CAMPUS NEWS

MLK CELEBRATION WELCOMES ALUMNUS HARRISON BAILEY III, ED.D. ’21 AS KEYNOTE

The 25th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration was a virtual event in 2022. Held January 17, 2022, Harrison Bailey III Ed.D. ’21, principal of Liberty High School in the Bethlehem Area School District, was the keynote speaker for the celebration themed “Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.” The event included the presentation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Awards to recipients who exemplify characteristics of Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence, equality, justice, cultural diversity and respect for humanity. Awards were presented to an ESU student, faculty member, and a member of the local community. Faith Dorsey ’22, then a senior majoring in English with a secondary education concentration from Easton, Pa., received the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Award. Jessica Santiago, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the Warrior Success Advising and Retention programs, was the recipient of the 2022 Faculty/ Staff Award, and Dr. Marilyn Brown, community outreach coordinator at the First Baptist Church of East Stroudsburg, received the Community Award. The Juliana V. Bolt Art Contest included submissions from 26 students representing Pocono Mountain High School East, Pocono Mountain High School West, and Stroudsburg High School. The first place award was given to Emma Strauch of Stroudsburg High School. The celebration was followed up by ESU’s annual Day of Service held February 28, 2022. Toiletries and other comfort needs were collected for the Street2Feet Outreach Center, the only day shelter and outreach program for adults who are homeless or facing homelessness in Monroe County.

Photos by Susie Forrester

Toiletries are organized during ESU’s annual Day of Service held in February. Students also signed cards of encouragement for residents of the shelter. Emma Strauch’s first place artwork in the 2022 Juliana V. Bolt Art Contest.

To view the 2022 MLK virtual event and hear keynote speaker Harrison Bailey III Ed.D. ’21, go to www.esu.edu/mlk.

COMMENCEMENT 2022

BRINGS BIG SMILES TO GRADUATING WARRIORS

A heavy wind and rain storm forced ESU to move the commencement ceremony from May 7 to May 8, 2022, but families still celebrated their loved one’s accomplishments at Eiler-Martin Stadium. A total of 1,021 students received degrees, which included 800 bachelor’s degrees, 214 master’s degrees and seven doctoral degrees. Andrea McClanahan, Ph.D, professor of communication, and graduates Austin Weitman and Loretta Erdo were the speakers.

HOTZ PUBLISHES STUDY OF LONGFELLOW POETRY

MULLAN RECEIVES COMMUNICATIONS BOOK AWARD

Jeffrey Hotz, Ph.D. Jeffrey Hotz, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the English department, has recently been published. Hotz has published a book titled Longfellow’s Imaginative Engagement: The Works of His Late Career, published by Fairleigh Dickinson University Press and the University Copublishing Division of Rowman & Littlefield. This academic monograph is a first-of-itskind study of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s late-career poems and biography from 1861 until 1882, covering the poet’s posthumous publications and the handling of his literary estate. It is currently available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through Rowman & Littlefield.

Margaret Mullan, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, received the Single Authored Book of the Year Award for the National Communication Association Communication Ethics Division. Dr. Mullan won the award for her book Seeking Communion as Healing Dialogue: Gabriel Marcel’s Philosophy for Today. Published by Rowman & Littlefield, Mullan’s book discusses society’s problems with interpersonal communication.

Sport management graduates spoke to students at the S.C.O.R.E Symposium in March.

Jenny Owens M’09, assistant dean and associate professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore, answers student’s questions during the symposium.

Photos by Susie Forrester

Margaret Mullan, Ph.D.

ESU RECOGNIZED FOR FIRST-GEN FOCUS SPORT MANAGEMENT GRADUATES RETURN FOR SYMPOSIUM

The Center for First-Generation Student Success recognized ESU as one of 53 higher education institutions nationally to be named to its FirstGen Forward cohort for its “demonstrated commitment to advancing first-generation student success.” Other members of the 2022-23 cohort include John Hopkins University, Penn State University, Barnard College and Loyola University of Maryland. “Our involvement in this national program, alongside other colleges and universities that face the same concerns about first generation students, is an important step in helping these individuals find successful pathways to their future,” says ESU Interim Provost Margaret Ball, D.M.A. First-Gen Forward is the first national recognition program to acknowledge institutions of higher education for their commitment to first-generation student success. ESU’s department of sport management welcomed eight alumni working in the sport industry back to campus for the S.C.O.R.E. (Sport Careers: Opportunities, Recruitment, and Employment) Symposium. Held on March 24, 2022, the alumni served on a panel discussion sharing their experiences and insight with current students on diversity and inclusion issues in the industry. Following the discussion, students participated in a networking session with the speakers and representatives from local industry leaders including the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Living Sport, and Pocono Raceway. The alumni panelists included: Kyle Jimenez ’18, group sales specialist at Madison Square Garden; Victoria Gurdak ’17 M’19, coordinator of athletic facilities at the University of Pennsylvania; Sophie Coy ’16 M’17, academic counselor for softball, volleyball, and men’s tennis at the University of Mississippi; Jenny Owens M’09, assistant dean and associate professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore; Brandon Lawrence ’07, director of business development at Tyson Group; Michael Rucker ’06, senior manager, sales enablement at BSE Global; Brooke Powers ’17, leagues and communications director, Penn Fusion Soccer Academy; and Deanna Repollet ’09, manager of premium sales at the Intuit Dome, Los Angeles Clippers.

RECENT GRANT AWARDS PROPEL STUDENT SUCCESS

Dr. Margaret Ball, ESU interim provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Kristin Noblet, ESU associate professor of mathematics; Dr. Olivia Carducci, ESU professor and chair of mathematics; Kimberly Maricle, 2021 ESU biochemistry graduate; Dr. Danielle Ringhoff, Northampton Community College assistant professor of chemistry; and Dr. Karen H. Bearce, NCC interim vice president of academic affairs. CLEAR PATH 2 GRANT THE LARGEST EVER FOR ESU In 2016, ESU received its largest single grant ever awarded from the National Science Foundation totaling $4 million to help transfer students complete their education in the fields of Science Technology and Math. A second NSF grant of nearly $5 million ($4,982,181), the largest grant in the university’s history, was awarded to ESU in January to continue its work on that original grant which was dubbed Clear Path. This new iteration of the grant – Clear Path 2 (CP2) – provides scholarships of up to $10,000 a year for 135 students to support the

WEILER FAMILY FOUNDATION GRANT AIMS TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN NEED

Beverlyn Grace-Odeleye, Ph.D, assistant professor and director of the R.E.A.C.H. advising program in the department of academic success, was awarded a $36,000 grant from the Weiler Family Foundation to help students whose GPAs are 2.0 or less. Student success will be measured in two ways—equipping them with the tools they need to succeed, and meeting with

Beverlyn Grace-Odeleye, Ph.D. them regularly to assess their progress. “We try to encourage students to believe in themselves and their ability to be successful by working on their self-efficacy,” Dr. GraceOdeleye explained. “We want to get students back into academic good standing.” timely completion of their STEM associate and subsequent STEM bachelor’s degrees through the implementation of an evidencebased, sustainable, transferrable program that maximizes student success. The grant is a partnership among ESU and Northampton Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Luzerne Community College, and Community College of Morris. In addition to millions of dollars in scholarships, the Clear Path grant supports students with proactive developmental advocacy holistic advising, cohort activities, peer mentoring and tutoring and mentor mediated online education that fosters development of traits associated with academic success. “ESU is proud to note that 79 students have graduated in STEM fields thanks to the initial Clear Path grant,” said Margaret Ball, D.M.A., interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at ESU. “To receive this award again, in an increased amount, is a reflection on the professors’ collective and individual commitment to recruiting and supporting students, including women and students of color who are often disenfranchised from pursuing a career in the sciences.”

Grant monies will be used to purchase supplies like laptop computers, and basic supplies like notebooks, writing implements, and backpacks. “Some of the students who are below a 2.0 lose their financial aid, and they have to appeal. Even if they appeal, there may still be a shortage of funds. They may need laptops or money to help with books and other supplies. Many of these students have to work to help their parents who lost jobs during the last two years of the pandemic. Much of the research in the area of self-efficacy and working with students in academic jeopardy supports the premise that students oftentimes do not have books and supplies that they need in order to be successful in classes.” Grace-Odeleye said the funding will be used for 20 students initially; the assistance will be extended into next fall. The students will be meeting biweekly with Grace-Odeleye and Eric Lee, academic success coach, and have access to peer educators for additional assistance with assignments. “By reviewing their grades, meeting with peer educators, and meeting with us, we have an opportunity to impact student success,” Grace-Odeleye said.

Members of ESU’s faculty have been awarded a grant with the long-term goal of improving the quality of life for the community at-large. Clare Lenhart, Ph.D., associate professor, health studies; Christine Fisher, Ph.D., assistant professor, health studies; and Kelly Varcoe, DNP, assistant professor, nursing were awarded a $400,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to study the function and efficacy of Child Death Review Teams across all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, with the goal of helping children and families lead healthier lives and prevent child deaths. Working closely with the Bureau of Family Health, a division of the PA Department of Health’s Child and Adult Health Services, the team will focus on systematically tracking the causes of child deaths and looking at methods of prevention. “Our project is going to be working with Child Death Review groups across the state to determine what they are doing in terms of data collection, and hopefully get us to a place where data is collected more robustly,” Dr. Lenhart said. “We’ll be looking at all kinds of child deaths, then inform child education based on the statistics,” added Varcoe. Besides providing an opportunity for the university to work closely with entities focused on public health and early childhood education throughout Pennsylvania, the grant will also offer an ESU student a hands-on research opportunity. “We’ll have a full-time graduate assistant working with us,” Lenhart said. “We always try to find opportunities to support students. These projects help students get more tangible skills. Some students who have worked on research projects have gone on to medical school, or have robust careers in public health. Working so closely with the students is really the fun part of the job.” Dr. Fisher is looking forward to getting started. “We’re doing more planning—the assessment piece is still in process. Getting out and meeting with people in the community will be a great opportunity. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Christine Fisher, Ph.D. Clare Lenhart, Ph.D. Kelly Varcoe, DNP

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK SUMMIT 2022

PIQUES INTEREST IN RAIL, INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY

Photos by Susie Forrester

Regional leaders discuss economic indicators and strategies for innovation during the Ninth Annual ESU Economic Outlook Summit. Literature for attendees at the Ninth Annual ESU Economic Outlook Summit included the 2022 Economic Scorecard for Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties.

The Ninth Annual East Stroudsburg University Economic Outlook Summit was held May 13, 2022, at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. The theme for the 2022 Summit was “The Poconos: Innovation and Opportunity.” Hosted by ESU Interim President Kenneth Long, the summit featured a keynote address from Dennis Newman, executive vice president for strategy, planning and accessibility at Amtrak. Newman’s presentation about Amtrak’s vision for rail service to the Pocono Mountains sparked much interest for those attending, and the wider region. Other featured presentations included a discussion with the Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne county commissioners about the actions they are taking to drive innovation and create opportunities in their respective counties.

East Stroudsburg University Alumni Members are Eligible for a 5%* Car Insurance Discount from Plymouth Rock!

Plymouth Rock Assurance is pleased to be affiliated with East Stroudsburg University Office of Alumni Engagement. We have partnered with ESU to provide esteemed alumni like you with an exclusive 5%* discount on car insurance. We also offer superior service and exclusive benefits like Get Home Safe®1, where we pay for your taxi or rideshare service as a safer alternative to driving.

Get Home Safe® taxi/ rideshare reimbursement1

Crashbusters® Mobile Claim Service2 Door to Door Valet Claim Service®2

To see how much you can save with Plymouth Rock, call 844-253-0314 or go to Plymouthrock.com/ESU.

Plymouth Rock Assurance® and Plymouth Rock® are brand names and service marks used by separate underwriting, managed insurance, and management companies that offer property and casualty insurance in multiple states pursuant to licensing arrangements. In CT, insurance is underwritten by Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation, Palisades Insurance Company, and Plymouth Rock Home Assurance Corporation. In NJ, insurance is underwritten by Palisades Safety and Insurance Association, Palisades Insurance Company, High Point Property and Casualty Insurance Company, High Point Safety and Insurance Company, High Point Preferred Insurance Company, Teachers Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey, Twin Lights Insurance Company, Rider Insurance Company, and Palisades Property and Casualty Insurance Company. In NY, insurance is underwritten by Plymouth Rock Assurance Preferred Corporation, Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation of New York, Palisades Insurance Company, and Palisades Property and Casualty Insurance Company. In PA, insurance is underwritten by Plymouth Rock Assurance Preferred Corporation, Palisades Insurance Company, High Point Preferred Insurance Company, Palisades Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Rider Insurance Company. Each underwriting and managed insurance company is a separate legal entity that is financially responsible only for its own insurance products. Actual coverage is subject to the language of the policies as issued by each separate company. Some discounts, coverages, features and benefits are not available in all states and companies. PA RESIDENTS: WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO QUOTE ANY INDIVIDUAL A PREMIUM RATE FOR THE INSURANCE ADVERTISED HEREIN. *New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut affinity group discounts apply to policies written in Palisades Insurance Company and are not available through Independent Agents or Prudential Financial Advisors. If a policy qualifies for an affinity group discount in more than one group, only one affinity group discount will apply. 1Personal auto insurance policyholders may be reimbursed up to $50 of taxi or car service ride fees once per policy per year for a one-way ride if they find themselves in a situation where it would be unsafe to operate their vehicle (not applicable to mechanical breakdown). Original receipt must be submitted with the reimbursement form. 2Available to customers who have purchased comprehensive or collision coverage. ©2021 Plymouth Rock Management Company of New Jersey. All rights reserved.

A Warrior Welcome!

Students and their families attended an Open House on April 9, 2022, to learn about ESU’s academic programs, meet faculty, tour the campus and residential rooms, catch a financial aid overview and visit with professionals from various campus organizations and student services. The events are held several times a year.

Photo by Susie Forrester

ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY AND STAFF NOTES

Robert E. Smith, Ed.D., became the chief information and technology officer, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in resource and data management, business intelligence and analytics. In his new role, Smith will oversee ESU’s computing and communication services, institutional data collection and management, coordinate strategic and comprehensive planning, assessment and student outcomes, and other related functions.

Geryl Kinsel ’01 was promoted to registrar. Kinsel has been a member of the ESU family for 30 years, serving students, faculty, and staff in various positions within the enrollment management division. In her new role, Kinsel will lead and manage all functions related to ensuring the integrity, accuracy and security of all student academic records along with playing a critical role in advising, collaborating and consulting with the vice president of enrollment management. In addition, she will work with the vice president and other senior university leaders to fulfill strategic university enrollment goals.

Yvonne L. Catino, DM, was named director of Human Resources. Her responsibilities include supervising the staff, serving on the Administration and Finance management team, providing strategic, proactive, and innovative leadership and oversight to the university including employee and labor relations, personnel administration, wage and salary administration, benefits administration, recruitment and classification, departmental budget, training and development and payroll for faculty, staff, and students. Kenneth Mash, Ph.D., was elected president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) effective June 1. Mash, a political science professor, previously held the office from 2014 to 2020.

Brenda Friday, Ph.D., director of University Relations, announced her retirement effective June 30, 2022. Friday has been a member of the ESU family for 25 years, including the last 10 as director of University Relations. She was associate director from 2000 through 2012, and was named director in 2013, shortly after the appointment of President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. She compiled an extensive number of accomplishments, including chairing ESU’s 125th Anniversary Committee, celebrated in 2018, and implementing the launch of ESU’s new brand, logos and tagline, “Where Warriors Belong.” She was a member of the President’s leadership team, the Middle States accreditation work group, and the Strategic Planning Steering Committee.

Nancy Jo Greenawalt, D.Ed., retired in June after 40 years in intercollegiate athletics, including the last 25 at ESU. She was most recently the interim director of athletics since January. Dr. Greenawalt was previously the academic coordinator for athletics, and associate athletic director for student success/senior woman administrator. She organized the academic support structure for more than 600 Warrior student-athletes annually. A five-sport student-athlete at Albright College, Dr. Greenawalt was previously a coach and administrator at her alma mater.