CAS—Newsletter of the College of Arts and Sciences

Shippensburg University College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter

Focused on Student Success

A Message from the Dean

Greetings! It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to visit the pages of our rejuvenated College of Arts and Sciences (plus Engineering) Newsletter and to add my dean’s note to the wealth of joyful and heartwarming updates you are going to find in the upcoming pages.

In a university newsletter, the Maroon Tiger (1947) published at Morehouse, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., astutely asserted that the dual objective of a good education is both utilitarian as well as moral. Today, as we recognize the role of AI and workforce development needs, in addition to a polemically divided society, nothing is more significant for learning at our College of Arts and Sciences than preparing our students, through education, that serves the utilitarian needs and the needs of a moral and ethical citizenry, locally, and globally. In the same letter in the Maroon Tiger, Dr. King stated, “Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.” We, in the College of Arts and Sciences, indisputably concur. In a world beset by uncertainties and turbulence caused by violent conflicts, famines, climate chaos, internet commentators, and political upheavals that erode away at human civility and civilization, Ship offers an academic community of faculty, staff, and students who are passionate about and dedicated to sustaining humanity through critical thought for problem-solving and thoughtful and civic actions learned in and outside their classrooms.

You will see an embodiment of this ethos in the subsequent pages—read away!

Sabita Manian, PhD Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Contributing

New Internship Opportunity Fund created to assist unpaid internships

In today’s competitive job market, internships are essential for students to gain the experience employers demand.

While Shippensburg University attracts students because of its value and price point, a substantial number of students must work part-time jobs to support their education. The burden of an unpaid internship is something they simply cannot afford.

Many Ship students are not paid during for-credit and non-credit internships. Most of these unpaid opportunities are in human services, public service, non-profits, and the criminal justice system, as these organizations do not have the funds to pay student wages. In 2022-2023, over 170 students (undergraduate and graduate) had unpaid internships.

Your gift to the Internship Opportunity Fund is an investment in the future of Ship students. You are not only providing financial assistance; you are opening doors to hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and industry exposure that can shape a student’s academic experience and their future careers.

To make a gift to support this important new Internship Opportunity Fund, go to tinyurl.com/ SUInternshipOpp or scan this QR code.

Fuel Ship students’ futures

Sponsorships available for Ship’s SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Baja Team

Invest in the future of engineering excellence and student innovation by sponsoring Shippensburg University’s SAE Baja Team. Formed in the fall of 2022, Ship’s Baja Team built its first car from scratch, and seven students and the team advisor had the opportunity to attend the SAE Baja competition in Ohio in the fall of 2023.

Today, the team is comprised of 20 students from various majors in the College of Arts and Sciences such as engineering (mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering students), communication studies, and biology. The team is focused on the design modifications to improve the vehicle’s performance and reliability for upcoming competitions.

The long-term plan is to encourage students to form new teams for other SAE competitions such as the Formula SAE, the Electric Formula, and the Aero Design.

Ship students participating in SAE Baja receive firsthand experience,

networking opportunities, and the ability to hone their problem-solving, technical, and project management skills.

When you support Ship’s team, you are investing in a group of forward-thinking and problem-solving students. Sponsorship packages range from $500 to $10,000, providing an opportunity for every budget to make a meaningful impact. Your contribution will not only fuel their journey to success but also provide you with visibility and recognition in the Shippensburg and SAE communities.

Do not miss this opportunity to align your brand with innovation and excellence.

See page 5 for additional coverage of Ship’s Baja team.

Visit tinyurl.com/ SUBAJAsponsorships or scan this QR code to learn more about the benefits of sponsoring the Ship Baja team.

CAS Administrators and Chairs

Dr. Sabita Manian Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (717) 477-1151

SManian@ship.edu

Dr. Terry Dean Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (717) 477-1151

TADean@ship.edu

DyAnna Stevens Administrative Assistant

Janice Allen Clerical Assistant

Jeanie Henry Administrative Assistant

and

Dr. Carla

CAS Advising Center

Dr. Kara Laskowski Human Communication Studies and Degree Completion Program

Dr. Robert Lesman Global Languages and Cultures

Not pictured:

Dr. Majeed Abdurrahman, Physics

Dr. Matthew Cella, Director, Disability Studies

Dr. Andrew Vassallo, Economics

Dr. Moayyad Al-Nasra Mechanical and Civil Engineering

Dr. Sherri Bergsten Biology

Dr. Michael Bibby English

Dr. Karin Bohleke Fashion Archives

Dr. Allison Carey Sociology

Dr. Dhiman Chattopadhyay Ethnic Studies

Dr. Allison Dagnes Political Science

Dr. Trever Famulare Music and Theatre Arts

Dr. Alison Feeney Geography and Earth Science

Dr. Dudley Girard Computer Science

Dr. Russ Hedberg Interim Director, Spring 2024, Center for Land Use

Sustainability (CLUS)

Dr. Chen Huo Computer, Electrical, and Software Engineering

Kungl

Dr. Margret Lucia Interdisciplinary Arts

Dr. Kate McGivney Math

Dr. Sue Morin Psychology

Dr. Allison Predecki Chemistry and Biochemistry

Dr. Christina Rhodes Women’s and Gender Studies

Dr. Carrie Sipes Communication, Journalism, and Media

Dr. Jonathan Skaff Director, International Studies Program

Dr. Mark Spicka History and Philosophy

William Whiteley Art and Design

CAS faculty recognized for excellence

Faculty Focus

Dr. Burg receives Keeper of the Flame Award

Dr. Steven Burg, professor of history, was the university’s recipient of the annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Keeper of the Flame Award, organized by Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).

The award recognizes an individual from each of the State System university campuses for their contributions to creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments that cultivate a sense of belonging.

“It was a wonderful honor and recognition for Shippensburg University for me to be awarded thus year’s PASSHE Keeper of the Flame award. I’ve been fortunate to work with many faculty and students through the years on history projects that explored and promoted diversity. These included oral history and research that explored race, gender, and the LGBTQ+ experience, from a project interviewing Cumberland County women in World War II and the impact of the recent SU LGBTQ+ History Project,” Burg said.

Burg helps to organize campus events to encourage the university community to engage in healthy discussions about racial discrimination. Burg presented at the National First-Year Experience Conference in 2020 on “Fostering Cross-Campus Collaboration for First-Year Student Success,” and assisted the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs on “Building Bridges,” a program with small group discussions to better understand issues that separate people.

Burg has worked with faculty, staff, and students to develop and run the university’s First-Year Experience program.

“We started with a commitment to help all students to be successful, and especially to close the retention, persistence, and graduation rates for students of color. We still have work to do, but we have been making progress and changing students’ lives in the process.”

Burg’s current research is documenting and preserving the history of African American cemeteries. Burg began preserving a local cemetery 20 years ago and later started working with the Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds. In February, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office invited Burg to present his research entitled, “Discovering Pennsylvania’s African American Cemeteries.”

“All of this work has been a partnership, and so in accepting the Keeper of the Flame, I do it on behalf of all the students, faculty, staff, and administrators who have been my partners in this work. For it truly takes a village to make change possible,” Burg said.

Dr. Carey receives Humanitarian Award

Dr. Allison Carey, professor of sociology and chair of the sociology/anthropology department was presented with the Humanitarian Award. The recipient of the award is chosen by the Shippensburg University African American Organization.

“Student awards are the best! We’re here to serve students and when they recognize that we are trying our best, that it is truly deeply meaningful and it is an honor to be recognized for the work with racial justice… our efforts are being recognized and appreciated by the students,” Carey said.

The Humanitarian award was presented to Carey during the 36th Annual March for Humanity. According to Carey the award is meant to recognize staff and faculty who work towards a more socially just and racially inclusive environment at the university.

“…it is truly deeply meaningful and it is an honor to be recognized for the work with racial justice…”

From the left, Dr. Denise Pearson, PASSHE Vice Chancellor, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Dr. Steven Burg, and Dr. Manuel Ruiz.

The Milton and Doreen Morgan School of Engineering’s Baja SAE Project

Mechanical engineering students studying at Shippensburg University have the opportunity to design and weld their own single-seat, all-terrain vehicle in teams for the annual Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International Competition as part of the Baja SAE Project.

The engineering concepts that the students learn in class are used in these competitions and provide the students with real-world experience. This competition is open to all Ship students. Participants of the competition can learn skills such as leadership, budgeting, and project management.

The Baja SAE 2024 Competition is being held in Michigan from May 16–19.

Patrick Moulden ’11

Alumni Spotlight

Patrick Moulden ’11 graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Moulden is currently working with NASA as a senior software engineer, where he works with the World View Web Application, a web mapping website. During his time at Ship, he was a founding member and officer of the Adventure Club.

“Shippensburg University laid all the groundwork for my position, and inspired a passion for geography for me.”

“Shippensburg University laid all the groundwork for my position, and inspired a passion for geography for me. Without attending the university, I doubt I would be working for NASA right now,” Moulden said. “I learned that my specialty is mapping applications, and I gained base knowledge for geography.”

According to Moulden, he had background knowledge on assignments at NASA due to a project that he completed at the university.

JaJuan Brown ’24

Student Spotlight

What is your major and minor?

I am graduating with a mathematics major with a concentration in statistics and minors in data science and Spanish. Describe your experience at Shippensburg University.

I have tried exploring a wide variety of groups and clubs during my time here. To start, I have been a student of the Wood Honors for all four years here. That has opened a wide variety of opportunities for me. The biggest is undoubtedly my opportunity to do research last summer at North Carolina A&T. During a program funded by the NSA and NSF, I was able to work with about 20 years of NASA satellite data. I was the vice president of the Math Club and was in this position since 2022. I can promise you we do more than do math problems all day. This past year we did an escape room and dinner, made homemade ice cream, had board game nights, watched movies, and planned a visit to Carnegie Mellon. During my studies, I quickly realized that there is a vast ocean of opportunities to explore these passions of mine. I’ve explored business, economics, computers, and other courses too. I think my true love is found in statistics and data science. There is truly something special about being challenge with understanding data, quantifying randomness, and making predictions into the unknown.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time on campus?

The thing that I enjoy most about any area is getting to interact with the people around me. A close friend of mine made the statement that “as incredibly complicated [his] life is, there will always be people around [him] whose lives are equally complex”. This made me truly appreciate people in general much more than I did before. It made me want to learn about the people around me and potentially grow close enough to them to learn about who they truly are.

Who were your mentors at Shippensburg University?

There have been many people who have taken the time to invest in me and prepare

me for a bright future and I know that I wouldn’t be able to name them all, but here is my attempt at highlighting a few. The first would be the amazing professors from the Math Department. Each of them played an instrumental role in not only teaching me about mathematics, but also teaching me how to be an effective thinker. They were willing to challenge me while also staying available to help me along the way… I have asked them more questions than any student should make their professors endure, but they were always welcoming and caring. My exploration in other areas of the school also introduced me to wonderful people such as Dr. Lesman from the Global Languages Department and Dr. Hargrove from the College of Business. These two allowed me to understand the value of opposing viewpoints and helped me learn that different views can peacefully coexist. They challenged me to be better, do better, and to have more self confidence when tackling difficult decisions. I am very grateful for them. Lastly, but certainly not least would be my family at home. My mother, sister, godparents, and so many others have been pillars in helping me believe I could achieve and supporting me along the way. For the sake of brevity I will simply say, I could never have made it here if even a single one of them was missing from the equation. They have transformed me as a person and I am grateful for them.

What advice would you give a student who is planning to attend Shippensburg University?

Come with an open mind and a willingness to explore. The path I thought I wanted to walk and the path that led me to where I am today are about as different as one could imagine. I was so indecisive that I tried every concentration that my major offered and rotated through five different minors before I found the path that I loved the most. Don’t underestimate your future potential based on your background, education, or goals.”

Sierra Gerencher

Internship Spotlight

Sierra Gerencher is a senior English major with a concentration in creative and professional writing. According to Gerencher, she is a technical writing intern for the Juvenile Court Judge’s Commission (JCJC).

“I plan to be a technical writer in the future, so I got to see all types of legal documentation and writing that takes place in the field. This internship initially got me interested in legal writing. While I didn’t exactly have a plan to pursue legal writing in the first place, I plan on possibly pursuing it,” Gerencher said. “Not only did it open me up to meeting more people and forming connections, but it also sharpened my technical writing skills and opened me up to more opportunities in the criminal justice field.”

Gerencher learned about the internship through her former technical writer professor Dr. Kungl. She helped her to earn the internship as an alternative for the Advanced Writing class.

“My internship was in person at the JCJC offices located in Horton Hall on the Shippensburg campus. I work eight hours every week. My job was to write the JCJC’s conference manual. The manual details the JCJC staff members’ tasks and steps they have to take before preparing for their annual November conference,” Gerencher said. “Once complete it will serve as a guide to the JCJC staff so they can keep track of their tasks and what needs to be accomplished before and after the conference.”

Students present at Minds@Work

The annual Minds@Work Conference welcomes students of all disciplines to share what they have discovered and achieved through their time at Shippensburg University with the campus community and the general public. This year’s conference was held Tuesday, April 23.

Pollinator Interactions Between Native Flowers and Their Exotic Counterparts on Shippensburg University’s Campus

Christopher Duff, a biology graduate student graduating, presented his research, “Pollinator Interactions Between Native Flowers and Their Exotic Counterparts on Shippensburg University’s Campus”.

“I wanted to investigate whether urban pollinators preferred Pennsylvania native plants over exotic, ornamental plants that you can find at everyday retailers and nurseries. So, I picked four native wildflowers—brown eyed Susan’s, fall phlox, swamp milkweed, and hoary vervain—and paired them up with hybrid or cultivar counterparts,” Duff said, “I then put a plant from each native species in pots (four plants per pot), and a plant from each exotic species in pots (four plants per pot). Then, I placed pairs of native and exotic pots outside of buildings across campus.”

According to Duff, he left the plants outside from June to October 2023, and measured pollinator visitation rates and

captured and identified visiting bees. He also measured how much pollen these plants’ flowers produced, as well as measured various morphological traits such as flower

“Now that I’m wrapping up my data analysis, I’ve found that pollinators have mixed preferences for whether they prefer native or exotic flowers depending on the genus we’re looking at,” Duff said.

Duff enjoyed presenting his research at the conference and discussing the importance of the habitats for these pollinators. “I feel like one of the best ways for my research to make an impact in the world is through events like this. It’s fun to have discussions about the topic. I also enjoy getting to spread awareness around urban pollinator habitats and how simple it can be to help out local bees, butterflies, and even underrated friends like hoverflies,” said Duff.

Unlocking Imagination: Enhancing Middle School Literacy Through Interactive Short Story Instruction

Carleyrose Wagner, a secondary education major graduating this spring, presented her research, “Unlocking Imagination: Enhancing Middle School Literacy Through Interactive Short Story Instruction”.

“My project goes along with a unit I implemented during my student teaching experience during the first half of the spring semester. The unit question that I attempt to answer with students is, ‘How can analyzing

the central conflict help the reader better understand the story?’” Wagner said.

Her unit uses a story called “The Bicycle and The Sweet Shop” from Roald Dahl’s autobiography, Boy: Tales of Childhood. Dahl

“How can analyzing the central conflict help the reader better understand the story?”

retells an event in his life where he pulls a prank on the grouchy woman that works at the boy’s favorite candy shop.

According to Wagner, she wanted to present her findings at Minds@Work because she enjoyed working on this unit with students and to help give other student teachers ideas on how they can help their students better understand a story.

Spring Study Abroad Trip

Students enrolled in the German 190/ Geography 390 course had the opportunity to travel abroad over spring break to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

The three-credit course was taught jointly by Dr. David Wildermuth from the Geography/Earth Science Department and Dr. Allison Feeney, from the Global Languages Department. Their goal for the first half of the course was to prepare students for their ten-day trip. Students learned about the relevant history, culture, and geography of Germany and the history and culture of beer within the region.

Nicole Hardy and Cole Pearson attended the study abroad which traveled to Munich, Germany, Salzburg, Austria, Budejovice, Czech Republic, and Bamberg, Germany. During the class and on their trip abroad, students learned the geographic, physical, cultural and historical factors which have contributed to the development and popularity of beer in Germany.

According to Pearson, before he knew what major he wanted to pursue, he knew that he wanted to spend time studying abroad during his undergraduate career.

“At each city, we toured a brewery central to the development of the region’s beer culture and got to taste a sample brew at the end of each tour. We also had guided tours of each city, providing us a detailed look at each location’s history, culture, and significant sites,” said Pearson. “Students used their free time to embark on a wide variety of adventures: scaling mountains, touring castles, relaxing in cafés, enjoying a violin concerto, or just taking in each city.”

Hardy was interested in studying abroad in Germany because she is German studies minor and wanted to have the opportunity to use the language.

“We had several wonderful experiences on this trip. The trip itinerary involved walking tours around the cities we visited, and touring several breweries and cathedrals.

There was also free time in which I had the opportunity to choose my own experiences. The two I found most interesting were the Salzburg Fortress in Austria and the Great Synagogue in Plzen,” Hardy said. “The biggest takeaway for me is that studying abroad even for a short time is a unique experience that is difficult to find elsewhere. Sure, I could read about the places we went for this trip, but there is nothing that compares to experiencing it firsthand.”

According to Pearson, the unique interdisciplinary approach to understanding a key part of central European history piqued his interests as a German studies minor and a chemistry major.

“My greatest takeaway was the memories made by getting the chance to converse with so many people from such a wide array of backgrounds. Whether it be in their origins, perspectives, or experience, the insight to be gained from conversation with other humans is invaluable and will reshape the way one looks at the world,” Pearson said.

“…insight to be gained from conversation with other humans is invaluable and will reshape the way one looks at the world.”

CAS Advisory Board

The College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board is composed of alumni, friends of Shippensburg University, and faculty emeriti of the college. Its purpose is to share professional and personal perspective on matters relating to academic philosophy and practice, internships and cooperative learning opportunities, and professional development for faculty; to provide financial assistance; and to become involved in the curricular and extracurricular programs of the college. With thanks, we recognize the current members of the board:

Robert S. Ames Jr.

David Atkinson

Tracy L. Boak, Esquire

Jack S. Brenizer Jr.

Denise R. Calabrese, cae

Sandra Claar

Barbara B. Cross

Cindy Dlugolecki

Paul Dlugolecki

Nate Douty

Nelson Fernandez

Evan Forrester

Kenwood Giffhorn

Gary Grove

Mary Jo Grove

John Knutelsky

Mathern Mellott

Christine Picklo

Susan Rimby

Michael Schultz

Renee Sigel

John Simms, ms, vmd

Richard Singiser

Charles M. Sioberg

J. Fred Stenger

David B. Weisgerber

College of Arts and Sciences

Dauphin Humanities Center 225 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299 (717) 477-1151 cas@ship.edu SHIP.EDU/CAS

Shippensburg University is a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and an equal opportunity educational institution. Direct requests for reasonable accommodations and other inquiries to the Office of Accessibility Resources, Horton Hall Suite 324, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299, (717) 477-1364, oar@ship.edu 5/24 125