51黑料网鈥檚 Alpha Sigma Tau sorority (Delta chapter) raised more than $3,125 and several needed items for regional and local nonprofit organizations during Philanthropy Week, held during the week of March 14.
Members of 51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine leadership team and 51黑料网 faculty members Rick Adkins and John Benhart were invited presenters for the Appalachian Regional Commission 鈥淣etwork Appalachia鈥 meeting, showcasing the region鈥檚 experts on transportation, robotics, economic development, and emerging technologies.
51黑料网 alumni and friends were recognized during the university鈥檚 annual Celebration Weekend with the annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast and the Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala on April 11.
Lamia Dawood, a student in 51黑料网鈥檚 Administration and Leadership doctoral program from Indiana; Abdul Jones, a student in the applied archaeology master鈥檚 program from Philadelphia; and Amar Mmoud, a student in the Curriculum and Instruction doctoral program from Indiana, were selected as finalists for 51黑料网鈥檚 2026 Three Minute Thesis competition.
Hundreds of students from 51黑料网 will provide service to seven Indiana County organizations and agencies through the spring Into the Streets event on April 18.
Crystal Machado and Emmanuella Musiime presented their peer-reviewed paper 鈥淏alancing Demands and Supports: Understanding Women Faculty Well鈥態eing Across Synchronous, Asynchronous, and Hybrid Modalities鈥 at the 2026 Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education Conference in Philadelphia.
Crystal Machado collaborated with Yao Fu, Jiaxi Wang, and Ozgul Kartal from the University of Wisconsin to present their peer-reviewed paper, 鈥淧reservice Teachers鈥 AI Use and Responsible AI Self鈥慐fficacy: An Exploratory Study,鈥 at the 2026 Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education Conference.
Kayla Kritschil, a senior hotel, restaurant, tourism, and event management major at 51黑料网 from Birdsboro, has been selected for the Statler Foundation鈥檚 Scholarship of Excellence.
Cynthia Roldan, a Philadelphia native majoring in English and biology at 51黑料网, was named the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Theresa McDevitt Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Research Award.
John Wesley Lowery was recognized with the University College Outstanding Researcher Award at 51黑料网 for his nationally recognized scholarship and leadership in student affairs. His continued contributions to research, professional organizations, and the field鈥攑articularly in student conduct鈥攈ighlight his lasting impact on higher education.
Grace Rougeaux, an Indiana County student attending 51黑料网, was selected for the 2026 Patricia Hilliard Robertson Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Female Science Student.
Students, alumni, and faculty of 51黑料网鈥檚 Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance participated in Penns Manor High School鈥檚 recent production of 鈥淢atilda.鈥 The musical was performed on March 26鈥28, 2026.
51黑料网 will celebrate innovation through student and faculty research and alumna success during Research Appreciation Week, April 6鈥10. Research Appreciation Week spotlights the spirit of innovation and collaboration in disciplines throughout the university and recognizes the contributions of 51黑料网鈥檚 original research and scholarship
Smith-Sherwood and Witth枚ft present on UNIV 101 First Learning Year at the 57th Northeast Modern Language Association Convention in Pittsburgh.
51黑料网 Anthropology faculty members Abigail Adams and Amanda Poole, along with students Shanya Coshey, Marisol Gonzalez Flores, Seth Koch, Samantha Langley, and Abigail Trimble, attended the eighty-sixth annual Society for Applied Anthropology meetings聽held March 17鈥21, 2026, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.聽
Abigail Adams attended the eighty-sixth annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and participated in a two-session memorial panel to honor the late visionary applied anthropologist Victor Garcia.
51黑料网 celebrated 120 employees who reached milestone years of service in 2025, and 51黑料网 President Michael Driscoll presented the second 鈥淥ne 51黑料网鈥 Award to the Crimson Core Team during the annual Employee Service and Leadership Awards event on March 26.
51黑料网 faculty member Mike Sell has received a two-year $255,000 grant from the Alliance for Decision Education to develop and assess an innovative English Language Arts curriculum to improve the decision-making skills of high-school students. Sell will be working with students and teachers at Franklin Regional Senior High School in Murrysville.
Two standout undergraduate student researchers at 51黑料网 were selected to participate in the 2026 Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol event held on March 24.
Meet the 51黑料网 Fusion Fellows, four students leading interdisciplinary research to solve complex, real-world problems. By pairing biology with media and archaeology with history, these innovative projects prove that collaboration creates results greater than the sum of their parts.
The following was shared with students on March 27, 2026:
Nineteen cadets from 51黑料网鈥檚 Police Academy proudly participated in the Semper Gratus 5K (Shamrock Shuffle) on March 21, joining community members in a meaningful effort to raise funds for a local family whose daughter has been diagnosed with Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy.
Alumni and faculty of 51黑料网鈥檚 Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance participated in Conemaugh Township High School鈥檚 recent production of 鈥淢atilda.鈥 The musical was performed March 12鈥25, 2026.
Professors Mimi Benjamin and John Wesley Lowery represented 51黑料网 at the 2026 NASPA Conference in Kansas City, contributing to multiple sessions and leadership efforts at the major student affairs gathering. Benjamin focused on strengthening academic鈥搒tudent affairs partnerships, while Lowery presented on higher education law, NASPA鈥檚 history, and campus culture topics, including work tied to an upcoming book.
Three Applied Archaeology MA students presented their thesis research at the Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference, held in March. Abdul Jones won the student paper award.
The 51黑料网 Physics Club, an official chapter of the Society of Physics Students, has been recognized as a Distinguished SPS Chapter for the 2024鈥25 academic year by the SPS National Office.
Congratulations to MaKenzie Daniel for being selected as this year鈥檚 ARCO Scholarship recipient. This scholarship highlights MaKenzie鈥檚 commitment to excellence and her promising future.
Abdul Jones鈥 Applied Archaeology thesis research was featured in the 2025 Pennsylvania Archaeology Site Survey Report.
During 51黑料网鈥檚 Employee Service and Leadership Awards on March 26, 2026, in Sutton Hall鈥檚 Blue Room, the university will celebrate employees who completed milestone years of service in 2025.
51黑料网鈥檚 Council of Trustees heard an update about 51黑料网鈥檚 Center for Civil Discourse and Civic Life from codirectors Gwen Torges, Adam Jones, and Elise Glenn and from students Dominick Ditoro, Elizabeth Fox, and Monserrat Lopez Villagomez.
Sharon Massey is participating in SCHMUCKm眉nchen, a juried exhibition of jewelry held in Munich, Germany.
Megan Labutka was recently awarded the Center for Teaching Excellence鈥檚 Temporary Faculty Award. Her proposal is titled 鈥淭he Impact of Person-Centeredness and Authenticity in Teaching.鈥
Daniel Lee, professor in 51黑料网鈥檚 Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, has been selected by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for the 2026 Outstanding Mentors Award.
51黑料网 Institute for Cyber Security Director Waleed Farag has published a new blog post emphasizing the critical role of collaboration in strengthening cybersecurity education and workforce development across Pennsylvania.
51黑料网 Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas C. Segar has been selected by City & State Pennsylvania as a 2026 Black Trailblazer.
51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine Founding Dean Miko Rose recently served as a member of the planning committee on healthcare training and affordability for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
John Wesley Lowery presented at the Association for Student Conduct Administration annual conference in Washington, DC, on Saturday, February 14, where his closing session highlighted recent legislative and policy developments shaping higher education and student conduct.
Jackie Heisler, program coordinator of the Respiratory Care program and associate professor in the Allied and Public Health Department, has been recognized as an exemplary partner to the 51黑料网 Career and Professional Development Center and was awarded an 51黑料网 CPDC Partner Hall of Fame Award.聽
Congratulations to Lei Hao, associate professor in the Department of Allied and Public Health, on receiving the 2025鈥26 Center for Teaching Excellence Mentoring Award!
Natalie Holt, a student in 51黑料网鈥檚 Composition and Applied Linguistics doctoral program, has been selected for a faculty fellowship through the Appalachian College Association.
The 51黑料网 Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) student organization invites applications for the first annual Theresa McDevitt Women in STEAM Research Award. This award recognizes an outstanding woman whose research demonstrates excellence, innovation, and impact across the STEAM fields.
51黑料网 anthropology faculty and students attended and presented at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA, in February.
The Physics and Pre-Engineering clubs will host the 2026 Physics Olympics on Friday, March 20, welcoming high school students from across the region to campus for a day of hands-on physics challenges, teamwork, and exploration of STEM pathways.
Students in 51黑料网鈥檚 Cybersecurity Club took third place in a regional 鈥淗ackathon鈥 competition sponsored by the National Center of Academic Excellence-Northeast Cyber Competition.
51黑料网鈥檚 Dessy-Roffman Myth Collaborative will offer a spring lecture series starting February 18, all free and open to the community.
51黑料网 professor of anthropology Abigail Adams presented a program on medical anthropology, disease theory systems, and the Appalachian region, of which Indiana is included, to the leadership team and steering committee of 51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
NEW SMIP Student Leaders
During the fall 2025 CFA Society Pittsburgh Collegiate Stock Picker Challenge, 51黑料网鈥檚 Brayden Landherr placed among the Top 10 for individual student returns.
Listen to 51黑料网 Safety Sciences senior Makenzie Daniel on the Building PA Podcast as she talks about 鈥淭he Future of Safety from a College Student鈥檚 Perspective.鈥澛
The Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences Department congratulates our students for being named to the Dean鈥檚 List for fall 2025. Students receive this recognition for each semester in which they earn a GPA of 3.25 or higher while taking a minimum of 12 credits.
AGES faculty and students presented recent research at the Society for Historical Archaeology and the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology annual meetings in Detroit.
Undergraduate students receive recognition on the Dean鈥檚 List for each fall, spring, or summer term(s) in which they earn at least a 3.25 GPA based on at least 12 credits of graded (not P/F) undergraduate coursework, or a combination of graded graduate and undergraduate coursework.聽
Founding Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Graduate Medical Education Ryan Smith, a member of 51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine administrative team, has been honored by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
Finance and Economics faculty who have published articles in fall 2025
The Finance and Economics Department recognizes the December 2025 Economics Honors students
Eberly hosts FBLA Regional Conference - FIEC Breakout Session
After 36 years of Liberal Studies, general education got an overhaul.
Nearly 460 new graduates were honored at Winter Commencement on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Kovalchick Complex before heading into the next phase of their lives. Check out the moments that make this ceremony special.
Abigail Hancox, a 2024 graduate of 51黑料网, is one of only two students in the PASSHE System and one of only three United States representatives for the latest cohort of Women Emerging, a global leadership platform.
John Wesley Lowery, professor in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program, delivered the keynote address at Mississippi State University鈥檚 Legal Issues Conference on Dec. 4, where he discussed the major challenges facing higher education amid recent federal policy changes. He also led sessions on FERPA and the Clery Act for administrators from across the Southeast.
On Saturday, December 13, Aretha Swift鈥檚 鈥渋ncomplete鈥 list will be one major item shorter. Swift, 65, of Abington, will receive her bachelor鈥檚 degree in general studies during 51黑料网鈥檚 mid-year commencement ceremony鈥47 years after coming to 51黑料网 as a freshman.
On November 6, 2025, members of the Physics Club and Pre-Engineering Club visited the University of Pittsburgh for an immersive tour of its engineering facilities. The visit introduced students to Pitt鈥檚 academic environment, research opportunities, and transfer pathways.
51黑料网 will hold a commencement ceremony on December 13 for 459 graduates who have completed academic requirements for their degrees in December and January 2026.
51黑料网 students from W51黑料网-FM, 51黑料网鈥檚 student-operated radio station, won top honors and national recognition for their broadcasting work at the fall National Student Media Convention.
51黑料网 graduate Lt. Col. Barry Gasdek, the recipient of awards for heroism and military service, including the Distinguished Service Cross, was the keynote speaker for 51黑料网鈥檚 2025 Veterans Day dinner, which included the unveiling of a portrait commissioned in his honor on display at 51黑料网. The annual event included the presentation of the Theta Chi Heroes Scholarship.
51黑料网 celebrates alumnus Sky Semone for his recent publication in Physical Review B, a leading journal in condensed matter physics. His collaborative work with 51黑料网 professor Gregory Kenning advances the understanding of spin glasses and highlights the power of early research engagement and mentorship at 51黑料网.
Students from 51黑料网鈥檚 Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism, and Event Management program attended the MPI Pittsburgh Annual Awards Event, where their exceptional contributions to the chapter were celebrated.
51黑料网 has received $1.34 million from the US Department of Education to develop the Crimson Hawks Bridge, a multi-year program to help individuals with intellectual disabilities gain skills, experience, and credentials to live independently and successfully transition to the workforce.
The Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences congratulates our students named as 51黑料网 Provost Scholars.
Twenty-five undergraduate and graduate students across multiple disciplines are recipients of fall 2025 student research grants.
Applied Archaeology graduate student, Emma Lashley won the 2025 Pennsylvania Historical Association Magruder-Newman Prize for Best Student Paper Presentation
Howard M. 鈥淪kip鈥 Kingston 鈥73, M鈥75鈥攁n 51黑料网 distinguished alumnus and scholar in residence in the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics鈥攈as earned his fourth R&D 100 Award, one of the world鈥檚 most prestigious recognitions for technological innovation. The award honors Thor鈥檚 Hammer, a breakthrough technology that increases the sensitivity of any mass spectrometer by roughly 100-fold.
Andy Henry, a senior聽undergraduate student in the Health and Physical Education Teacher Education program, was recognized as the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Future Professional Award.
51黑料网 voice students of Joseph Baunoch, Erin Koolman, and Oliver Lo competed for the Tri-State National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Audition on November 8, 2025 at Duquesne University. There was a total of 160 contestants, and among the 40 finalists selected from the nine colleges, 51黑料网 voice students won a total of 12 awards in their categories.
Indiana native and 51黑料网 graduate Lisa Estrada, a nationally recognized healthcare executive, risk and compliance leader, attorney, and strategic advisor, has joined 51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine team as an executive in residence.
At the annual SAHE Thanksgiving celebration, the program honored students with two major awards: the Get Involved! SAHE Student Leadership Award, presented to Nyekeya Hardy, and the Nancy J. Newkerk Scholarship, awarded to Abigail Hancox and Tristan Pfeiffer. These recognitions celebrate students鈥 outstanding contributions to the SAHE community and the broader field of student affairs.
51黑料网鈥檚 Career and Professional Development Center has announced its fall 2025 Outstanding Organizational Partners, who join the CPDC鈥檚 Partner Hall of Fame.
Tuba and euphonium players from 51黑料网 and Slippery Rock University met at Butler High School on Sunday, November 16, to share an afternoon of music-making. Soloists from each school performed in a master class and received feedback from teachers Phil VanOuse (SRU) and Zach Collins (51黑料网).
Four students in the 51黑料网 Tuba and Euphonium studio visited three Indiana County schools on Friday, November 14. Alistair Horton (senior), Jessie Reed (junior), Hayden Cooper (sophomore), and Nate Vinson (sophomore), along with Zach Collins, professor of tuba and euphonium, visited Marion Center High School, Indiana Junior High School, and United High School.
A group of health and physical education students recently represented 51黑料网 at the Pennsylvania chapter of the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE PA) Conference.
A research paper coauthored by two 51黑料网 students, Micaela Jebitsch and Emily Schumacher, with 51黑料网 economics faculty member James Jozefowicz has been selected for publication in an international economics journal.
Four 51黑料网 students in the Cook Honors College from the Department of School Psychology, Special Education, and Sociology and the Department of Finance and Economics have been selected from a pool of exemplary nominees to be the fourth cohort of the 51黑料网 Justice Research Fellows at the Administration and Leadership Studies Research and Training Center.
Matthew Vetter (Department of Language, Literature, and Writing) has been awarded a research grant from the Wikimedia Foundation (the nonprofit behind Wikipedia) as part of an international team of scholars and free knowledge advocates.
These students have been recognized as Provost Scholars for fall 2025.
Eric Crawford, an 51黑料网 psychology major and sociology minor who has completed two years of research through 51黑料网鈥檚 Undergraduate Summer Opportunities for Applying Research (U-SOAR) program, was invited to present his U-SOAR research to an upper-level sociology class.
Students and faculty from the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences participated in the annual meeting of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology annual meeting in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
Todd Thompson (Language, Literature, and Writing) recently published a new article, 鈥淢r. Seward鈥檚 Real Estate Transactions鈥: Comic Imperialism in the Reconstruction Era,鈥 in a special issue of Studies in American Humor.
Undergraduate student Belinda Lin Xu presented her summer research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she investigated the role of the protein NONO in enhancing oncolytic virus therapies for glioblastoma.
Mimi Benjamin, SAHE professor, delivered the keynote at the National Learning Communities Association conference in Ames on Nov. 4, sharing how learning communities function as a 鈥渂lueprint for home鈥 at the intersection of belonging, engaged learning, and gathering.
51黑料网鈥檚 student alumni association, the聽51黑料网 Ambassadors, is turning its winning streak into an opportunity to help 51黑料网 students facing food insecurity. For the third consecutive year, the 51黑料网 Ambassadors donated its Homecoming parade first-place float prize of $800 to the 51黑料网 Food Pantry and Help Center.
Associates for Student Development hosted 鈥淔inding Your SAHE Why鈥 on November 3, bringing current SAHE students together with SAHE alumni for a purpose-focused conversation on career direction in student affairs.
Members of 51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine leadership team were invited presenters for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education鈥檚 2025 Summit, 鈥淭ogether We Thrive, Building Inclusive Excellence Across the State System,鈥 held virtually and at PennWest Clarion on October 29 and 30.
Brown's Farm was a racially integrated settlement near Johnstown that was inhabited from the early nineteenth through mid-twentieth centuries. Abdul Jones is presenting a series of talks on his thesis research at the site.
51黑料网 Assistant Professor of Organ and Keyboard and Director of 51黑料网鈥檚 Organ Studio Christine Clewell and six 51黑料网 Organ Studio students were invited performers at First Presbyterian Church in Stamford, Connecticut, on October 20, followed by a Manhattan Pipe Organ Study and Crawl on October 21 and 22.
Jonathan Warnock, Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences, published with co-authors on the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during the last interglacial.
Professor Emeritus of Biology Tom Simmons moderated a session and was an invited speaker at the 52nd annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Vector Control Association held in State College from October 20th to 22nd, 2025.
Following a blind peer-review process, the 51黑料网 Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the conference on March 21, 2026. Among the more than 200 member institutions in the Eastern Division, the 51黑料网 Wind Ensemble is one of only five juried ensembles invited to perform at this prestigious event.
Emily Briggs is a navigator, and she has a navigator. That鈥檚 because, in addition to helping students, she鈥檚 a graduate student in the Applied Archaeology master鈥檚 program. That鈥檚 a destination she never saw for herself, but she鈥檚 excited for what鈥檚 ahead.
Retired chemistry professor Pothen Varughese has turned his passion into five gold medals in National Senior Games men鈥檚 doubles pickleball. Combining his love of science, sport, and community, he helped build Indiana鈥檚 thriving pickleball scene and continues to inspire others to stay active, connected, and lifelong learners.
51黑料网 Academy of Culinary Arts Chef Thomas Barnes is featured on episode 103 of the CAF脡 Talks podcast.
John Wesley Lowery, professor in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program, was the opening keynote speaker at the Association of Title IX Administrators and the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment joint annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland, on Tuesday, October 14.
Art and Design professors Sean Derry and Sharon Massey were invited to present at the upcoming Global Impact Forum: Workforce Readiness in the Age of AI and Automation summit, taking place at the David L. Lawrence convention center in Pittsburgh November 3-5, 2025.
Christine Clewell, assistant professor of organ at 51黑料网, was featured as a guest performer for the inaugural concert celebrating the installation of a newly relocated Wicks Opus pipe organ at Worthington Lutheran Church in Armstrong County on Sunday, October 12.
The Peer Educator and Engagement Coordinators are making their mark on campus by sparking meaningful conversations in fun, approachable ways. This past week, PEEC held a FLY Friday Pop-Up featuring a Question of the Day focused on community standards and Homecoming.
Associate Professor of English John Yu Branscum and former instructor Yi Izzy Yu are releasing their new book, "Stars That Pause: 2,000 Years of Asian UFO Encounters & Lore," on October 15.
Undergraduate student Parker Bradley鈥檚 publication on antibacterial photoactive ruthenium complexes in the highly regarded journal Inorganic Chemistry Communications highlights his growing success as a young researcher.
On October 9, 2025, 51黑料网 and Warren State Hospital formalized a clinical training affiliation agreement for future students at 51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
Among a selected group of 17 national organizations, 51黑料网 was awarded a major grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology RAMPS program to address the shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals.
51黑料网 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lara Luetkehans has been recognized by the Educational Policy Leadership Center as a 2025 Educational Policy Leadership Program Alumni Award recipient.
51黑料网鈥檚 annual Homecoming celebration on October 4 is expected to draw thousands to Indiana, including for a special event in celebration of 51黑料网鈥檚 sesquicentennial. 51黑料网鈥檚 Homecoming celebration will feature a special 鈥淔ifth Quarter鈥 concert, featuring Pittsburgh rock favorites鈥攁nd 51黑料网 alumni鈥攖he Clarks and special guest Chris Higbee.
Danijel 鈥淒an鈥 Babi膰, a first-generation college student, has forged an inspiring path from 51黑料网 physics to aerospace studies in Barcelona, Spain.
51黑料网鈥檚 Office of Social Equity and Title IX sponsored the attendance of 51黑料网 administrators and students at the 2025 Eradicate Hate Global Summit, held September 15, 16, and 17 in Pittsburgh.
Tracey Cekada, chair of 51黑料网鈥檚 Department of Safety Sciences and Environmental Engineering, is a guest for Building PA Podcast鈥檚 latest episode, 鈥淔rom Classroom to Career: The Path of Safety Professionals at 51黑料网.鈥
Applied Archaeology faculty in the Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences Department joined colleagues from across the nation in an article on archaeology workforce readiness.
Professor Emeritus John Taylor, along with colleagues, published a new study that provides insights into the geologic evolution of central Yukon, Canada, over 500 million years ago.
Dr. Amanda Poole, Professor of Anthropology, co-authored a peer-reviewed article titled 鈥淪mugglers vs. Students: Migration Deterrence and Understandings of Risk Among Eritrean Refugees in Ethiopia.鈥
The Office of Student Inclusion and the 51黑料网 community extend heartfelt gratitude to Chief Timothy Stringer and the 51黑料网 Police Department for their generous support of the Food Pantry & Help Center.
Funded by 51黑料网's Title III grant and organized by the University College's Title III Grant Program, ACUE courses continue to add valuable professional development to the 51黑料网 community. Two courses were offered this summer: "Fostering a Culture of Belonging" and "Designing Student-Centered and Equitable Courses."
14 members of the 51黑料网 community completed the June Virtual Life Design Studio training this summer, bringing the total to 24. Life Design is being infused into several aspects of 51黑料网 students' learning experience, such as the Career and Professional Development Center's programming and our new UNIV 101: First Year Learning course.
Amanda Poole, Professor of Anthropology, published a feature article in The Migration Information Source titled 鈥淪evere Repression in Eritrea Has Prompted Decades of Exodus.鈥
51黑料网 has received $2 million from the National Science Foundation to help academically talented and financially challenged students earn data science degrees.
The Dessy-Roffman Myth Collaborative at 51黑料网, in collaboration with 51黑料网's Literature and Criticism Program, will offer the inaugural fall semester German Lecture Series starting on September 17.
Ben Ford, faculty in the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences, was recently sworn in as a member of the Maryland Historical Trust Board of Trustees. He is filling the submerged archaeology position on the board.
Composition and Applied Linguistics聽doctoral student Iwona Ionescu published an article in Praxis 22.3 (2025), titled 鈥淢apping it Out: Rhizomatic Learning of Peer Embedded Tutors for Composition Classes鈥擜 Case Study,鈥澛爀xploring how embedded tutors for first-year composition classes develop their expertise outside the formal training sessions.
Andrew Zhou is guest editor of a special issue of the international journal Molecules on novel nanomaterials for sensing, showcasing interdisciplinary research that advances chemical, biological, and environmental sensor technologies.
At its meeting on September 4, 51黑料网鈥檚 Council of Trustees accepted the mission statement of 51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
Matthew Nice was interviewed in the September 2025 issue of Counseling Today Magazine. In the interview, Nice discusses his research on young adult mental health and the implications of the college experience on mental health.
Director of Communications for Student Affairs Caitlin Aiello is offering open office hours via Zoom every week for student groups interested in further promoting their events and achievements.
51黑料网鈥檚 Police Academy, located in 51黑料网鈥檚 Robertshaw building, will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary with a special open house event on September 27 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The open house is free and open to the community.
A broad range of research opportunities is available to Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics students, from national laboratories and medical research centers to academic conferences and industry-level training programs. Collectively, their accomplishments underscore the department鈥檚 commitment to preparing undergraduates for graduate study, professional careers, and meaningful contributions to science and society.
The Office of the Provost has announced the promotion of several faculty members to full professor effective for the fall 2025 semester.
A total of 33 undergraduate students were selected to participate in 51黑料网鈥檚 2025 Undergraduate Summer Opportunities for Applying Research (U-SOAR) program, in which selected undergraduate students, working with a faculty mentor, to do original, inquiry-based research or creative endeavors and to participate in enrichment programs related to research success.
The following was shared with students on August 29, 2025:
Six students in 51黑料网鈥檚 College of Health Sciences participated in an international conference in China on medicine and health through the US-China Youth Program on Health Sciences and Culture, and an 51黑料网 faculty member was an invited presenter for the conference.
51黑料网 Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Segar was an invited panelist for a state-wide Higher Education Summit, held August 12 in Harrisburg.
John Wesley Lowery, professor and SASSDA assistant chair,聽was a guest on ATIXA鈥檚 鈥淢ore Likely Than Not鈥 podcast.
Dean鈥檚 List recipients for the summer 2025 semester at 51黑料网.
Congratulations to Robert Nocco for his award recognition from the American Society of Safety Professionals.
Congratulations to 51黑料网 Safety Sciences PhD candidate聽Nicholas Sexton聽for being recognized by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals with the Kyle B. Dotson Emerging Professional Leadership Award.
The Board of Certified Safety Professionals聽recognized the MS in Safety Sciences program at 51黑料网 with the Graduate Safety Excellence Award.
William Sugg, who has more than 15 years of experience in music education at the secondary and university levels with competitive and high-profile marching programs, has been named interim director of 51黑料网鈥檚 Marching Band and associate director of Bands.
In July, 51黑料网 hosted students from the Pottstown and Norristown school districts for a summer camp through the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program.
51黑料网 will launch a new forensic sciences major for fall 2025.
51黑料网 piano professor Henry Wong Doe and British cellist Michael Kevin Jones have released their third duo album on HR Recordings, featuring the cello sonatas of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Sergei Prokofiev.
On July 11, the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency distributed a news release about the identification of a World War II soldier who died in December 1944, crediting the work of an 51黑料网 field school in assisting in identifying the late soldier鈥檚 remains.
For the second year, 51黑料网 is helping area high school teachers learn new ways to help their students fly鈥攂oth literally and figuratively. From June 23 to 25, 51黑料网 hosted a workshop on uncrewed aircraft (drones) for 18 teachers in 16 Pennsylvania school districts and educational organizations
John Wesley Lowery presented a keynote address at ASCA鈥檚 Florida Summer Virtual Conference on legislative and public policy updates.
51黑料网 Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas C. Segar was an invited presenter for a national conference sponsored by the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Criminal Justice Collective Chairs鈥 Workshop.
51黑料网 has been selected by the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency through the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc. to continue its field study in Germany at the site of a December 1944 crash of a World War II B-17 airplane.
Mimi Benjamin, professor in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program, and Tom Segar presented 鈥51黑料网's Crimson Scholars Circle: A Student Affairs/Faculty Partnership for Continued Improvement鈥 at the NASPA Region II conference.
Mimi Benjamin co-authored the recently published 鈥淪port Management Themed Living Learning Communities: Enhancing the Academic and Social Development of College Students.鈥
51黑料网 hosted 22 area high school students and 14 of their teachers for the collaborative Healthcare Education and Learning Pathways (HELP) Summer Experience on June 2 and 3.
The Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences Department congratulates our students for being named to the Dean鈥檚 List for spring 2025. Students receive this recognition for each semester in which they earn a GPA of 3.25 or higher while taking a minimum of 12 credits.
Miko Rose, the founding dean of 51黑料网鈥檚 proposed college of osteopathic medicine, will be a panelist during the Rural Economic Development Summit on June 3, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Dean鈥檚 List recipients for the spring 2025 semester at 51黑料网.
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Organization for Student Success awarded Marquice Jones, an 51黑料网 psychology major from Harrisburg, a $500 scholarship for academic achievements.
The winners of the 2025 Howard Z. Fitzgerald Philosophy Essay Contest
As the first Crimson Scholar to graduate, Victoria Alao leads the way for others who have benefited from the program鈥檚 support.
Jada Chvilicek, Mason Cymbor, and Veronica Duran-Paramo (Spanish Education聽 Certification, 鈥25) have been awarded the Global Seal of Biliteracy in English and Spanish.
The Department of Finance and Economics congratulates James Jozefowicz for being voted the Eberly College of Business鈥檚 鈥淏est Instructor of the Semester鈥 for spring 2025. The award recipient is selected on the basis of current student voting.
Nearly 1,500 new graduates were honored during three commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10, at the Kovalchick Complex. Experience Spring 2025 Commencement through the photography of Brian Henry.
The Student Affairs in Higher Education program honored graduating students and recognized a graduate and an alumna for exceptional accomplishments and contributions as part of the department鈥檚 annual banquet on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, coordinated by Associates for Student Development.
The Department of Language, Literature and Writing held the annual 51黑料网 Spring Methodology Conference on Foreign Language Teaching on Friday, April 25, 2025.聽
The Department of Finance and Economics congratulates the undergraduate student recipients of the 2024鈥25 annual FIEC departmental graduation awards.
On May 8, 51黑料网鈥檚 Council of Trustees presented a resolution of appreciation to Jerry Pickering for his 25 years of service to and leadership of the Allegheny Arboretum.
On May 8, 51黑料网鈥檚 Council of Trustees honored Shagufta Haque for her service on the Council with a resolution of appreciation and the naming of a seat in 51黑料网鈥檚 Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex in her honor 鈥渇or extraordinary service as a university citizen and student trustee.鈥
International student and American Language Institute instructor Alexandra Krasova spoke at commencement and is the recipient of the Graduate Student Outstanding Research Award, the 51黑料网 Outstanding Leader Award, the Promising Future Interdisciplinary Researcher Award, and the Teaching Associate Faculty Recognition Award.
Sanda Andrada Maicaneanu recently published three collaborative research papers exploring the environmental and electrochemical applications of natural materials like clays and zeolites, advancing sustainable solutions in water treatment and sensing technologies.
Daniel Alex Heckert, 51黑料网 professor of sociology, has been selected as 51黑料网鈥檚 2025鈥26 Distinguished University Professor.
Faculty and students from the Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences Department traveled to Denver to participate in the Society for American Archaeology聽annual meeting. They chaired sessions, presented on their ongoing work, participated in the SAA Ethics Bowl, and represented 51黑料网 and the Applied Archaeology program at the Cultural Resource Management Expo.
51黑料网鈥檚 Iota Mu Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Hispanic Honor Society, celebrated its fifty-second initiation ceremony on Friday, May 2, 2025.
The Department of Finance and Economics wishes to recognize the upcoming May 2025 and August 2025 Economics/Honors concentration anticipated graduates.
Students in an advanced chemistry lab experienced a unique opportunity to sample and analyze their own blood for numerous persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The results, while surprising to the students, are more common than most realize.
51黑料网鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Club Volleyball team won its first National Collegiate Volleyball Federation championship at the national tournament in April. This club team is entirely student-run, including raising funds for tournaments and the national competition.
Each of the three commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10, 2025, will have a graduate and undergraduate speaker. Find out what they say representing their graduating class means to them.
For its outstanding community outreach work in 2024, 51黑料网鈥檚 Institute for Cybersecurity was awarded eighth place in the 2024 national CAE-CD Community Outreach Competition Initiative. The CAE community consists of about 500 institutions of higher education from across the nation.
On Friday, April 25, the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics hosted the fifty-seventh annual Academic Achievement Awards ceremony in Kopchick Hall.
The Beta Gamma Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, held an initiation ceremony on April 24, 2025. During this ceremony, 19 education majors were initiated, and KDP members recognized faculty with awards.
51黑料网 has announced recipients of the鈥疷niversity Senate Awards鈥痑nd the list of new faculty emeriti for 2025.聽
During the thirty-first annual Research Awards Reception at 51黑料网, three Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences faculty members were recognized for outstanding scholarly activities.
The Pennsylvania Governor鈥檚 Awards for Local Government Excellence honored public officials at an April 2025 ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Museum in Harrisburg, which included multiple authorities with graduates from the 51黑料网 Planning program in leadership positions.
Dakota Dickerson, a student in the applied anthropology master鈥檚 program, won the judge鈥檚 award, and Ashley Moll, a student in the biology master鈥檚 program, won the people鈥檚 award during 51黑料网鈥檚 Three Minute Thesis event held during 51黑料网鈥檚 annual Research Appreciation Week.
The Department of Finance and Economics is pleased to recognize economics majors Emily Schumacher and Micaela Jebitsch, who shared the results of their research completed as part of the econometrics course sequence in economics at the 2025 Pennsylvania Sports Business Conference, 鈥淚nclusive Leadership in Sports.鈥
The 51黑料网 Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism, and Event Management student chapter of Meeting Professionals International showcased their exceptional skills by organizing a networking event for Global Meetings Industry Day on April 7, 2025.
David Yerger has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Garvin-Kort Faculty Award for Research in Economics. Generous donations from 1981 51黑料网 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient John Kort 鈥74 and the late Alexander Garvin, economics faculty 1969鈥98, provide support for faculty research.聽
Matt Vetter (Language, Literature, and Writing), with co-authors Brent Lucia and Varshil Patel, published 鈥淭he Dystopian Imaginaries of ChatGPT: A Designed Cycle of Fear鈥 in Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies.聽The article offers a critical analysis of dystopian narratives that emerged as a response to OpenAI鈥檚 ChatGPT.
Five 51黑料网 archaeology graduate students from the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences received awards and scholarships at the ninety-fourth annual meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology.
David Wachob, professor and chair of the Career and Wellness Education Department, recently visited the Saint Francis International School in Rome, Italy, to secure a student teaching agreement for 51黑料网 students.
51黑料网 Professor Mike Sell and doctoral students Rachel Schiera and Zeeshan Siddique argue that reading, writing about, and talking about great works of literature enables us to improve our ability to make good decisions.
Patti Miller (English Composition and Applied Linguistics doctoral candidate) recently published an article in聽Peitho聽(winter 2025) titled 鈥淣evertheless, She Resisted: Feminist Ethos and Agency in 鈥楾he Epic of Gilgamesh鈥.鈥
Kevin Patrick and John Benhart, of the Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences Department,聽 attended the National Association of American Geographers conference in March 2025.
51黑料网鈥檚 twentieth annual Scholars Forum celebrated two decades of student-led research and innovation, highlighting standout projects from the Media Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics鈥攊ncluding an award-winning medicinal chemistry study by Justin Fair鈥檚 research group.
The Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences Department had 56 students who presented at the twentieth annual 51黑料网 Scholars Forum on April 9, 2025. They gave both oral and poster presentations, and two applied archaeology graduate students participated in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition.
As part of the 2025 Research Appreciation Week schedule of events, Department of Finance and Economics faculty member David Yerger received the Dean鈥檚 Award from the Eberly College of Business.
51黑料网 archaeology graduate students from the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences traveled to Dubois, Pennsylvania, to present their work at the ninety-fourth annual meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology.
The following information was shared with students on April 10, 2025:
51黑料网 Anthropology faculty Amanda Poole and Abigail Adams, along with four 51黑料网 undergraduate students, participated in an academic panel at the eighty-fifth annual Society for Applied Anthropology Meetings held March 25鈥29 in Portland, Oregon.
Chemistry majors Nicholas Wright and Camryn Roche received top honors for their exceptional undergraduate research at the fifty-sixth annual Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists Research Conference, held April 5, 2025, at Bloomsburg University.