P E N N S TAT E B E H R E N D S C H O O L O F H U M A N I T I E S A N D S O C I A L S C I E N C E S | 2 0 2 1
8 PSYCHOLOGY AND VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY GO HAND IN (AUGMENTED) HAND 2 Federal House Project Update 5 Dr. Rod Troester Retires 6 Mixing Disciplines and Music
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DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE It is an odd feeling to be writing my last Director’s Message for H&SS News. This summer, I told Chancellor Ford and the faculty and staff of H&SS that I would be retiring ERIC CORTY, PH.D. at the end of this academic year —June 30, 2022. At the time, that seemed so far away, almost a full year. But now, as I’m writing this, it is already only 10 months away, and I am aware of just how quickly the time is passing. This fall, academic convocation— the joyous opening of the new school year—was different for me. I realized it was the last time I would participate in such an event. I think this year will be like that. The months will inexorably tick by, surprising me with their swiftness. The markers of the academic calendar — fall finals, writing tenure and promotion letters, searches for new faculty members, spring finals, and graduation—will assume additional significance. I started here at Penn State Behrend in 1993 in a one-year, non-tenure track position. I liked my colleagues; I liked the students; I liked the emphasis on both teaching and research. When I was offered a tenure-track position for the next year, it was an easy decision. I was promoted to associate professor and then professor. I became associate director of the school and then director. I hope that our school, my school, has been changed in positive ways by me. I know that I have been changed by it. Thank you for a wonderful career in a special place.
ON THE COVER: From left, Marcus Jacobs, a senior majoring in Business Economics and International Business, works in Behrend’s VAR Lab with Dr. Chris Shelton, assistant professor of clinical psychology, and Jasper Sachsenmeier, lecturer in English composition.
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In Brief CREATIVE WRITING FACULTY PUBLISH NEW WORKS Faculty members in Penn State Behrend’s bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) in creative writing program are collaborating both in the program and on the page: All three have new books in print, and each lists the others on the acknowledgments pages of their books. “One of the great things about our creative writing program is the real sense of community among the students and the three of us,” said Dr. Tom Noyes, professor of creative writing and English and chair of the program. “We are good friends as well as colleagues, and we share our work a lot.” There has been a lot to share lately. George Looney, distinguished professor of creative writing and English, published two new titles—The Itinerate Circus: New and Selected Poems 1995-2020 and The Worst May Be Over, a collection of short stories. Noyes just released his fourth book—his first novel—The Substance of Things Hoped For. Aimee Pogson, associate teaching professor of creative writing and English, published The Sadness of Spirits, a collection of short stories.
FEDERAL HOUSE: A NEW HOME FOR CORE Construction is well underway on a $6.3 million renovation and expansion of Penn State Behrend’s historic Federal House to provide a new home for the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation (CORE). The facility, which will allow CORE to expand its school-focused and community programs for area youth, is on track to be completed late this year.
DID YOU KNOW? The Federal House is the oldest brick structure in Harborcreek Township. It is believed to have been built in 1838 and once served as a stagecoach stop.
ALUMNUS WINS NBA AWARD Matt Bresee, a 2000 Communication graduate and former president of the Erie BayHawks, was recently recognized as the NBA G League Team Executive of the Year. The award is voted on by the league’s team presidents. “This recognition is a reflection of the thirteen years of great support we got from fans, sponsors, media, front office staff, coaches, players, and other partners,” Breese said. “It was a collective effort of so many, and I was fortunate to be part of it. The past year has been tough and being recognized by my peers is humbling.” Bresee became president of the BayHawks in 2009, after serving on the staff for a number of years. The BayHawks ceased operations this year after being unable to identify another NBA partner to keep the league in Erie. Bresee now works in business development for the LECOM Institute for Successful Aging in Erie.
(RE)VISIT THE GORGE FROM HOME Wintergreen Gorge is one of Penn State Behrend’s greatest assets. Many alumni have fond memories of time spent there running, hiking, and biking on the trails and under the leafy canopy along Fourmile Creek. Thanks to Marcus Jacobs, a senior Business Economics and International Business major, anyone can now tour the gorge without leaving home. Jacobs, working through the college’s Virtual/Augmented Reality (VAR) Lab, developed a virtual tour from a variety of starting points, including the trail overlook known as Devil’s Backbone. Jacobs also included a few other campus favorites—Wilson Picnic Grove and the Lion Shrine— as stops on the tour. The tour, which can be accessed at varlab.bd.psu.edu/wintergreen, is just one of several virtual tours that the VAR Lab is currently developing.
FACULTY & STAFF NEWS NEW FACULTY AND STAFF The School of Humanities and Social Sciences welcomed three faculty members: Michelle Cook, lecturer in special education; Ricardo Estremera, assistant teaching professor of Spanish; and Justin Fanzo, assistant teaching professor of game design; and two staff members: Beth Nemenz, administrative support coordinator; and Kelly Nies, administrative support assistant.
HONORS, DISTINCTIONS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Dr. Wilson Brown, assistant professor of clinical psychology, received the American Psychological Association Division of Trauma Psychology Early Career Award. Dr. Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, professor of psychology, won the Woman Making History Award from the Mercy Center for Women. Aimee Pogson, associate teaching professor of creative writing and English, earned the Blue Light Books Prize from Indiana University Press and the Indiana Review. Dr. Massimo Verzella, assistant professor of English composition, won both the H&SS and Council of Fellows teaching awards. Three other faculty members earned H&SS school honors: Dr. Molly Monahan Lang, assistant teaching professor of sociology, received the advising award; Dr. Ashley Yochim, associate teaching professor of English, won the outreach award; and Dr. Colleen Kelley, associate professor of rhetoric and communication, earned the research award. Four faculty members were promoted: Dr. David Kahl Jr. was promoted to professor of communication; Stephanie Diaz was tenured and promoted to associate librarian; Dr. Arpan Yagnik was tenured and promoted to associate professor of advertising; and Dr. Shariffah Sheik Dawood was promoted to associate teaching professor of psychology.
RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY Faculty members published more than fifty articles and book chapters, delivered more than 100 conference presentations, and were awarded more than forty research grants. They also published the following books: Dr. Kilic Kanat, political science, Conversation on COVID19 and AK Party Years in Turkey: Domestic and Foreign Policy; Dr. Victoria Kazmerski, psychology, An Introduction to the Science of Learning; and Dr. Colleen Kelley, communication, Democratic Disunity: Rhetorical Tribalism in 2020. Creative Writing faculty members George Looney, Dr. Thomas Noyes, and Aimee Pogson also published works this past year.
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In Brief (cont.) HOLOCAUST HEADLINE INSPIRES PROGRAM SERIES While browsing the British news and media website The Guardian, Dr. Amy Carney, associate professor of history, was shocked to see the headline “Nearly two-thirds of U.S. Young Adults Unaware 6M Jews Killed in the Holocaust.” “To say that this headline stunned me would be an understatement,” said Carney, who then investigated the source on which the article was based: A survey conducted by the Jewish Claims Conference. As an educator who specializes in modern German history, specifically the Third Reich, Carney regularly teaches students, as well as the larger community, about the Holocaust. “But after reading the results of this survey, which included information specific to Pennsylvania, my desire to
help our students understand how and why it happened doubled,” she said. Carney is launching a Holocaust awareness effort with a series of programs, including talks with Holocaust survivors and scholars as well as museum visits and movie screenings to be conducted as part of the University’s Schreyer Honors College Distinguished Faculty program. Though she is still developing the framework, Carney hopes to have a virtual component to most of the programs to make them accessible to all Penn State students, faculty, staff, and others. “Through these programs, my goal is to ensure that scholars and students as well as members of the community are better informed about one of the most significant events in modern world
SERENITY NOW A team of Penn State Behrend students has developed a mental health and mindfulness app that helps users track their emotions and suggests activities and resources to ease stress and depression. The app, available as a free download at the Google Play store under the name Serene Helps, features videos on meditation, guided breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation. It also provides links to Erie County mental-health support services. “When people are in distress, it can be difficult to think clearly,” said Antigoni Kotsiou, who developed much of the app’s content, “so we made it simple: Try a new recipe. Take a walk in a different neighborhood. Call your grandparents.” Kotsiou, who graduated from Behrend’s Master of Applied Clinical Psychology program this past December, created the content in collaboration with Dr. Christopher Shelton, assistant professor of clinical psychology and director of the college’s Virtual/ Augmented Reality (VAR) Lab. Marc Maromonte, a Computer Science major who graduated in May, handled the coding, and Erica Juriasingani, who also graduated in May with a degree in Psychology and a certificate in Human Factors, led the user-experience research and design with Dr. Lisa Jo Elliott, assistant teaching professor of psychology.
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history,” she said. “I also believe this engagement will help attendees gain a stronger awareness of the past and present consequences of anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice.”
Master of Speech Communication Has Left the (Kochel Center) Building
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s the quote attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, goes, “The only constant in life is change,” and Dr. Rod Troester, associate professor emeritus of speech communication, saw plenty of that in his thirty-five-year tenure at Behrend. Troester, who taught a variety of speech communication classes, including public speaking, retired this summer. “When I started in 1986, there wasn’t much on campus above the Niagara and Lawrence residence halls and nothing on the other side of Jordan Road,” Troester said. “Behrend has doubled in size and developed into an incredibly vibrant place.” His field of study, too, has undergone tumultuous change, especially in mass media, in the last few decades, but Troester said the fundamentals of communication remain the same. “The basics of forming a message and conveying it have not changed, although the technology and tools we use to do it have,” he said. “Where once you might have written an op-ed to reach a lot of people, now you can write a blog post or online article and share it through a half-dozen social media channels to reach your audience.” We talked with Troester to get his perspectives on three-plus decades of teaching at Behrend. Best days at Behrend: Every semester, the best days on campus were the first day of classes and commencement. The energy and excitement were always palpable. On the rewards of his work: We have a Facebook group (Penn State BehrendCommunications Department Alumni) with nearly 350 alumni, and it’s really great to share in their success and see where life takes them. On the rise of social media: It’s helped
DR. ROD TROESTER STARTED TEACHING AT BEHREND IN 1986.
connect people and given a voice and community to groups that didn’t have an easy way to find one another before. That said, many of today’s students, who are the most connected ever, also suffer from anxiety and depression. I think some of the anxiety comes from comparing their real lives with what they see online. On the prevalence of disinformation and the need for editors: In a way, it’s self-correcting. As people find ways to spread disinformation, others will find ways to combat it. What we suffer from online is a lack of editors. Anyone can publish anything and spread it. There is a big difference between an editor and a censor, of course. A censor is guided by conduct and morals. An editor is guided by standards, truth, and verifiable facts. Nonprofits = opportunity: The best internships for Communication majors are often with organizations that have no budget to pay them. Students usually are tasked with more work and gain more experience than they might at a large company. On communication tools: On a trip back from the airport with my son, I watched him working on his laptop,
and I was thinking about how my wife, Judy, and I bought one of the first word processing systems in the 1990s. The advancement in communication tools in my lifetime is stunning. On polishing that elevator speech: Your education and experience will get you an interview, but soft skills will often get you the job. There’s no right way to do life: Students sometimes struggle because they have come up through an educational system where everything has a rubric, so their “failure” or “success” can be easily measured. Real life isn’t like that, though, so they have to define the best way for themselves. It’s OK to love Erie: When I took the job, I never thought I’d be here this long, but it became our home. Erie has a lot going for it. Find him on the lake: I have a 34-foot sailboat I plan to spend more time on. I also serve as a volunteer crew member for the U.S. Brig Niagara and the Lettie G. Howard, educational sailing vessels in Erie. I enjoy going out in the lake and showing people the city and Presque Isle from that vantage point.
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MIXING
DISCIPLINES AND MUSIC
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umans excel at categorizing things because it makes life easier. Thinking is less taxing when we have shortcuts. That’s why many of us fully embraced the “left brain/right brain” theory of learning. If you’re mostly analytical and methodical in your thinking, you’re left-brained. If you tend to be more creative or artistic, you’re right brained. But the theory, often simplified into math-and-science- or humanities-minded, has done us a disservice. Engineers are inherently creative, required to think outside the box. Conversely, music is mathematical, demanding precision and timing. That’s why the humanities and social sciences have a critical role across the educational spectrum. At Penn State Behrend, not only does the School of
Humanities and Social Sciences serve those majoring in the programs offered by the school, it also meets the needs and interests of students in the STEM fields and business who complement their career plans with H&SS studies. Alison Huffman is a senior Computer Engineering major, and Adam Boaks is a senior Biology major at Behrend. They are also musicians and songwriters who recently released their first album, For Your Glory, at the request of The Cross, an Erie church that Huffman and Boaks attend. The pair wrote and performed the songs, all taken from the Bible’s Book of Psalms. They also played all of the instruments and handled vocals, as well. When it came time to mix it all together, they enlisted the aid of Dr. Joel Hunt, associate teaching professor of music
and digital media, arts, and technology. “My role was that of a mix engineer,” Hunt said. “I edited many of the audio tracks that Alison and Adam recorded and used plug-ins in Pro Tools to give the recording a more professional sound. I also used advanced mixing techniques to ensure that all of the voices and instruments were balanced and clear.” “What an artist initially records into a microphone is completely unedited,” Huffman said. “Dr. Hunt had a lot of plug-ins and techniques to help us make it sound much better.” Huffman, who is also working on a Music Technology minor, was even able to earn college credit for the project. Though the minor is offered at University Park, she was able to fulfill the course requirements taking classes with Hunt
THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE ACROSS THE EDUCATIONAL SPECTRUM. THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES SERVES THOSE MAJORING IN THE 6
Dr. Joel Hunt, Alison Huffman, and Adam Boaks.
at Behrend. That included INART 258A Fundamentals of Digital Audio and a variety of independent studies. “When we were trying to find an independent study topic for Alison, I learned about the album she was making with Adam,” Hunt said. “We thought it would be a great way to dig deeper into music production.” Hunt was impressed with the work they had already accomplished on For Your Glory. “I had known Alison as a drummer because she plays with the Penn State Behrend Jazz Ensemble, which I direct, but I didn’t know that she also played piano, sang, and wrote songs,” Hunt said. “Adam had taken my MUSIC 8 Rudiments of Music course and done very well but, again, I didn’t know he was
such a gifted singer and songwriter.” Huffman has had plenty of practice blending music and engineering. She’s been working for two years as a computer engineering intern at AcousticSheep, creator of SleepPhones, headphones that are designed to lull wearers to sleep. Huffman works on the SleepSounds app, which uses artificial intelligence to generate sleep-inducing music, rhythms, and sound patterns. After the album was mixed, Huffman and Boaks handed it off to a distributor for final mastering and to set the levels required by Apple, Spotify, and other platforms. The album was released this summer and is available on any major music streaming platform by searching for “The Cross Worship” and For Your Glory.
STUDENTS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN MUSIC. In Dr. Joel Hunt’s INART 258A Fundamentals of Digital Audio, students learn the concepts and skills needed to produce professional-level recordings. By the end of the semester, each student has made a Spotify-ready original song! Once they’ve taken the course, students have access to all of Behrend’s audio recording equipment, including microphones, audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards, and Pro Tools digital audio production software.
PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL. IT ALSO MEETS THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF STUDENTS IN THE STEM FIELDS AND BUSINESS WHO COMPLEMENT THEIR CAREER PLANS WITH H&SS STUDIES. 7
BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE VIRTUAL REALITY LAB IMAGINES LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY
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hen Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry commanded a nine-ship U.S. fleet in the Battle of Lake Erie in September of 1813, he relied on one of the most basic enemy-locating devices— a telescope. That telescope, valued at nearly $100,000, was recently acquired by Erie’s Hagen History Center, where it is on display along with Perry’s sword, scabbard, belt and a lithograph. In the age of global satellite positioning systems and drones equipped with cameras, it’s hard to imagine what it might have been like for Perry to spot far-off British vessels using one eye and a spyglass. But an interactive display next to the telescope, created by Penn State Behrend’s Virtual/Augmented Reality (VAR) Lab, gives visitors a chance to see through Perry’s eye, virtually. “Gone are the days of an object and a label in museums,” said George Deutsch, executive director of the Hagen History Center. “Museums today are much more interactive, with graphics and components that offer visitors a way to engage with the items on display.” Deutsch formed a partnership with Behrend’s VAR lab after its director, Dr. Christopher Shelton, assistant professor of clinical psychology, and
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Jasper Sachsenmeier, lecturer in English composition, reached out to the center in search of collaborative projects for faculty and students. “We had done some work for the local Fort LeBeouf Historical Society, and we thought other historical societies might be interested in working with the VAR lab as well,” Shelton said. “We started with the telescope project because Jasper and I could do much of the work ourselves as the students’ time in the VAR lab was limited during the pandemic,” Shelton said. “As restrictions eased this summer, though, we were able to bring students onboard in a greater capacity.” “The task of the Perry project was to create an immersive exhibit,” he said. “With completion of Phase 1, we now have an interactive exhibit showcased on a touchscreen 55-inch monitor next to the physical exhibit.” Users can play an “eye-spy” game that illustrates how limited the view is through a telescope while they search for ships involved in the Battle of Lake Erie. When they spot a ship, they can tap on it to learn more about that vessel. The display also offers a 3D scan of the telescope, allowing users to view it from all angles and get an up-close look at the inscription on the telescope,
which commemorates Perry giving it to his friend, Major General William Henry Harrison, who served in the War of 1812 and later became the ninth president of the United States. An original 1839 color lithograph of Perry and Harrison is also on display. Printed the year before Harrison ran for President, it depicts the pair at Harrison’s famous victory over the British-Indian confederation at the Battle of the Thames in southern Ontario. It was at this battle that Perry lent Harrison his telescope. Other elements in the interactive display include galleries of exhibits related to the Battle of Lake Erie and the individuals and ships involved. More is planned for the future. “We have a roadmap for the Perry project, to create an even more immersive and detailed exhibit in the next phases,” Shelton said. Additionally, the VAR lab is working with the center on other exhibits, including an Erie Extension Canal project that had to be put on hold. “We are looking forward to working with Behrend and the VAR Lab to help us make history inspiring,” Deutsch said. “They put a tremendous amount of effort into the telescope project, and we’re excited about future collaborations.”
Dr. Christopher Shelton, assistant professor of clinical psychology, and Jasper Sachsenmeier, lecturer in English composition, at the grand reopening of the Hagen History Center in Erie this summer.
AFTER THE BATTLE, PERRY SENT HIS FAMOUS DISPATCH TO HARRISON: “WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY, AND THEY ARE OURS.”
Shelton demonstrates the interactive Oliver Hazard Perry telescope exhibit for visitors to the Hagen History Center this summer.
PSYCHOLOGY AND VIRTUAL REALITY You may be surprised to learn that psychologists work with virtual/augmented reality (VAR) and virtual reality (VR) technology. Many people might associate it with engineering only. But Dr. Christopher Shelton, assistant professor of clinical psychology, explained that some of the earliest work in VR was done by psychology researchers who were trying to help treat combat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. “They used VR to do exposure therapy with veterans,” he said. “More recently, we are seeing a lot of research suggesting that this type of technology can be quite effective at helping to address a wide variety of mental health issues including overall wellness and stress management.” Shelton said his personal interest in virtual technology stems from a desire to help reduce barriers to mental health support. “I call them the 4 As: accessibility, availability, affordability, and acceptability,” he said. “Digital mechanisms can help address these issues. Some of my past work, for instance, has examined using algorithms to tailor internet-based interventions for college students and emerging adults with ADHD in an effort to increase treatment availability and acceptability among this population.”
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CELEBRATING
GLOBAL TRAVEL
FIRST PLACE WINNER Jennifer Babyak, Mealt Falls on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
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PHOTO CONTEST CELEBRATES GLOBAL CULTURES
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ehrend’s Global Languages and Cultures program celebrated International Education Week 2020 with a globehopping photo contest on Instagram. Behrend community members were invited to send photos of their travel experiences to Dr. Frederique Marty, assistant teaching professor of French, who worked with Jacquelin Chan, a Digital Media, Arts, and Technology (DIGIT) major, to coordinate the project. Chan put her skills to use designing the competition and editing photos. Here are some of the pictures shared, including the winning entries. See all of the photo submissions at instagram.com/internationalphotocontest2020 or on display in the computer lounge in the Hammermill Building. The top three winning photos are displayed near 148 Kochel Center.
Third place, Vishal Mansuria, Taj Mahal in India. Second place, Kevin Wang, Jiufen, a mountain town east of Taipei, Taiwan.
David Taylor, The Love Locks Bridge in Köln, Germany.
Kayla Lindberg, Chankanaab Beach, Mexico.
Anneke White, South Island, New Zealand.
Brittany Martinelli, hot air balloons in Bagan, Myanmar. 11
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College School of Humanities and Social Sciences 170 Kochel Center 4951 College Drive Erie, PA 16563-1501
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BEHREND THEATRE
P-E-R-S-E-V-E-R-E-S How do you put on a musical during a pandemic when you can’t have a show indoors and audience (and cast) members can’t be within six feet of one another? You put up tents in the Wilson Parking Lot on campus and hope for decent weather. In April. In Erie. It probably goes without saying that Emily Cassano, assistant teaching professor of music, theatre, and visual arts, was more stressed than usual trying to pick and pull off a spring musical. Cassano needed a show with a small cast that would have limited physical interaction with one another. She chose “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” by Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn. The musical is a celebration of twitchy middle-school awkwardness: One contestant, beset with allergies, traces the letters with his foot as he spells each word. Another speaks six languages and can say “hello” in seven more but can’t manage even a basic conversation with a boy. The show, which is typically set in a middle-school gymnasium, required minimal staging. Cassano made one adjustment to maintain physical distancing: Rather than sit the “contestants” on bleachers, where they would wait their turn to spell, she positioned them in chairs, spaced nine feet apart. The audience members sat seated socially distanced in a second tent. The show was a hit, with all but one performance sold out, from the first one when it snowed to the last one, three days later, when it was 60 degrees. That’s just April in E-R-I-E.
In the spring, Emily Cassano, assistant teaching professor of music, theatre, and visual arts, needed a show with a small cast that would have limited physical interaction with one another. She chose “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
H&SS News is published annually and provided free to alumni and friends of the Penn State Behrend School of Humanities and Social Sciences by the Office of Strategic Communications, William V. Gonda, wvg2@psu.edu, senior director. Editor: Heather Cass, hjc13@psu.edu. Designer: Martha Ansley Campbell, mac30@psu.edu. This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. U.Ed. EBO 22-153
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