SPRI NG 2026

McCormick
Reimagined
A HUB FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING
PAGE 8

The Softer Side of

Terry Zeigler
PAGE 12

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education
Cynthia D. Shapira, Chair
Akbar Hossain
David M. Maser, Vice Chair
Marian D. Moskowitz
Samuel H. Smith, Vice Chair
Mark-Handy Phanor
Robert W. Bogle
Rep. Brad Roae
Representative Tim Briggs
Dr. Carrie Rowe,
Acting Secretary of Education
Dr. Quintin B. Bullock
Governor Josh Shapiro
Richard Caruso
Ali Sina Sharifi
Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver
Dr. Robert Traynham
Dr. Brandon Danz
Neil R. Weaver
William “Bill” Gindlesperger
Dr. Christopher M. Fiorentino,
Abigail Hancox
Chancellor
Senator Art Haywood

6

Commonwealth University
Dr. Jeffery L. Osgood Jr.,
Interim President
Michelle Kiec, Ph.D., Provost,
Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs

Erik Evans, M.Ed., Vice President
for University Advancement
Lisa Sharpe, Vice President for
Fiscal Affairs and CFO

Stephen Lee, Ed.D., Vice President
for Enrollment Management and
Student Affairs
Council of Trustees
John E. Wetzel, Chair
Karen Russell, Vice Chair
Michael K. Hanna Jr., Secretary
Daniel P. Elby, At Large Officer
Amy Brayford ’91
Krystjan K. Callahan
Steve Crawford

8

12

Alumni Association Board of Directors
Cori Cotner ’93, Member at Large
Hakeem Thomas ’17, President
Janet Tomcavage ’80, Vice President Rachel Melnick ’03, Member at Large
Lynda Michaels ’87/’88M,
Cathy Zavacki ’99, Member at Large
Associate Vice President
Members: Gerald Douglas ’18, Nicholas Hoffman ’16, Lamar Oglesby ’07,
Frankie Stokes ’15, Amanda Kelly Vasquez ’00, Melissa Wolf ’01

FEATURES
Homecoming 2025

6

McCormick Reimagined

8

The Softer Side of Terry Zeigler

12

Alumni Dedicated to Creating Student Opportunities

14

DEPARTMENTS
News & Notes
Athletics

Patrick Henderson ’96
Susan Kefover
Brian D. O’Donnell
Angela C. Smith
Raymond Zaborney
Nathan Brinker, Student Trustee
Jessica Dodge, Student Trustee
Marvens Ravix, Student Trustee

3
16

Bloomsburg University Foundation Board of Directors
Michael Gillespie ’95, Chair
Susan Fetterman, RN, MSN, MBA,
Marc Steckel ‘93, Vice Chair
FACHE, Interim Secretary
Nick Giuffre ’78, Corresponding Secretary
Craig Diehl ’82, Treasurer
Members: Bill Bent ’83, Michael Boguski ’85, Julie Breiner ’77,
Maria Cannon, Ronn Cort ’22 (H), Jahri Evans ’07, Sharon Gettel ’78,
Drew Hostetter ’76, Eileen Lamy ‘91, Juli A. Miller ’92,
Christen Mowad, MD, John Mulka ’66, Joel Showalter ’96, John Wolak ’82,
Irvin Wright D. Ed., Terry Zeigler ’76
Editorial Board
Eric Foster, Lynda Michaels,
Andrea O’Neill, Thomas Schaeffer,
Douglas Spatafore Jr., Julie Stellfox,
John Vitale

Contributing Writers
Eric Foster, Jaime North,
Andrea O’Neill, Mary Raskob,
Sarah Smeltz, Douglas Spatafore Jr.,
Julie Stellfox, John Vitale

Photography
Eric Foster, Jaime North, Sarah Smeltz

Design
Kerry Lord

Bloomsburg: The University Magazine is published twice a year for alumni, students’ families, and friends of the university. Back issues may be found at commonwealthu.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@commonwealthu.edu | Visit Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg
on the web at commonwealthu.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 2026

President Introduction

CELEBRATING

You carry more than the degree you
are about to receive. You carry a
responsibility to lead with integrity,
to serve with compassion, and to lift
others as you move forward.

A

ccomplishment, new beginnings, and new opportunities
were celebrated at fall commencement.

With December ceremonies held for the first time on each
campus–Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield–commencement was also a celebration of new beginnings for CU.
Interim president Jeffery Osgood spoke at selected ceremonies
on each campus.
“Today is a day of celebration. It is a day of reflection. But more
than anything, it is a day of profound possibility,” said Osgood.
Osgood became CU’s interim president on August 1, 2025,
coming from West Chester University where he was executive
vice president and provost, serving as the institution’s chief
operating officer and chief academic officer. Osgood is currently
the candidate under consideration in the search process for
CU’s permanent president.
“Each of you reached this moment through perseverance, passion,
and resilience. You navigated challenges, embraced opportunity,
and demonstrated the grit and determination,” Osgood told
the graduates. “You are here today not just because you made it
through, but because you grew through what you faced.”
“Commencement, like the holidays, invites us to pause. To
step out of the noise and remember what truly matters,” said
Osgood. “The most important things in life are not found on a
screen or a résumé line. They are found around tables, in living

2 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026

rooms, on long drives home, in laughter with people who
know us well, and sometimes in the quiet moment when a pet
settles into our lap and reminds us what it feels like to matter.”
“I’m reminded of something Dick Van Dyke once said. He
counted himself among the luckiest people in the world because
he spent his life doing work he would have chosen even without
reward. He said he felt lucky simply to bring a little light into
the world.”
“At its best, education does exactly that. It lifts the human spirit.
It awakens possibility. It calls the best in us forward and asks us
to put it in service to something greater than ourselves.”
“Now you stand at the threshold of what comes next. The
world you are entering is complex, fast-changing, and filled
with real challenges, but also extraordinary opportunity.”
“Wherever your path leads, remember this: your knowledge
is a tool, your passion is a guide, and your character is the
foundation of your impact. Do not be afraid to take risks. Do
not be afraid to challenge the status quo. Progress has always
belonged to those willing to act with courage and purpose.”
“You carry more than the degree you are about to receive.
You carry a responsibility to lead with integrity, to serve with
compassion, and to lift others as you move forward.”
“Graduates, the world is waiting for your ideas, your voice,
and your light.”

To Learn,
Take Action

Karl Kapp Publishes ‘Action-First Learning:
Instructional Design Techniques to Engage
and Inspire’

Early in his career, long before he was a university professor, Karl Kapp
worked as a trainer in industry. And to prepare for his new job, he attended
training.
He recalls arriving at a training center in an industrial park. “I heard a lawn
mower humming in the background as I took my seat near one of the windows.
I saw an overhead projector at the front of the room next to a huge stack of
slides the instructor would use to teach the class. Immediately, I struggled to
stay engaged. The instructor monotonously recited information directly from
the slides and his dog-eared teacher’s guide. He spoke with no emotion, as if
unaware of the two dozen learners in the room. Slide after slide after slide.”
The lawn mower was a highlight of the day, and Kapp thought to himself,
“There has to be a better way.” Kapp, professor of instructional technology
and director of the Institute for Interactive Technologies at Commonwealth
University, in April 2025 published Action-First Learning: Instructional
Design Techniques to Engage and Inspire.
The author or coauthor of more than half a dozen books on the convergence
of learning, technology, and business, Kapp’s latest book is making waves.
On Amazon, it’s ranked 70th in books on “leadership training.”
In Action-First Learning, Kapp covers nine types of learning experiences
in one volume—from card and board games, escape rooms, and branching
scenarios to augmented reality and AI-powered coaching. Kapp also includes
a chapter by instructional designer Amy Pape (a Commonwealth University
alumna) about how to improve action-first learning by making it more accessible.
Each chapter includes a case study, a design checklist, as well as tips on how
to leverage AI to help create action-first learning.
“Academic research and personal experience all tell us that when learners
do something right away during the learning process, they are more fully
engaged,” says Kapp. “The immediate action sets the tone for the rest of the
instruction. Action for action’s sake is not the goal of action-first learning.

The goal is purposeful and meaningful
action—always tied to specific learning
outcomes.”
Many of Kapp’s previous books are about
using games and gamification in instructional
design—a concept that has since taken
off with his gamification and interactive
learning courses on LinkedIn Learning,
gamification built into learning platforms
as a matter of course, and even gamification
graduate certificates.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026 | 3

Nathan Brinker
CU Student Trustee

Nathan Brinker has been appointed to the Commonwealth
University Council of Trustees. A junior health and physical
education and pre-athletic training double major from Lock
Haven, Brinker will represent the Lock Haven campus as a
student trustee.
Brinker is a student employee in the Parsons Union Building at
CU-Lock Haven and is involved with several campus organizations
including serving as president of the Full Gospel Fellowship
Club, a member of the Student Auxiliary Services (SAS) Board,
and Student Government Board. In his position as student trustee,
Brinker says he is interested in giving students a greater sense of
connection across all Commonwealth University campuses.
“I believe I can be a voice of reason and understanding for both
my campus and my peers,” Brinker writes in his trustee application.
“I often hear students share thoughts, both positive and negative
about their experiences, but many don’t know how to express
those ideas or where to direct them. I want to help change that.”
“Through SAS, I have been involved in evaluating and making
financial decisions that affect many demographics on campus,”
Brinker says. “It has helped me see how committed I can be to
my peers, while also contributing to the future of the campus
community.”

CU Website Wins Pair of International Golds
The CU Strategic Communications and Marketing team
has earned international acclaim, taking home a pair of gold
awards for the commonwealthu.edu website at the 2025
Hermes Creative Awards one of the world’s oldest and most
prestigious creative competitions.
Administered by the Association of Marketing and
Communication Professionals (AMCP), the Hermes Creative
Awards honor outstanding work in traditional and emerging
media. Each year, competition judges evaluate the international
creative industry’s best work.
The CU website won gold in the Educational Institution
Website category and received a second gold for Project
Achievement in Website Consolidation, recognizing the
successful unification of multiple university properties into
a single, user-focused digital experience.
Launched in June 2024, the Commonwealth U website
unified three legacy university websites and a microsite into
4 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026

a single, cohesive platform. The website reflects the unique
history, identity, and traditions of CU’s four campuses, while
delivering a streamlined user experience. Features such as
campus-specific filters for academic programs, news, events,
and profiles allow users to tailor
their web experience to
their respective needs.

CU Awarded 5-Year TRIO
Grant to Support Students

CU Programs Earn
Top Rankings

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded CU a federal
TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant to improve
college retention and graduation rates among low-income,
first-generation students, and students with disabilities. The
five-year (2025–30) grant total for CU is $4,855,160.

Several of CU’s master’s degree programs have
achieved top rankings by outside organizations.

CU’s TRIO Student Support Services programs are led by
campus-based directors including Kelly Foran (CU–Bloomsburg),
Natalie Serafini Lombardi (CU–Lock Haven), and Kim Lamar
Shelton (CU–Mansfield).
This grant will allow CU to further its commitment to ensuring
all students regardless of educational barriers can succeed
academically and develop personally at Bloomsburg, Lock
Haven, and Mansfield.
Additionally, the directors stressed that the TRIO SSS program
levels the playing field and strengthens the student-experience
by equipping our students with the resources, guidance, and
support to graduate.
Bloomsburg was awarded $332,393 per year for a total of
$1,661,965, while Lock Haven was awarded $353,530 per
year for a total of $1,762,650, and Mansfield was awarded
$286,109 per year for a total of $1,430,545.

CU was ranked No. 1 on the 2026 Best Master’s
in Counseling Programs in Pennsylvania list by
Counseling Psychology for its master’s in school
counseling and master’s in clinical mental health
counseling programs. Courses for both programs
are delivered 100% online through a combination
of synchronous and asynchronous classes with
full-time and part-time options.
CU’s Master of Education in Curriculum and
Instruction was ranked No. 1 in Pennsylvania
for 2026, according to mastersineducation.org.
The 100% online Master of Education in
Curriculum and Instruction program offers
concentrations in alternative education and social,
emotional, and behavioral wellness and includes
the option to earn certificates in English as a second
language, e-learning specialist, instructional game
design, or an interest-based track.

Chemistry Students Excel
in National Chemistry Exam
Three CU-Bloomsburg chemistry students have excelled in
the 2025 American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology (ASBMB) national accreditation exam.
The students, all chemistry majors with a pre-med concentration,
are Lauren Boyer, of Bloomsburg; Andrew Faust, of Philipsburg;
and Duane Milnes, of Northampton.
Only students from ASBMB-accredited institutions are eligible
to take this external national assessment of BMB undergraduate
learning. In 2025, over 1,000 students took the nationwide
exam, and only 44% earned Proficiency (or higher). Boyer,
who graduated in December 2025, earned Proficiency; Faust
and Milnes both earned Highly Proficient (for their high scores)
and will graduate in May.
The Bloomsburg campus biochemistry and chemistry area has
been accredited since 2015 and was the first Pennsylvania State

From left: Professor Michael Borland, students Andrew Faust, Lauren
Boyer, and Duane Milnes.

System of Higher Education institution granted accreditation based
on the university’s curriculum, high-impact student experiences,
institutional supports, and faculty expertise. Historically,
Bloomsburg students have earned Proficiency at a higher rate
than the national average.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026 | 5

BLOOMSBURG HOMECOMING 2025

HOMECOMING

Huskies of all ages returned to campus for
Homecoming from Friday, October 17, through
Sunday, October 19. The weekend celebrations
began with the Class of 1975 50th reunion
reception at the Greenly Center on Friday
evening. On Saturday, alumni were treated to
a walking tour of campus led by archivist Robert
Dunkelburger, followed by a tent party at
Fenstemaker Alumni House. At the Steph Pettit
Athletic Complex on upper campus, athletes
competed in field hockey and football.

6 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026

HOMECOMING

SAVE THE DATE!
Homecoming 2026

is OCTOBER 24
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026 | 7

McCORMICK reimagined

McCormick
Reimagined

A HUB FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING
When the renovated McCormick Center was rededicated in
September, it was more than a celebration for new windows
and walls, fresh paint, bright lights, and wide hallways.
It was a celebration of a vision made real by partnerships with
committed alumni and corporate partners.
The renovation, begun in 2022, was funded by $22 million
in state funding and supplemented by $14.1 million in
contributions.
“Philanthropy powers the difference between buildings and
breakthroughs,” says Erik Evans, vice president for university
advancement, at the Sept. 8 ceremony. “State funding builds
the walls, floors, ceilings—even the curtains. But what makes
this space exceptional—the labs, the technology, the simulation
equipment, the classrooms—comes from the generosity of
our donors. You have given our students not just tools, but
confidence.” (See sidebar for notable contributions.)
Today, at more than 106,000 square feet, including a
23,000-square-foot addition completed in 2007, McCormick
Center serves as the home for numerous major programs,
including nursing, media and journalism, education,
8 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026

communication studies, and sociology and social work,
that enroll nearly 2,000 students. In addition to academic
departments, McCormick is also home to:
Breiner School of Nursing
Kerby Confer Media Center
The Diehl Center for Law School Preparation
The McDowell Institute Innovation Space.
And the largest capacity classrooms on campus

McCORMICK reimagined

NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
TO McCORMICK CENTER
— FIRST FLOOR —
Kerby Confer Media Center
Gifted by Kerby and Judy Confer

Diehl Center for Law School
Preparation
Gifted by Craig Diehl

— SECOND FLOOR —
The McDowell Institute–
Innovation Space
Gifted by Susan McDowell ’16H

— THIRD FLOOR —
Breiner School of Nursing

Gifted by Ed ’77 and Julie ’77 Breiner

Charles B. Degenstein Nursing
Simulation Center

Gifted by The 1994 Charles B. Degenstein
Foundation

Anatomage Classroom
Gifted by Geisinger Health

U.S. Senator David McCormick (right) at an Anatomage table, which provides the most advanced
3D anatomy and medical education images through state-of-the-art digitalized human cadavers.

“With this transformation of the McCormick Center, we are not just adding
classrooms—we are shaping leaders,” says Dr. Jeffery L. Osgood, CU interim
president. “We are not just constructing walls—we are building opportunity.
We are not just honoring the past—we are preparing the future.”
The renovated McCormick Center is still home to the campus’s radio station and
television studios, now upgraded with the latest equipment and technology.
In nursing, labs allow students to simulate practice in pediatric, maternity,
surgical, community, and general health care environments.
Student trustee and nursing major Jessica Dodge spoke to the significance
of the facility from the student perspective. “To walk into this building
and see the incredible labs, classrooms, and technology—it feels like a vote
of confidence in us,” she says. “It tells us that our university and its supporters
believe in what we’re capable of becoming.”
Dr. James McCormick—former Bloomsburg President 1973 to 1983 and
former PASSHE Chancellor from 1983 to 2001, for whom the building is
named—reflected on its evolution: “When we first opened this building back
in 1973, it was envisioned as a home for nursing and teaching. To see how far
it has come—with programs and technology beyond what we imagined—is
truly inspiring.”

Peri-Operative Suite

Gifted by UPMC Life Changing Medicine

Obstetrics Sim Lab

Gifted by WellSpan Evangelical
Community Hospital

Critical Care Sim Lab

Gifted by Patricia A. McDowell ’87H

Acute Primary Care Sim Lab

Gifted by The Tomcavage Family ’80 & ’21

Pediatrics Sim Lab

Gifted by Susan Fetterman ’04/’23M
and the Fetterman Family

Conference Room and Classroom

Gifted by Ralph and Josephine Smith
Fund and the Greater Susquehanna Valley
Competitive Grant Program at
First Community Foundation Partnership
of Pennsylvania

Student Lounge

Gifted by The Bloomsburg
Nursing Class of 1980
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026 | 9

McCORMICK reimagined

McCormick Family and Friends Commit $1 Million to Endow
Scholarship Honoring James and Maryan McCormick
affirming that education is the great equalizer,
the great accelerator, the great hope of
Pennsylvania. They are saying to every young
person with a dream: you belong here, you
can grow here, you will lead from here.”
Douglas McCormick reflected on his family’s
deep Pennsylvania roots and his parents’
values, noting his own educational journey
from Pennsylvania to West Point and Harvard
Business School before eventually founding
Washington D.C.–based investment firm
HCI Equity Partners. “My father always
saw education as the great enabler,” he says.
“By supporting future teachers, public
servants, and leaders in the state they call
home, this scholarship will extend his and my
mother’s impact for generations to come.”

Philanthropy
powers the difference
between buildings
and breakthroughs.
— Erik Evans, vice president
for university advancement

U.S. Senator David H. McCormick, his
brother Douglas McCormick, their respective
spouses Dina and Michele, and longtime
family friend Daniel A. Klingerman, along
with his wife Monica, have committed $1 million
to the James H. and Maryan G. McCormick
Scholarship CU–Bloomsburg.
The endowed scholarship honors the legacy
of James and Maryan McCormick, who
have collectively dedicated over 70 years to
public education, by supporting Pennsylvania
students with financial need.
“This scholarship is about more than honoring
my parents’ names,” says Senator David
McCormick. “It is about honoring their life’s
work and their belief that every young person
deserves the chance to pursue their dreams.
We are proud to help ensure that legacy for
future generations of Pennsylvanians.”
The announcement punctuated the dedication
of the newly renovated McCormick Center.

James McCormick speaking with
CU Interim President Jeff Osgood.

“This is more than a gift—it is a promise,”
says CU Interim President Dr. Jeffery L.
Osgood. “By honoring Jim and Maryan, the
McCormick family and their friends are

10 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026

Senator David McCormick serves the
Commonwealth in the U.S. Senate, and
Daniel Klingerman employs more than
1,500 Pennsylvanians through his businesses,
continuing his decades-long investment in
the region’s economic vitality.
For Klingerman, a close friend of the
McCormick family for decades, supporting
this scholarship is a deeply personal tribute.
“Jim McCormick has been a mentor and
role model to me and to countless others,”
says Klingerman. “His leadership helped
shape Bloomsburg and Pennsylvania’s
system of higher education. This gift is a
way to say thank you—for his vision, his
friendship, and his extraordinary service.”
The James H. and Maryan G. McCormick
Scholarship will provide half-tuition support
(currently $4,500 annually) for up to four
years to incoming, first-year students from
Pennsylvania with financial need. Eligible
majors include education, political science,
leadership, and public policy—fields that
reflect Jim and Maryan’s shared dedication
to shaping future leaders and expanding
access to education.

McCORMICK reimagined

“Today we celebrate a building that
prepares students for the workforce,”
says Osgood. “And through this
scholarship, we celebrate a legacy
that ensures those same students have
the means to access a Bloomsburg
education in the first place. That
combination is how we change lives—
and it’s exactly what Jim and Maryan
devoted their lives to achieving.”

Breaking Records, Empowering Students:
BU Foundation Celebrates Historic Year of Giving
The Bloomsburg University Foundation (BUF) raised $11.3 million in new gifts and
pledges during the 2024–25 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2025. This achievement
follows last year’s record-setting $26.2 million, underscoring BUF’s central role in
advancing The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us—the largest fundraising
campaign in Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg’s history.
The campaign has secured more than $95 million toward bringing it within
striking distance of its historic $100 million goal. This year’s results highlight
the campaign’s three pillars—Attract, Prepare, Elevate—which expand access,
enrich experiences, and elevate outcomes for every student.
2024–25 FUNDRAISING MILESTONES INCLUDE:

In fiscal year 2025, 1,433 CU–Bloomsburg
students were directly supported through
scholarships and Professional Experience
Grants, with just over $2.5 million awarded
to help them stay enrolled, reduce financial
barriers, and pursue opportunities beyond
the classroom. During the year, 4,656 donors
contributed 10,434 gifts, with 2,157 making
their very first gift. Nearly 80% of those
gifts were under $250 and more than 90%
under $1,000.

“Philanthropy is the cornerstone of
opportunity for our students,” says CU
Vice President for Advancement Erik
$8+ million in direct student support—the largest single-year total in BUF history.
Evans. “Our campaign is about more than
61 major gifts of $25,000 or more, fueling campaign momentum.
reaching a dollar goal—it’s about ensuring
$5.8 million in future gifts committed by 290 dedicated Golden Dome Society that we are positioned to thrive for decades
to come. We wouldn’t be where we are
members, ensuring long-term financial stability and scholarship support for
today without the vision and leadership of
generations of Huskies.
our campaign co-chairs, Steve Jones and
$5.2 million in immediate-use funding to meet today’s student needs.
Julie Breiner, and the dedication of our
The Foundation’s efforts have also grown CU-Bloomsburg’s endowment to
steering committee.”
$92.5 million, providing enduring support for generations to come.
A record-breaking All-In Day of Giving with 2,800+ donors contributing
over $310,000.

To learn more about how you can support students at CU–Bloomsburg, visit giving.bloomu.edu.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026 | 11

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

The Softer Side of

Terry
Ziegler
On the 15th anniversary of the ZIPD
Conference, Zeigler is still committed
to engaging with students.
When Terry Zeigler commits to something, he goes all in.
For 15 years, Zeigler, CEO of Datacap Systems, has been a
regular presenter at the annual fall ZIPD (Zeigler Institute
for Professional Development) Conference, greeting students
with handshakes and sage advice on panels ranging from
entrepreneurship, work-life balance, and ethics.
In 2016, Bloomsburg alumni Terry Zeigler ’76 and his wife
JoAnn Schultz Zeigler ’77, and the Zeigler Family Foundation
collectively contributed the largest philanthropic gift to the
Bloomsburg University Foundation to name the university’s
College of Business. The gift built upon the Zeigler Institute
that had been established several years earlier to help students
cultivate professional skills and develop a deeper understanding
of how the functional areas of business interconnect.
12 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026

For the students he interacts with, Zeigler delivers his insights
with his trademark combination of no-nonsense toughness
and warmth. Zeigler founded Datacap Systems from the
remains of a cash register manufacturer at age 28. Now, the
business has a footprint in nearly every retail business category,
but its early years were no walk in the park.
“Raising funds was the number one problem,” he tells students.
“The founders went without a salary for 18 months.” The
employees were paid. “You don’t mess with a paycheck. You’re
screwing with people’s lives.”
His message: founding a business and being an entrepreneur is
not for the faint of heart. “I don’t work well for other people.
But you’ve got to be willing to take the risk. Not everyone is
cut out for it. You have to have stamina and tenacity.”
And he adds, your spouse or partner has to be all in as well,
because you’re almost never entirely off the clock. “My work is
mind share,” he says. “For example, when I’m driving, I may be
thinking about an employee or client issue.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Zeigler’s Datacap Systems was the
first company to put automated
payment systems in the cash register.
It was an innovation that created an
opportunity and a choice. “We had
a very basic decision to make. Keep
being a cash register company or
transition to an electronics payment
interface company.”
Zeigler navigated that fork in the
road with deliberate strategy. In the
transition to becoming a payments
interface company, Datacap stopped
marketing to new customers for
registers, and over time, the registers
were discontinued. “We started as
a cash register manufacturer and
became a payments interface
developer,” he says. “We’ve made
several major shifts in our 42 years.”
The overall goal: “I want to build
something that is ‘repeatedly manufacturable.’ That is, create a
‘flywheel’ that can be repeatedly sold.”
The flywheel, “payment interfaces,” at Datacap is mirrored by
a flywheel he created at Commonwealth—engagement. The
ZIPD program has brought hundreds of other alumni back to
campus, and this November, for the first time at Lock Haven
and Mansfield as well, to share their expertise with students.
Ronn Cort ’22H, a member of the Bloomsburg University
Foundation Board, is one of the industry leaders motivated to
get involved in the university through Zeigler’s example. “His
(Zeigler) commitment to the students and his commitment to
this school inspired me to get involved,” says Cort, president of
Dunmore, a Steel Partners Company that manufactures metallized films, foils, and fabrics, and former president and COO
of plastics manufacturer SEKISUI KYDEX. “Because he does
it for all the right reasons. It’s always about the students.”
“On my second or third ZIPD panel, the questions were impactful.
Students are not just getting an education here, they are being
prepared to contribute,” says Cort. “I know from having discussions
with students who have become employees. They never feel like
they’re done. They’re always learning, they’re always inquisitive.
I think that comes from the ZIPD program.”

The greatest satisfaction is the
impact we’ve had on the lives of the
families of our employees.
Helping people develop personal
wealth while doing meaningful work
in a collaborative work environment
is a big deal to me.
— Terry Ziegler ’76, CEO, Datacap Systems

The investment the Zeiglers have made in ZIPD continues to
pay dividends just as their business has.
“The greatest satisfaction is the impact we’ve had on the lives
of the families of our employees,” says Terry Zeigler. “Helping
people develop personal wealth while doing meaningful work
in a collaborative work environment is a big deal to me.”
And today at Commonwealth U, students are part of that big deal.
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026 | 13

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

From left: Nick
Hoffman ’16,
Frankie Stokes ’15,
Amanda Vasquez ’00,
Melissa Wolf ’01,
Cathy Zavacki ’98,
Rachel Melnick ’03,
Gerald Douglas ’18,
and Timothy Pot,
admissions graduate
assistant and MBA
student.

An Alumni Association Dedicated to Creating
Student Opportunities By Andrea O’Neill ’06

T

hey are from New York, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida,
and counties across Pennsylvania. Their class years span
nearly 40 years, and they work in education, business,
finance, marketing, mental health, and cybersecurity.

Together, they are the Bloomsburg Alumni Association Board
of Directors, serving as ambassadors and advocates on behalf of
Huskies everywhere.
Alumni of every institution have varying awareness of and
involvement with alumni associations that strengthen bonds
between alumni. But these 13 board members have made
Bloomsburg’s association a hub of alumni activity that extends
the relationship to current students.
“The Alumni Association still has a hand in promoting tradition,
memories, and reunions, but the modern Bloomsburg Alumni
Association looks for how our alumni can have the biggest
impact,” says Lynda Michaels ’87/’88M, associate vice president
of alumni and professional engagement, the department that
incorporates both the traditional career development office
and the Alumni Association. “Alumni volunteers absolutely
make a difference in the lives of students. More importantly,
they are modeling what it means to be an alum and inspiring
future alumni engagement.”
Board members are both ambassadors and advocates:
Ambassadors for the university and the association by recruiting
alumni volunteers and future Huskies, and advocates for new
graduates seeking their first professional position, as well as for
the continued investment in the university. It is a future-focused
mission that supports strategic priorities of student success
through alumni volunteerism.
14 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026

“The university gave me opportunities and platforms that
changed the trajectory of my life, and I see volunteering as
a way to pay that forward,” says new board member Gerald
Douglas ’18, an area PepsiCo sales manager who regularly recruits
on campus. “It’s about staying connected to a community that
invested in me, and continuing that legacy of impact.”
Building such a foundation begins with alumni sharing their
wisdom and experiences with students so they have an edge in
the hiring process, welcoming a fellow Husky as an intern to their
department, hosting a group of students at their organization,
speaking on a panel or in a classroom, and advocating for their
company to recruit Bloom grads. Douglas and his fellow board
members foster those kinds of connections.
College conferences like CASSH Con and COHST Pathways
enable alumni to share the wisdom earned through years of
professional experience with current students. Mentoring
programs like the William ’83 and Elizabeth Bent Leadership
Boot Camp foster deep student-alumni relationships around
careers in the same industry. Spending part of a weekend on
campus at the Career Intensive Bootcamp allows alumni to
witness students make the transition into confident professionals
in real time, and also provides them with an opportunity to
help them do it. These programs both support student success
and increase the likelihood that the students will stay engaged
after they graduate.
“It’s about empowering others, creating connections, and
building a foundation that lasts beyond any one person’s
contribution,” says Douglas. “I’m in a position where I can
leverage my experience in corporate leadership to support

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

the next generation of students and
alumni.”
Frankie Stokes ’15, marketing manager
for CMI Media Group, first became
engaged with the alumni association
during a regional social in Philadelphia
and later volunteered as a presenter for
the Career Intensive Bootcamp and as a
mentor for the William ’83 and Elizabeth
Bent Boot Camp for Aspiring Leaders.
It was her experience as a volunteer,
and with fellow board member Melissa
Wolf ’01, that inspired Stokes to join the
board this fall.
“I don’t think I knew the board was
an option,” says Stokes. “Talking with
Melissa, I saw it was a way to be more
hands-on. It’s been great learning so much
about the workings of the university and
how the collaboration happens on an
administrative and system level.”
The learning opportunity isn’t always
focused solely on students. The board
recently created several online educational
series using alumni industry expertise.
AI for Everyday Life and Sip, Sip, Hooray!
were fun learning opportunities open to
all Bloom alums.
“Our alumni have a lot to offer by sharing
their talents, skills, experience, and
knowledge, and the alumni board is
central to engaging with alumni,” says
Hakeem Thomas ’17, board president.
So much to offer, in fact, that whittling
down the sheer number of possibilities to
actionable plans that match the strategic
priorities of student success can be a
challenge. An individual’s talents and
interests may drive them to make a
difference as an ambassador of the university
who encourages future students to find
their home at Bloom, or as an advocate
for the PASSHE system. Others may
find their niche by creating programs
and events of interest to alumni.

the university needs,” says Michaels. “As
long as we have those conversations, all
the activities of the board will remain
extremely relevant.”
Amanda Kelly Vasquez ’00, a licensed
clinical social worker, is an alumna
participant turned volunteer. She attended
an alumni social near her home in Tampa,
Florida, every year since its inception
before choosing to become more involved.
The third of three new board members,
she returned to campus in October for
her first Homecoming in nearly 20 years.
She has since recruited her old roommate
and several other Huskies in the Tampa
area as new volunteers.
“I really love getting to connect with
people,” says Vasquez. “I wouldn’t have
thought to ask them to volunteer if not
for being involved like this.”
For the impact that the alumni association
has, the time commitment is less than one
would think. Regularly monthly meetings,
events, programs, and opportunities to
meet with faculty, administrators, and
student leaders may seem like being a
board member would dominate one’s
calendar. But the board is intentional in
how it schedules meetings and events,
often with virtual options.

The university gave me
opportunities and platforms
that changed the trajectory of
my life, and I see volunteering
as a way to pay that forward.
It’s about staying connected to
a community that invested in
me, and continuing that legacy
of impact. — Gerald Douglas ’18
“In a couple of hours a month, you can
be a very involved, engaged, and impactful
board member,” says Michaels. “The first
step to becoming a board member is to
get involved because that is how you
understand what the needs and
opportunities are.”
“It surprised me how dynamic and active
the board really is. It’s not just symbolic.
They care a lot about the students,” says
Douglas. “It’s been incredibly rewarding
to reconnect with the university from a
leadership perspective and meet talented
and passionate individuals who share a
common purpose. There’s an opportunity
to make an immediate impact.”

Shown from left in the new campus TV studio: Rachel Melnick ’03, Frankie Stokes ’15, Lynda
Michaels ’87/’88M, Amanda Vasquez ’00, Melissa Wolf ’01, Nick Hoffman ’16, Cathy Zavacki ’98,
and Gerald Douglas ’18. Board members missing from photos are: Cori Cotner ’93, Lamar
Oglesby ’07, Janet Tomcavage ’80, and Hakeem Thomas ’17.

“There is always this negotiation between
what alumni are excited about and what
BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026 | 15

ATHLETICS

THROWING FOR
By Eric Foster

K

elly Leszcynski comes from a family of runners. But
at Bloomsburg, she’s made her name sending javelins
flying like lightning bolts.

As a high school freshman in Nazareth, she joined the track
and field team, aiming to continue in the footsteps of her two
older siblings as a distance and cross country runner. An allaround athlete who also played basketball and soccer, she was
strong. So her coach suggested throwing—and the javelin it was.
Her first throw in a high school meet was 85 feet. By the end
of her high school career, she was throwing 145 feet. As a
member of the Huskies track and field team, Leszcynski has
continued to build on those distances in electrifying fashion.
“I chose Bloomsburg because I knew I wanted to stay in
Pennsylvania, and I wanted to play basketball,” says the senior
middle-level math education major. “I loved the coaches and
the campus. The track coaches also reached out to me.”
Last spring, Leszcynski became a National champion for the
Huskies at the NACCA DII championship held in Pueblo,
Colorado, winning the title with a school-record throw of
52.07 meters (170’ 10”), breaking her own school record she
set at the qualifier with a throw of 50.40 meters.
The first national champion for head coach Bernie Empie and
the first national champion for the Bloomsburg women’s track
and field team, Leszcynski is the second individual national
champion for the Huskies, joining Justin Shirk, who won the
javelin in 2012 with a throw of 71.90 meters (235’ 11”).

16 | BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026

Throwing a “jav” is not a matter of just having a strong arm and
shoulder. “You throw with your whole body,” says Leszcynski.
“The technique is very specific—you want to get all of the
energy into the javelin.” Honing that technique entails
practicing and hour to an hour and a half each weekday to
prepare for Saturday meets. Only Sundays are off.
And the javs are not all the same. Though they all weigh 600
grams (21 ounces) and are approximately 7.5 feet long, they
are designed to be thrown different distances. “Some are
more forgiving of a mistake in technique. As the athlete gets
better, the javelin is stiffer, more unforgiving of technique
mistakes, but able to go farther.” Leszcynski knows when
she’s had a good throw before the javelin even lands. “You can
just feel it when it all comes together.
“At first I did the javelin because I was good at it. But as I get
older, I am enjoying the sport more for its own sake and for
the experiences it’s brought me.”
Leszcynski will graduate in the spring of 2026, but because
she was out for a season with an injury, she has another year
of eligibility—and is looking ahead to even longer targets for
herself.
“Throwing coach Marcus Disbrow is a professional hammer
thrower and inspired me to think about Olympic trials in
2028.” With her trademark grin, she adds, “I wasn’t too far
off qualifying throws.”

Fro m H u s k y to In flu en c er :

Tik Tok Creator, Meredith Louise,
Returns to Bloomsburg By Sarah Smeltz
It’s been a few years
since she last stepped
foot on campus, but
this time, she returned
in a whole new way.
Meredith Louise ’19
shared her journey,
her story, and a bit
of her signature
“internet best friend”
energy with current CU–Bloomsburg
students as a special guest speaker for
the Future Business Leaders of America
(FBLA) in October.
Meredith discussed how she transformed
the lessons she learned at Bloomsburg into
a career built on creativity, confidence, and
connection. Today, she’s known to more
than 840,000 followers across various
social media platforms as “your go-to
internet best friend girly,” a TikTok
creator whose humor, authenticity, and
warmth have made her a standout voice
in the digital world.
At Bloomsburg, Meredith majored in
supply chain management with a minor
in information technology. She made it a
point to get involved and take advantage
of every opportunity—from workshops
and résumé-building sessions to ZIPD
networking events. “No matter where you
end up, the skills you’ll learn are valuable
and transferable,” she says, a lesson that
still rings true as she balances her full-time
9-to-5 with being a full-time content creator.
Students asked her everything from strategy
tips and creative inspiration to how she

A Note to Parents
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residence, please notify us of that new
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stays motivated and what advice she’d
give to aspiring creators. One message
particularly struck a chord: “If you’re
putting yourself out there authentically,
people may not like you—it happens. Don’t
water yourself down for them. Find your
community.”
Meredith’s advice to people who wish
to begin a content-creation journey was
simple but powerful: stay consistent. Even
when growth feels slow or uncertain, she
emphasized that authenticity and consistency are what truly build trust—and an
audience.
Looking ahead, Meredith shows no signs
of slowing down. She plans to continue
sharing cozy, real-life content—from recipes
and daily routines with her husband to
moments of laughter, self-care, and connection. She’s also expanding her creative
reach across multiple platforms, continuing
to build a space where her followers feel
seen, supported, and connected.
Natalie Miller, president of Bloomsburg’s
FBLA chapter, shares that inviting Meredith
back to campus felt like the perfect fit—
giving students the chance to learn not just
how to break into the social media field,
but what it’s really like once you’re in it.
If you’d like to follow Meredith and see
more of her content, you can find her on
TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube at
@b1gbimbo. To learn more about
Bloomsburg’s FBLA chapter and their
ongoing work to support future business
leaders, visit @bloomufbla on Instagram.

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HUSKIES GIVE
BACK AT THE BIG
EVENT ’25
Bloomsburg showed
up in full force for The Big Event ’25!
More than 800 Huskies spent the
day raking, mulching, and beautifying
nearly 175 sites across town—proving
that community runs deep here.

A DAY IN BLOOM
From sunrise on the
Quad to sunset over
the Commons, every
moment on campus
shines a little brighter thanks to the
people who call it home. Bloomsburg’s
beauty isn’t just in the view—it’s in you.

WE REMEMBER
Bloomsburg paused
to honor and
remember the lives
lost on September 11.
Through reflection and a field
of flags, we stand united in
remembrance and gratitude.

SPRING BREAK,
THE QUEST WAY
Our QUEST crew took
adventure to new
heights—literally—
spending Spring Break climbing
canyons, camping under the stars,
and exploring the stunning Red
Rock landscape. Missed out? Don’t
worry, more adventures await!

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The University Magazine, please forward the mailing
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BLOOMSBURG The University Magazine SPRING 2026 | 17

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

A Quote to Launch a Teacher’s Journey
By Jaime North

It’s a quote Carly Dye first saw in fourth
grade—a message she has since lived by
and one she plans to proudly display in
her own classroom someday.
“I think back to fourth grade when I had
a really good teacher,” says Dye, a freshman
CU–Bloomsburg early childhood and
special education major. “I enjoyed Mr.
(Michael) Underkoffler’s classroom so
much. I wanted to help him with
everything, and that’s when I realized,
maybe teaching is for me.”
The fourth-grade classroom message
stuck with her. “We said it every day. He
ran his classroom around that quote. It’s
something I definitely see myself doing
when I’m a teacher.”

“Life is 10% what
happens to you
and 90% how you
react to it.”

In fact, Dye began her teaching preparation before her high school graduation
last spring. Dye spent her senior year
at Milton Area High School, dually
enrolled in CU’s Early College program,
before becoming one of 180 early college
students to start this fall as full-time
CU students. “It’s definitely nice already

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having college credits and knowing the
campus a little bit,” says Dye. “I met a lot
of the professors, which makes it a little
less scary.”
Having already completed seven college
courses will enable Dye to earn her
bachelor’s degree in three years instead of
four. While taking classes at Bloomsburg,
Dye shadowed teachers through Milton’s
early childhood education program, gaining
exposure to lesson plans, behavioral
management, large group instruction,
and special education.
“I worked with adaptive gym students
during my high school gym class, and I
just loved working with them,” says Dye.
“It made me want to add special education
to my early childhood component.”
From that experience, Dye conducted
research into how learning environments
affected learning. She presented her
findings last spring at Bloomsburg during
the Frederick Douglass Institute for
Academic Excellence’s annual poster
session—further adding to her teaching
resume before she began her first full-time
semester of college.

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