketball coach, and administrator, passed
away at her home on June 21. She leaves
behind a 26-year legacy that shaped the athletic
landscape at Bloomsburg University.
McComb served in various roles before retiring
in 1986. During her six seasons as the women’s
varsity basketball coach, McComb guided the
team to an impressive record of 52 wins and
15 losses. Her coaching earned her a spot
among the top five coaches in the university’s
history, with an outstanding winning percentage of .776. McComb was also known for her
time as a professional baseball player for the

Springfield Sallies in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball
League (AAGPBL).
The iconic 1992 film about the league, "A League of Their Own,"
featuring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis, told to story of the League’s
origins. McComb played herself in a cameo role, helping to
immortalize the experiences of all the players in the post-WWII league.

Obituaries
Bertha May Sturman ’48
Janet Page Hartt ’49
Helen Brace Hess ’49
LaFerne Shirk Keller ’49
Frances Cerchiaro Abitanta ’50
Thomas Goodwin ’53
Sara Hoffman Allen ’54
Francis Gavio ’54
Anthony Hantjis ’54
Keith Smith ’54
Vincent Buckwash ’55
Shirley Wagner Friedman ’57
Harley Stewart ’57
Sandra Pfister Brown ’59
Barbara Curry Eskilson ’59
Louis Marsilio ’59
John Varcoe ’59
Dean Schaffer ’60
Joseph Swatski ’60
Edward Glennon ’61
Ted Sees ’61
James Huber ’62
Joseph Pecorelli ’62
Charles Sipos ’62
Sally Chambers Bowen ’63
Maureen Janerich Raiter ’63
Ronald Harvey ’64
Randall Young ’64
Fred Dallabrida ’65

Lynald Silsbee ’65
Jack Stanton ’65
Robert Keagle ’66
Arthur Hakim ’67
Carole Jones Kalinowski ’67
John Ray ’67
Regis Stirling ’67
Paulette Mrochko Platukis ’68
Joseph Walton ’68
Jane Faust ’69
Betty Jane McCutchen Gasper ’69
G. Laepple ’69
Ann Brandt ’70
Larry Geguzis ’70
Grace Mensch Jaskiewicz ’70
Patricia Fear ’71
David Herlinger ’71
Linda King ’71
William Langan ’71
Suzanne Shaffer Moore ’71
Thomas Plishka ’71
Cindy Berkheiser ’72
Thomas Breit ’72
Robert Casey ’72
Jeffery Maurer ’72
James McCue ’72
Robert Ross ’72
Ruth Williams Webb ’72
Robert Oliver ’73

30 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

David Tracey ’73
Charles Wehinger ’73
Karen Jagodinski Werner ’73
Diane Walworth Willis ’73
Albert Fagnani ’74
Robert Foltz ’74
Catherine Walkowiak Kaminski ’74
Kathryn Timalonis Musser ’74
C. Eric Cureton ’75
Donna Marie Mehalick Gulash ’75
Victor Mallory ’75
Lena Koch Shannon ’75
Diane Boyd Gaskins ’76
Carol Boelhoff Giesen ’76
Thomas Kubishin ’76
Kaárin Bishop Reinecker ’76
Ray Reinard ’77
Margaret Varner ’77
James West ’77
Cathy Lucrezi ’78
Robert Lynn ’78
Linda Breisch Cook ’79
Donald Gaughenbaugh ’79
Robert Peiffer ’79
Kenneth Bollinger ’80
John Green ’80
Loraine Swaim ’80
Lynn Worthington Dibble ’81
Susan Trynoski ’81

Mary Ann Kershitsky Blosky ’82
David Gillis ’82
Lori Goodling ’83
William Townley ’83
Cathleen Curran Eltringham ’85
Peggy Ann Garner Conklin ’90
Heidi Werner Newell ’91
Nancy Hofbauer Phillips ’91
Lisa Pizzichemi Daley ’93
Eric Frost ’94
Brett Long ’94
Karen Bush ’95
Melissa Stuart ’95
Margaret Barbarito ’96
Jason Hines ’96
Sarah Peters ’97
Walter Nichols ’99
Aaron Norakus ’00
Nancy Smith Wheeler ’00
Linda Metzger Teberio ’02
Rosalinda Virruso Giles ’03
Paul Gola ’03
Carole Derricott ’04
Robert Buff ’07
Glenn Knott ’11
Amanda Smith ’12
Troy Nicholson ’15
Caitlin Guerin ’20

THEN & NOW

NURSES on Campus Through the Years
By Robert Dunkelburger

1916

Before there was an academic nursing program on
campus, there were nurses. Shown is the interior of
the campus infirmary, located on the current site of
Northumberland Hall, 1916. For many years medical
treatment at the Bloomsburg State Normal School
was limited to sick rooms in the dormitories.
An infirmary building was established in 1915, a gift
of that year’s graduating class. The modern facility,
located some distance from the dormitories, was
staffed by a trained nurse and featured four rooms for
patients. It provided a safe location for isolating ill
students and preventing the spread of disease.

1979

More than 1,500 people had their blood
pressure taken by Bloomsburg State College
student nurses during the annual Bloomsburg
Fair in September 1979. Seen here is Helen
Shiner, working as a clown during Fair Week,
having her pressure taken by student nurses,
from left, freshman Debbie Sabalesky,
Kingston, and seniors Jill Laylon and Kathy
Solley, both from Williamsport. As a result of
this outreach, nearly 200 persons suspected
of hypertension were referred to their physicians.

1989

Two Bloomsburg University nursing students, at
right Beth N. Ferrier, Class of 1990, examining a
medical printout as part of their training, 1989. The
clinical laboratory experience in local hospitals
has been a primary component of the nursing
curriculum at Bloomsburg since the first students
enrolled in 1975.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 31

Q+

a

Marty Wygmans
Vice President for Student
Success and Campus Life
Interview by Elizabeth Arnold

When Marty Wygmans joined
Bloomsburg as associate vice
president for student success in
2018, she came to the position with
a long history of helping students
overcome obstacles to succeed.
As the project director for TRIO
Programs and executive director
of student services at Binghamton
University, Wygmans oversaw
Student Support Services, Upward
Bound, and veterans’ services.
Today at Commonwealth University,
Wygmans serves as Vice President
for Student Success and Campus
Life and campus administrator for
the Mansfield location. In her role as
Vice President across all locations
she oversees a full range of services
that help keep students on track to
graduation, and when needed, give
them the push they may need. This
includes the campus housing, health
and wellness services, disability
services, academic advising and
tutorial services among others.

32 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024

Q+

a

Q|

Tell us about your education
journey. How did it lead you
to work in higher ed?

A | of twists and turns and a lot of

My educational journey was full

missteps. Neither of my parents attended
college. After graduating from a small,

Q|

How has working in the area of
student success informed your
perspective on the challenges many
students face on their path to a degree?

joy to my life. I am so happy that I’ve stayed

Student Success and Campus Life

them a letter of reference and remain a part

A|

covers so many areas of a student’s

life. Everything from their residential

rural high school in Michigan, I started off

arrangements, to their social activities, to

at a small technical school. That didn’t

academic supports. Every day I see the

work for me, so I quit and took a year off

challenges for students that didn’t exist when

from my education. I enrolled at the local

I entered my career so many years ago.

community college and completed an

Human beings’ lives are complicated and

associate's degree in commerce. Twoyears later I realized that a bachelor’s
degree was necessary. I attended a small
liberal-arts university as a business major
with a minor in Psychology. At this point it
had taken me nearly seven years to get my
bachelor’s degree. I took another few years
off before starting my master’s degree.
It wasn’t until I was in my forties that I
decided I wanted a doctoral degree.
As many people do, I fell into my career
in higher education. While I was working
on my master’s degree, I was lucky to get
a job at the local community college to
oversee the computer lab at one of the
satellite campuses. Then, a full-time job
opened up working with single parents and
other students on workforce development.
After multiple years and moving my way up
through roles focused on students, I am
now vice resident of Student Success and
Campus Life for Commonwealth University.
My journey has taught me a few things.
First, you have to be willing to step into
new things. Everyone starts somewhere.
Second, you will make mistakes and fail.
That’s how we learn. Third, I had to learn to
let people help me, advise me, and guide

being a student adds a complication. We,
as educators, need to understand that our

in touch with many of my former students
as they move on to careers and families.
Nothing makes me happier than to write
of their journey.

Q|

Life on college campuses has
changed a lot in the past 10
to 15 years. What do you see as the
biggest shifts in campus life?

A|

I think two things have really
changed in campus life. First, the

introduction of Facebook and other forms

students do not land on our doorstep with

of social media. When I started in my

everything they need to succeed. We need

career, bullying was localized and usually

to help them acquire what’s missing, guide

between students who knew each other.

them to resources, and help them grow

Now, it is pervasive through social media

into the expectations we place on them as

and it cannot be erased. This causes

newly minted adults.

repeated trauma for students. Which leads

Q|
A|

to my second shift—the mental health
needs of students continue to grow and

How do you define student
success?

require attention. Our current students
were in high school during the pandemic

Success comes in many forms.

shut down. They experienced a different

Trying something new, making

friends with new people from new cultures
or towns, getting a C in a class that was

change the way we help them acclimate

family—sometimes in a new country—all

to campus life, it is no longer “business as

of these are forms of student success.

usual.” The goal is to help the university

We focus on grades, graduation, and

become ready for our students, instead of

persistence—but for some students,

the viewpoint that it’s all on the students to

success is something more.

be ready for the university environment.

What is the most rewarding
part of your job, and why?
Working with students is, by far,

Seeing them come in as first-year students,

me. I had to say “yes” to things that were

learning about their stories, hearing about

scary. Finally, I learned to have fun at work,

their joys and struggles, and helping them

make friends, and believe that I could make

navigate their new environment is incredibly

a difference.

rewarding and amazing to witness. As they
and change they experience brings such

Q|
A|

How do you enjoy spending your
free time?

the most rewarding part of my job.

progress year by year, seeing the growth

preparation than those in previous years.
Because of their experiences, we need to

extremely hard for them, living away from

Q|
A|

kind of social life, family life, and academic

I love photography and try to spend
time in my home photography

studio or in nature taking photos. I have two
adorable little dogs that are my models.
Other than that, I enjoy spending time
with my family—both near and far—I am
frequently found at shows watching my
husband perform with his band(s) all over
New York and Pennsylvania.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine WINTER 2024 | 33

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Arts and Administration Building
Bloomsburg University
400 E. Second St.
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Matt Yurkunas
Community Government Association (CGA)
President 2023-2024 Academic Year
Yurkunas, a computer science major, has been involved
in the CGA for the past two years, most recently serving
as vice president. He is also a member of the Honors
College and a resident assistant. This past summer
he completed an internship in Berlin, Germany, with
FENISKA, a firm that provides ways to identify early
health problems in pets.

Get your Husky Swag at the University Store.
GENERAL INFORMATION: 570-389-4175
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 570-389-4180

bustore@bloomu.edu

bloomustore.com

A NOTE TO PARENTS

WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE?

RECEIVING DUPLICATE COPIES?

If this issue of Bloomsburg: The University
Magazine is addressed to a daughter
or son who has established a separate
residence, please notify us of that
new address by sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

If you no longer wish to receive the
print edition of the magazine, please
notify us by sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

If you are receiving more than one copy of Bloomsburg: The University
Magazine, please forward the mailing label panel from each issue you
receive to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 E. Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

SUMMER 2024

Research at the

World’s End
Page 13

A Legacy Honoring Excellence:

Alumnus Stephen J.
Jones Elevates the
CU Honors Experience
Page 10

Q&A with Madelyn Rodriguez
Page 24

PRESIDENT’S

message

Greetings Bloomsburg Family,
Earlier this spring, we had the privilege of celebrating the
achievements of our 2024 graduates. The class of 2024
represents a group of hard working, determined, creative
students, many of whom began their college careers at
the height of the global pandemic. Their story is one of
perseverance, grit, and the power of a positive mindset.
My colleagues and I were immensely proud to watch them
walk across the stage on commencement day.
I’m sure that many of you can relate to the feelings of
excitement and uncertainty that arrive upon graduating.
Change can be daunting. That is a lesson we have all
learned these past few years. My hope for our graduates
is that they will embrace the future with open minds and
courageous hearts. Our graduates have proven that they
are capable of rising to the occasion and overcoming any
obstacle in their path.
This, I believe, is also true of our Commonwealth University
family. Despite the difficulties inherent in the ever-evolving
higher education landscape, our CU community remains
focused on providing an affordable, high-quality education
for students and families.
In our last issue, we shared the launch of our first-ever strategic plan. Since then, we have remained steadfast in our
efforts to put our plan into action for the benefit of our students. Our mission and our vision are built on student success.
Our top priority is helping students to achieve their goals and improve their lives through education.
Having experienced the transformative power of education myself, I believe it is crucial to support our students by
providing them with the resources they need to succeed without the burden of financial stress. This is essential for the
success of our students, and for our region’s growth and prosperity.
A college degree remains critical for upward economic and social mobility; and we remain steadfastly committed to
walking alongside our students and their families to help them afford a CU degree so that they can experience the
transformative power of education firsthand.
Our efforts are making a real difference to Pennsylvania students and families, and it is encouraging to know that
Commonwealth University has become a destination of choice for our region’s students. They rely on us to prepare
them for successful careers and fulfilling lives. We are keeping our promise to them through an updated curriculum
that offers the latest programs that are relevant to the workforce and available at an affordable cost.
The pages that follow include stories of our alumni and students who have shown incredible generosity, overcome challenges,
and chosen to lean into opportunities to expand and grow their worldview. Their stories are at the heart of what we do and
why we do it. I hope you will draw the same inspiration, encouragement, and motivation from them as I have.

Dr. Bashar W. Hanna,
President

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education
Cynthia D. Shapira, Chair
Marian D. Moskowitz
David M. Maser, Vice Chair
Dr. Khalid N. Mumin,
Secretary of Education
Samuel H. Smith, Vice Chair
Representative Brad Roae
Senator David Argall
Senator Judith L. Schwank
Robert W. Bogle
Governor Josh Shapiro
Representative Tim Briggs
Dr. Kate Shaw
William “Bill” Gindlesperger
Larry C. Skinner
Abigail Hancox
Skylar Walder
Darrek Harshberger
Neil R. Weaver
Akbar Hossain
Janet L. Yeomans
Allison Jones
Daniel A. Klingerman
Commonwealth University
Dr. Bashar Hanna, President
Suzanne Williamson,
Chief of Staff and Vice President
for Administration
Dr. Stephen Lee, Vice President
for Enrollment Management
Council of Trustees
John Wetzel ’98, Chair
Karen Russell, Vice Chair
Michael Hanna Jr., Secretary
Daniel Elby, Trustee at Large
Amy Brayford ’91
Krystjan Callahan
Steven Crawford

Albert Jones, Chief Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Eric Ness, Vice President for
Fiscal Affairs, Chief
Financial Officer

8

Erik Evans, Vice President for
University Advancement
Jessica Dodge
Patrick Henderson ’96
Tynesha Holloway
Susan Kefover
Brian O’ Donnell ’87
Angela Smith
Ray Zaborney ’16

Executive Editor
Elizabeth Arnold
Editorial Board
Julie Stellfox, Eric Foster, Doug Spatafore , Lynda Michaels, Ashley
Koser, Andrea O’Neill, Tom Schaeffer, John Vitale, Dawn Wooster
Contributing Writers
Andrea O’Neill, Julie Stellfox, Doug Spatafore, Elizabeth Arnold, Mary
Raskob, Eric Foster, Amanda Alexander, Sara Karnish
Photography
Jaime North, Eric Foster
Design
Kerry Lord
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine is published two times
a year for alumni, students’ families, and friends of the university
Back issues may be found at bloomu.edu/magazine.
Address comments and questions to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301
Email address: magazine@bloomu.edu
Visit Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg on the web at bloomu.edu.
Commonwealth University is an AA/EEO institution and is accessible
to disabled persons. CU–Bloomsburg does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age,
national origin, ancestry, disability, or veteran status in its programs
and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments
of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
and other applicable statutes and University policies.
© Commonwealth University 2024

10

13

FEATURES
The Career Intensive Boot Camp

6

Spring Commencement 2024

8

A Legacy Honoring Excellence: Stephen J. Jones

10

Research at the World’s End

13

DEPARTMENTS
Common Ground

2

Athletics

18

Husky Notes

21

Then & Now

23

COMMON GROUND
Susan McDowell

Benefactor Elevates
McDowell Institute’s
Reach Across
Commonwealth U
Campuses
Commonwealth University has received a $400,000
gift from longtime benefactor Susan McDowell for
the McDowell Institute, a CU–based organization supporting
the facilitation of social, emotional, and behavioral wellness of children,
youth, and young adults across school and community settings.
The donation, made through the Bloomsburg
University Foundation, brings McDowell’s
contributions to the program to more than
$3 million. The funds are earmarked for
additional staffing and consulting services,
further bolstering the institute’s ability to
extend its reach beyond its Bloomsburg
roots to CU’s Lock Haven and Mansfield
campuses and their surrounding communities.

exceeding 40 programs annually.
“Susan McDowell’s generous support allows us to sustain and expand
our efforts to all campuses and communities within the Commonwealth
University footprint,” emphasizes Danielle
Empson-Shultz, director of the McDowell

It has always been my goal
to make sure these resources
are available to teachers who
often have to help students
with struggles that extend
beyond the classroom.

“We are immensely grateful to Susan McDowell
for her unwavering commitment to our university, especially the
McDowell Institute and its mission,” says President Bashar Hanna.
“This significant contribution will fortify our existing programs
and allow us to deliver McDowell Institute services to even more
communities, amplifying our impact.”
Under McDowell’s continued patronage, the McDowell Institute has
thrived, broadening its range of offerings and cementing its role as a vital
hub for community service and educational enhancement, according to
Ann Larson, dean of the CU College of Education and Human Studies.
“Susan’s compassionate spirit and tremendous generosity are a true
inspiration,” Larson says. “Her philanthropic support addresses the
pressing challenges confronting education today, and her passion
is integral to our collective mission in fostering positive change
within our student body and the broader community.”
2 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

The McDowell Institute operates an extensive array of initiatives,

Institute.
“The McDowell Institute has a long-standing
commitment to supporting the social,
emotional, and behavioral wellness of youth,
and the need for training and education has
continued to increase. Susan’s gift couldn’t
have come at a more opportune time,
enabling us to address these pressing needs

with even greater effectiveness and reach.”
“I am honored to support Commonwealth University and their
efforts to expand the McDowell Institute and its original mission of
raising awareness and increasing access to solutions for youth facing
mental health and wellness issues,” McDowell says. “It has always
been my goal to make sure these resources are available to teachers
who often have to help students with struggles that extend beyond
the classroom. Now, together, we can make a lasting difference in
the lives of individuals across the Commonwealth.”
“Commonwealth University extends its profound appreciation to
Susan McDowell for her enduring dedication to advancing education
and wellness initiatives within our communities,” says Erik Evans,
CU vice president for university advancement.

COMMON GROUND

Three Faculty Members Honored with Keepers of the Flame Award

Dr. Carroll J. Redfern

Dr. Frederick “Rick” Schulze

Kim Shelton

PASSHE has named a faculty member at all
three CU locations as a recipient of the second
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Keepers
of the Flame Award.

advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion
across our campuses,” says Bashar Hanna,
president. “Through their example we
will continue to champion initiatives that
support and foster a welcoming and inclusive
environment where every student has the
ability to succeed and thrive. Thank you to
the award recipients for all they have done
in support of our students. Their efforts and
tireless dedication are to be commended.”

held for 19 years before becoming chair of
the department for special education for 10
years. As chair, he advocated for a range of
student issues.

Redfern devoted his career to ensuring
that individuals with special needs are
valued, accepted, and fairly treated. In 1969,
Redfern received a master’s degree in special
education from Bloomsburg University and
was hired as the university’s first African
American faculty member. He rose to fulltime student teacher supervisor, a position

“Each recipient of the Keepers of the Flame
award embodies the best in humanity–
demonstrating a commitment to raising
awareness about important issues and
advocating for ‘doing the right thing,’ ” says
Dr. Denise Pearson, vice chancellor and chief
diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at the
Office of the Chancellor.

Award recipients are Dr. Carroll J. Redfern,
faculty emeritus at CU–Bloomsburg; Dr.
Fredrick “Rick” Schulze, professor of health
sciences at CU–Lock Haven; and Kim
Shelton, faculty and director of TRIO
Student Support Services at CU–Mansfield.
The award recognizes an individual for their
contributions to creating and promoting
diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments
that cultivate a sense of belonging.
“Congratulations to each of the award recipients,
who demonstrate the best of Commonwealth
University through their commitment to

Before retiring from Bloomsburg in 2001,
Redfern served on several university and
community committees, taught undergraduate
and graduate courses and assisted other
university departments with recruiting
faculty of color.

Biochemistry and Pre-Medicine Concentrations Accredited
Commonwealth University’s Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry,
Engineering, and Physics (BiCEP) has earned accreditation from the
American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
for two Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree concentrations:
biochemistry and pre-medicine.

The seven-year full accreditation applies across the Bloomsburg,
Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses in recognition of their excellence
in curriculum, institutional characteristics, and faculty qualifications.
The accreditation enables graduating seniors to take the national
ASBMB accreditation exam and demonstrate their proficiency in
biochemistry and molecular biology on a national stage.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 3

COMMON GROUND

Commonwealth University Bands
Perform in New Year’s Day Parade in London
By invitation of The King of England, Commonwealth
University bands were invited to perform in the London
New Year’s Day Parade and Celebrations from Dec. 28,
2023, to Jan. 4, 2024.
Students in CU–Mansfield’s bands–The Spirit & The
Pride of PA Marching Band and the Mansfield Concert
Wind Ensemble, as well as members of the Lock Haven
and Bloomsburg bands and color guard performed in the
New Year’s Day parade to ring in the new year. More
than 600,000 people lined the parade route and the
parade was broadcast on television to an audience of
approximately 6 billion viewers.
A total of 69 performers traveled to London, along with
four staff members. Ten students from Bloomsburg and
six students from Lock Haven joined the 47 students
from Mansfield who made up the core of the group. In
addition, six Mansfield alumni rejoined their alma mater.
Staff members included director of bands, Dr. Adam F.
Brennan and his wife, Jonelle and Eric and Wendy Griffin,
alumni staff assistants and former LNYDP participants.

4 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

COMMON GROUND

Helping People Hear Better
Audiology Doctorate Graduate Researches at Mayo Clinic
Monica Amarante, who graduated in May from
CU–Bloomsburg with a Doctorate in Audiology,
completed her fourth-year externship in the
audiology program in the 2023-24 academic year
at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
Her research at the Mayo Clinic included
investigations into how headphone placement
affects hearing tests, the effectiveness of home
self-assessment of over-the-counter hearing aids,
and how cochlear implants change the quality of
life for caregivers of a hearing-impaired person.

mix of science and technology that allows me to
establish rapport with patients and witness their
progress.”
Amarante is also a 2020 alumna of CU-Bloomsburg’s
undergraduate program in audiology and speech
pathology.

“I decided to attend Bloomsburg for graduate school
as well because it offered a range of opportunities
that some of the bigger name schools couldn’t provide,
such as a rotational chair on campus, an entire class
devoted to tinnitus, and the opportunity to see patients
“I chose audiology because I wanted a career that in the on-campus clinic on day one. It also allowed
allowed me to help others, that was diverse, and in me to continue research I had started during my
the healthcare field. I enjoy science and technology, undergraduate studies with Dr. Thomas Zalewski.
but did not want to become a physician,” says
The research was later presented at the American
Amarante. “I was encouraged to explore audiology, Academy of Audiology National Convention.”
speech pathology, occupational therapy, and physical Amarante has joined Geisinger Medical Center in
therapy. Audiology was perfect as it was a good
Danville as a clinical audiologist.

Students Donate to Bloomsburg Food Cupboard
At the end of each academic year, students of
CU-Bloomsburg have the option of donating their
unused FLEX dollars from their dining accounts
so food and household items can be purchased to
support the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard. FLEX is
money used for purchases at campus dining venues
beyond a student’s set number of meals each week.
This year, Bloomsburg students donated more than
$4,600, allowing ARAMARK, the campus dining
service, to purchase items for the Food Cupboard
that were delivered on May 30. Over the last six
years, students have donated more than $34,000,
which is used to purchase food.
Additionally, in April a food drive, “The Hungry
Husky Hustle,” was held on campus and resulted in
approximately $3,300 in cash and food donations
for the food cupboard.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 5

PROFESSIONAL

u

A WEEKEND WORTH
THE INVESTMENT:
By Andrea O’Neill

On a chilly Saturday in February, students milling
about at an early morning breakfast at the Greenly
Center seemed uncomfortable in their business
attire; stiff and nervous with a cuff adjustment
here, a collar adjustment there.
The group of juniors and seniors from all three
Commonwealth University locations had signed
up to spend a weekend honing the skills that will
enable each of them to graduate as a confident
professional. It was inspiring, relieving, and
exhausting. And it was intense. It was, after all,
“boot camp.”

The Career Intensive Boot Camp (CIBC) is exactly
what the name implies—an immersive weekend
designed to prepare students for everything the
professional world can throw at (and trip up)
a new grad. Students practice everything from
how to dress and eat in a professional setting to
surviving the first week on the job, to paying back
student loans.
Sessions began Friday with team building and
dining etiquette. On Saturday, students dove into
workplace diversity and personal finance workshops
before moving into resume reviews, mock interviews,

Students participating in the Spring 2024 Career Intensive Boot Camp gather for a group photo with
members of the Commonwealth University Department of Alumni and Professional Engagement.
Students, staff, and alumni from all three Commonwealth University locations gathered at the Greenly
Center in downtown Bloomsburg for an intense weekend of student professional development.
6 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

PROFESSIONAL

u

Left to Right, Dr. Mary Murphy-Kahn ’98 and Mike Bucher ’97 conduct a mock interview with a student participant of the Spring 2024
Career Intensive Boot Camp. Murphy-Kahn and Bucher were two of fifty Bloomsburg alumni who volunteered for the event.

and a keynote lunch, then finished the weekend Sunday with
professional headshots, a networking lunch, and alumni panels.
“The boot camp provided an important learning experience that extended
beyond technical knowledge,” says Aviel Kuhn ’25 (Bloomsburg). “It
allowed me to forge meaningful connections within the industry and the
workshops offered guidance on navigating the professional landscape.”
In order for CIBC to provide a high impact experience, Bloomsburg,
Lock Haven, and Mansfield alumni, as well as community and employer partners, play a critical role by volunteering their time and expertise.
They serve as keynote speakers, mock interviewers, resume reviewers,
panelists, and presenters. Some stay several hours, while others stay for
several days. Some travel to campus while others participate virtually
from anywhere in the U.S.
“The connection between current students and alumni help graduating
students understand their skill sets, begin to build a strong network,
and land the job they have worked so hard for,” says Wren Fritsky,
director of career and professional development for CU–Bloomsburg.
“I wish I had this when I was in school,” says Ryan McCourt ’10
(Bloomsburg), transportation planning manager at Vroom. “I think
it takes a lot of the nerves and the guesswork out of it and helps
everyone prepare for what to expect. It helps everyone enter work a
little better.”
While CIBC is a student-centered event, alumni also benefit from
networking opportunities. Integration multiplied the connections
among alumni volunteers as new grads and seasoned professionals

from three locations assemble for the same cause. The students they
influenced in February will be among the newest Commonwealth
University alumni—joining a 147,000 strong network of fellow
Huskies, Mounties, and Bald Eagles that has the power to provide
everything from camaraderie and encouragement to mentorship and,
perhaps, their first professional position.
“Alumni I met that weekend are now connected with alumni from
different locations,” says David Donlick ’87 (Mansfield), director of
alumni and employer engagement at CU–Mansfield, whose daughter,
Nicole (Donlick) Brodt ’18 attended Bloomsburg and one of the
very first CIBC events in 2017. “The more we get involved and work
together, the more we can offer students.”
By the end of the weekend, the students were visibly less nervous,
more talkative, and moved a bit more effortlessly than they had at
first—physical signs of the professional ease that will provide an edge
in the hiring process. Once the thank-you notes had been written and
contact information shared, the students headed back to their respective
campus confident, connected and ready for their next chapter.
“It was an amazing experience,” says Breanna Koslowski ’24 (Bloomsburg).
“I hope I get to come back after graduating to help others as much as
the alumni helped me this weekend.”

The Career Intensive Boot Camp runs each spring and fall
semester and returns on September 20-22. To volunteer, email
alum@commonwealthu.edu.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 7

COMMENCEMENT

Hats Off to the Class of 2024
Commencement ceremonies at CU–
Bloomsburg in May were highlighted
by hugs, fist bumps, and flying caps.
Graduate students were celebrated on
Friday, May 10, at 6 p.m. in the Haas
Center for the Arts and undergraduate
students were recognized on Saturday,
May 11, at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. ceremonies
at Redman Stadium. More than 210
graduate students and 1,160 under-

8 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

graduate students received their
degrees. The featured speaker for the
undergraduate ceremonies on Saturday
was Khalid Mumin, secretary of the
Pennsylvania Department of Education.
“The skills you’ve learned will serve
you throughout your lives. The world—
and the Commonwealth—needs
confident, influential leaders and
scholars like yourselves,” said Mumin.

COMMENCEMENT
COMMENCEMENT

Kimberly Speece will soon be brightening the
futures of students in the Warwick School District
in Lititz, where she will begin working in August
teaching ninth through 12th grade business
education. The business education major from
Lebanon spent her time at Bloomsburg actively
involved with Future Business Leaders of America
(FBLA), serving in various leadership roles at the
state and national level and most recently as
the PA FBLA collegiate state president and the
national FBLA collegiate executive vice president.
She was a student worker for the military and
veterans resource office at CU–Bloomsburg,
where she provided support and resources to
military-affiliated students and served as a learning
community mentor for the Zeigler College of
Business, working with first-year students and
participating in welcome week activities. She also
serves as a human resources specialist in the Army
National Guard.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 9

A LEGACY HONORING

excellence

A

transformational gift from Stephen J.
Jones ’83, and his wife, Melanie
Sanchez-Jones, will enrich the Honors
College experience for Commonwealth
University (CU) students by expanding
scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, and faculty support. The $5.6 million
endowment is the largest gift to date benefiting
students across all CU locations, Bloomsburg,
Lock Haven, and Mansfield. Combined with
a previous $1.5 million gift supporting the
renovation of the Honors College residence
hall on the CU–Bloomsburg campus, the
new gift brings the couple’s investment in
the CU honors experience to more than $7
million, enabling the integrated university
to attract and retain bright students from
diverse backgrounds into the CU Honors
College community.
In recognition of the couple’s generosity, the
CU Honors College will be named the Eileen
G. Jones Honors College, in honor of Jones’
late mother.
“I wanted to name the Honors College after
my mother because of the positive influence
she had on my life and my siblings’ lives,” explains
Jones, a first-generation college graduate. “She
really pushed education. When we started
going to school, my mother was a big influence
on making sure we aspired to do better and
did our homework and all those things. She
was a big support throughout my life.”

A LEGACY honor i n g

Excellence
Alumnus Stephen J. Jones Elevates The Honors Experience
At Commonwealth University With Transformative Gift
By Amanda Alexander ’09 (Lock Haven)

10 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

Eileen Jones unfortunately passed away at the
young age of 52, but her legacy of support
and encouragement for education will
continue through the CU Honors College
named in her honor. CU’s Honors College
welcomes high-achieving students and prepares
them for leadership through high-impact,
immersive experiences and academically
rigorous coursework.
“I can say with confidence that a substantial
portion of the gift will be used for scholarships
and grants for our students. Increasing affordable
faculty-led study abroad opportunities for
honors students is also a high priority,” says

A LEGACY HONORING

John G. Hintz, interim dean of honors and interdisciplinary studies
at CU–Bloomsburg.
Enhancing the Honors experience

Although Bloomsburg University, the CU
legacy institution Jones attended, did not yet
have an Honors College in the early 1980s—
in fact it was founded in 1985, just two years
after his graduation—Jones was able to create
community as a student through his closelyknit fraternity, Sigma Iota Omega, where he
forged friendships that continue today.
“That was an important part of my time at
Bloomsburg,” says Jones of the fraternity of which
he served as vice president and then president.

scholarships in particular, helps to bring CU closer to achieving its
ambitious recruitment and retention goals, including an increase in
honors students across campus populations, set out by CU President
Bashar W. Hanna.

To grow the Honors College and
continue to offer small classes, student
support, engaging opportunities
and grants and scholarships, honors
relies on donor support.
– JOHN D. HINTZ, INTERIM DEAN OF HONORS
& INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

CU’s Honors College provides a similar sense
of belonging for like-minded students who have big dreams for
the future and also want to contribute to their communities in
the present—volunteer service is a key component of the Honors
College experience.

excellence

“President Hanna would like us to increase
enrollment in Honors to the point where
we sustain an enrollment equivalent to
ten percent of the undergraduate student
population. This aligns with the scholarly
literature on proven best practices within
large Honors Colleges,” Hintz says. “The
Jones gift will help in this regard immensely,
and in so many other ways.”

Strengthening the value of a CU degree
is important to Jones, who understands
affordability is a significant consideration
for prospective students, just as it was for him.

As a student, Jones also had the opportunity to study abroad, and
is delighted to support professional experience grants (PEGS) for
similar opportunities through this gift.
“What really impacted me was going abroad. I went to Liverpool,
England, and it was eye-opening. I realized there was a whole other
world out there,” Jones says. He knows there are many college students
like him who may not have been outside of the United States or
even Pennsylvania, and the Honors College gives students the
chance to expand their cultural and personal boundaries through
just this type of experience. Since his time in Liverpool, Jones has
earned an MBA from Temple University and a law degree from
University of Pennsylvania, lived in China, and done plenty
of international traveling for business.
“That’s also part of experiential learning that the Honors College
wants to provide to students,” he adds. “There’s a big world out there,
and there are lots of opportunities.”
He hopes the financial support will lead more students to capitalize
on the chance to dive into high-impact experiences without worrying
about funding; from studying abroad to taking an internship or
assisting with faculty research, he said, “Those types of activities for
students help them realize what their potential is.”
Jones is also pleased his gift will increase scholarship funding for
Honors students across CU, easing the financial toll on gifted students
and making CU an attractive choice for their educational journey.
Hintz noted the increased support for Honors students, and for

Honors Alumna Eliana Tate ’24 knows her way around the stage, and
a sword or two. The North Carolina native chose CU-Bloomsburg
because it had an integrated theatre program—allowing her to hone her
skills onstage as an actress and backstage as a set builder and designer.
A double major in theatre and English literature, Tate has trained with the
Society of American Fight Directors, holds Advanced Actor/Combatant
status, and has done the fight choreography for more than a dozen
productions. A dedicated student and campus leader, Tate earned two
professional experience grants, one of which she used to study abroad
with the Prague Shakespeare Festival. This summer, Tate has been
employed as an Associate Instructor at the A-Town Throwdown stage
combat workshop in Atlanta, Ga., and will be on staff at the National
Stage Combat Workshop in Ruston, La.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 11

A LEGACY HONORING

excellence

From left: Stephen J. Jones; his wife, Melanie Sanchez-Jones; and their two sons, Alex (left) and Zachary (right).

He adds, “There’s still a large percentage of first-generation college
students going to those campuses, which I find amazing.”
As a first-generation college student himself, Jones says affordability
was one of his main concerns as he navigated the college application
process.
“I still think CU–Bloomsburg is a great value for the money. It
was great value then,” he says, adding that he hopes the infusion of
funding into the program will “entice different types of students
to come to CU. Because you get the opportunities through the
Honors College and now there’s the money there to take advantage
of those opportunities.”
Hintz elaborates, “Every component of the Honors student experience
costs the University money. Honors classes, for example, cap at
20 students. This is substantially lower than the typical general
education class. Honors students receive extra mentoring ‘in-house’
in the form of peer mentors (upper-level Honors students) for their
first year and faculty mentoring (Honors faculty directors) for
their entire four years. We offer students many opportunities for
participation in events throughout the year, including presenting
at Honors conferences, overnight service trips, outdoor recreation
events, and social events.”
12 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

Paving a bright future

A loyal Husky donor for nearly 40 years, Jones joined the BU Foundation
Board of Directors nearly 10 years ago and was named chair on
July 1, 2023. “There are challenges associated with merging three
organizations and there are also opportunities,” he acknowledges.
These new opportunities stem from The Power of Three, which
gives students access to more than 80 academic programs as well as
more minors, courses, and faculty experts by pooling the resources
of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield. The integrated
university makes it possible for philanthropic support to reach
more students, too, through programs such as the Honors College
that offer vibrant, closely-knit communities on each campus. Jones
says the objective for his philanthropy is to impact the greatest
number of students possible—and with CU’s ambitious strategic
goal to increase its number of Honors students, the Honors
program was a natural fit for his support.
“To grow the Honors College to ten percent of the student body, and
continue to offer small classes, student support, engaging opportunities,
and grants and scholarships, honors relies on donor support,” Hintz
says. “Without generous gifts like this one from the Jones family, the
honors student experience would not be close to what it is.”

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

RESEARCH AT
THE WORLD’S END
HONORS ALUMNA AND BIOLOGY GRAD STUDENT ELIZABETH LEE JOINS
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA
By Eric G. Foster

Microplastics—microscopic bits of plastic broken off of discarded
items—are everywhere.
Even at the furthest reaches of the globe.
Elizabeth Lee, a master’s degree student in biology, is learning
firsthand how widely microplastics are distributed. Lee voyaged
on the 138-passenger vessel National Geographic Resolution for
20 days in February and March on a voyage organized by Lindblad
Expeditions—National Geographic.
Lee’s participation was made possible through connections forged by
her mentors Abby Hare, associate professor and program coordinator
for the Master of Science in Biology program, and Thomas Klinger,
professor emeritus and former coordinator for the master’s in biology.

“Bloomsburg alumna Kim Martin Baldwin ’88 made the connections
for us to do this,” says Klinger, who accompanied Lee on the voyage.
“Kim is a staff naturalist for Lindblad/National Geographic. When
she heard that berths were open for researchers, she let us know.”
Being offered berths aboard the Resolution is extraordinarily special.
The vessel, purpose-built for exploration, is one of just four like it in
the world. The ship, an icebreaker, is designed with an anchor-free
propulsion system that allows it to back out of shallow coastal waters
without damaging fragile seafloors.
“The samples I collected during this expedition will be the foundation for my thesis project,” says Lee, an Honors College student who
graduated from CU–Bloomsburg in December with a bachelor’s
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 13

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

the expedition was based on the mentoring
she found in the biology department. “Originally, I had no intention of going to graduate
school. I chose Bloomsburg because of the
relationship with Dr. Hare.”

Abby Hare during her 2022
Antarctic research trip.

Professional experiences can take
many forms for our students from
presenting at conferences to
expeditions to the end of the world.
– ABBY HARE

degree in secondary education and a bachelor’s
degree in biology. “This was an amazing
opportunity and I am excited to have done
research on a continent that not many people
get the chance to see.”
Lee’s experience this year builds on previous
research and trips taken by Hare and Klinger.
In 2022, Hare collected limpets, small snaillike grazing animals, from the shallow waters
off of the Antarctic Peninsula and the shores
of Patagonia. “Microplastics consumed at
the base of food webs by grazers may have
profound consequences as the particles move
up food chains,” says Hare.

“When discarded, plastic items are physically
and biologically degraded into microplastic
particles. Microplastic pollution in the
environment is distributed widely, going as
far as to include Antarctica,” explains Hare,
who has witnessed firsthand larger pieces
of plastic garbage washing up on the shores
of the Patagonian peninsula just north of
Antarctica. “However, very little is known
about the potential impacts of microplastics
upon animals grazing in the polar oceans.
Our project is documenting the amount of
microplastic consumed by common near-shore
creatures of the Antarctic seas.”
Samples from the latest trip will be shipped
to campus, a process that can take months.
But the researchers are now analyzing the
samples from the 2022 expedition.
For Lee, the decision to continue her education
in the master’s program and to participate in

Strong mentorship is built into the DNA of
the MS in biology program. “The program
provides one-to-one mentorships with faculty,”
says Hare, who as a former Steven Jones
Professional U Fellow, has been recognized
for her work in connecting students to
transformative experiences.
Lee plans on using her experiences in the
graduate program to make her a top high school
teacher. “When I started at Bloomsburg, my
goal was to be an early childhood and special
education teacher,” says Lee, who has received
support from a professional experience grant
from Michael and Beth Ann Boguski and a
scholarship from David and Robbie Soltz.
“I realized in my first year that I missed being
in science courses, so in my sophomore year
I changed my major to secondary education
biology. I found what I am passionate about.
My love for teaching has never changed. My
goal is to complete a master’s degree, and
then become a high school biology teacher.”
For Hare and Klinger, the latest voyage is another
step in a continuing project. “This summer,”
says Hare, “Thom and I are continuing the
project in Iceland—the other polar region.”

The Antarctic research builds upon previous
work that Klinger has done on microplastics in clams and crayfish in Pennsylvania
streams.
“In other parts of the world, microplastics
have been shown to decrease the growth,
weight, energy, and food consumption of
animals,” says Klinger.
Thom Klinger and Liz Lee with specimens aboard the National Geographic Resolution.
14 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 14

BEYON D TH E

classroom:

CU PART OF INITIATIVE
TO EXPAND WORK-BASED
LEARNING
By integrating real-work experiences into the
academic curriculum and expanding a regional
network of employers, Commonwealth
University will provide invaluable opportunities
for students to bridge theory and practice
beginning in the fall semester.
CU is one of five State System universities
participating in a pilot initiative with major
employers to significantly increase work-based
learning that provides real-world experiences like
internships and apprenticeships for students.
Highmark Health is the initial partner employer
and Strada Education Foundation awarded
Commonwealth University $100,000 of a
$750,000 grant to support the pilot project.
“Strong partnerships between universities and
employers provide students with incredible
experience through applying learning to doing
and gives them the competitive edge they
need to achieve social mobility,” says Hope
Lineman, executive director of workforce
development for CU.
The three-year pilot will reach a minimum of
370 CU students, beginning in fall 2024. The
initiative will embed real-work experiences into
the academic curriculum to broaden access and
configure a shared online platform, Handshake,
to help students identify opportunities that
align with their career interests. CU will also
expand the regional network of participating
employers and integrate work-based learning
into on-campus work study—an additional
benefit for students who are using the paid
jobs to help fund their education.
Employers will be able to partner with CU
to create internships throughout the year
that accommodate students’ class schedules,
develop additional job-relevant instruction
for interns and, when possible, link paid
internships to potential jobs after graduation.

Above: A student operates a camera for a football game. Turn-in to watch a Huskies football
game online, and you’re seeing the skills of student workers from Instructional Media Services
in action. Students operate the cameras and work in the control for the games as well as for
commencement. Shown from left are Instructional Media Services student employees Myah
Stackhouse and Cameron Beck.

“The partnership with Strada validates and
strengthens the work we’ve done to intentionally
integrate career and professional development in
the student experience through Professional U,”
says Lynda Fedor Michaels, associate vice president for alumni and professional engagement.
Work-based learning, which can include
internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing,
allows students to connect their classroom
education with technical and workplace
skills and to develop professional connections
and networks as part of their overall education.
University students with high-quality, workbased learning, especially paid internships,
have more confidence in their skills, are more
likely to get higher-paying jobs after graduation,
and are more satisfied with their education
and career choices, according to findings by
the Strada Education Foundation.

Low-income, first-generation, Black and Latino
students, and women are less likely to have paid
internships, which can reduce their employability and income after graduation. To address
the access gap, the pilot has a goal of 60 percent
of students in the initiatives being low-income,
first-generation, or underrepresented minorities.
“To impact social mobility, CU is piloting two
initiatives that focus attention on moving
students entering college from low-income
backgrounds into the upper half of wage earners
after graduation through Professional U
On-Campus Apprenticeships and work-based
learning within academic courses and programs,” Lineman says. “Through these two
avenues Commonwealth University intends
to level the playing field by giving all students
the experiences they need to succeed.”

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 15

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Husky Alums Honored
2024 MAROON & GOLD
EXCELLENCE AWARD

2024 MAROON & GOLD
EXCELLENCE AWARD

Jacob Kelley ’16

Kristen Wagner ’15

(they/them)

Editor-in-Chief,

Mx. Kelley Queer Education LLC

Lehigh Valley Style magazine

Since graduating from Bloomsburg
in 2016, Mx. Jacob Kelley has served
as an entrepreneur, author, and queerinclusive sex educator. Kelley earned
a master’s degree in human sexuality
education from Widener University and is a doctoral student in
human sexuality philosophy, and they have dedicated their career
to creating content and promoting LGBTQIA+ inclusion that has
transformed local communities and garnered national recognition.
Additionally, Kelley serves on several executive boards, including the
NEPA Pride Project, Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, and I Picture
Hope. Kelley frequently donates time with the Women and LGBTQ
Resource Center on campus.
2024 MAROON & GOLD
EXCELLENCE AWARD

Emily Kinkead ’09
Pennsylvania State Representative

After graduating from Bloomsburg,
Emily Kinkead spent time working in
Washington, D.C. for organizations
such as Common Cause and the
National Institutes of Health before
earning her J.D. from the University of
Pittsburgh in 2016. Kinkead clerked for the Honorable Judge Michael
H. Wojcik of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, then moved
on to work as a criminal defense attorney with The Grail Law Firm. In
2021 she was elected to the Pennsylvania 20th House District, where
she has served on numerous committees and has championed criminal
justice reform, affordable housing, livable wages, worker protections,
healthcare, addressing systemic racism, LGBTQIA+ equality, reproductive justice, education funding, and more.

16 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

Kristen Wagner has spent the nearly
nine years since graduation as the top
editor of Lehigh Valley Style magazine, a regional lifestyle publication
that reaches 80,000 monthly print
readers. During her tenure, Wagner has been credited with creating
addictive content and securing notable individuals like Amanda
Seyfried, Carson Kressley, Mario Andretti, and Robert Rich, and
has made diverse representation of the Lehigh Valley community a
nonnegotiable priority. Wagner also returns to campus to speak on
panels, present at seminars and events, and is the current chair of the
BUnow Scholarship Committee.

2024 DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE AWARD

Lynette Luckers ’01
(she/her)
Dean of Counseling & Completion
Services, Delaware County
Community College

Dr. Lynette Luckers’ professional
history underscores her dedication to
creating student-centered, inclusive
environments. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in social work
from Bloomsburg, Luckers holds a D.Ed. in educational leadership and
administration from East Stroudsburg University, and a master’s degree
in counseling from Shippensburg University. A licensed professional
counselor (LPC), Dr. Luckers’ educational journey and professional
focus span equity in education, counseling, and student success,
particularly among historically underrepresented and
marginalized students. She has made notable contributions as the
founder and president of the Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation
with a goal to empower and cultivate women of color, especially
those managing grief and navigating life as caregivers.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

2024 WILLIAM T.
DERRICOTT ’66 VOLUNTEER
OF THE YEAR AWARD

Kelsey Gallagher ’12
Talent Acquisition Specialist,
Enterprise Mobility

Kelsey Gallagher began her tenure at Enterprise Mobility in 2013,
where she has exhibited unparalleled versatility and leadership across
three divisions. Currently serving as a talent acquisition specialist
within the human resources division, Gallagher plays a pivotal role
in sourcing and recruiting top-tier talent to fuel Enterprise’s ongoing
success. Her passion for connecting with individuals and fostering
meaningful relationships has made her a presence on campus, where
she actively engages with students and faculty through career fairs,
panels, classroom presentations, and various networking events.

Senior Sendoff

On April 26, the Bloomsburg Alumni Association hosted the class of 2024 with a Senior Sendoff. Soon-to-be grads were
treated to a champagne toast, food, a photo booth, grad cap maker space, music, and prizes, as well as helpful information
for their first few months as Bloomsburg alumni. See the photos at tinyurl.com/24SpringSendoff
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 17

ATHLETICS

Hale to be Inducted into
College Football Hall of Fame
Football coaching legend of the Bloomsburg Huskies, Danny
Hale, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as part of the 2024 Induction Class, as announced by the
National Football Foundation and ESPN in early January.
Hale, one of the winningest coaches in all of NCAA Division II,
retired June 28, 2013, after 20 seasons as the head coach of
the Huskies and 25 years overall as a head coach. Hale also
spent five years as head coach at West Chester University
(1984-1988).
At Bloomsburg (1993-2012), Hale posted a record of 173-56-1
(.754) and holds the school record for most coaching victories.
Overall, in 25 years as a head coach, he had a mark of 213-69-1
(.754) and ranked among the top five active coaches in NCAA
Division II in winning percentage and victories at his retirement.
In his 20 seasons as head coach at Bloomsburg, Hale led the
Huskies to 11 outright or shared Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division titles and eight NCAA
post-season playoff berths. In his final 13 seasons (2000-2012),
Bloomsburg was one of the most successful NCAA Division II
programs with a combined record of 121-32 (.791).
While the official induction for coach Hale will take place
in Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 2024, there will be an on-campus
salute in conjunction with the National Football Foundation
on Sept. 28, 2024 when the Huskies take on West Chester
at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium. Registration for the
event can be made at buhuskies.com/DannyHale.
Earlier this year, Hale appeared as a guest on President
Hanna’s Common Ground Podcast. Listen to the episode at
commonwealthu.edu/commonground. It is also available on
Spotify and Apple podcasts.

18 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

ATHLETICS

Football,
Psychology
Alum Shares
Wisdom
By Mary Raskob

Alphonso Nathan ’09, MS, LPC, author of
the book Not Worth My Energy, returned to
his alma mater for a stop on his book tour and
made several presentations to students and
student-athletes in April. This visit was the
first stop on Nathan’s book tour and was an
inspiring and engaging experience for students
and staff.
A former member of the football team,
Nathan’s self-published book is filled with
relatable anecdotes and walks readers through
practical strategies for delegating energy to
the things that truly matter. From identifying
and avoiding emotional vampires, to embracing
the power of being an empath, the book is
a roadmap for living a more fulfilling and
energized life.
“I was originally recruited to play football
at Bloomsburg and I really liked not only
the environment, but the values that
Bloomsburg had,” Nathan says. “It was very
similar values to my high school alma mater,
the Milton Hershey School. Both had very
similar coaching styles.”
At Bloomsburg, Nathan tried majors in biology
and marketing before finding a home in
psychology.
“Psychology resonated with me because I’m
a product of interventions,” says Nathan. “I
came from a ‘not good’ background and I was
removed from that environment and put into
a much better environment when I went to the
Milton Hershey School. There were countless
situations where those interventions helped
change me and my life.”

“When I started reading up on psychology,
developmental disorders, and how smaller
interventions can change someone’s life or
situation, it really resonated with me,” adds
Nathan. “It allowed me to understand what
other people do and why they do it.”
Professor Brett Beck, now retired, was a
particular influence. “He was not a professor
who lectured at you, he really talked to you
and helped you understand the concepts,
and experiments. He allowed us to dive into
the foundational aspects of psychology,” says
Nathan, who is now a practicing licensed
professional counselor. “The biggest takeaway
from all of it, for me, was that it’s not about
where you start, it’s about how you finish.”
The lessons of the psychology classroom
translated well to the gridiron.
“I started as a seventh-string defensive end,
I asked the coaches, what do I need to do to
play? They said, ‘You’re 5’3”, get bigger, get
stronger. You’ll make a plan.’ I knew where I
needed to get to. I made that plan. I started
lifting. I started really studying the playbook,”
recalls Nathan. “Most importantly, I didn’t
give up. I continued that work and I was able
to be a two-year starter and All-Conference
player because of the hard work I put in.”

Nathan credits his coaches, including Bill
Perkins, Chet Henicle, Paul Darraugh, and
Danny Hale, and teammates for providing
opportunities to prove himself and grow.
“I still have my core group of friends, Anthony
Smith, who was All American, Chris Robinson,
Andre Ellis, and the list goes on for the
individuals that I still stay in touch with.
And most importantly my brother Steph
Pettit. He has always been a support for me.”
Nathan finds parallels between the worlds of
coaching and counseling.
“I’d never been to therapy because that
wasn’t something that was talked about or
championed in our community. When I
started studying psychology, I’m like, ‘Oh,
this is what therapy does.’ I found out what a
therapist was. It was a coach—a mental health
coach,” says Nathan. “It felt like the stars
aligned and I really wanted to see where this
could take me.”
“Pablo Picasso said this best, ‘The meaning
of life is to find your gift, but the purpose
of life is to give that gift away.’ Psychology
was something that I found,” Nathan says.
“I had always been an emotionally intelligent
individual, and psychology allowed me to
use and harness that gift to help others.”
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 19

ATHLETICS

Student Athletes Help Make-A-Wish Come True
For the third time since 2018, Bloomsburg’s department of athletics,
thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee (SAAC), earned a Make-A-Wish reveal. The Bloomsburg SAAC put on a Wish Reveal in April at Nelson Field House for
a young boy from the region, Levi, to tell him that he was going to
Yellowstone National Park.
“To be a part of Bloomsburg athletics, let alone the incredible traditions of the Bloomsburg Field Hockey program, is something I am
so proud to be a part of,” says Courtney Noll, assistant field hockey
coach and Make-A-Wish coordinator for Bloomsburg. “However,
to be a substantial part in planning the three earned Make-A-Wish
reveals for this department holds a very special place in my heart. If we
can bring a smile and joy to the families that are battling more than
I can ever imagine, our event is more than successful. It is more than
heartwarming to help others, especially in the name of Make-A-Wish.”
The NCAA Division II is a national partner of Make-A-Wish America
and in partnership with student-athletes and schools across the country,
DII has raised millions of dollars and brought hope and joy to hundreds
of wish kids and their families when they needed it most. The NCAA
then grants schools that raised $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation
an opportunity to to host a reveal on their campus. In the 2022-2023
academic year Bloomsburg hit that mark and was granted a reveal.
20 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

SAAC put on a western-themed carnival for Levi, including a petting
zoo, tractor rides, and carnival games inside Nelson Field House. His
preschool class, friends, and family joined in on Levi’s day.
“I mean giving back not only to our community but to kids in general always feels good in your heart,” says football player Ben Ries.
“It’s just a great thing to be a part of. It’s important to change people’s
lives and I want Levi to know how loved and supported he is through
all of this,” says field hockey player Gracie Brosious.
“Through the planning process of these reveals, we get to experience
the love and kindness of so many people who are willing to sacrifice
their time and commitment for these events,” says Noll. “It is truly
inspiring to experience such support from the entire community.
It takes an entire team to pull off the amount of time and energy to
create a Make-A-Wish reveal that we hope lasts a lifetime for the
families involved. You truly learn what it means to be a Husky when
the support from so many people is involved.”

For more
photos, visit:

HUSKY NOTES

80s
Steven Johnson ’80 retired from the Vanguard
Group in Malvern after 25 years as an IT project
manager. He resides with his wife in West
Chester, Pa.
Jean Vojtek Runyon ’80
was recently installed as the
sixth president of Piedmont
Virginia Community College
in Charlottesville, Va.
Previously, Runyon was the
campus vice president at
Front Range Community
College’s Larimer Campus in Colorado and
served in progressively responsible leadership
positions at Anne Arundel Community College
in Maryland.
Rebecca Funk Campbell ’83, retired Walt
Disney Co. executive, is a new member of
the Meow Wolf board of directors. Meow
Wolf started in 2008 as a small collective of
Santa Fe artists sharing an interest in publicly
displaying their works and developing their
skills together. This collaborative approach
blossomed into Meow Wolf’s distinctive style
of immersive, maximalist environments that
encourage audience-driven experiences.
Most recently, she was chairman of Disney’s
international content and operations; before
that, she was chairman of direct-to-consumer
and international operations.
Anthony “Rocky” Bonomo ’87 is a volunteer
assistant coach with the Misericordia University
women’s and men’s wrestling teams. At
Bloomsburg, he was a two-time All-American
at 126 pounds while compiling a career
record of 110-19. He finished eighth in the
country as a junior and capped his career with
a fourth-place showing at the 1988 NCAA
Championships. Bonomo spent 13 years as an
assistant coach at Lock Haven.

90s
Sharon Eyster ’90, chief operating officer/vice
president of operations for United Church of
Christ Homes, Camp Hill, has been inducted
into the Hall of Honor in the McKnight’s
Women of Distinction awards, a joint program
of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News,
McKnight’s Senior Living, and McKnight’s
Home Care.
Jason Hawkins ’93M was named chief
administrative officer (CAO) of PeaceHealth
Cottage Grove Community Medical Center
in Cottage Grove, Ore. He remains CAO for
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community
Medical Center in Florence, OR., and oversees
operations at both campuses.

00s
Mark Vineis ’94 was appointed as the new
country president of Novartis Canada, based
in Montreal, Quebec. In Canada, Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs
approximately 600 people and invests over
$30 million in R&D yearly in Canada.
Cole Camplese ’96M has
been named vice president
for technology and chief
information officer at the
University of Texas at Austin.

William Fiege ’96M was named president
of Brightpoint Community College in
Chesterfield County, Va. He was a vice
president there since 2012. Before joining
Brightpoint, he was a dean at Germanna
Community College and an assistant athletics
director at Longwood University.

Heather Kriebel D’Onofrio ’00 has rejoined
Post & Schell, a law firm, as a principal in
the firm’s professional liability department.
D’Onofrio previously served as an associate in
Post & Schell’s professional liability department
and spent several years at The D’Onofrio Firm.
She rejoins Post & Schell from the law firm of
Youman & Caputo, LLC.
Deja Barone Gilbert ’01, has been named
president and chief executive officer of
Gaudenzia, Inc., the first woman to hold the
role in its 55-year history. Gaudenzia is one
of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of
treatment for substance use disorder and
co-occurring conditions.
Dulcimer Stahler Hause ’01 was honored
by the Florida Art Education Association at
its annual meeting and award breakfast held
in Ponte Verda, Fl. Hause has worked at the
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in
Jacksonville for the past 16 years.

Lisa Lehman McCracken ’96 is the new head
of research and analytics for the National
Investment Center for Seniors Housing &
Care, in Annapolis, Md. She most recently
served as director of senior living research and
development for the investment bank Ziegler.

Matthew Resnick ’01 has been named
vice president of the Wenger Food Group
(a business unit of The Wenger Group)
and general manager of the egg products
division. He was most recently the director of
operations for Dutchland Farms.

Hope Edwards Wormuth ’96 was named
director of Lackawanna College’s physical
therapy assistant program.

Crystal Skotedis ’03 has joined Camp Hillbased Lane Enterprises, a steel and plastic pipe
manufacturer, to oversee the finance, IT, and
human resource departments and help build
additional infrastructure to support the future
growth of the company.

Meena Soleiman ’97 has been named senior
vice president of technical operations and
engineering for Comcast Cable’s Northeast
Division. Soleiman oversees technical
operations, engineering, and the residential
and commercial construction teams. Soleiman
has been with Comcast for 20 years.
Zhenia Klevitsky ’98 has been named chief
growth officer at cBEYONData, a consultancy
firm known for its focus on enhancing
processes and technology where finance
and information intersect with a particular
emphasis on federal customers.
Christine Sowden-Haase ’98
is the projects billing
manager at Danella
Companies working in
the construction division
in Plymouth Meeting. She
oversees the department
responsible for all invoicing
and billing functions associated with private
companies and PECO gas accounts/contracts.

Michael Smith ’03 has been made a shareholder/
owner of the Pottsville-based law firm Fanelli,
Evans and Patel. He was previously an owner
of the Bloomsburg-based law firm of Hummel,
Lewis and Smith. He began his legal career
in Manhattan Beach, Ca., before returning to
Pennsylvania, where he did a one-year judicial
clerkship with Judge John Domalakes of the
Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County.
David James ’09M, a partner at Hill, Turowski,
James and Lehman LLP based in Bloomsburg,
was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar
in Washington, D.C. Admission to the U.S.
Supreme Court Bar allows an attorney to
represent cases in front of the U.S. Supreme
Court.
Joshua Kline ’09 earned a Doctorate in Clinical
Psychology from The Chicago School for
Professional Psychology, Washington, D.C.
He currently resides in Washington, D.C.,
and works as a psychologist at The Capital
Center for Psychotherapy and Wellness. At
Bloomsburg, he earned a bachelor’s degree in
art history with a minor in psychology.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 21

HUSKY NOTES

10s
Andrew Brady ’17 has joined the Middletown
Township Police Department. Before joining
the Middletown Township Police Department,
Brady served as a police officer in Wilmington, DE.

Obituaries
Virginia Roberts Griswold ’44

Robert Pierce ’65

Loretta Oswald Hitz ’72

Bette Fuller Smith ’44

Nancy Linde Schueck ’65

Jeanne Phillips ’72

Betty Zehner Dietrich ’45

Carol Wertman Watters ’65

Terry Bires ’73

20s

Ralph Seltzer ’48

Susannah Wilson Brody ’66

Marlene Wallace Finney ’73

Katherine Chapin Fisher ’50

Emily Benner Faust ’66

Lawrence Westawski ’73

Sarah Gomish ’20M was named assistant
coach/recruiting coordinator for Virginia Tech
women’s volleyball team. Gomish totaled
1,195 kills and 1,046 digs in college over four
seasons at Bloomsburg (2018) and Lock Haven
(2014-16). She earned her bachelor’s degree
in kinesiology and exercise science from
Lock Haven and a master’s degree in exercise
science from Bloomsburg.

Mabel Horner Horner ’51

Joseph Kubert ’66

Rickey Bair ’74

Homer Zeigler ’51

Jerry Seybert ’67

Anthony Dellarte ’74

Joan Enama Cerula ’52

Jane Sheaffer ’67

Deborah May Gownley ’74

Laura Philo Patterson ’52

Francis Truman ’67

Joseph Micko ’74

Madge Felker Kile ’53

Lawrence Foran ’68

Robert Reed ’74

Nancylou Rhoads O’Brien ’53

Amanda Goldman ’68

Joanne Kanjorski Thomas ’74

Sheldon Erwine ’54

Joseph Iwanski ’68

Jane Clause Branin ’75

Paul Rhodes ’55

Maryann Benick Jaffee ’68

Robert Memory ’75

George Viti ’55

Lauren Miller ’68

Bruce Shoemaker ’75

Carmel Craparo Casper ’56

Ben Pollock ’68

Alice Pearl Corley ’76

Alice Fegley Linn ’57

Arthur Steiner ’68

David Crawford ’77

Robert Maurer ’57

Gene Ward ’68

Roberta Larkan Drasher ’77

Helene Stec Pozarycki ’57

Margaret Ann Dunklebarger

Andrew Hergan ’77

Charles Norwood ’22, a Caln Township Police
Officer, was recognized with a Distinguished
Unit Citation for his part in a domestic incident
that occurred in August 2023 with an armed
and suicidal individual. Officer Norwood and
his two police partners de-escalated the
situation without injury and loss of life.

Nancy Hughes Abbey ’58

Williams ’68

Mary Ann Herhal Kurcz ’77

Edward Braynock ’58

Robert Zimmerman ’68

Joseph Mattise ’77

Alice Faux Green ’58

Camille Martelli Belolan ’69

Jean Sambor ’77

John Herman ’58

Susan Ferg Booterbaugh ’69

Scott Smith ’77

Stephen Stuart ’58

Eugene Brokus ’69

James Sweeney ’77

Dahle Bingaman ’59

Ronald Christina ’69

Ron Troy ’77

Lamar Freeland ’59

Robert Fink ’69

James Fetterman ’78

Robert Murray ’59

Ray Hock ’69

James Gross ’79

Marriages

Edward Flanagan ’60

Duncan Kishbaugh ’69

Terri Gibson Long ’79

Samuel Haupt ’60

Dorothy Wilkes Miller ’69

Jerome Socha ’79

Connor Mirarchi ’18 & Jayme Lentini,
Sept. 9, 2023

Margaret Gunton Holmgren ’60

Harry Sinco ’69

Joann Enterline Woodward ’79

Gary Reddig ’61

Susan Sitler Yodock ’69

Christine Johnson Kyle ’80

Megan Beccari ’18 & Anthony Rappa,
Nov. 10, 2023

Joan Gutgesell Faunce ’62

David Bunce ’70

Vicki Myers ’80

William Rice ’62

Donald Keyser ’70

Joan Colosimo Brownell ’81

Robert Sarviss ’62

Mary Rachko ’70

Donna Gavlick ’81

Michael Spontak ’62

David Steiner ’70

Donna Horschmann

Robert Christina ’63

Anne Dunlap Vaughan ’70

Adam Gutosky ’63

John Dietrichson ’71

Joseph Urbanski ’63

Nora Searfoss Avellino ’72

Robert Auker ’64

Lynn Croft Davies ’72

Carol Shelhamer Wall ’81

John Chyko ’64

Marie Falvello ’72

John H. Ross, Jr. ’95/’98M

Amy Daniels Goss ’64

James Hatton ’72

Megan Stamm ’22 is a business relationship
manager with Doing Better Business, Inc.
Covering Lycoming, Columbia, Montour,
Northumberland, and Union counties, she
assists clients with workflows and print needs.

Births
Stephanie (Della Torre) Sabol ’14,
a son, Bryson, June 30, 2022
Domenique (Verrastro) Ashford ’20
& Zachary Ashford ’19,
a daughter, Tatum Olivia, Oct. 7, 2023
James Michael Irey ’22 & Amanda Jo
(Weirich) Irey, a son, Jack Sumner,
Oct. 15, 2023
Sarah (Weinberg) Downey ’06/’07M
& Bryan Downey, twins, daughter, Emma
Lynn, and son, Liam Robert, Nov. 6, 2023
Lindsey (Plastow) Shingara ’09 &
Paul Shingara, a son, Evan Michael,
Nov. 21, 2023
Amanda Lockard ’10 & Ken Schetroma,
a son, Cole Benjamin, March 7, 2024

22 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

Moyer-Kozlowski ’81
Sharon Robinson
Slaybaugh ’81

Corrections: Ray Reinard, class of 1977, was mistakenly listed in the “In Memoriam” section
of the Winter 2024 magazine edition.
The photo caption for the center photo in the Winter 2024 “Then and Now” column should
have identified the student nurses as, from left: Debbie Sabalesky, Jill Laylon, and Sharon
Remington (Schell) ’81.

Send information to: magazine@bloomu.edu
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine | Arts and Administration Building
400 E. Second Street | Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

THEN & NOW

Taking the Leap
INTO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
On a warm September day in 2003, Bloomsburg University fully
stepped into the world of fully digital photography.
Eric Foster, working for what is now the Strategic Communications
and Marketing Office, was testing a new camera, a Canon 10D, the first
digital SLR acquired by the university.
Near Carver Hall, he spotted friends, who had been cheerleaders in
high school, practicing their lifts. The moment was captured as Katie
McPeek ’07 got a boost from friends Keri Bachman, Kristie Gardner ’07
and Danielle Burke ’07. McPeek and Burke cheered for the Huskies
during their time at Bloomsburg.
The image, that so perfectly illustrated striving and cooperation, was
used in the magazine ad for the Bloomsburg University Foundation
several years later.
For years prior to 2003, the university’s in-house photographers used
Kodak slide film and black and white film that had been loaded into
film canisters from bulk containers holding hundreds of feet of film.
Purchasing and processing this film cost thousands of dollars each year
and it took days to get the photos back after a shoot. Though the university
had purchased several small point and shoot cameras for photos to use
on the internet, the quality wasn’t sufficient for large photos in major
publications.
The new equipment changed that. Measured scientifically, images from
film still showed more detail, but the digital images had much less
grain, resulting in more apparent detail. For the university, film was out
and digital was in. The remaining rolls of film were donated to the art
department for student use in class.
The savings in film costs meant that instead of hundreds of images, it was
possible to take thousands each year. And today, for certain assignments
and signature moments like commencement, thousands in a day.
Photographers Jaime North and Foster travel to the university’s locations at
Clearfield, Lock Haven, and Mansfield, as well as Bloomsburg.
Their work, and that of other photographers on the campuses, is available
to view on each of the campus’ Facebook pages and on Commonwealth’s
Flickr page.

BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 23

Q+

a

Madelyn Rodriguez ’95
Executive Director of Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion
Interview by Sara Karnish

Madelyn Rodriguez serves as the executive director of
DEI for Commonwealth University based at Bloomsburg.
A devoted Husky, Rodriguez has spent most of her
professional life on Bloomsburg’s campus. Thanks
to the work of Rodriguez and her staff, thousands of
students have been positively impacted by programs,
organizations, and initiatives meant to shine a light on
Bloomsburg’s diverse student population.

24 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024

Q+

What are some of your major
responsibilities as executive
director of DEI?

a

What was your first job, and what
were some important lessons you
learned from it?

A | I oversee a number of areas including the Women’s

A | I was a resident director at Bloomsburg. One of my

Resource Center, LGBTQA Resource Center, Multicultural

important lessons was to listen, don’t be a know it all.

Center and Cultural Affairs Student Support Services. The

Listen to others who were doing the work before me. I was

supervision of those areas keeps me quite busy. There is

fortunate to have mentors who helped me through that

also collaboration with key campus stakeholders—academic

process and helped me learn to be a professional. I also

affairs, student success and campus life, as well as

learned from peers that I have a voice and I need to use it.

administrators and the leadership team. We’re in everyone’s
pocket. We’re there to not only implement policies and
procedures, but to impact the graduation and retention
rate of our students. We’re working with all of our Huskies.

Can you tell us about the DEI
programming at Bloomsburg?

A | There’s a lot. Every week we’re having a

2024 is the 30th anniversary of
the Multicultural Center at Bloom.
Can you talk about how it has
evolved over the years?

A | The Center has evolved tremendously over the years.
I’ve really come full circle, not only have I sat behind the
desk, I sat on the other side of the desk as a student. I was

program, lecture, event, for all three centers. This spring

a student who helped create the Multicultural Center and

we had our 30 years of diversity conference that was sup-

worked with Harry Ausprich (Bloomsburg president at the

ported by PASSHE—that’s a big staple of the community.

time). I was part of a group of student leaders who wanted

We’re in the process of developing a DEI training certifi-

a center to help retain and recruit multicultural students.

cate program. I work with over 25 clubs within the Multi-

In the 90s, these centers were being created. I’ve also had

cultural Center and so many different student leadership

the opportunity to help many alumni.

organizations, from the Equestrian Club to the Gaming
Club. Our students are so ingrained in all of these groups.
We’re very privileged to work with so many different student organizations.

Another piece of DEI is our connection with the community.
It is critical for folks to know we work with our town. We’ve
been part of task forces and committees in the community. Anything we coordinate, organize, or develop—we
invite the townspeople to attend. We recently celebrated

Why is Bloomsburg such a great
place to be?

a milestone in our MLK event, which still brings the town

A | Bloom offers opportunities to students,

students have evolved with the center as well. I’m not just

faculty, staff, and individuals. It has given me the opportunity to grow in my career. I think I bleed maroon and gold.
I’m a Husky for life; I’m always bragging about Bloom when

and university together in celebration of this honor. Our
talking about underrepresented students—many different
types of students have utilized our resources. Then they
graduate and come back with these rich stories.

I travel. It’s a home away from home and that’s a piece
that many appreciate. You want to feel like you belong.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SUMMER 2024 | 25

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Arts and Administration Building
Commonwealth University — Bloomsburg
400 E. Second St.
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

Husky Hearts
Rahmayne Jackson-Bey and Janae
A. Clark are truly Huskies at heart.
The couple met on campus and
both graduated this spring; JacksonBey, who was a captain on the
football team, with a degree
in business management
and Clark with a degree in
communication studies.
And their Husky journey
is continuing. Jackson-Bey
is pursuing an MBA and
Clark is working toward
a master’s degree in
instructional design
and technology.

Get Your Husky Swag
at the University Store.
GENERAL INFORMATION: 570-389-4175 | CUSTOMER SERVICE: 570-389-4180 |

A NOTE TO PARENTS
If this issue of Bloomsburg: The University
Magazine is addressed to a daughter
or son who has established a separate
residence, please notify us of that new
address by sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE?
If you no longer wish to receive
the print edition of the magazine, please notify us by sending
an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

bloomustore.com
bustore@bloomu.edu
RECEIVING DUPLICATE COPIES?
If you are receiving more than one copy of Bloomsburg:
The University Magazine, please forward the mailing
label panel from each issue you receive to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 E. Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301