Mansfield University Alumni Newsletter - March 2021

THE MANSFIELD M A R C H

2 0 2 1 A L U M N I

N E W S L E T T E R

A L U M N I N E W S L E T T E R

THE BUZZ ON THE HILL Integration • P. 2

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion P. 3

Cardiovascular Disease P. 4

International Women's Day P. 5-7

Growth • P. 8

Spectators

• P. 9

More Buzz • P. 10-12

INTEGRATION HIGHLIGHTS In The Mansfield's February issue, we shared information regarding an integrated partnership with Bloomsburg and Lock Haven Universities. As the integration implementation plan continues to be designed through April 2021, we have incorporated an "Integration Highlights" section within this newsletter to inform you of the integration progress.

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Dan Greenstein presented a draft Integration Progress Report to the Board of Governors at its February 2021 meeting. The report highlights various details, including the October completion of the Act 50 financial stability review. In addition, the report identifies that 589 faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders in the Northeast (as of 1/9/2021) are serving on the integration working groups or subgroups to develop these innovative and recommended integration plans.

The implementation planning includes consultative engagement with key stakeholders who help identify and address student and institutional needs for a successful integration launch in July 2022. These groups define scope and scale, seek efficiencies, and identify goals and annual targets prioritized by July 2022 recommendations and subsequent alignments through 2026.

We are pleased to communicate that while we will integrate to reinvent higher education and grow stronger in partnership, our brand and identity, athletic complement, and the alumni association will remain independent to Mansfield.

You can view Mansfield University's integration page and the PASSHE Integrations site for additional details concerning integration.

A Factual Perspective: View the chancellor’s latest blog, “Facts are Stubborn Things.”

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, has received much attention in the workplace, in higher education, and certainly in the news media. You may have asked yourself, What is Mansfield University doing to address DEI? First, let's breakdown what DEI really means.

DIVERSITY refers to differences among individuals (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status) EQUITY refers to fair (but not necessarily equal) treatment regardless of one’s starting point in life INCLUSION refers to actions that foster feelings of being welcomed, respected, and valued The recharged Diversity and Inclusion Council at Mansfield University provides leadership on best practices and strategies to build and sustain an inclusive campus community using equity and inclusion principles in recruitment through diversity education and functions and development programming. The Diversity and Inclusion Council strives to position Mansfield University to fulfill its mission of educating a diverse student body with the added goal of aspiring to attract and retain faculty and staff reflective of our communities.

The Diversity and Inclusion Council works closely with the Office of Multicultural Affairs to develop and promote cultural and heritage celebrations, student conferences, social justice retreats, and multicultural programs.

We are proud of the DEI steps we have made at Mansfield University over the past year and we recognize there is still significant room for growth. We are excited to announce that you have the opportunity to become involved in our growth forward.

DID YOU KNOW?

The DEI Council at Mansfield University is growing! We are developing a DEI Alumni Council, and we are seeking interested alumni to join the council.

Are you interested in joining the DEI Alumni Council? If so, please express your interest to DEI Council Chairperson, Nichole Book at nbook@mansfield.edu.

The first DEI Alumni Council meeting will be held through Zoom on Friday, March 26 at 12 pm.

Once we receive your email of interest, Zoom meeting credentials will be emailed to you.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Behind COVID-19, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Dr. Maegan Borzok, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry in the Department of Natural Sciences, is engaging in research that aims to change this statistic.

Dr. Borzok's lab is identifying and testing personalized treatments for a subset of cardiovascular diseases. What's most impressive is Mansfield students are engaging in this research alongside Borzok.

Learn more about this research from Dr. Borzok and support this important research.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Celebrated since the early 1900s, International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. IWD also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

IWD will officially be celebrated this year on March 8th with a campaign theme of #ChooseToChallenge.

IWD believes that a challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge.

Raise your hand and show your support for gender equality and women all over the world!

Elizabeth Spangenberg '09 Harrisburg, PA Deputy Attorney General Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General

Would you like to support the Dr. Margaret Launius Women's Center at Mansfield University? You can do so by visiting give.mansfield.edu and choosing the "Give to Other" pathway.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY raise our hands to show our support for gender equality and women all over the world!

Charee Grover '05 Baltimore, MD Manager Recruitment and Admissions Per Scholas

Jeremy Estremera '15 Allentown, PA Clinical Representative Cranial Technologies, Inc.

Cynthia Pritchard '87 York, PA President & CEO Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Maria Reich '09 Weimar, Germany Secondary Ed. Teacher (Philosophy and Media/Computer Science) Free State of Thuringia

Serena N. Chapman '14 Bristol, PA Published Author of "Journey According to Re" Mentor and Clinical Paraprofessional

Joe Bucek '16 Lancaster, PA Officer Spring Garden Twp., York County

GROWTH

This 250-pound cast aluminum wall relief titled "Growth" was installed in 1976 on the campus of Mansfield University. Whether referring to integration or the celebration of International Women's Day, this symbolism is indicative of our past and our future.

SPECTATORS

TAKE YOUR BASE MU Fans, get ready to cheer on your Mountaineers. The Mansfield University Athletic Department has announced spectators will be permitted this spring at home baseball and softball games.

All spectators are required to adhere to the Mansfield University Health and Safety Plan and follow spectator safety guidelines.

BASEBALL SCHEDULE SOFTBALL SCHEDULE Fans are encouraged to take advantage of the free, live-streaming video coverage of home athletic contests through Mountie AllAccess. Coverage links for live video and live stats are available under each athletic program's page at gomounties.com.

Are you interested in joining the President's Circle in support of the baseball or softball program?

Contact Casey Wood at 888-305-6505 for more details.

ALUMNI HOUSE The Office of Alumni Affairs & Advancement will begin accepting reservations for the Alumni House from Pennsylvania residents only effective March 1.

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of our facilities cleaning staff, reservations will be accepted for the whole house only.

All travel restrictions imposed by individual states and their Department of Health organizations must be followed in addition to Mansfield University's Health and Safety Plan.

To make a reservation, email alumni@mansfield.edu.

SAVE THE DATES SAT, JULY 10 @ 9 AM

1857

ALUMNI & FRIENDS

SAT, JULY 31 @ 9 AM

GOLF TOURNAMENT

Stay tuned!

Online registration for both tournaments will be available soon.

12 x 30 Pennant $19.95 15 oz. Mug $8.95

Joggers $25

Alumni Tee $12.95

OFFICE OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS & ADVANCEMENT 31 S. Academy St. Mansfield, PA 16933 888-305-6505