As we move into an uncertain future in the world and in higher education, I am impressed by the level of excellence that our School of Humanities and Social Sciences continues to demonstrate in SHAPE. Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy—or SHAPE—is a framework that emphasizes the importance of our school’s disciplines in addressing complex societal challenges and creating a sustainable future.
SHAPE represents a fundamental shift that advocates for the recognition and integration of social sciences, humanities, and the arts with the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Key aspects of the SHAPE framework include an emphasis on collaboration across disciplines, the development of humancentered solutions, critical thinking, empathy, cultural and social insight, economic impact, and innovation and creativity.
The SHAPE framework centers on teaching students strong communication skills, collaboration, interpersonal skills, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning. It can also promote social responsibility, empathy, and ethical decision-making to help improve the lives of others— something that 60 percent of incoming college students surveyed for a recent report identified as important to them. By valuing the unique contributions of SHAPE fields, we can achieve sustainable and inclusive progress, ensuring that economic and technological advancements are grounded in humanistic and ethical considerations. The faculty, students, and alumni of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences continue to show their commitment to placing SHAPE efforts at the center of their work, and I am proud of their accomplishments in the classroom, in research and creative activities, in the workforce, and in the community. I am excited to see how their efforts will SHAPE our world in
In Brief
H&SS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM A WIN-WIN
Who better to relate to prospective students than current students who are just a step or two ahead of them? That’s the idea behind the H&SS Ambassadors program, in which standout students in each of the disciplines in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences serve as representatives for the school.
“Administrators and faculty members have long recognized that our students are superb representatives for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences,” said Dr. Craig Warren, professor of English, who oversees the ambassador program along with Breanna McClain, administrative support assistant in H&SS.
Ambassadors are required to take a one-credit course in which they train to represent the school, learning about the nuances of each major. Once they complete the course, participants are eligible to take on more ambassador responsibilities and earn a stipend.
This past year, twenty H&SS Ambassadors helped at a variety of admissions and school events including Preview Day, Open House, Blue and White Days, the Career and Internship Fairs, Cultural Fairs, and the Kochel Karnival.
Musicals a Hit!
Penn State Behrend Theatre, led by Dr. Emily Cassano, assistant teaching professor of music, theatre, and visual arts, produced two sold-out musicals this past academic year – Cabaret in the fall, and Legally Blonde: The Musical this spring. Both shows received tremendous reviews from those who attended. Follow the theatre at facebook.com/PSBTheatre.
Dr. Melanie D. Hetzel-Riggin
The Music Man Takes a Bow
After twenty-five years at Penn State Behrend, Dr. Gary Viebranz, professor of music and director of instrumental ensembles, retired this summer. He joined Behrend in July 1999 and made a tremendous impact on music education at the college, not just for those students who were interested in pursuing music as a career but for any student who simply enjoyed it.
“The point of music education is to spawn creative thinking and to make something abstract into something you can hear and feel,” Viebranz said. “Also, it can serve a lot of purposes in a person’s life. It can be a way to escape or grieve or relax or find joy or relieve stress.”
Viebranz said he knew early on that he wanted to be a music teacher. He got his first instrument—a paper-headed drum set—for his fourth birthday. By six years old, he was playing the trumpet. Today, he can play tuba, baritone, trombone, and bass guitar. In retirement, he will likely pick up a few more instruments.
Before he left the college, Behrend Blog sat down with Viebranz for a Q&A about music, his career, and his plans after Behrend. Read the full interview at behrendblog.com.
Come
“home”
for the weekend!
Parents, Families & Alumni
Weekend is a highlight of the fall semester at Penn State Behrend
A celebration for young and old alike, it offers plenty of things to do for students, parents, siblings, extended family, alumni—everyone! This year’s weekend is scheduled for Oct. 18-20 and will include a Friday evening reception for School of Humanities and Social Sciences alumni. See a full list of activities and register for the weekend at behrend.psu.edu/weekend.
FACULTY & STAFF NEWS
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
The school welcomed three new faculty members: Dr. Megan LaMotte, assistant research professor and associate director of research and evaluation; Tess Jones, assistant teaching professor of music; and Dr. Tiffany Petricini, associate teaching professor of communication.
Jasper Sachsenmeier, English composition, accepted a position outside the University.
In turn, six faculty members retired after decades of dedicated service: Dr. Dawn Blasko, associate professor of psychology, Anne Campbell, lecturer in speech communication, Dr. John Champagne, professor of English, Dr. Steven Hicks, professor of philosophy, Dr. Victoria Kazmerski, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Gary Viebranz, teaching professor of music and director of instrumental ensembles.
HONORS, DISTINCTIONS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Dr. Wilson Brown, associate professor of clinical psychology, won the 2023-2024 Council of Fellows Research Award.
Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, associate teaching professor of political science, won the University’s 2024 Outreach and Online Education Emerging Faculty Award for Engaged Scholarship.
Several faculty members were promoted this year. Dr. Joseph Beilein, history, was promoted to the rank of professor. Dr. Chris Shelton, clinical psychology, advanced to the rank of associate professor. Both Dr. Jennifer Lane-Myler, elementary and early childhood education, and Dr. Tammie Merino, English, were promoted to the rank of associate teaching professor.
RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY
Faculty members published forty-five articles and book chapters, presented more than 100 conference papers and posters, and were awarded more than forty research and travel grants.
Faculty also published the following books: Dr. Joseph Beilein, history, A Man By Any Other Name: William Clarke Quantrill and the Search for American Manhood
George Looney, English and creative writing, Birds of Sympathy: Correspondences; The Acrobatic Company of the Invisible; and The Visibility of Things Long Submerged
Dr. Lisa Parker, elementary and early childhood education, Picture Books: More Than Meets the Eye
Dr. Joshua Shaw, philosophy and bioethics, All We Could Have Been and More
In Brief
IN MEMORIAM
Rev. Charles Brock, a retired faculty member and community advocate, died November 1, 2023. He was 88.
Brock was born and raised in Erie and subsequently received degrees from Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, and Oxford universities. After returning to Erie from Oxford, where he served as a fellow, chaplain, and teacher of theology for thirty-five years, he taught courses in comparative religion at Behrend.
Brock was particularly proud of the course Mega Issues, which he developed and taught with colleagues from all four of Behrend’s academic schools, examining complex issues affecting the world. He founded both the Brock Institute on the American Dream and the Public Policy Initiative in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lincoln Brock; three stepchildren; and nine step-grandchildren.
Richard “Dick” Mester, a retired assistant professor of logic and philosophy, died November 16, 2023. He was 84.
Mester was born in Chicago and attended Notre Dame Preparatory school and studied for the monastic life. After taking simple vows, he became Brother Phillip, O.P. After leaving the monastery, he began a long teaching career, first at St. Catherine’s College, then at Penn State Behrend, where he taught courses in philosophy for more than forty years. He was a beloved teacher and academic adviser.
He is survived by his wife, Cathy, a retired Penn State Behrend lecturer in speech communication; his two children, Cari Ann and Clark; and two grandchildren.
“UNISSUED DIPLOMAS” EXHIBITION URGES VIEWERS TO BEAR WITNESS
Ivanna Obodzinska, 19, was the mother of twins and a Garden Design student at Polissia National University. She planned to be a landscape designer.
Serhii Molchanov, 19, was a student at the Ukrainian Leadership Academy who volunteered to fight for his country. While serving, he collected stories and photos for a book he hoped to write. Oleksandra Borivska, 18, was an International Relations student at Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University. She dreamed of having a diplomatic career, traveling the world, and seeing the Grand Canyon.
None of them achieved their goals. They, in addition to Obodzinska’s twins, were killed in Ukraine, victims of Russia’s invasion of that country.
Obodzinska, Molchanov, and Borivska are three of forty Ukrainian students whose stories and photos are highlighted in “Unissued Diplomas,” an exhibition in Penn State Behrend’s Lilley Library that honors the memory of Ukrainian students who will never graduate.
The exhibition is one of dozens installed at institutions worldwide to remind people about the ongoing war and the price Ukrainians are paying daily in their fight for freedom. The exhibits were erected on February 24, the second anniversary of the invasion, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 70,000 Ukrainians to date.
The “Unissued Diplomas” exhibition, located on the first floor of Lilley Library, is accessible during library hours. Learn more at unissueddiplomas.org.
LESSONS IN LAUGHTER
What makes a joke
funny? What makes it fall flat? Why do some people appreciate sarcasm and others despise it?
These are just some of the topics that Erica Edwards ’15, assistant teaching professor of psychology, tackled in Psych 426: Language and Thought last semester, and in her research collaboration with Dr. Dawn Blasko and Dr. Victoria Kazmerski, associate professors of psychology, and Dr. Shariffah Sheik Dawood, associate teaching professor of psychology.
Here are five takeaways about using humor:
1. Relationships matter. The perceived humor in sarcasm, when we say something we don’t mean, often depends on who delivers it. “Sarcasm among friends can be a form of bonding,
but sarcasm from your boss would have a whole different – probably negative — meaning,” Edwards said.
2. Effort is everything. The idea here is that the best jokes are the ones where the recipient has to do a little work to appreciate it. “There’s a sweet spot of effort between humor that requires too much effort and humor that requires too little,” Edwards said. “People most appreciate humor that they are just clever enough to get.”
3. Humor is cultural. There are tremendous differences in humor among cultures. For example, British people perceive sarcasm more positively than do Chinese people, who tend to view sarcasm more negatively.
$1 MILLION ENDOWMENT ENHANCES LOGAN SERIES
Humor in international settings should be approached with care.
4. Age has an influence, too. In the United States, older adults tend to use less sarcasm (as opposed to young adults, who use it more). On the other hand, in China, elderly women may become more sarcastic, as though there’s less of “a filter between their mind and their mouth,” Edwards said.
5. Humor has a purpose. “People use humor to bond, to feel good, to cope with stressful situations, and to diffuse embarrassment,” Edwards said. “It can be a powerful tool to help manage feelings and emotions. And what can be better than a belly laugh?”
A new $1 million endowment created by the Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation will ensure the continuation of Music at Noon in perpetuity. The series makes concert-level chamber music accessible to audiences through informal lunchtime performances at Penn State Behrend.
It began in 1989 with a gift from Kay Logan, a musician, educator and arts advocate. Logan, who was the principal flutist with the Columbus Symphony for twenty years, died in 2016.
“For thirty-four years, Music at Noon has introduced Behrend students and countless others in the community to world-class chamber music through informal, interactive performances that strip the mystique away from the genre,” Chancellor Ralph Ford said. “We are grateful for this support from the Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation, which will enable the Logan Series to continue in perpetuity.”
Music at Noon concerts are open to the public at no charge. A portion of the seating in McGarvey Commons is always reserved for students from Erie’s Diehl Elementary School. Performers who have included Grammy Award-winners ETHEL, the Harlem Quartet, and the Turtle Island Quartet, also stage one-day residencies at Diehl and sit in with music classes at Behrend.
75 YEARS OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
In 1948, Mary Behrend had the idea to gift her family’s Glenhill Farm to Penn State to create a University presence in Erie. Imagine what she’d think of how her gift has grown–from 146 students in that first year to nearly 4,300 students learning on campus and online in Behrend programs offered through World Campus.
The humanities and social sciences have been an essential element of Penn State Behrend from Day One. Some of the earliest degree programs to be offered were in the humanities and social sciences, including English, history, and political science, which continue into the present. More recently, the arts have been instrumental in helping the college celebrate its milestone anniversary.
Photo exhibit proves popular
Though he taught generations of college students during his thirty-seven years as a mathematics professor at Behrend, Norman B. “Bill” Patterson, below, established a legacy that goes far beyond math. When he retired in 1990, he left a trove of photos documenting life at Behrend with intimacy and affection.
The camera he used to record much of it–a $129 model
all year to buy from Erie’s Boston Store in 1954–is in the archives at Lilley Library, along with hundreds of his photos.
“If a picture paints a thousand words, Bill’s photos are surely the most expensive materials in the Behrend Archives,” said Jane Ingold, reference and instruction librarian and archivist at Behrend.
To commemorate the college’s anniversary, Ingold and Daniel Schank, associate teaching professor of art and English, worked together to present: “Behrend Begins: The Campus Photography of Norman B. Patterson,” an exhibit in Kochel Center that highlighted some of Patterson’s most evocative photos from the 1950s through the early 1970s.
The exhibit was so popular that Schank is now looking to exhibit the work online with the help of students in the Digital Media, Arts, and Technology program and possibly with a permanent exhibit in Lilley Library.
You can read more about Patterson and see some of his work at Behrendblog.com.
Mural, larger than life
The Reed Building on campus has a new look: A two-story mural, “Behrend Pride,” painted by Erie artist Ceasar Westbrook (above). It includes depictions of Glenhill Farmhouse and Wintergreen Gorge, and in the foreground, blue silhouettes of four graduates, standing arm-in-arm at commencement.
Located just outside the building’s Wintergarden lobby, the mural was commissioned by the college’s 75th Anniversary Committee. Financial support was provided by Lincoln Recycling, Modern Industries Inc., and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
“Public art gives a place a sense of itself,” said Dr. Matt Levy, associate professor of art history and a member of the Anniversary subcommittee tasked with selecting
the artist and overseeing the installation.
“I think the mural did exactly what we wanted it to do: encapsulate Behrend’s identity in so many ways.
“It was also an educational opportunity for our students,” Levy said. “Each of the art classes paid a visit to watch Ceasar
work and ask him questions about his process.”
Westbrook describes the project and the process of painting the mural in a video at youtube.com/pennstatebehrend1.
Kat on ...
Practicing her craft: I write creatively on a weekly, if not daily, basis. I just released my fourth book, Thumbsucker (Malarkey Books). I also enjoy attending and sharing my work at literary readings, virtually and around the greater Philadelphia area.
Perseverance: Rejection really is part of the writing life, and it’s something you need to make peace with to maintain enthusiasm for the publication process. I am fortunate to have had this instilled in me as a student at Behrend, submitting my work to literary journals. I got a head start on growing a thick skin.
Independent presses: There is so much great work being published, across genres, in the indie/small press literary world because they take more substantial risks in publishing work that may not appeal to a wide audience but is still valuable and deserves to find readers.
The threat of AI: People think writing is easy because it’s something everyone can do at a basic level, but being able to communicate your thoughts and ideas effectively is not easy. The popularity of Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT just prove that point, but there are many ways it falls short. I think it will be a long time, if ever, that AI can replace brilliant writers like the ones I work with.
CREATIVE WRITING ALUMNI FIND LUCRATIVE CAREERS IN LAW
When Kat Giordano graduated from Penn State Behrend’s Creative Writing program in 2017, she wasn’t sure where her next chapter would start, but she never imagined it would be at a law firm.
“Creative Writing majors seem to have the impression that it will be difficult for them to find work, but that has not been my experience at all,” said Giordano, a legal technical writing team lead with Colombo & Hurd, a public law firm specializing in immigration law in Orlando, Florida.
Giordano, who began as a technical writer for another firm, leads a team of writers in drafting petition support letters for non-employment-based visa applications. She reviews documents drafted and submitted by the team, creates and leads presentations to support continued development of the writers, and develops templates and protocols to adapt to changes in legal strategy.
“I never had any intention of working in immigration law, but it turns out that I really love it,” she said. “Stumbling into this field is a happy accident for which
She’s not alone. This spring, Giordano was one of four Creative Writing alumni—all working for law firms—who participated in a
virtual panel discussion with current Behrend students.
“Writing and editing are the primary skills required for my job, so having a degree that so heavily emphasized writing was very helpful for me,” Giordano said. “In a law firm, there is an exceptionally high volume of writing-intensive work to be done, so a trained writer who can hit the ground running and produce consistently good work is valuable.”
Giordano said legal experience is not necessary to write for a law firm.
“It’s easier to take someone with strong writing skills and no legal experience and teach them the basic skills they need to be a good legal/technical writer than it is the other way around,” she said.
Giving and receiving constructive criticism is another important skill that Giordano honed at Behrend.
“Working with my writers, I think back to my experiences in poetry or fiction class, and it helps me to keep my tone positive and encouraging,” she said. “I always appreciated it when my fellow students approached my work with curiosity, like ‘I wonder what would happen if your character, ...’ rather than criticizing it outright. You’d be surprised how many people skills you learn in creative writing classes that are applicable in the corporate world.”
Public Relations Put Into Practice
Open lab experience pairs Communication students with real clients
With more than three decades of experience as a communicator, Tammy Roche, director of Strategic Communication for the Barber National Institute and part-time lecturer in communication at Behrend, knows how to get her message across.
In COMM 370: Public Relations, Roche has found a winning formula for teaching students about PR by giving them handson experiences working with real clients. Each year, using her extensive contact list, Roche finds four area businesses or organizations that identify a project or problem for students to address.
“I teach the class as if they were my interns,” Roche said. “I tell them, like an internship, they will get out of the class what they put into it. The final project, where they work with a client, reinforces that there is a practical application for the things we have learned in the first part of the semester.”
Clients this past semester were The Erie Blues and Jazz Festival, the ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum, a start-up walking tour company named Tour Erie, and Vintage & Soul Home, a furniture, home décor, and gift store.
The projects begin just after spring break each year when Roche forms the fictional "Roche & Associates Public Relations" firm and assigns a group of students to each client. The clients attend product launch meetings at Behrend to give students a chance to learn about their client’s needs and ask questions.
From there, each student group tackles the PR challenge they’ve been assigned, ultimately compiling a comprehensive report that includes background research, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, and communication strategies and suggestions as well as a proposed budget.
The final aspect of each project is a pitch meeting in which the client returns to the classroom to learn what “Roche & Associates” has developed. Some clients offer feedback, and they all leave with an array of ideas to consider implementing.
“In 2023, one group did a campaign for U Pick 6’s Pier 6 restaurant, and I saw that
the client did use a few of the students’ ideas in their marketing,” Roche said. “We always get great feedback from clients at the pitch meeting.”
The students gain exactly what Roche hopes they will— knowledge and skill built through experience.
“I ran into a former student who told me she did an intern
ship last summer and she was able to apply a lot of what she learned in COMM 370 in her work there,” Roche said. “I love teaching this class. It’s a wonderful gift to be able to help shape a new generation of PR professionals.”
Are you a small business owner or event planner with a PR challenge for Behrend students to work on next spring? Email Roche at tlr5675@psu.edu.
CAPTURED ON (AND OFF)
Culture Fair 2024: The Behrend community was invited to “travel the world” at the college’s annual Culture Fair, held in February in celebration of National Foreign Language Week. The event, a collaboration between the college’s Global Languages and Cultures program and Office of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs, included dozens of displays where students could learn about different countries and cultures while sampling foods and engaging in activities at each table. The day included multiple cultural performances.
Ambassadors on hand: School of Humanities and Social Science (H&SS) Ambassadors chat with soon-to-be Behrend students about the Digital Media, Arts, and Technology major at Preview Day, an admissions event for accepted students.
Putting some “A” in STEAM: The H&SS Ambassadors hosted a table and painted faces at the college’s popular STEAM Fair, a Youth Education Outreach event that promotes science, technology, engineering, art, and math careers using hands-on displays and activities. More than 1,500 attended this year’s fair.
Singing Lions: The Penn State Behrend Concert Choir, under the direction of Rhonda Berlin, lecturer in music, nearly doubled in size this year. Highlights for the choir this year included a performance at a senior housing facility that was broadcast live by WQLN and singing the U.S. and Canadian national anthems before the Erie Otters’ Blue & White Night, which was sponsored by the college in honor of Behrend’s 75th anniversary.
CAMPUS Student News
Breaking news: The Pennsylvania School Press Association held its annual student journalism competition at Penn State Behrend in November. High school students participated in different competition categories and attended workshops led by communications professionals.
Samiha Choudhury, who graduated in May with a Political Science degree, was the recipient of the 2024 Ralph Dorn Hetzel Memorial Award. Named for Penn State’s tenth president, the Hetzel Award recognizes high scholastic attainment coupled with good citizenship and leadership in student activities.
Nominators said Choudhury set herself apart by seeking opportunities to apply her knowledge in practical settings, displaying an ability to address real-world challenges. While at Behrend, Choudhury founded an organization dedicated to supporting first-generation college students.
Grace Mumo, a senior majoring in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, was the recipient of the 2024 Jackson Lethbridge Tolerance Award. The award recognizes a student for outstanding efforts to enhance the understanding of diverse cultures and create a community where all individuals are valued equally.
Mumo, the programming director for the Student Government Association, is also a global ambassador and an executive board member of both the Multi-Cultural Council and the Black Student Union.
Jenna Seigworth, who graduated in May with a degree in English, was a recipient of Penn State's Rock Ethics Institute’s 2024 Stand Up Award for Undergraduate Ethical Leadership. The award recognizes a student who has demonstrated ethical leadership by standing up for a cause, idea, or belief.
While at Behrend, Seigworth dedicated herself to addressing food insecurity on campus and in the community. She joined the Sustainable Food Systems Program at Behrend as an intern in 2022. In this role, she spearheaded efforts to distribute produce grown on campus to both students and community members who face barriers to accessing fresh food.
Seigworth was also chosen to receive a 2024 John Roe Sustainability Impact Award.
While at Behrend, Eric Oelhaf, senior Political Science major, has been able to add something to his résumé that few college students can claim: His work has been published in The Wall Street Journal.
Three of his pieces were chosen for WSJ’s “Future View” column, which features students offering their opinion on current topics. Oelhaf’s essays address the topics of American support for aid to Ukraine, the U.S. border crisis, and why people don’t trust scientists anymore.
Read more about Oelhaf and get links to his work at behrendblog.com.
STUDYING IN TORONTO
Nine Penn State students participated in a monthlong summer course in Toronto, Canada. North American Politics (PLSC 299/499) is a unique study-abroad opportunity that allows participants to travel and live abroad and learn alongside their counterparts at Toronto Metropolitan University. This course is co-taught by Behrend’s Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of political science, and Toronto’s Dr. Greg Inwood, professor of political science.
STANDOUT SENIOR 2024: MEET TYLER AKAM
Tyler Akam, who graduated in May with a degree in Digital Media, Arts, and Technology (DIGIT), isn’t sure what the future holds, but he has a lot of options because he has a lot of interests.
“There is no limit to what I am interested in,” he said. “I am often exploring new areas of technology and different forms of art. All at once, I’m interested in creating film, music, physical and digital art, video games, comic books. I could go on.”
The skills he learned at Behrend support his creativity. “I have the skills to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and video editing programs such as DaVinci Resolve. I come up with ideas for projects all the time.”
One project he’s especially proud of? His senior project, which was a stop-motion/Claymation short film. “It was quite a journey in which I learned a lot about my creative process and how to execute it,” he said.
Akam is one of dozens of members of the Class of 2024 who were highlighted on the Behrend Blog for their accomplishments while at the college.
Read about more Standout Seniors at behrendblog.com.
