Cal U Review - Spring/Summer 2021

C A L I F O R N I A U N I V E R S I T Y O F P E N N S Y LV A N I A ’ S M A G A Z I N E

INSIDE THE RING Pro wrestlers blend athleticism, entertainment

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

FROM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT

CAL U REVIEW

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA’S MAGAZINE

SPRING + SUMMER 2021 • VOL. 50 • NO. 1

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ello, Cal U! I am honored to serve as Cal U’s newly appointed interim president. I stepped into this role just a few weeks ago, when the Board of Governors for the State System of Higher Education voted to approve California’s integration with Clarion and Edinboro universities.

As president of Clarion and interim president of Edinboro, I’ve come to see how much our three campuses have in common – and how we can build on one another’s strengths as we work toward becoming a single integrated university.

Together, we will be able to offer a broader array of academic programs, expand supports for student success and serve new student populations across the Commonwealth and beyond. Together we will be a powerhouse, one of western Pennsylvania’s largest universities, with more than 15,000 students.

The Cal U Review is published twice a year by the Office of Communications and Marketing and is distributed free. Third-class postage paid at California.

CHANCE LLOR Dr. Daniel Greenstein BOARD OF GOVE RNORS Cynthia D. Shapira, chair David M. Maser, vice chair, chair, Student Success Committee Samuel H. Smith, vice chair, chair, Governance and Leadership Committee Marian D. Moskowitz, vice chair, Student Success Committee Robert W. Bogle Neal R. Weaver, vice chair, University Success Committee Rep. Tim Briggs Tanya I. Garcia, education secretary’s designee William “Bill” Gindlesperger

Allison Jones, governor’s designee Sen. Scott Martin Noe Ortega, Secretary of Education Rep. Brad Roae Alexander C. Roberts Sen. Judith L. Schwank Zakariya Scott Larry C. Skinner, chair, University Success Committee Stephen L. Washington Jr. Governor Tom Wolf Janet L. Yeomans, chair, Audit and Compliance Committee

California’s beautiful campus on the Monongahela River will still offer a traditional residential experience, with the expert teaching, personal attention and hometown feel that make Cal U the No. 1 choice for so many students.

CALIFORNIA UNIVE RSIT Y OF PE NNSYLVANIA Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, interim University President Dr. Daniel Engstrom, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs Christine Kindl, vice president for Communications and Marketing Anthony Mauro, vice president for University Development and Alumni Relations T. David Garcia, vice president for Enrollment Management Fawn Petrosky, interim vice president for Administration and Finance Lawrence J. Sebek, interim vice president for Student Affairs Sheleta Camarda-Webb, interim Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Kelly Moran-Repinski, chief of staff/executive director for University Affairs Eric Guiser, director of Human Resources

Our residence halls are open, and we’re offering a full schedule of in-person classes this fall. Campus traditions and activities will continue, including the Homecoming celebration set for Oct. 1-3. Come join us – and share your Vulcans pride!

COUNCIL OF TRUSTE ES James T. Davis ’73, chair Larry Maggi ’79, vice chair Anthony H. Amadio ’73 Roberta M. Betza Stephen M. DeFrank ’92 Maria Dovshek, student trustee

I’ve worked in many settings during my career – as a business owner, a nurse, a hospital administrator, a mental health counselor, a faculty member, a college dean and a university president. I’ve met amazing people along the way, and I’m eager to spend more time with my colleagues in California.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Erica McDill ’92, president Samuel Jessee ’90, ’93 A. Tereasa Rerko ’79, vice president Wayne Jones ’08, ’10 Timothy Camus ’84, treasurer Nita Menendez ’74, ’91 Ashley Roth ’10, ’12, immediate past president Robert Powell ’15 Jeremy Babcock ’99, ’01 Matthew Putila ’97 Daniel Bickerton ’16, ’17 Brianna Riggi ’10 Daniel Bosnic ’05 Chris Sefcheck ’97, ’20 Marshal Carper ’09 Samuel Shurgott ’92 Randis Doster ’11 Amy Show-Smiley ’07 Melissa Dunn ’95, ’97 Frederick Smith III ’12 Shaina Hilsey ’18 JP Staszel ’03, ’05 Bill Hughes ’02, ’12 Ronald Taylor ’12, ’14

But make no mistake: Cal U will still have the small-town atmosphere that its alumni, students and employees have come to know and cherish.

I’m also excited to meet more of our Cal U students, alumni and University friends. In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll find ways to engage so we can get to know one another. I want to hear your “Cal U stories” and share more of my own story with you.

More than 200 Cal U staff, faculty, students and trustees contributed to the plans for university integration, and I’ve seen their dedication and hard work up close.

I owe a special thanks to Cal U’s previous leaders – former president Geraldine Jones, whose singular focus on student success helped to shape the initial plans, and former interim president Robert Thorn, who led Cal U through the spring and summer terms, and who continues to focus on financial sustainability in his new role as senior vice president and chief operations officer.

Please know that I am committed to Cal U, its students and its future. California has transformed itself many times, evolving from a normal school to a state teacher’s college to an incredible university. This is one more step in its proud history – one designed to keep Cal U strong and thriving for decades to come.

I am honored to be a part of its legacy.

If you have ideas or questions, please email me at drdale@calu.edu.

With warmest wishes,

Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson INTERIM PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

LIFETIME HONOR ARY MEMBERS Paul Gentile ’62 Michael Napolitano ’68 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Robert J. Thorn Ryan Barnhart ’08, ’09, ’19 Bethany Hoag-Salmen ’05 SAI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeromy Mackey, undergraduate president Amanda Considine, undergraduate, vice president Maria Dovshek, undergraduate, treasurer Jahneek Fant, undergraduate, secretary Hope Cox ’00, ’01, alumna Justin DiPerna ’16, alumnus

Sandra Guthrie ’01 James W. Harris ’80 Sean T. Logue Barry Niccolai ’93 Justin R. Nwokeji ’05 Dr. Daniel Greenstein, chancellor, ex-officio

George Novak ’55

Anthony Mauro ’92, ’93 Craig Smith James Davis ’73 Marguerite Haldin ’09, ’11, alumna Ryan Jerico ’09, alumnus Taylor Kodric, graduate student Ashley Roth ’10, ’12, alumna Caden Moran, undergraduate Thomas Zupan, undergraduate

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Leigh Ann Lincoln, chief financial officer for SAI Larry Sebek ’90, ’94, interim vice president for Student Affairs Brenda DePaoli, executive staff assistant for Student Affairs/SAI Board of Directors assistant FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVE RSIT Y OF PE NNSYLVANIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Darla R. Holley-Holmes Bethany Hoag-Salmen ’05, president Jeffrey S. James ’07 John A. Lorenzi, ’15, vice president Zeb Jansante ’82, ’91 Alan K. James ’62, secretary Jeffrey M. Kotula Paul L. Kania, ’87, treasurer Robert E. Lippencott ’66 Courtney Cochran ’12, ’13 Christopher M. Lisle Jr. (student) Jean Davis Reginald A. Long ’81 Nate Dixon ’12 Brian P. Malloy ’11, ’14 Ryan Fisher ’15 Therese J. Gass ’77 Frederick A. Retsch ’62 Chelsea M. Gump ’17, ’18 Harry E. Serene ’65 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Robert Thorn, interim university president Anthony Mauro ’92, ’93, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations Erica McDill ’92, Alumni Association presidentation CAL U RE VIE W E DITOR Christine Kindl

WRITE RS Wendy Mackall Matt Kifer

Tony Sonita Laurie Bartolotta

PHOTOGR APHE RS Zach Frailey Jeff Helsel Greg Sofranko Kelly Tunney

ON THE COVER Cal U student Zahqui McCelleis leaps into the ring as pro wrestlers Gabriel Zisk ’20 and Katie Cerda ’17 strike a pose.

STORY: PAGE 4

A LOOK INSIDE

06 VIRTUAL REALITIES Digital options extend the reach of campus events

08 ARCTIC INSPIRATION Professor’s work greets travelers at Pittsburgh International Airport

10 CHAIN OF COMMAND Army officer leads base where his military career began

16 ON STAGE WITH THE CLASS OF 2021 Masked and distanced, graduates turn out for Commencement

18 EXEMPLARY EDUCATORS Six faculty members receive the University's highest academic honor.

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Campus Clips

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Alumni News & Events

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Alumni Spotlight

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24

Sports Roundup

ATHLETIC TRAINER BREAKS BARRIERS Alumna leads all-female staff in new pro football league

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Milestones

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

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Gabriel Zisk 20, who wrestles as Zander Gabrial, celebrates a victory in the ring.

PRO WRESTLERS BLEND ATHLETICISM, ENTERTAINMENT

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oments before she steps through the curtain and heads into the ring, professional wrestler Katie Cerda ’17, a graduate of Cal U’s theater program, is tamping down nerves.

Although her wrestling moves are wellpracticed, she’s felt the same before every match since she made her pro wrestling debut in February 2017.

CAL U REVIEW

It’s the same feeling she had backstage in Steele Hall before the opening of a musical or play.

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She is Katie Arquette, a loud-mouthed, vicious Hollywood star with only one goal – to defeat her opponent at all costs.

FLIPS AND KICKS Pro wrestlers like Cerda are both highly trained athletes and performers in a multibillion-dollar entertainment industry that ranges from big names such as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to small, regional companies.

“Right before I go out through the curtain, I’m constantly going over lines, making sure I have my props, waiting for my cue. It’s the exact same feeling,” she says.

With its flips, kicks and body-slams, the sport has a strong following in western Pennsylvania, where fans take in shows produced by companies such as Pittsburgh-based IWC, the International Wrestling Cartel, and Prospect Pro Wrestling, of Worthington, Pa.

Cerda’s entrance music, “Bang Bang” by XYLØ, starts to play, and her transformation begins. When she throws back the curtain and strides into the main arena, she is no longer Katie Cerda.

Cerda has performed as Katie Arquette throughout the region and at venues from Illinois to Maine. Recognized as one of the region’s top female wrestlers, she currently holds the IWC Women’s Championship.

“I was into (pro wrestling) when I was little,” Cerda says. “My sister let me watch. I was amazed by (WWE star) Kane and just the fun and excitement of wrestling.”

Her love of pro wrestling reignited when she enrolled at Cal U, joined the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority and became friends with some Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity brothers.

“They were watching wrestling pay-perviews,” she recalls. “I found out Kane was still wrestling, and it sparked more interest.”

She began training at IWC’s Iron City Wrestling Academy, in South Park, Pa., and made her wrestling debut while she was still a student.

“The theater department was really supportive,” she says. “Dr. (Michele) Pagen is super serious when it comes to productions, so I had to balance wrestling and (theatrical) shows. But the whole faculty was there when I needed them.

“Dr. Pagen was very open to letting me strive with wrestling, and (assistant professor John Paul Staszel) did a lot of improv and movement courses to help me understand body and mind when performing on stage.”

Costume shop coordinator Joni Farquhar helped Cerda discover how clothing creates a character.

“With the costumes, you transition into something newer and brighter,” Cerda says.

“She always made me feel I could do it, whether on a stage or in a ring.”

FAN FAVORITE Cerda is not the only Cal U alumnus in pro wrestling. For U.S. Navy veteran Gabriel Zisk ’20, the sport’s over-the-top storylines became a creative outlet while he studied for his master's degree in cybersecurity.

He also trained at Iron City Wrestling Academy and worked on the ring crew, setting up venues and props for shows.

Katie Cerda '17, aka Katie Arquette, lifts opponent Briana Belliconish '20, who wrestles as Ella Shae.

“There were days during that time when I would come home from work, do homework, go in and wrestle, do ring crews on the weekends,” he says.

“Zander is just me, but expanded on,” Zisk says. “It’s an extension of who I am, but with a spin. He’s just that goofy guy who thinks that he’s really cool.”

“There were a couple of times when I had a paper due and I was wrestling in the middle of nowhere. I had a mobile hotspot, and one time I was in the back of our ring crew truck working on a paper.

Several Cal U students also lace up their boots to work on weekends. Criminal justice major Zahqui McCelleis wrestles as Zeke Mercer, drawing on his own real-life combat arts experience to create the character of a young, hungry fighter known for impressive wrestling moves and hard-hitting strikes.

“If I needed time, I would email the professors and let them know. They were always understanding and flexible. I could always reach out to them for assistance.”

Zisk wrestles as Zander Gabrial, known as “The Breaker of Gainz.” His fun-loving attitude, combined with strength, makes him a fan favorite. Younger kids, especially, love his googly-eyed headbands and never-saydie attitude.

“I fell in love with wrestling through a video game, and then I started watching,” McCelleis says. “I told my dad, ‘I want to do this,’ and we looked for training.”

Three years later, McCelleis is balancing coursework with wrestling. The rising senior trains and competes with promotions companies including Prospect Pro Wrestling and Altoona-based Eclipse Pro Wrestling.

“With technology now, you can always bring a laptop and work on your assignments before a show,” he says.

Zander is just me, but expanded on.

It’s an extension of who I am, but with a spin. He’s just that goofy guy who thinks that he’s really cool.”

GABRIEL ZISK ’20

“I have a strong work ethic, so I’ll get the work done one way or another. And it’s great, because if I’m stressed out over assignments or schoolwork, I always have pro wrestling.

This is a wonderful stress reliever.”

McCelleis says he enjoys his double life.

“At Cal U, I’m Zahqui. When wrestling, I’m Zeke Mercer. It’s a lot like having a superhero alter ego. And everyone is cool with that.

This is my extracurricular activity, like any other sport.” 

By Tony Sonita (a.k.a. Tony Kincaid) Social media manager at Cal U and a color commentator for pro wrestling

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

In character as Zeke Mercer, Cal U senior Zahqui McCelleis (right) tangles with wrestler Joey Moses.

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VIRTUAL REALITIES Digital options extend the reach of campus events

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al U logged in to innovation this spring. With some students back in the classroom and others continuing to learn remotely, faculty explored new ways to bring important voices to campus. And despite pandemic protocols, they were able to showcase student scholarship and talent, too.

One lesson learned during this “hybrid” year: Virtual outreach has its benefits.

CAL U REVIEW

COAST TO COAST

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For more than 15 years, Cal U has contributed to hip-hop scholarship, hosting an annual on-campus event that invites speakers to discuss the genre’s evolving artistry and multi-layered impact.

The Hip-hop Conference took a pandemic year off in 2020, but it returned this spring on Zoom. The virtual format was necessary to mitigate risk, but also fitting, says

conference founder Dr. Kelton Edmonds, a history professor and director of African American Studies at Cal U. “One of the important components of hiphop is innovation,” he says. “Innovation means taking out a piece of cardboard and inventing breakdancing. It means using turntables, beatboxing. Hip-hop is innovative and adaptive.”

So Edmonds and conference co-organizer Dr. Ayanna Walker innovated. They invited Dr. Cornel West, a ground-breaking author and professor, and Jeff Chang, an author and cultural critic, to be the conference’s featured speakers.

During their virtual presentation, the two offered their perspectives on “Hip-hop, Social Justice, Politics and the Pandemic.”

Cornel joined in from the East Coast, Chang from the West.

D R . K E LT O N E D M O N D S

Two nights later, a second panel debated “What’s Next for Hip-hop — Artistically and Academically?”

“It is a great conference, but maybe a bit of a hidden gem,” Edmonds says.

“Of course we like it when people can visit our wonderful campus. They’re always surprised by how beautiful it is. But the virtual format had its advantages. We had someone traveling in Mexico who was able to ask a question. People from the Pacific Northwest who know Jeff Chang were able to participate.”

Organizers of other virtual events report similar upsides.

This spring, Cal U’s theater program featured a livestream performance of Dear Edwina.

The musical was recorded and streamed through ShowTix4U as part of a licensing agreement. Theater professor Dr. Michele Pagen thinks the arrangement may continue even after audiences return to Steele Hall.

“It increases our audience base,” she says of the virtual option. “We can have a longer run. Our runs are usually four or sometimes five performances, and it’s one weekend. If you’re not available, you miss the show.”

Although it’s too soon to finalize plans, Pagen is thinking ahead to the 2021 holiday season and her students’ performance of Elf the Musical.

Ideally, she says, “we’d perform it live in Steele Hall the weekend before Thanksgiving, but it would air on-demand all during December.

Families could watch it however many times they want, and it will get Cal U and Cal U theater out there to more people.”

ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES A lineup of academic events went virtual in 2021, too, including a new semester-long Graduate Speaker Series, Women’s History Month in March and the Strike-A-Spark showcase of student research, scholarship and creative activity in April.

“Definitely, there was more access and more opportunities to engage with students’ work,” says Dr. Azadeh Block, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research, which organizes the annual showcase.

Instead of giving poster presentations in the Convocation Center lobby, more than 100 students submitted videos describing their projects. In all, 126 submissions were organized, captioned and uploaded to a playlist on Cal U’s YouTube channel.

In-person presentations have a special energy, but on-demand video fosters a different type of connection. “An asynchronous option would be ideal for our online students,” Block says.

In March, Dr. Marta McClintock-Comeaux, director of women’s studies, organized a variety of events, including a panel discussion called “Women Paving the Way.” The annual Serene Institute and Audrey-Beth Fitch Women’s Leadership Conference also were held virtually.

“We had very strong attendance among faculty, staff and students at our events this year,” McClintock-Comeaux says.

“The events were 100% easier to organize, and there was a cost savings on the speaker side, because it requires less time for them to participate virtually.

“Students were more easily able to participate in the leadership retreat because it required two hours per day instead of an entire weekend.”

As Cal U looks to continue a safe, prudent return to normal operations this fall, the University takes lessons learned during more than a year of adaption into the 2021-2022 academic year.

Walker and Edmonds reflect on a few: A record audience of 200 viewers who watched the Hip-Hop Conference’s keynote panel live, and 1,500 more who have seen it on Cal U’s YouTube channel.

“It was our best attendance,” Walker says.

“And for the keynote speakers to have 1,000 views in just the first two days was very significant.

“We were able to market the conference across the State System, something we couldn’t do if it was held in person.

Professors who want to show this in their classes as a way to talk about current events will be able to do that.

“A lot more people filled out a survey about the event, so we can measure how people felt about it.”

Edmonds sees the utility of virtual technology. “It is a great marketing tool.

To the extent that we are able, we should include an option to view this event online moving forward.” 

By Wendy Mackall communications director at Cal U

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

The virtual format had its advantages.

We had someone traveling in Mexico who was able to ask a question. People from the Pacific Northwest ... were able to participate.”

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ARCTIC P R O F E S S O R ’ S W O R K G R E E T S T R AV E L E R S AT A I R P O R T

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Cal U art professor’s Arctic expedition inspired a contemporary art installation displayed this summer at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Travelers who passed through Concourse C encountered “Glacial Front,” artwork based on Professor Jim Bové’s 2019 sabbatical project, “Shadows of the Midnight Sun: Traveling to the Arctic Circle in Search of Inspiration.”

Bové, who teaches jewelry-making, sculpture and 3D design, joined 29 artists and scientists when they traveled from Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, through the islands of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

“This amazing landmass stunned us every day with its beauty,” says Bové, who sailed on a three-masted, 190-foot “tall ship.”

CAL U REVIEW

“We traveled to within 10 degrees of the North Pole, a place few get to see. From glaciers to polar bears and the northern lights, the sights were beyond my expectations.”

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The artists were forbidden to take anything – not even a pebble – from the fragile landscape.

So Bové created body-hugging brooches from sea ice and glacial deposits, photographed his shipmates wearing them, then returned the natural materials to their place.

He also used computer-aided drafting and a 3D printer to design and fabricate pieces based on the rugged Arctic environment.

For the airport installation, he added an 8-foot stretch of glazed porcelain shapes that resemble a line of distant glaciers.

An artist’s statement explained the work to passers-by.

“When Jim presented his project on the Arctic, it was an immediate fit for the airport's art program,” says project manager Rachel Rearick, who oversees the arts and culture program at Pittsburgh International Airport.

“The beauty of travel is that it presents endless opportunity, and this work captures the wonders that exist when we look outside of ourselves and our daily lives. This body of work takes people on an adventure, while also challenging the notion of what wearable art can be.”

Pittsburgh’s airport was the first stop on Bové’s 2019 expedition, adding another layer of meaning to the installation. The challenge, he says, was to engage travelers who are on the move and focused on their own destination.

“This piece beckons you to come closer and take time to examine it. It excites curiosity. If the visual impact is great enough, people will

I’ve shown my students how the artwork was created and installed. I’m modeling the behavior of a professional artist, demonstrating the skills that are valuable in this career.” pause to look, to read my artist’s statement and learn more about the world we live in.”

Bové says his drawings and photographs continue to inspire his work, both as an artist and as a professor.

“I’ve shown my students how the artwork was created and installed. I’m modeling the behavior of a professional artist, demonstrating the skills that are valuable in this career.”

He expects to develop new coursework as he learns more about computer-aided design and 3D printing.

“Expeditions like this are not just about the immediate research; it is the impact over months, even years,” Bové says.

“As an artist, I will be inspired for the rest of my life.” 

Dr. John Cencich (left) and instructor James R. Fitzgerald dig into a box of papers.

’UNABOMBER’ F O R M E R F B I P R O F I L E R D O N AT E S D O C U M E N T S T O C A L U

Now the FBI profiler whose analysis of Kaczynski’s writings led to that high-profile arrest has donated his professional papers about the case to the Pennsylvania Center for Investigative and Forensic Sciences at Cal U. James R. Fitzgerald, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and a pioneer in the field of forensic linguistics, delivered about 6,000 pages to the center this spring.

The trove includes copies of official FBI and Department of Justice files relating to the UNABOM investigation and prosecution, letters Kaczynski wrote to his mother and brother, his 35,000-word handwritten “manifesto,” and an autobiography, journal and notes recovered from Kaczynski’s remote cabin in Lincoln, Mont.

In “six overstuffed boxes,” Fitzgerald says, are copies of “every single thing that Ted Kaczynski wrote up to the time of his arrest.”

Also included are Fitzgerald’s “text analysis” reports from the investigation and media accounts of the UNABOM investigation and Kaczynski’s arrest and prosecution.

The donation has its roots in a longstanding connection between Fitzgerald and Cal U criminal justice professor Dr. John Cencich, a retired law enforcement official and war crimes investigator who directs the Center for Investigative and Forensic Sciences.

Initially, Cencich enlisted Fitzgerald to create a training module in forensic linguistics for the center, so justice professionals could learn more about using oral and written communication when analyzing crimes.

Several years later, Cencich asked Fitzgerald and his partner, Georgetown University professor Dr. Natalie Schilling, to help design a forensic linguistics concentration within Cal U’s M.A. in Criminal Justice program.

Fitzgerald teaches several courses in the graduate program, including Seminar in Forensic Linguistics and Author Profiling and Threat Assessment.

“I like the faculty I’ve met at Cal U,” Fitzgerald says. “I’ve had some very bright and enthusiastic students. So why not put these (UNABOM) papers where they can be studied, assessed and digitized, so they can be of value to Cal U students and others?”

Fitzgerald expects historians, authors, criminal justice researchers, forensic

linguists, true-crime enthusiasts and scholars to view the files.

“We are honored to receive these documents, and we intend to make them available for study,” Cencich says.

“The Unabomber case captured the attention of the nation – and it was one of the first high-profile cases to bring forensic linguistics into the mainstream.

“We expect these documents will be of tremendous interest to researchers, historians and students of criminal justice for years to come.” 

By Christine Kindl VP for Communications and Marketing at Cal U

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

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wenty-five years ago the FBI arrested Ted Kaczynski, the notorious “Unabomber,” for a 17-year string of bombings that killed three and injured 24.

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chainOFcommand ARMY OFFICER LEADS BASE WHERE CAREER BEGAN

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.S. Army Col. Jon Brierton’s 30-year career has come full circle. The 1994 Cal U graduate, who began his military career as a private stationed at Fort Dix, N.J., has been appointed commander of U.S. Army Support Activity Fort Dix and deputy commander of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

The Joint Base, with more than 40,000 acres in New Jersey, is a merger of A.S.A. Fort Dix, the U.S. Air Force’s McGuire Air Force Base and the U.S. Navy’s Naval Support Activity Lakehurst. As deputy commander, Brierton directs the Army’s role as the services work together to meet the needs of the nation.

Fort Dix is familiar to Brierton, a Pittsburgh native: He began his military service there in 1990, when he attended Basic Combat Training. Three years later, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after earning his manufacturing degree from Cal U. “It’s quite amazing, and very unusual, to be a private at an installation and then return years later to be the commander,” Brierton says.

More than 6,500 military members and their families are stationed at the Joint Base, and nearly 12,000 others come for monthly training exercises.

As Fort Dix commander, “I’m essentially the mayor, meaning I’m ultimately responsible for everything,” Brierton says.

“It’s never the same day twice. It’s fun, though, one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.”

He has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Germany, El Salvador, Guatemala and numerous stateside locations, and earned multiple honors including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, six Meritorious Service Medals, eight Army Commendation Medals and two Army Achievement Medals.

In 1999, Brierton received the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment’s Grizzly award for the Army Reserve Platoon Leader of the Year. In 2000, he accepted the Engineer Regiment’s Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal for exceptional contributions in support of the U.S. regiment’s mission.

His career – including two degrees in organizational management and strategic studies – has blended the knowledge of how things work with how people work.

“The Fort Dix motto is ‘The Ultimate Weapon,’ and that’s the American soldier, a person, not a vessel or a tank,” Brierton says. “You have to understand people and find ways to leverage their knowledge, skills and behaviors.”

Education, he says, is a key to that understanding – and a matter of national security.

“Our ability as a nation to educate our youth and set the conditions for the future is vitally important for the United States to maintain its place in the midst of a changing geopolitical environment.

“Life is ever-changing. Modernization is a priority. You have to keep yourself sharp, and a consistent commitment to learning and education is part of that.” 

By Wendy Mackall, communications director at Cal U

What’s “everything”?

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In addition to details related to military preparedness, it's “the contractor who needs gloves, the grass that needs to be cut, a broken cart, a water leak, many things I never would have anticipated needing to know about,” Brierton says.

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It’s never the same day twice.

It’s fun, though, one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.”

Cal U has been recognized as a 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School for its service and commitment to military members, veterans and families. Learn more at calu.edu/veterans.

CAMPUS CLIPS

THREE PARTNER CAMPUSES TO FORM

he Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education has approved a plan to integrate California, Clarion and Edinboro universities into a single accredited university with three distinct campuses.

The board took action in July, after reviewing a comprehensive plan designed to maintain access and affordability while expanding educational opportunities for students.

More than 400 students, faculty, staff and volunteers contributed to the Western Integration plan that is now being implemented. Input received during a 60-day public comment period also is reflected in the plan.

A similar plan will unite Bloomsburg, Mansfield and Lock Haven universities in northeastern Pennsylvania.

IN-PERSON LEARNING EXPECTED FOR FALL Cal U anticipates a full return to in-person classes, on-campus events and student activities for the Fall 2021 semester.

“As vaccinations become readily available and coronavirus infections decline, we’re easing back toward a more typical college experience,” interim President Robert Thorn told the campus community this summer.

“Our students are craving connection.

They’re ready to get back to whatever our ‘new normal’ looks like.”

The soonest the new integrated universities will begin accepting students is Fall 2022.

Like its partners, Cal U will continue to offer a traditional residential and commuter experience for students. A typical student will take classes in person at their home campus, plus some hybrid or online courses.

Fully online degree and certificate programs – a convenient choice for many working adults – will be delivered through a “virtual campus.”

“At the same time, we can take pride in being part of a premier university that can do even more for our students than any one campus could do on its own.”

A unified menu of academic programs, coupled with virtual learning options, will expand students’ choices and allow them to learn from faculty experts on any of the three partner campuses.

The plan for the new university calls for one leadership team, a single faculty and staff, a variety of shared services and a commitment to re-investing savings in ways that rein in costs and support student success.

The integrated university will be given a new name, but each campus will continue to use its “location name” as well. School colors and mascots will be maintained.

For more information about the integration project, visit calu.edu/integration or dig into the plans for System Redesign at passhe.edu/integrations.

meeting in person. The summer term saw a move to Level 2, with masks no longer required for fully vaccinated students and employees.

steady at Cal U and the other 13 System universities.

A shift to Level 1 will bring the campus back to pre-pandemic conditions, although unvaccinated people will be encouraged to continue wearing masks.

“In keeping with our University’s core values of integrity, civility and responsibility, we trust that our students and employees will monitor their own health and use the ‘honor system’ when deciding how to interact safely with others,” Thorn says.

Health and safety concerns remain paramount, and the campus will continue to follow CDC and state Health Department guidelines.

Cal U has used its four-level Guide to Operations as a blueprint for campus activities throughout the pandemic. The University operated at Level 3 during the spring semester, with about 50% of classes

“California will retain its local identity, its traditions and its unique campus culture,” says Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, who is leading the consolidation as president of Clarion and interim president at both Edinboro and Cal U.

SYSTEM HOLDS LINE ON TUITION COSTS Pennsylvania’ State System of Higher Education is holding 2021-2022 tuition costs

This is the third consecutive year without a tuition increase for Pennsylvania’s stateowned universities, a historic step intended to keep higher education affordable for students.

The State System has never before set its basic tuition at the same rate for three years in a row. Basic undergraduate tuition remains at $7,716 for in-state residents.

Cal U also is funding scholarships to make higher education more affordable for students. This year the University has committed almost $8 million of its budget to provide need- and merit-based scholarships, and generous donors have added $1.6 million to that pool of scholarship funds.

All new students are considered for the Vulcan Merit Scholarships, worth as much as $3,500 per year, depending on an incoming student’s grade-point average.

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

ONE UNIVERSITY T

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CAMPUS CLIPS HISTORY LIVES IN DIGITAL STORIES Video stories produced by Cal U students are illustrating moments in western Pennsylvania’s history.

Nearly two dozen students worked in teams this year to create nine “digital storytelling” projects with the Fayette County Historical Society, the Meyersdale Library/Meyersdale Historical Society, the Lincoln Highway Experience Museum, the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp., the Bethel Park Historical Society, the Duncan and Miller Glass Museum, the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, and the Fayette County Historical Trust/ Connellsville Canteen.

The work continues a partnership that began in 2013 between Cal U and the Senator John Heinz History Center Affiliates Program.

Each year, students in Dr. Christina Fisanick’s Honors English program reach out to some of the 125 regional organizations that participate in the Affiliates Program to highlight their collections.

“Our students learn to work with primary sources, to improve their writing and to work with people they don’t know in a professional manner,” Fisanick says. “It also acquaints our students, many of whom are from this area, with their own histories.”

AWARD RECIPIENTS SPREAD SUNSHINE The President’s Commission for the Status of Women capped off Women’s History Month with its presentation of the new Dr. Melanie Blumberg Sunshine Award.

Named in memory of Blumberg, a political science professor and founder of the American Democracy Project at Cal U, the award recognizes individuals who excel at mentoring others and spreading positivity on campus, traits that endeared Blumberg to students and colleagues alike.

Honored at the virtual ceremony were psychology professor Dr. Holiday Adair; Carrie Schubert, interim director of Peer Mentoring/Parent and Family Engagement; and Sierra Snyder ’19, who is pursuing master’s degrees in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.

The commission also recognized undergraduate Selena Montijo as the spring 2021 Person of the Year.

She was lauded for volunteering at the Women’s Center and End Violence Center, and for leading an initiative to install dispensers for feminine hygiene products in campus buildings. As a Community Assistant, Montijo developed programming that focused on social justice issues.

She also served as a peer mentor.

TRI-ALPHA WELCOMES FIRST-GEN STUDENTS More than 50 Cal U students, faculty and staff have been inducted into a new honor society for first-generation college students.

The Cal U chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha is one of the first dozen chapters in the nation, organizers said. The group recognizes academic achievement, creates enthusiasm for scholarship, promotes leadership opportunities and provides support networks for first-generation students.

Faculty advisers Dr. Codie Stone, a sociology professor, and Laura Giachetti, assistant professor and director of TRIO Student Support Services, are first-gen students themselves.

About 20% of Cal U students are classified as first-generation, meaning their parents did not complete a four-year degree. To be eligible for the honor society, undergraduates must have a grade-point average of 3.2 or higher, and graduate students must have a GPA of 3.5 or above.

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An ounce of prevention

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Communications major Alison Daniels rolls up her sleeve to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the close of the spring semester. All Cal U students had the opportunity to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine before the summer break, with a second dose administered in mid-May. Earlier clinics made the vaccine available to University faculty and staff. Although Cal U does not have the legal authority to require COVID-19 vaccinations, immunization is encouraged as part of the University’s ongoing health and safety initiatives.

STAFFERS EARN VULCAN AWARDS Ronald Lincoski, assistant director of trades in the Facilities Management Office, and Eric Sabo, senior Windows system engineer for University Technology Services, are the latest recipients of the Vulcan Staff Awards.

Lincoski received the award for exceptional service.

“He ensures work gets done correctly and in a timely manner,” says facilities director Mike Kanalis. “Ron has the respect of the individuals in the shops that report to him, he’s quick to assist people around campus as needed, and he always comes to work with a positive attitude.”

As multi-factor authentication was rolled out, “Eric’s calm, thoughtful and meticulous approach helped many faculty and staff through the adoption of this important technology,” says Paul Allison, associate vice president for University Technology Services.

Each spring and fall semester, Vulcan award recipients are selected from a group nominated by staff, faculty and students.

ALUMNA LEADS OFFICE FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION As a student and throughout her 20-year career at Cal U, Sheleta Camarda-Webb ’89, ’94 says she “always felt heard.”

As the University’s interim Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, a new executive leadership position, she is working to ensure that all students and employees have that same opportunity.

“Many students come to Cal U from places, either rural or urban, where nearly everyone looks like them,” Camarda-Webb says.

Quiet on the set!

A camera crew lines up a shot as our Cal U campus gets ready for its close-up.

A production company spent a summer afternoon on the quad, filming a scene for an upcoming television series set in a fictional Rust Belt town. Premium cable network Showtime has announced that 'American Rust' will premiere Sept.

12. Cal U was ‘cast’ as a Midwestern university that appears briefly in the series.

The Pittsburgh Film Office worked with Cal U Conference Services to bring the production company to campus.

“Here, they have an opportunity to reflect on who they are, and learn to appreciate the differences among us.”

California has embraced DEI principles for decades, she says. The Black League, founded in the 1970s, is the forerunner of today’s Black Student Union. In the late 1990s, Camarda-Webb became the adviser for the Rainbow Alliance, where gay, lesbian and transgender students and their allies sought her help to organize the Safe Zone Allies Program that continues today.

In 2015 she was appointed director of the DEI Office housed in Cal U’s Multicultural Center, and in 2019 she was named co-chair of the University’s Presidential Advisors for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

In her new role, Camarda-Webb will work with DEI officers at the Office of the Chancellor and across the State System to address topics that affect the entire university community.

“We have to be able to live and learn, educate and excel in an environment where we all can be our authentic selves,” she says.

LT. GOVERNOR URGES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT The American Democracy Project at Cal U rounded out the academic year with a virtual visit by Lt. Governor John Fetterman, who shared the story of his political awakening and urged students to get involved in their communities and turn out to vote.

“The mission of the American Democracy Project at Cal U is to encourage our students to be active, engaged members of their communities, their states and their country after they graduate,” says Dr. Laura Tuennerman, director of the campus ADP chapter.

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

Sabo, recognized for outstanding job performance, helped the UTech team manage Cal U’s remote learning needs and took the lead in implementing security measures to keep online accounts more secure.

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CAMPUS CLIPS “With his experience as the lieutenant governor and mayor of Braddock for 12 years, John Fetterman can certainly speak to the importance of voting in municipal elections.”

The nonpartisan Campus Vote Project once again has designated Cal U a Voter Friendly Campus in recognition of the University’s efforts to provide students with the tools and information to participate in the political process and commit to lifelong civic engagement.

The 2021-2022 award marks the third time that Cal U has received the Voter Friendly designation.

ORIGINAL SHOW TAKES ONE-TO-ONE APPROACH Students in Cal U’s theater program turned a $7,500 grant into a mobile production of original works for audiences that benefit from sensory- and autism-friendly strategies.

“Starshine” is a collaboration between Cal U and Jumping Jack Theatre, a children’s theater production company in Pittsburgh.

‘Vet tech’ program accredited Cal U’s veterinary technology program has received initial accreditation from the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association. ‘Vet tech’ students work with live animals in new facilities that include a radiology room; surgical suite; pharmacy; isolation and recovery rooms; dog, cat and rabbit housing; dog yard; and three labs. The program has both associate and bachelor’s degree options.

‘PLEIN AIR’ ART EXHIBITION ON TAP An art exhibition postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic is slated to open on campus this fall.

The show is built in a trailer that will travel to various museums, festivals and other venues, including the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Science Center and the Erie Playhouse.

CAL U REVIEW

The show is experiential, audience paced, and meant for one actor to work with one audience member per show, meaning families could book it for their own backyards.

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“The partnership with Jumping Jack has given our students the opportunity to work with a professional theatre company on all aspects of a theater production, including set design,” says assistant theater professor Sabrina Hykes-Davis.

Pittsburgh artist Ron Donoughe will bring Brownsville to Braddock: Paintings of the Monongahela Valley to Manderino Library’s third-floor gallery from Nov. 8 to Dec. 3.

Donoughe is known for his realistic landscapes, painted outdoors in the plein air style. His work captures details of towns such as Brownsville, California, Charleroi, Monessen, Monongahela, Clairton, Duquesne, McKeesport and Braddock, as well as the Mon River itself.

The exhibition is free and open to the public.

For library hours, visit library.calu.edu.

ONLINE GUIDE RATES CAL U AMONG THE BEST For the third year in a row, Cal U has been honored for its commitment to excellence in undergraduate education.

Colleges of Distinction, an online guide for parents and students, has named Cal U a top university for 2021-2022, with special endorsements in the areas of business, education, engineering, career development, equity and inclusion, and military support.

“We are proud of the exceptional educational opportunities we offer to our students,” said Dr. Daniel Engstrom, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“This award affirms that our students receive outstanding instruction and top-notch support services.”

Cal U Welcomes

RON DONOUGHE A Pittsburgh artist known for his plein air paintings.

He will bring his latest work to California University of Pennsylvania.

NOVEMBER 8 — DECEMBER 3: “Brownsville to Braddock: Paintings of the Monongahela Valley” will be on display in the third floor gallery in Manderino Library.

NOVEMBER 4: A reception with the artist will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the library art gallery.

CONTACT: fisanick@calu.edu

Class 2021 with the

of

Masked and distanced, graduates turn out for Commencement

T

here was no hiding the excitement.

California University of Pennsylvania held its 192nd Commencement on May 7-8, and although graduates and guests wore masks and practiced social distancing, the joy of the weekend was evident.

bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a concentration in TV and radio.

More than 1,000 doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees were conferred by interim University President Robert Thorn.

For Devon, nothing meant more than having his parents watch him walk across the stage in the Convocation Center.

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Addressing the Class of 2021 was James T. Davis ’73, a senior partner at the Davis & Davis law firm of Uniontown, Pa., and chair of Cal U’s Council of Trustees.

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“He’s our oldest child, and our first to graduate,” mom Laurie Gerena added. “I’m so proud of his accomplishment.”

“It would have been super weird to do this without them,” he said. “They’re the reason I was able to accomplish this.”

To comply with pandemic-related occupancy limits, the University held three ceremonies and allowed each graduate to invite only two guests.

Graduates made the most of the mask mandate, including master’s degree candidates Emily Nelson, Rachel Skovira, Brandi Schweizer and Amanda Lynch, whose face coverings declared “Social Workers Change the World.”

“It’s very emotional,” said a slightly tearyeyed Alex Gerena, of Womelsdorf, Pa. His son, Devon, graduated May 8 with a

Alumna Debbie Lambert ’88, ’95 decorated a mask for granddaughter Taia Anderson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in social work.

I want to congratulate each of you on your academic success and remind you that you are leaders — today's leaders as well as tomorrow's leaders.”

J A M E S D AV I S ' 7 3

Criminal justice student Bailey Accettulla accepts her diploma from interim President Robert Thorn.

The sign says it all as theater grad Quest Sawyer joins father James, mother Marvia and sister Brie after the ceremony.

“It’s a proud moment for me,” Lambert said, “and I wanted to make sure it was special for her.”

“She’s worked so hard,” added Anderson’s mother, Crystal Britt. “It’s so refreshing after the past year to be able to come together and celebrate.”

President Thorn and speaker Davis commended the graduates for their resilience. It is no small thing to finish your degree amid a global pandemic.

“We gather to celebrate all that you have worked so hard to accomplish,” President Thorn said.

“During the past 14 months, in particular, you demonstrated perseverance in the face of unprecedented challenges.

You weathered a year that was often unpredictable. You overcame challenges none of us had ever imagined. I commend each of you for staying true to your goals and not faltering when faced with adversity.”

Communications graduate Maggie Cave hugs classmate Abbie Kefalas after the ceremony.

“I want to congratulate each of you on your academic success and remind you that you are leaders — today's leaders as well as tomorrow's leaders,” Davis said.

“You have been blessed with a wonderful education, and you are more than capable of moving your communities and this nation forward.”

With degrees in hand, graduates’ futures are already bright.

“I honestly don’t think the online experience was that difficult,” said Jewelein Stevenson, who earned her master’s degree in communication disorders.

Tisha Wallace is all smiles after traveling from Dallas, Texas, to accept dual master's degrees in exercise science.

She has been hired at a school district and nursing facility in her home state of Maryland.

“Since our classes were online, we could do an externship wherever we wanted, and that’s what led me to getting hired,” she explained.

“But I’m so excited for graduation, because I haven’t seen members of my cohort in person in over a year.”  For more images from spring Commencement, visit calu.edu/review.

By Wendy Mackall communications director at Cal U

CELEBRATE THE CLASS OF 2020 Pandemic precautions kept Cal U from honoring graduates in person last year, but the Class of 2020 has not been forgotten. All 2020 graduates are invited to march with their class in the Homecoming Parade on Oct. 2, and to be recognized at the Homecoming football game at Adamson Stadium. In addition, all 2020 grads may participate in Cal U’s December 2021 Commencement, where the class will receive special recognition.

Details: calu.edu/commencement

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

Outside the Convocation Center, social work graduate Taia Anderson shows off her matching cap and mask.

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educators

EXEMPLARY After a yearlong pause on in-person events, six dedicated faculty members added bronze medallions to their academic regalia and assembled in the Convocation Center for Cal U’s 192nd Commencement. The 2020 and 2021 recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Merit Awards, among the University’s highest academic honors, each received a scholarship for a student in their discipline.

Dr. Louise Nicholson

Dr. Sheri Boyle

Dr. Kimberly Vanderlaan

2020 RECIPIENT

2020 RECIPIENT

2020 RECIPIENT

Genetics expert Dr. Louise Nicholson creates and revises course content to keep students up to date on recent discoveries and new methods in her discipline.

Dr. Sheri Boyle, of the Department of Health and Human Service Professions, directs the Bachelor of Social Work program.

An associate professor in the Department of Media, Culture and Performance, Dr. Kimberly Vanderlaan is a specialist in 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century American literature.

PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

CAL U REVIEW

An associate professor in the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, she has developed and taught an upper-level specialty biology course, two special-topics courses for the Honors Program, and two upper-level courses for the new Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology.

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Nicholson has supervised more than 60 undergraduate research students, 30 of whom have presented their work at regional and national conferences, and 15 of whom have secured grants to support their work.

PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE

Her University service includes organizing monthly symposiums on issues such as poverty, addiction and cultural diversity. She has obtained grants that prepare social work students to address mental and behavioral healthcare needs in rural and medically underserved communities, and to build careers related to drug addiction policy, prevention and recovery. Both grants offer graduate students $10,000 stipends.

In her community, Boyle works with Open Your Heart to a Senior and the Blackburn Center, both in Greensburg, Pa. student research and to network with industry professionals as a means of introducing students to potential careers.

PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP

She has been co-editor of Beyond Nebraska: Willa Cather’s Pittsburgh and Cather Studies Volume 13, and she reviewed Willa Cather and the Arts (ed. Guy Reynolds) for American Literary Realism.

Vanderlaan also serves on a three-member national committee that selects participants for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program in the Netherlands. The ETA fellowship is part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program; fellows facilitate cultural exchange through classroom interactions and extracurricular activities while teaching English.

Dr. Kimberly Woznack

Todd Pinkham

PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE

PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP

2021 RECIPIENT

2021 RECIPIENT

2021 RECIPIENT

In addition to demonstrated excellence as a classroom instructor, Dr. Daniel Harris, an associate professor in the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, has developed new elective classes and lab offerings to make Cal U geology students more competitive in the current job market.

Dr. Kimberly Woznack, a chemistry professor in the Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, finds service opportunities within her discipline, the University and the State System.

An associate professor in the Department of Humanities, Todd Pinkham is a prolific artist whose recent work – a mural that covers an 85- by 14-foot overpass at the boat launch in Fredericktown, Pa. – required an extensive review of historical photographs and interviews with local residents.

PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

Harris also gives geology presentations at public schools, organizes science workshops for children and recruits high school students for Cal U’s geology program.

His regular attendance at meetings of professional geologists often becomes an occasion to present joint faculty-student research and to network with industry professionals as a means of introducing students to potential careers.

She holds national-level leadership roles in the American Chemical Society and the Women Chemists Committee, and she received a fellowship from the National Science Foundation to participate in a research project to improve chemistry education.

An advocate for gender equity in STEM, Woznack advises the student Chemistry Club, serves on the advisory board for the women’s studies program at Cal U, and is active with the PASSHE Women’s Consortium.

The mural, commissioned by the Mon River Towns community revitalization program, features images of Fredericktown’s former car ferry and other riverside scenes.

Pinkham also participates as an invited artist at the annual Burning Man International Art Festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert and exhibits his work at galleries in the greater Pittsburgh area.

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

Dr. Daniel Harris

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If you’ve attended California, you’re eligible for FREE, lifetime membership in the Cal U Alumni Association. Sign up and get your Alumni Association lapel pin:

The Alumni Association provides access to FREE personal and professional development programming, on demand for graduates.

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Enjoy your subscription to the University magazine in print or ask to read the Cal U Review online only. View bonus features, videos, photos and more:

The Alumni Association hosts signature events throughout the year, virtually and in person. New events are being added to the lineup for 2021. See the latest:

calu.edu/review

tinyurl.com/calalumnievents

2021 HOMECOMING WELCOME BACK!

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OCTOBER 1-3 ON OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS caret-right Party on the Patio

caret-right Celebrate the Class of 2020

caret-right Homecoming Parade

caret-right Welcome the Class of 2021

caret-right Vulcans Football CALU.EDU / ALUMNI

for complete details

All plans subject to change based on public health conditions 20

SET IN STONE NEW GREEK LIFE COMMONS PAVED WITH NAMES

are (from left) Nina Gray ’87, John McCoy ’80 and Cynthia, Thiswife summer, theBarbara Office of Alumni Relations is Ney ’90 andinstalling Valerie Haley ’82.250 commemorative bricks behind nearly

the Kara Alumni House, where the new Greek Life Commons will honor fraternity and sorority members.

Adele White ’70 is among a close-knit group of Sigma Kappa sisters who purchased bricks for the patio. The women have kept in touch through the decades, and they grew even closer as they supported their sorority sister, Mary “Sis” Everhart, before she passed away several years ago.

“Don’t stop being Sigma Kappa sisters,” Everhart told her friends.

So they each had their name engraved on a brick, added one to honor Everhart, and asked to have them installed together.

White and her friends look forward to seeing the new Greek Life Commons – and sharing some Cal U memories – at Homecoming festivities this year.

“Sigma Kappa was like having a family when you were away at school,” recalls White, a former special needs educator. “We were such a diverse group, but we bonded, and we are still lifelong friends.”

Kappa Alpha Psi’s focus – achievement in all endeavors, coupled with community service – aligns with his values, says Taylor, who is spending time in retirement providing academic support for elementary and middle school students.

In addition to remembering brothers from his Kappa Alpha Psi “line,” he wants to be sure the fraternity itself is not forgotten.

“We were on campus during the height of the civil rights movement, and I want people to recognize that there was a predominantly Black fraternity at Cal State,” Taylor says.

“We need to write our own history, and this is a monument to our presence. If you’re not written into history, you can be forgotten.”

For fraternity and sorority members from many decades, the commons will be a tangible reminder of their time at California.

“Cal U does not have a ‘fraternity row,’ and not every organization has a dedicated house,” says Randi Minerva, manager of annual giving programs.

“Greek Life Commons provides an opportunity for our alumni to reconnect with a time they treasure. By dedicating this space to their shared experience, we have invited our Greek alumni to come home." 

Jack Taylor ’71, ’75 is one of several Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity members who ordered a memorial brick.

His purchase honors a classmate and fraternity brother, the late Raymond Greene.

To learn more about purchasing commemorative bricks for any Cal U location, including the new Greek Life Commons, contact Randi Minerva at 724-938-4248 or minerva@calu.edu

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

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utting names underfoot keeps memories top of mind. Thanks to many generous donors, PHILADELPHIA bricks engraved with graduates’ names STORIES pave the walkways around Old Main’s fountain, More than 40 from thealumni fountain atfour Kara Alumni House and the Vulcan different decades celebrate all statue in the quad. The buy-a-brick program honors things Cal U at an alumni event in alumni from the recent and not-so-recent past while Philadelphia. Sharing the moment supporting scholarships for future students.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Agent of CHANGE A

Cal U alumnus is leading an effort to create a more inclusive and diverse educational experience for children in Allegheny County, Pa.

Michael Jones, a 2012 graduate of the Master of Social Work program, is the first director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. A part of the state’s public education system, the AIU serves schools, children, youth and families in suburban Allegheny County.

In announcing the new position, Dr. Robert Scherrer, the AIU’s executive director, noted this role will aid the organization in working with school districts to overcome overt and systemic forms of racism and discrimination.

“It’s my job to create a vision and a foundation for our DEI efforts moving forward,” Jones says. “We want to consider new programming and initiatives while being a listening ear to build a stronger community.”

He connects those goals with core concepts he learned in the social work program.

“We learned a lot about advocacy work and how to build initiatives from the ground up,” Jones says. “There was a focus on policy work, grant writing, how to keep grants once they are secured. And that’s all a big part of my job.

“How can we alter an environment through policies and procedures? As I went through my coursework at Cal U, I learned that viewpoint.”

Jones, who has a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Seton Hill University, has worked in higher education in the areas of enrollment management and career development.

Most recently, his career path took him to BNY Mellon, where he focused on diversity recruitment and program management.

Cal U REVIEW

“I like to say that I write things in pencil, because it’s good to have goals, but I try never to say ‘no’ to an opportunity,” he says of his career experience.

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“Every opportunity is an opportunity to grow.”

By Wendy Mackall, communications director at Cal U



DESIGNING A CAREER

I really love being able to impact brands that people interact with every day. Seeing the end result come to life makes everything worth it to me.”

A

s a graphic design major at Cal U, Desiree Tomich spent long hours in the design lab perfecting class projects. Sometimes that meant skipping time with friends to work late into the night.

Getting her projects done came first.

That work ethic paid off.

After graduating in 2011, Tomich’s first job was with The Hershey Company, as a parttime graphic designer. She later worked as an associate design manager for the company, helping to lead new design initiatives for brands such as KISSES chocolate candy.

Tomich says she learned a lot at Hershey.

But after five-and-a-half years there, she was ready to expand her skill set.

of-sale signage and other materials for products such as bubly™, the company’s sparkling water.

An opportunity at PepsiCo seemed like the right move. It was a company she respected and she was drawn to the chance to work in New York City.

“I really love being able to impact brands that people interact with every day,” she says. “Seeing the end result come to life makes everything worth it to me.”

Tomich has now been with PepsiCo’s Beverage North America team for two years. She helps design packaging, point-

Sometimes design professionals are portrayed as ruthless and competitive, she notes, but “for the most part, it’s been a friendly industry.”

“I’m around so many talented designers who have diverse backgrounds in things like structural design, illustration, animation, and it’s really made me expand the way I approach a project,” she says.

“I’m learning from the creative people around me,” and someday she hopes to pay it forward by serving as a mentor for younger designers. 

By Laurie Bartolotta, former content writer at Cal U

ADVOCATE FOR ELDERS

Now that job is hers.

“I have always known I wanted to work in a nursing home,” says Testa, who has a passion for working with – and advocating for – older adults.

Earlier this year, Testa was named administrator of Westmoreland Manor, a county-owned nursing home near Greensburg, Pa.

It’s a passion rooted in her experiences as a Westmoreland Manor volunteer. She started out as a teenager, walking residents to church services on Sundays. As a college student, she served as a unit assistant.

As administrator, she oversees the day-to-day operations of a wide range of departments, including nursing, rehabilitation, recreation, maintenance and business.

“I just grew to love the older population because of everything they’ve been through,” she says.

“I felt like I should know what each department does on a daily basis,” she says.

Testa was hired as Westmoreland Manor’s assistant administrator in 2019 and stepped in as interim administrator of the 408-bed facility in October 2020.

That love inspired her to study gerontology at Cal U. Thanks in part to a speaker series that brought professionals to campus to talk about their careers, she set her sights on becoming a nursing home administrator.

Then she began the lengthy process of becoming a licensed administrator, accumulating 1,000 administrator-in-training hours at Westmoreland Manor and passing three certification exams.

She’s been at the helm throughout the pandemic, working hard to ensure the well-being of residents and to keep their families informed.

After graduation she took on positions in human resources and billing at a local nursing home to gain first-hand experience with some of the jobs she’d eventually be overseeing.

It was all worth it, she says.

“I love where I’m at right now.” 

By Laurie Bartolotta, former content writer at Cal U

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

B

eing a nursing home administrator has long been a “dream job” for Abby Testa ’16.

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

tumble

SENIOR MAKES TRACK RECORDS

T

rack and field standout Divonne Franklin knows that records are meant to be broken. The rising senior has smashed four school records since the 2020 indoor season.

She won three league titles in May and is now a six-time PSAC champion.

She was named Most Outstanding Athlete at the 2021 PSAC Championships, where she propelled the Vulcan women to their highest point total in program history by winning the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay.

Franklin, of Philadelphia, made school history in the 100 meters, toppling a record set in 2012. After boasting one of the top 15 times in the country, 11.65 seconds, she competed at the NCAA Championships, where she finished ninth and was named a second-team All-American.

Rising junior Beyoncé Kelly also had a stellar spring. She competed in the high jump at the NCAA Championships, becoming the first Cal U women’s field athlete to reach the championships in more than two decades.

At the conference meet, Kelly placed second in the high jump, becoming the first Vulcan in more than 10 years to clear 1.70 meters.

Jaleesa Mackey ’21 captured the conference title in the 100-meter hurdles after joining the team as a walk-on last year. She is the program’s first sprint hurdle champion in more than 20 years.

Franklin and Mackey, along with Alicia Collier ’20 and rising junior Tatyana Young, claimed the league crown in the 4x100 relay, senior Aaliyah Lewis placed second in the triple jump, and rising junior Kailee Bunard finished third in the 100-meter hurdles.

FIRST-YEAR GOLFERS IN POST-SEASON PLAY Men’s golfer Tyler Kipp was an individual qualifier at the NCAA Atlantic/East Region Championships in May. The Vulcan was one of six individuals selected for the event, which featured 16 team qualifiers from five conferences.

CAL U REVIEW

Kipp, of Reading, Pa., finished play with a 25-over 241. One of only four freshmen in the country to compete at a regional championship as an individual this spring, he was named the PSAC Freshman of the Year in June.

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Kipp led the Vulcans with a scoring average of 77.1 strokes and carded three top-10 finishes, highlighted by a third-place performance at the PSAC Championships.

SOFTBALL ALUMNA IS OLYMPIC PICK Natalie Wideman ’14 won a bronze medal with the Canadian Softball National Team this summer at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

She is the third former Cal U player to play softball for Canada at the Olympic Games, joining Meaggan Wilton (2000, Sydney) and Megan Timpf (2008, Beijing).

A four-year starter at Cal U, Wideman was the 2014 Diamond Sports NCAA Division II Catcher of the Year and a two-time Academic All-American selection. She was the PSAC West Athlete of the Year and the PSAC Tournament MVP in 2014.

Wideman also has represented Team Canada at the Pan America Games and the WBSC World Championships.

VULCAN SWIMMERS BACK IN THE WATER Cal U’s swimming team posted its highest finish at the PSAC Championships since 2014 when the league held a modified championship this spring. The Vulcans totaled more than 400 points and placed seventh in the team standings.

Rising sophomore Gabby Miller accounted for over 50 individual points at the event, with top-10 performances in both the 50-meter freestyle and 100 freestyle. She placed seventh in the 50 freestyle to mark the team’s highest finish in the event since 2017.

Emma Klesen ’21 finished a career-best 10th overall in the 1,650-meter freestyle at the league meet.

WOMEN’S GOLF GAINS STRENGTH With its third-place finish at the PSAC Championships this spring, the women’s golf program recorded its highest team finish at the event, which featured the largest field in the competition’s history.

Rising senior Rachel Wilson tied for third overall after shooting a 21-over 163 and led the team with a career-best scoring average of 81.8 strokes this spring.

PITCHING ACE EARNS HONOR Following a shortened 2020 baseball season, pitcher Nick Riggle ’20 returned to the diamond for the Vulcans as a graduate student this spring. He again led a pitching staff that helped Cal U qualify for the PSAC Tournament – the program’s 17th appearance at the event under head coach Mike Conte.

Riggle led the team with a 3.47 ERA and finished with a 7-4 record while pacing the conference with 12 starts. He was one of eight Vulcans selected to the All-PSAC West team this spring.

Riggle closed his career tied for the school’s all-time record with 23 wins and ranked second with 261.0 innings pitched. The Pittsburgh native also received the Bruce Dal Canton Pitching Award for the second time in his career.

RUNNERS MAKE STRIDES OUTDOORS

Rising junior Tymir Jackson placed second in the finals of the 200-meter dash to earn All-PSAC status for the first time in his career. Avery Boea-Gisler ’21 finished third in the 400-meter dash and won All-PSAC honors for the first time as an individual; he previously was a member of All-PSAC relay teams.

In March, the Vulcans featured a trio of all-league honorees while competing in an abbreviated cross country season. Jonathan Thrush recorded the top time by any freshman at the PSAC Championships and finished seventh overall, the program’s best individual finish since 2014.

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

Cal U scored in 10 events to match its highest-ever finish at the PSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships this spring. The Vulcans placed sixth in the team standings, a feat last achieved in 2017.

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SPORTS PROFILE

ATHLETIC TRAINER

BREAKS BARRIERS

Alumna leads all-female staff in new pro football league

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n the cool, sleek, very “2021” new football league that began playing games in February, fans call the shots.

But it’s up to Sarah Johnson ’15 and her team of athletic trainers to keep the players ready to tackle, run, pass, block and kick.

Johnson earned her Cal U master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion, with a concentration in performance enhancement and injury prevention. Now she leads an all-female athletic training staff for the Fan Controlled Football league.

Games, streamed live on the Twitch platform, blend traditional American football with electronic sports, or esports, giving fans the ability to set rosters and call plays.

There are four teams, seven players on a side. The six-week season is played at a “high-tech studio arena” in Atlanta.

But even in a new league, football is football, and the game is physically demanding.

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That’s where Johnson becomes a key player, of sorts.

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“As the head athletic trainer, I have three staff members — all female, which makes us technically the first pro football league staffed with all females for athletic training,” Johnson says.

“I’m the healthcare provider for these young men, and I take that responsibility and relationship very seriously, with the right blend of competence and kindness.

I stand up for myself when I have to, but I also have compassion and empathy, or I wouldn’t have this job.

“I want them to have great careers and take care of themselves.”

Being a “first female” is a distinction Johnson embraces.

“The first day with my staff, I told them to think of a little girl watching football and seeing us on the sidelines and knowing that she can do that, too, if she wants to.”

The online exercise science program at Cal U was a perfect fit, Johnson says.

“In 2014, I was the first female to have a seasonal athletic training internship with the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Cal U program was the best way to get a master’s and keep that position.

“The flexibility of the program helped tremendously. I’ve done things my way vs. the status quo. I take pride in that. And because of Cal U, I was able to do the NFL internship and get a master’s degree.”

Johnson has embraced her role with the league, finding positives even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The flexibility of the program helped tremendously. I’ve done things my way vs. the status quo. I take pride in that. And because of Cal U, I was able to do the NFL internship and get a master’s degree.”

S A R A H JOHNSON ’15

“We’ve been able to emphasize to the players the importance of taking care of themselves,” she says.

“Football is so demanding, and there are so many guys with tight muscles and lingering injuries, but COVID has made them more receptive when we tell them to take care of themselves, because they want to play.

“These guys are in this league because they want to make it back to the NFL or show off their skills. And their heart, passion and energy is contagious.” 

By Wendy Mackall communications director at Cal U

GIVE TO CAL U

Turn memories into opportunities Choose how your affinity gift will be used

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Affinity giving matches your generosity with the Cal U programs and organizations behind the memories you cherish today. Based on your expressed wishes, your gift will be designated for use by a specific affinity group on our California campus.

Making a donation is easy. Throughout the year, alumni and University friends have many opportunities to contribute to the scholarships and program funds that support specific academic departments, Greek Life organizations, athletic programs and more.

Donors also can visit calu.edu/giving and click “Give Online” to make a gift. Various affinity funds are listed under “View All Giving Opportunities.”

With your support, we can continue to provide the best possible experience for current and future students who are building their own Cal U memories. 

To learn more about affinity giving opportunities at Cal U, contact Randi Minerva at 724-938-4248 or email minerva@calu.edu.

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

onating to Cal U’s Annual Fund can be the most effective way for you to contribute to an aspect of campus life that holds special meaning – typically a club, fraternity or sorority, sports team or academic major that you were involved with as a California student.

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MILESTONES

50s Lucille “Lucy” Karslake ’51 lives in a retirement home in Hudson, Ohio. She retired from teaching in Twinsburg, Ohio, in 1996.

Lucy is active in art classes and an autobiography group; she also walks a lot and listens to audio books.

60s Paul “Rip” Van Riper ’63 is retired from the U.S. Marine Corps. He majored in secondary education at Cal U. He and Lillie Van Riper live in Williamsburg, Va. Jay N. Karns ’61, ’64 lives in Cochranton, Pa. He is a retired high school principal and a Marine Corps veteran.

Dr. Darrell Smith ’61, ’65, a former professor in the industrial arts program at Cal U, was the subject of a newspaper article about his talents. Most recently, he hand-crafted his first jazz guitar, which he plays with the Outpost Band, a quintet that performs country and rock ’n’ roll hits. Darrell retired in 2004.

William Burns ’62 and Blanche Burns live in Kent, Ohio.

Alfred Bell ’69, who studied political science at Cal U, lives in Greensburg, Pa. Nancy Schleicher ’69 lives in Deltona, Fla. She majored in education at Cal U and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and Alpha Psi Omega.

70s Gary Smith ’70 and Susan Smith live in Champions Gate, Fla. Gary majored in secondary education and was involved in the Student Activities Committee at Cal U.

CAL U REVIEW

Kenneth Yotz ’70 is senior vice president of Environmental Management and Training Systems. He studied secondary education at Cal U and was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma. He and Mary Yotz live in The Villages, Fla.

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Lannie Dietle ’74 retired from Kalsi Engineering Inc. in 2020 after 38 years and 38 U.S. patents. A former vice president of the Psi chapter of Epsilon Pi Tau at Cal U, he received the 2020 Epsilon Pi Tau Region 1 Warner Professional Practice Award.

James Secosky ’71 and Cheryl Secosky live in Loveland, Colo.

James retired in 1998 after teaching various science courses, coaching wrestling and setting up a drug/alcohol support program and teen center at his school. At Cal U, he wrestled and was in Theta Xi and Chi Beta Psi. He is best known for setting the Greek Week sit-up record of 4,010. Since he retired, he has remained active in science, using information from NASA satellites to contribute to online encyclopedias Wikipedia and Marspedia. Last fall the Mars Society presented him with an award for his writing, and he has given talks at society conventions. He was named to Marquis Who’s Who in America, and at the end of 2020 he was given a Marquis Who’s Who Distinguished Humanitarian Award.

Dr. William Jenaway ’78, has retired after a career as an insurance executive and college professor. He remains active as chair of the board of supervisors in Upper Merion Township, Pa., president of the Montgomery County (Pa.) Association of Township Officials, and president of the board of directors for the Congressional Fire Services Institute. He and his wife, Joan, spend time in King of Prussia, Pa., and Cape May, N.J.

James Stofan ’71 retired from his role as vice president for Alumni Relations at Tulane University, in Louisiana.

David Dzurnak ’80 retired as fire department captain in Morgantown, W.Va., where he worked for 37½ years. He and Susan Dzurnak live in Uniontown, Pa. David studied urban affairs at Cal U.

Martin Zavatchan ’77 works for Science Applications International Corp. as a senior systems administrator for high-performance computing, specializing in queuing and scheduling for the U.S. Dept. of the Navy.

Kris Wertman ’78, of Port Clinton, Pa., is the general manager at FS-Compression Pittsburgh. Kris majored in industrial arts at Cal U and played rugby for Tau Kappa Epsilon.

80s Frances Garguilo Kranik ’80, of Perryopolis, Pa., retired after 31 years of teaching therapeutic emotional support students with Intermediate Unit 1. For 20 years Frances taught history, including Holocaust and genocide studies. She was the recycling coordinator at the Colonial Campus School, instituting paper and plastic recycling to raise awareness and funds for the school.

Jerry Jenkins ’81 is the principal/owner of Innovative Services of Alaska. Jerry earned his master’s degree in counselor education from Cal U and lives in Anchorage with his life partner, Dr. Kathi Trawver.

FOREVER FRIENDS Former education majors Cyndee Jablonowski ’68, Beverly Imperatore ’68 and Diane Chapman Lorton ’68 have been pals ever since they met at California State Teachers College, forerunner to Cal U, in 1964. Cyndee taught for 30 years in the Plum School District. Beverly taught secondary English in the Canon-McMillan School District for 36 years and also taught in Melbourne, Australia, for a year as a 1986 International Teaching Fellow. Diane taught in the West Allegheny School District and ended her career as a principal in Maryland. The three moved from Green Street housing to Binns Hall for their last two years at California and also became sisters in the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. They have traveled as a group all over the world, including Hawaii, Spain, Morocco, Tangiers, England, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Bahamas. “The passing of years may show on our faces, but it does not affect the bond that we have shared for 57 years!” Bev writes.

Liz Rogers ’82, executive editor of the Washington, Pa., Observer-Reporter, was named executive editor of the Uniontown Herald-Standard and Greene County Messenger.

Jo Ann Jankoski ’82 is an associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. She earned her master’s degree in counselor education at Cal U. Recently, she was named the Penn State Fayette Advisory Board Outstanding Fellow.

Wesley Elliott Speer ’83 retired as an administrator after 26 years with Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools. He majored in economics at Cal U and was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda. He and his wife, Camela, have been married for 30 years and live in Lorton, Va. They have a son, Slayton, and daughter, Keighan.

Beatrice “Bea” Esken Kuchta ’65, ’83 and Edward Kuchta live in Pittsburgh, Pa. Bea majored in secondary English and secondary counseling at Cal U, where she was freshman class treasurer and a member of the Jazz and Discussion clubs.

Jeffrey Skocik ’87 is senior vice president and chief lending officer of Brentwood Bank.

Dave Pilipovich ’88 is special assistant to the head coach for the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team. He previously coached at Air Force. He earned his Cal U master’s degree in geography and regional planning.

Kyra LongshoreDolison ’88, who studied elementary education at Cal U, received the 2021 District of Columbia Public Schools Standing Ovation Award for Teaching during a Year of Change.

She was honored for innovative excellence in virtual teaching during the pandemic. She has a master’s degree from Bowie State University and has been teaching in Washington, D.C., for 33 years. Kyra is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. At Cal U, she was in the University Band, the University Choir, the Young and Gifted Gospel Choir, Student Government, the Black League, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Sweetheart Klub.

She and Ernest Dolison ’88 live in Bowie, Md., with their two young adult daughters.

Jerry Weaver ’88, ’92 is director of sales for the McLemore Club, in Georgia.

Cheryl Miller ’88 manages a program that offers medical coding certificates and degrees at Westmoreland County (Pa.) Community College.

LeAnne Burchik ’89 is executive director of Domestic Violence Intervention of Lebanon County, Pa. She earned her English degree at Cal U.

Retired Air Force Col. Kim Zimmerman ’00 was a candidate for city manager of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. Kim earned a master’s degree in geography and regional planning from Cal U. Beth Harshman ’00 lives in Goodyear, Ariz.

She majored in nursing at Cal U. Randy Foringer ’01 owns Randy Foringer Designs LLC, an architecture and planning company in Belle Vernon, Pa.

Richard Stewart ’89, assistant chief of operations with the Irving (Texas) Fire Department, was a finalist for the position of chief of the Bedford (Texas) Fire Department. He studied finance at Cal U.

Kathleen Wissinger ’01 is retired from Banner Home Care and lives in Mesa, Ariz.

James Coode ’89 is an addictions counselor for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Martinsburg, W.Va. He majored in history at Cal U, where he played rugby and was a member of the Veterans Club.

Shaka Smart ’01 is the head men’s basketball coach at Marquette University.

90s Jeff Carlucci ’93, of Erie, Pa., works in the locomotive test area of Wabtec Corp. He studied parks and recreation management at Cal U, where he wrestled and played baseball.

Ray Vargo ’94 is director of the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Center. He earned his master’s degree in business administration at Cal U. John Blicha ’95 is global senior director of marketing and brand management for Eriez. John majored in business administration at Cal U. Jeff Grimes ’95 was a candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Greene County, Pa. Mike Zimcosky ’95 sought the Democratic nomination for Fayette County (Pa.) treasurer. The tax reconciler/grant monitor for the county, he studied finance at Cal U. Michael Yurcich ’99 is the offensive coordinator for the Nittany Lions football team at Penn State University.

00s Dr. Jacqueline Cavalier ’96, ’00 is a professor of history at Community College of Allegheny County. She serves as vice president of the American Federation of Teachers Local 2067 at CCAC’s Allegheny Campus, where she also was faculty coordinator of the labor and management studies certificate program.

Jay Poroda ’01 is superintendent of the Delaware (Ohio) Area Career Center.

Jennifer Neill ’02, a 7th-grade teacher at Laurel Highlands Middle School, in Uniontown, Pa., received the 2020 Champions of Learning Educators 7-12 Award from the Consortium for Public Education and the United Way of Western Pennsylvania.

Brant Reiner ’02 is project manager/senior environmental scientist for the Long Island, N.Y., office of Nelson, Pope & Voorhis LLC. Chris Hardie ’99, ’02 is the assistant athletic director and head cross country and track and field coach at Waynesburg University. His wife, Kelley Hardie ’03, is the assistant dean of students at Waynesburg. They live in Waynesburg, Pa., with their daughter, Madison.

Dr. Joseph Horzempa ’00, ’02, who teaches in the College of Sciences at West Liberty University, in West Virginia, was chosen as a professor of the year.

Charlie Georgi ’04 is an account executive for Planet Depos LLC, a global court reporting company.

Adam Wilfong ’04, ’06 is an assistant principal at Westmont Hilltop Elementary School in Johnstown, Pa. He and his wife, Cortney, live in Greensburg, Pa., and have two sons, Aiden and Cason.

Derek Horne ’05 is the principal at Westernport (Md.) Elementary School.

He earned his master’s degree in education at Cal U. Douglas Dickerson ’05 is principal of the Smethport (Pa.) Area Junior-Senior High School.

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

Michael Barkac ’82 and Kim Price Barkac ’82 live in Parkman, Maine. At Cal U, Michael majored in urban recreation and park administration, and Kim majored in education.

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MILESTONES

Benjamin Monk ’06 is manager of Beltzville State Park in Carbon County, Pa. He previously was assistant park manager at Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County.

Benjamin studied parks and recreation management at Cal U. Anthony Andronas ’06 was a candidate for sheriff of Washington County, Pa. He is the county’s deputy sheriff.

Ryan Ridder ’09 is head men’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He earned his Cal U master’s degree in sport management, with a concentration in intercollegiate athletic administration.

10s Charity Patterson ’10 was a Pittsburgh Magazine Excellence in Nursing Clinician honoree in 2020. She majored in liberal arts at Cal U.

Mekia S. Troy ’07 is the athletic director at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga. She earned her master’s degree in exercise science and sport studies at Cal U.

Brian Markwood ’10 is a language arts teacher at Moyock Middle School, in North Carolina. He earned his master’s degree in education at Cal U.

Kristen Schuth ’07 is the 2020-2021 Junior/ Community College Athletics Director of the Year, chosen by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. She is the assistant vice president of Student Engagement and Inclusion and director of Athletics for Genesee Community College in New York.

Daniel Hickler ’10 is the director of performance for the Columbus Soccer Club.

He earned his master’s degree in exercise science from Cal U.

Catherine Sloane ’08 was crowned Mrs. Pennsylvania American in 2020. She earned her Cal U bachelor’s degree in business.

Jennifer “Jen” Frantz ’06, ’08 is vice president of clinical at CHS Therapy. She earned an associate degree as a physical therapist assistant at Cal U and also studied sport management, with a concentration in fitness and wellness. Jennifer was a member of the Vulcans softball team.

She and Justin Frantz live in Trappe, Md. Rick Kaselj ’08 is founder and CEO of Exercises for Injuries. He earned his master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion from Cal U. Brooke Vaught ’09 is the principal of Hancock Elementary School in Norristown, Pa. CAL U REVIEW

Brian Hutton Jr. ’09 is a meteorologist with WTAE-TV, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Laurie Zaparzynski ’07 announced her retirement from the Mansfield University Athletic Department. She earned her master’s degree in exercise science at Cal U.

Carole Clemons Kakabar ’08 retired as superintendent of the Ferndale Area School District in Cambria County, Pa. She earned her superintendent letter of eligibility from Cal U.

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security, is a special agent with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. He and Colleen O’Neill ’09 live in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Lawrence “Law” Murray ’09 is a writer for The Athletic, covering the Los Angeles Clippers and the NBA. Terence O’Neill ’09, who majored in legal studies with a concentration in homeland

Karen Trevino ’10 is president and CEO of North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. She studied tourism planning and development at Cal U. Anthony Battaglini ’11 teaches social studies at Thomas Jefferson High School in Jefferson Hills, Pa. He also is the quarterbacks coach for the school’s football team, which won the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association football championship in 2020.

Dr. Angela Smalley ’11 is project leader for product evaluation in the Commercialization Services division at Simbex, in Lebanon, N.H. In this role, she leads consulting teams in medical device and consumer health product design. Angela, who earned her master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion at Cal U, also is on the board of directors for BOC, the Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers.

Rafael Horton ’11 is an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the University of Kentucky football program. He earned his master’s degree in exercise science and sport studies at Cal U. Charles Sledge ’12 is executive director of clinic services and programs for AIMED Human Services in Pittsburgh. At Cal U, he was a member of Cal U Men United, the Black Student Union, the Young and Gifted Gospel Choir and STAND. He and Arzelia Sledge live in Murrysville, Pa.

Justin W. Aglio ’11 has been appointed senior director of the Readiness Institute (RI) at Penn State, a unit of Penn State Outreach. He earned his superintendent letter of eligibility from Cal U. Tyler William ’11, a sports medicine staff member with the Los Angeles Rams, won the award for Professional Football Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year. He’s not the only Vulcan in the organization: Reggie Scott ’07 is vice president for Sports Medicine and Performance for the Rams, and Justin Lovett ’12 is the team’s head strength coach. All three earned master’s degrees in exercise science and health promotion from Cal U. Renata Silva Gray ’10, ’11 and Donald Gray live in Pittsburgh, Pa. Renata majored in business, international studies and Spanish at Cal U, where she was a member of the volleyball team, the International Club and SAAC. Nicholas Podesta ’12 is head coach of the Weston Ranch High School boys basketball team in Stockton, Calif. He earned his master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion at Cal U. Randi Lininger ’12 is an assistant athletic trainer for Sporting Kansas City, a soccer club based in Kansas City, Kan. She earned her master’s degree in exercise science and sport studies.

Vince Wilson ’12 is assistant director of individual and class giving for the Dartmouth College Fund and the diversity and inclusion adviser for the athletic department. Vince received the Holly Fell Sateia Award, which recognizes diversity as a part of Dartmouth's mission.

John Estok ’13, of William Penn Charter School, was named Coach of the Year in Pennsylvania by the National High School Strength and Conditioning Association. He is chair of the Health and Physical Education Department and head strength and conditioning coach at Penn Charter. John earned his Cal U master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion.

Phyllis Westfall ’13 was recognized by the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities during Direct Support Professionals Week. She earned her degree in legal studies from Cal U. Elisa Ashton ’12 lives in Pittsburgh, Pa. She majored in history at Cal U and was a member of the History Club.

Nick Kuchwara ’13 is the athletic trainer for the Greenville Drive, a Minor League Baseball team in South Carolina. He earned his master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion at Cal U.

IN PRINT

Joshua Trout ’13 is CEO of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Greenville, in South Carolina. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management at Cal U.

David Orange ’70, of New York, is the author of Long John, the Longest Stride, the story of John Woodruff, a Black gold medalist at the 1936 Olympics and a native of Connellsville, Pa.

Kaleb Birney ’14 is an athletic trainer at the University of Montana Western. He earned his master’s degree in exercise science with a concentration in performance enhancement and injury prevention.

Abbey Freund Ksench ’14 is a speechlanguage pathologist for the School District of New Berlin. She played volleyball at Cal U and lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Nick.

Matthew Kay ’14 is the 2021 J. William Mees visiting Scholar at Lawrence Academy, in Groton, Mass.

Kaleb Birney ’14 is assistant athletic director of sports medicine for South Dakota Mines.

He earned his master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion at Cal U. Robert Rizzo ’15 is superintendent of the Spring-Ford Area School District in Royersford, Pa. He earned his superintendent’s letter of eligibility from Cal U. Chelsey Meyers ’16, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., works at Messiah University as an athletic trainer for women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse, softball and wrestling. She is attending Concordia University to pursue her Doctor of Education in Leadership with a focus in Health and Human Performance.

Chelsey earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training at Cal U and her master’s

Wayne Stewart ’73 has written professionally since 1978, working for national publications such as USA Today, Baseball Weekly and Baseball Digest. He has written numerous books, most recently 1960: When the Pittsburgh Pirates Had Them All the Way and Wits, Flakes and Clowns: The Colorful Characters of Baseball.

Jon Rimmer ’07 is the author of Minorball which covers one night at a minor league game and explores the future of baseball. Jon earned his master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion at Cal U.

Dr. Anthony Todd Carlisle ’90, associate professor of English at Cal U, has written his first novel, The Souls of Clayhatchee: A Southern Tale.

from Ohio University, where she worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. She received the National Athletic Trainers' Association Lifesaver Recognition Award for saving the life of a wrestler in 2018.

Kristin Deichler ’15 is assistant to the superintendent for secondary education in the South Fayette Township School District, in Pennsylvania. She earned her master’s degree in secondary administration and her principal certification from Cal U. John Harrison ’15, of Parker, Colo., is a space systems operator for the U.S. Space Force. He majored in criminal justice at Cal U. Grace Bubka ’15 celebrated five years with AKA Korman Communities, in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., where she is a project manager.

Christina Kenney ’11, ’15 is a counselor at The Crossroads Foundation, in Pittsburgh.

She studied psychology and clinical mental health counseling at Cal U, where she was president of the KB chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, vice president of the Black Student Union and a member of the art club.

Brad Jasin ’14, ’15 works for Chesley Brown International as assistant director of

security, operations manager. He and his wife, attorney Kristen Kuron, live in Pittsburgh. Brad double-majored in justice studies with a concentration in homeland security, and legal studies with a concentration in homeland security.

Karen Albaugh-Quarture ’99, ’14 is a teacher for Blueprints, in Finleyville, Pa. She studied early childhood and special education at Cal U and was a member of Phi Alpha Psi. She and David Quarture live in Finleyville.

Zachary Filtz ’16 was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 99th House of Delegates District. He majored in English at Cal U. He and his wife, Shannon, live in the Northern Neck area of Virginia.

Thomas Hoffman ’16 is an athletic trainer for Excela Health.

Lindsey Vlasic ’06, ’16, of Monessen, Pa., studied sport management and applied criminology at Cal U and was secretary of the Sport Management Club.

Theodore “Teddy” Swett ’17 is a pedagogical coordinator for the French American School of Miami. He studied conflict resolution and exercise science at Cal U.

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Richard Ruck ’07, ’13 received the SAGE/ ACJS Junior Faculty Professional Development Award in 2021. The award recognizes the academic and teaching achievement of criminal justice scholars who have completed a doctoral degree in the previous five years. With the award comes a plaque and recognition at the 2021 ACJS Conference, along with a grant for travel to the 2022 conference.

Richard earned two master’s degrees from Cal U and his doctorate from East Stroudsburg University, where he is a professor of criminal justice.

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MILESTONES Joshua Maleski ’17, of Collinsburg, Pa., earned his Doctor of Pharmacy in May 2021 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He earned degrees in biology and liberal studies from Cal U. Jason Lando ’17, a former commander for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, is the police chief in Frederick, Md. He earned his master’s degree in legal studies at Cal U. James Edwards ’17 is a minor league assistant medical coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. He earned his master’s degree in exercise science at Cal U. Taleesha Johnson ’17 is an accountant at the Pittsburgh Foundation. She also runs her own fitness and wellness business. Taleesha earned her master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion at Cal U. Parker Lynn ’18 is manager of the Johnstown (Pa.) Mill Rats of the Prospect League, a collegiate summer baseball league. He recently completed a graduate internship as director of baseball operations for GardnerWebb University and also gained experience as a graduate assistant coach at West Liberty University and as a player and assistant coach at Cal U. His wife, Jayne Oberdorf Lynn ’18, is an administrative assistant for Cal U Athletics, and his brother Spencer Lynn ’15 played football for the Vulcans.

Bryant Harper ’18 serves as assistant strength and conditioning coach for football and head strength and conditioning coach for men’s soccer with Naval Academy Athletics. Prior to Navy, he was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Southeastern Louisiana University and an intern with the University of Florida Gators football team.

Kirby Manown III ’18, of Greensburg, Pa., is assistant golf pro at Laurel Valley Country Club in Ligonier, Pa., and plays on the TriState Tour. He was named Associate Player of the Year in 2019.

CAL U REVIEW

Frank “Gino” Wolfe ’18 is a mental health clinician. He majored in sociology at Cal U. Frank and Sue Wolfe live in Oak Harbor, Wash.

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Victoria Lukas ’19 lives in Philadelphia, Pa. She majored in legal studies at Cal U. Michelle Kott ’19 is the police chief in Bethlehem, Pa. Michelle was among the first group of students to earn her Doctor of Criminal Justice from Cal U.

Julia Poapst ’19 is a patrol officer for Upper Macungie Township, Pa. She earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Cal U.

master’s degree, his superintendent's letter of eligibility, and his doctorate from Cal U.

Eric Fairman ’19 is an assistant girls basketball coach at Thomas Jefferson High School in Jefferson Hills, Pa.

Tyronne Hayes ’13, ’20 is the owner of Hayes Sports Management Inc. He majored in sport management at Cal U and lives with Kenetta Hayes in Cleveland, Ohio.

Christa Caceres ’17, ’19 is president of the Monroe County (Pa.) branch of the NAACP. She earned her degrees in legal studies with concentrations in jurisprudence and law and public policy.

Kelsey Oddis ’20 is the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. She earned her master’s degree in sport management studies at Cal U.

Geremy Paige ’20 is the founder of SEED, a nonprofit corporation that provides education in the areas of financial literacy, computer skills and decision-making using Software as a Service teachings. He earned his M.B.A. at Cal U. Amy Pfender ’20, assistant to the superintendent in the Upper St. Clair (Pa.) School District, was a finalist for the Women in School Leadership Award, a program of The School Superintendents Association (AASA). She earned her superintendent's letter of eligibility at Cal U.

ENGAGEMENTS Cameron Judge ’16, and Justine Tarrant, both of Luzerne County, Pa., are engaged to be married in August 2021. Cameron earned his master’s degree in exercise science and is an athletic trainer for Geisinger.

20s Logan Ring ’20, of Germantown, Md., is a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual. He majored in criminal justice at Cal U and was a member of the Acacia fraternity.

Angela “Angel” Jones ’20, of Chambersburg, Pa., is an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

She majored in criminal justice with minors in Spanish and leadership. She also was a member of the Criminal Justice Club and president of the Forensic Science Club.

Nichoals Morrison ’20, a former communication disorders major, lives in McDonald, Pa. At Cal U, Nichoals was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda, New Life and the Student Activities Board.

Spencer Lynn ’14, ’15, of Belle Vernon, Pa., and Jamie Mages ’14, from the North Hills of Pittsburgh, are engaged. Spencer played football at Cal U, where he was a senator in the Student Government Association and a representative on the board of directors for the Student Association Inc.

WEDDING

Emily Frederick ’20, of Bradford, Pa., earned her master’s degree in special education with an autism spectrum concentration.

Madison Rush ’20, of Canonsburg, Pa., is a victim advocate in Washington County, Pa. She majored in psychology and participated in cheerleading at Cal U. Dr. Eric Clark ’20 is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Howard Community College, in Maryland. He earned his Doctor of Criminal Justice degree at Cal U. Dr. Kevin Monaghan ’90, ’20 is superintendent of the Central Greene School District in Greene County, Pa. He earned his

Darren Burns ’09 and Chelsea Ratica Burns ’14 celebrated their marriage on Oct. 15, 2020, with close friends and family. Darren, an auto sales executive, is a former Vulcans football player, and Chelsea is manager of the Enterprise car rental at Pittsburgh International Airport. They live in Irwin, Pa., with their children, future Vulcans football stars.

BIRTHS

IN MEMORIAM

Ashton Taylor ’17 and Adam Taylor, of Clear Spring, Md., welcomed their third child, Everleigh Jean Taylor, in August 2020.

Ashton, who earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Cal U, works as a labor and delivery nurse.

David C. Bajuscak ’74 Patrick T. Ballon* Raymond Albert “Shoes” Bohn ’65 Janet Marie Washlack Boris ’68 Daniel B. Brock ’17 Mary Kathleen Burns ’93 Michael M. Caruso ’69, ’72 Cynthia Rose Cuteri Chuma* John K. Clark Jr. ’58 Nancy L. Cohen ’76 James A. Cooney ’60 Chad T. Coss ’98 Gerald Duane Cowen ’59 William Arthur Dando, Ph.D. ’59 James DeAngelo ’20 Eleanor Jane Reese Dehoff ’74 Tammy DeVotie ’85 Alex Robert Dixon* Phyllis Popp Downs ’64, ’88 Anna Lee Bails Earnest ’89, ’91 Jean Elizabeth Ellis Ellsworth* Esther Ermlick,* retired staff Raymond “Ray” Douglas Fuller ’71 John "Jack" Gaskill ’62 George “Bo” Donald Gillis ’73 Stephanie Berlinsky Gentile ’69 Joe Gorecki ’56

Kaitlyn Williams ’16 and husband Austin Booge welcomed baby Silas in August 2020.

Kaitlyn earned her master’s degree in exercise science.

John B. Gray,* former custodian at Cal U Vilma Slavkovsky Guiducci ’45 Daniel Lee LaBute,* emeritus professor of industrial arts at Cal U David Eric McClure ’86, ’87 Anthony P. McGrew,* emeritus professor of Earth sciences at Cal U Dr. Bonnie Nara-Morley ’72 Deborah R. Helfferich Riggins ‘74 Paul M. Rumancik ’74 Dr. Joseph A. Sanfilippo ’62, retired professor of applied engineering and technology at Cal U Craig Saxon ’93 Edward Albert Schohn* Frank H. Serene ‘64 Lara Lee Simpson ’95 Lenora Sturm Swiger* Olan W. Sterback ’56 Joan Yohe Thornton* James Edward Tobal ’67 William E. Tomey Jr. ’63 Dr. John Tomikel,* emeritus professor of Earth science and former department chair at Cal U Joseph M. “Mick” Valentovich ’84 Ronald J. Vegoda ’67 Michael James Vigilotti ’93, ’95 Patricia J. Connell Zober ’68 *No class year available or on file

REMBERING D R. J O H N P I E RC E WAT K I N S

ANNIVERSARY

Dr. John Pierce Watkins, California University’s fifth president, died Jan. 28, 2021, at age 89. Watkins joined the English faculty at California State College in 1957.

He served as department chair from 19661973 and as vice president for academic affairs from 1973-1977. After a nationwide search, he was named president of the college in 1977. He retired in 1992 and was awarded emeritus status.

As president, Watkins oversaw construction of Manderino Library and restoration of Old Main, obtained funding for California’s emerging science and technology programs, gained approval to open the Business and Economics Department, and guided Cal State’s transition to university status in 1983.

He was state chair of APSCUF, the faculty union; president of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s commission of presidents; and president of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities. An advocate for international education, he was co-chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Committee on International Programs.

Jesse McLean ’08, ’10 and Ashley MunozBriggs McLean ’10, ’12 celebrated their 10year wedding anniversary on Oct. 20, 2020.

Among many other honors, he was a recipient of the Foundation for California University’s Dixonians Award and the Cal U Alumni Association’s Illustrious Californian Award. Watkins Hall, home of Cal U’s business department, is named in his honor. President Watkins established a library fund in memory of his late grandson, John Brooks Watkins.

SPRING + SUMMER 2021

Koury Lape ’09 and Crystal Mann Lape ’09, ’11 celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Sophia Rose, in December 2020.

Koury is a software engineer at Covermymeds, and Crystal is an information technology portfolio analyst for Safelite.

They live near Columbus, Ohio.

33

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Dr. Richard M. Birch Sr. ’51, emeritus professor and former dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research at Cal U, died Jan. 19, 2021. He received the University’s W.S Jackman Award of Distinction in 1988 and the C.B. Wilson Distinguished Faculty Award in 1998.

Dr. Paul E. Burd, of Brownsville, Pa., died Dec. 30, 2020 at age 77. Paul served for 35 years in various roles at Cal U, including financial aid officer, acting director of athletics and associate vice president. He was vice president for Student Development and Services for 13 years and retired with the rank of full professor. He also was CEO of the Student Association Inc. While at Cal U, he was awarded the John H. Gregg Alumni Association award for loyalty and dedication and was inducted into the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame, of which he was a founding member. He also served as chair of TRIO Upward Bound.

Frank R. DeLuca, former chair of the Cal U Council of Trustees, died Jan. 8, 2021. He was 94. Frank served as a trustee for five years, from 1988-1993. He also was active in various labor organizations, including as vice president of Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and in leadership positions with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 302 and Local 354

William "Bill" R. Lee ’67, died Dec. 18, 2020. He was 75. Bill was inducted into the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 and created the endowed William “Bill” Lee Memorial Football Scholarship Fund. He also was a longtime member of the Cal U Hall of Fame selection committee. During his 1966 senior season Bill passed for 367 yards, then a school record, and he earned PSAC Player of the Week honors in a 27-20 home victory over Lock Haven.

Gail Artyth George Lese ’61, died Oct. 5, 2020. She was 79. An active member of the Cal U Alumni Association’s board of directors for five years, Gail received the University’s John R. Gregg Award for Loyalty and Service. She was a member of the University’s Council of Trustees from 1983-1989 and was reappointed in 1995. She is survived by her husband, former Cal U Trustee Dr. Alexander Lese ’61, and two daughters, Dr. Gail Bronwyn Lese and Alexis Jill Lese ’92.

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Milestones are published as space and deadlines allow. Please email highquality images to revieweditor@calu.edu using “Milestones Photo” as the subject line. Be sure to tell us your name, year of graduation, University activities or sports you participated in, and the identity of everyone in the photo. Please do not send printouts or low-resolution digital photos, as they will not reproduce well.

Richard R. Nemec ’65, emeritus professor at Cal U, died Feb. 10, 2021. He was 85. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cal U in speech pathology and audiology and taught in that department for 32 years, retiring in 1999. He was recognized in 1997 for outstanding teaching and received the President’s Emeritus Faculty Award in 2012. In 2019 he received the Dixonians Award, given by the Foundation for California University to recognize service to the University. He established the Dr. John Bitonti Memorial Scholarship at Cal U for students majoring in communication disorders, and the Charleroi American Legion Post 22 Endowed Scholarship at Cal U.

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