West Chester University Magazine Fall 2015

West Chester University MAGAZINE

university engagement

Collaboration within and beyond the University

FAL L 2015

ON THE COVER

CONTENTS 2 | University News 8 | Sports

5

10 | Cover Story 20 | Class Notes

3

24 | Alumni Chapter News 28 | Q & A with Jonathan Jones ’99

26

2 FAL L

2015

President Greg R. Weisenstein

Vice President for Advancement and Sponsored Research Mark Pavlovich

Editor, Executive Director Communications Pam Sheridan

Design & Layout JoAnne Mottola

West Chester University Council of Trustees

The West Chester University Foundation Board of Trustees

Barry C. Dozor ’71 Thomas A. Fillippo ’69 (chair) Christopher Franklin ’87 Jonathan Ireland ’95, M’03 Christopher A. Lewis J. Adam Matlawski ’80 (vice chair) Marian D. Moskowitz Eli Silberman Christine Costello ’04 (secretary) Robert M. Tomlinson ’70

Officers Keith Beale ’77 (president) Thomas E. Mills, IV ’81 (vice president) Christopher J. DiGiuseppe ’89 (treasurer) Sandra F. Mather ’64, M’68 (secretary) Richard Przywara (executive director) Trustees James P. Argires’56 John H. Baker’74 Frank Branca’70 Mathew J. Bricketto, ex officio J. Alan Butcher’88, M’92 Deborah J. Chase’76 Kate Cipriano’00 Thomas A. Fillippo’69 (Council of Trustees representative) David A. Gansky’88 Carl Gersbach’70 John A. Gontarz David P. Holveck’68

West Chester University Alumni Association Charles A. Knott, Jr. Kathleen Leidheiser Emily Jane Lemole Donald R. McIlvain Mark Mixner, ex officio Tahany Naggar John N. Nickolas’90 Michael O’Rourke John R. Panichello’83 Mark G. Pavlovich, ex officio Michael Peich Paula D. Shaffner’80 James Shinehouse’80 John Stoddart’93, M’99 Christine Warren’90, M’99 Greg R. Weisenstein, ex officio

President Dean Gentekos ’07

Vice President Matt Holliday ’09

Treasurer Robert E. Smith ’72

Secretary Denise Bowman Trigo ’98

Past President Jeffrey Stein ’91

28

7

Directors

Emeriti

E-mail Addresses

Clay Cauley’96 Thomas J. Ciaccio’91, M’03 Sara Franco’86 Bill Friedmann M’09 Dean Gentekos’07 Jamie W. Goncharoff’82 Heidi Hawkins’07 Matt Holliday’09 Melanie Holwood’08, M’10 Jerome Hunt’ 03, M’06 Jonathan Long’03 Robert Malone’08 Maria Milkowski’09 Nick Polcini’00, M’05 Robert E. Smith’72 Justin Sochovka’14 Amy Miller-Spavlik’90, M’92 Jeffrey Stein’91 Denise Bowman Trigo’98 Michael Willard’03

Carmen Evans Culp ’52, M’64 Janice Weir Etshied ’50 (deceased) Karl Helicher ’72, M’82, M’87 Richard D. Merion ’59, M’69 John F. Murphy ’43 (deceased) Luther B. Sowers ’49

For class notes and other alumnirelated information, e-mail the Alumni Office at alumni@wcupa.edu.

Letters to the editor can be sent to: Editor of the West Chester University Magazine, 13/15 University Ave., West Chester, PA 19383.

The West Chester University Magazine is published three times a year for the alumni, families, students and friends of West Chester University of Pennsylvania. We welcome letters concerning magazine content or issues pertaining to the University. Letters must be signed and kept to one typed page.

Please include address and daytime phone number. We reserve the right to edit. Send correspondence to: Editor, The WCU Magazine, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

FALL 2 015

|

1

UNIVERSITY NEWS

West Chester University President Announces Retirement from WCU President Greg Weisenstein plans to leave University end of March During his annual state-of-the-university address on October 1, West Chester University President Greg Weisenstein announced his plan to retire from WCU, effective March 31, 2016.

In making his announcement to the campus community, Weisenstein admitted that it was “…a very difficult decision. West Chester University is an energizing and creative place to be, and I have been proud to lead this community.

“I will leave with very fond memories of the people with whom I’ve worked and our many accomplishments,” he added. “I am confident that even greater achievements lay ahead.”

Speaking on behalf of the University community, Council of Trustees Chair Thomas Fillippo noted Weisenstein’s outstanding service to the University. “As chair of the Council and an alumnus of this great institution, I appreciate his far-reaching impact on West Chester University. Under his leadership, the University achieved new heights as one of America’s great comprehensive public universities.”

According to Fillippo, he will work with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Frank Brogan and his staff to organize a process for identifying Weisenstein’s successor. No timeline for the search has yet been established.

An expert in special education and international engagement, Weisenstein assumed West Chester University’s presidency in 2009. Upon his arrival, he instituted a comprehensive planning process resulting in the “Building on Excellence” strategic plan.

During his seven-year tenure, he also oversaw a period of record growth in enrollment, the campus-wide installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system, expansion of academic programs, and an array of construction projects designed to meet growing student demand.

As a result, University enrollment jumped by 20 percent from 13,621 to 16,609 students, making West Chester the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the fourth largest in southeastern Pennsylvania. The addition of programs in Center City Philadelphia and the expansion of graduate and distance education offerings contributed significantly to the growth. This fall, more than 14,000 students applied for a freshman class of 2,300.

Financially, the University has diversified its funding base as state support has fallen from 32 percent of its operating budget to 17 percent. And the University’s annual economic impact on the region as jumped from $220 million in 2006 to more than $500 million in 2015.

In addition, more than a dozen new academic programs were launched during Weisenstein’s presidency, including the University’s first doctoral degrees in nursing, public administration and education. STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) initiatives were also expanded with enrollment in the sciences and health sciences exceeding 4,000 students. And during the past five years, the number of full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty increased from 503 to 618, a 23 percent increase.

Weisenstein’s leadership also resulted in record philanthropic support. Annual gift income now exceeds $4 million, among the highest of public institutions of West Chester University’s type. In addition, he is presiding over the $50 million “Becoming More” Campaign, the largest capital fundraising drive in the University’s history.

Already, two-thirds of the goal has been achieved.

2 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

EXPANDED NURSING LABS This academic year, the College of Health Sciences expanded its nursing labs, classroom space, and faculty offices by way of a new location in Exton, Pa., just 15 minutes from the north campus.

Facilities improvements have also marked Dr. Weisenstein’s presidency with major renovations to a dozen campus buildings and the addition of new residence halls, athletic fields and facilities, a parking garage and the University’s newest and largest academic building, the Business and Public Affairs Center, which will open in the fall of 2016. The University also completed its campus-wide geothermal energy initiative which dramatically reduced annual energy costs and polluting emissions.

During his tenure, President Weisenstein encouraged partnerships with community groups, businesses, and universities from across the region and world. All told, the University has cooperative agreements with more than a dozen foreign universities, and has had collaborations with more than 100 corporations, including Endo Pharmaceuticals, Campbell Soup, and State Farm Insurance.

Weisenstein also has expanded the University’s outreach and commitment to the region’s quality of life through its program of cultural arts and its students’ volunteerism. Last year, more than 105,000 people attended the campus’s cultural events, while student volunteerism doubled in just five years exceeding 900,000 hours annually.

Assignments in the maternal/child health area, physical assessment and high fidelity simulation will continue to supplement what undergraduate students experience in clinical settings. In what is a replica of an ICU unit, birthing simulator Noelle®, and SimMan® high fidelity simulators allow students to learn from mistakes without fear of harming an actual patient.

Associate Professor of Nursing, Marcia Welsh, (shown with the students) notes that even if the scenario isn’t a life-or-death one, students are “sharpening their psychomotor skills [placing a catheter, giving injections, etc.], developing their critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills, and learning and exhibiting language and behavior appropriate to the situation.

“With scenarios using Noelle to enhance their clinical experience,” says Welsh, “West Chester’s nursing students know they can handle high-stress labor and delivery situations professionally – long before they apply for their licenses.”

(Center) Associate Professor of Undergraduate Nursing, Marcia Welsh

Master of Science in Community Nutrition Begins Next Fall In response to an increased need for community-based nutrition and dietetics professionals to address the

country’s escalating rates of obesity and incidence of chronic disease, West Chester University has realigned its graduate nutrition program. The new Master of Science in Community Nutrition is accepting applications for the Fall 2016 semester. It will be offered completely online.

The research-focused program, which is unique among State System schools, focuses on the competencies both current and emerging workers will need to address these national health epidemics, emphasizing vulnerable populations.

Department of Nutrition Chair Jeffrey E. Harris acknowledges the uniqueness of the program. “I am excited because there are very few programs like this in the U.S. It is a concentrated training program in skills

and knowledge related to community nutrition. In addition, it has a strong research component and, being fully online, provides the kind of flexibility nutrition professionals desire.”

Those professionals face new challenges in their field. As the practice and business of health care have evolved, so too has the training for registered dieticians. Harris points out that the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) has ruled that “starting in 2024 all nutrition professionals will need a master’s degree to become registered dietitians.”

“The Affordable Care Act really increased the need for more health promotion and disease prevention programs in the community,” adds Mary Beth Gilboy, associate professor and graduate coordinator for the nutrition master’s program. “We can expect services to expand with our aging popula-

tion. We need to help the growing population of 65-year-old-plus citizens in communities age in place.”

Faculty and resources are already in place, says Harris. “WCU’s department of nutrition has a large number of faculty members with expertise in community nutrition and extensive teaching experience. Therefore, we can provide high-level education at an economical price.”

The 33-credit curriculum includes courses in nutrition science, applied nutrition, and research techniques, concluding with a capstone paper.

The reorganization of the graduate program also brings both undergraduates and master’s students together under the Department of Nutrition, which was newly organized in 2012 out of the University’s Department of Health. Nutrition is now home to approximately 570 undergraduate students.

FALL 2 015 | 3

UNIVERSITY NEWS

President Weisenstein Leads Delegation to Cuba This September, President Greg Weisenstein helped lead a group of 18 U.S. public university presidents to Cuba – one of the first higher education

delegations to visit that country since the easing of the United States’ 55- year-old embargo. Having just completed two years as chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) international committee, Weisenstein was asked by AASCU to help organize and lead the group.

“Our goal was to begin to develop a framework of trust and friendship with our Cuban counterparts with the expectation that one day very soon we could create student exchanges and other areas of collaboration,” says Weisenstein.

During their week-long visit, the AASCU team met with Cuba’s Ministers of Education and Health, as well as members of Cuba’s major universities and their staffs. “We had a chance to talk about our respective universities and to learn how higher education is structured in Cuba,” explained Weisenstein.

The group discovered that many of Cuba’s institutions of higher education are structured like European institutions of higher education, having specific areas of focus, such as technology, engineering and the sciences. Weisenstein noted that the literacy rate in Cuba is very high and that their universities should make good partners with their American counterparts.

In addition to becoming familiar with the country’s system of higher education, the U.S. group had an opportunity to visit different areas of the island. “I found Cuba to be a very President Weisenstein with Cuba’s Minister of Education interesting place,” says Weisenstein. “The Cuban people were very friendly and welcoming.

“The older cars that you hear so much about are incredible as are the beautiful old colonial style buildings. It’s really like stepping back in time. They don’t have the equipment or tools to keep up with some of the country’s infrastructure,” he added,” but they are very proud of what they do have and rightly so.”

Weisenstein admits that there are challenges ahead for developing educational collaborations between the two countries, but he believes higher education now, as throughout history, is a place for transforming relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

“There’s a lot work required of both sides,” Weisenstein. “Institutions of higher education have always played a role in bringing people together, creating stability and improving the quality of life.”

R. S. GWYNN TO HEAD WCU POETRY CONFERENCE After a one-year hiatus, a revival.

R. S. “Sam” Gwynn, who has 19 years of experience as a participant and faculty member for the West Chester University Poetry Conference – including the very first one –will now oversee the renowned event as its program director.

“Change is a good way to start the conference’s third decade,” says Gwynn. “I hope to build on the 20 earlier conferences put together by Mike Peich and Kim Bridgford and offer a 2016 event that will include old and new workshop leaders, new positions of Poet Emerita and Poet Laureate honoring past faculty members, several resident younger or emerging poets, and panels that will address exciting topics that haven’t been covered before.”

Plans are to continue the intimate feel of the conference where, as in past years, the networking and learning environment of readings, panels and workshops will welcome both poets just beginning their careers and those who are more seasoned. Gwynn has already secured 10 faculty members: Dick Davis, Emily Moore, Melissa Balmain, Frank Osen, Caki Wilkinson, Sarah Cortez, David Mason, William Logan, Pat Myers and English poet John Whitworth. In addition, conference co-founder Dana Gioia, Timothy Murphy and Alfred Corn will offer one-day workshops and there will be two or three critical seminars.

The 2016 conference is scheduled for June 8 through 11.

A poet, scholar, editor and literary critic, Gwynn is highly respected among his peers. He is poet-in-residence and a university professor at Lamar in Beaumont, 4 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

Texas, where he has been on the faculty since 1976. He has published five collections of poetry since winning awards for his first work during his undergraduate years at Davidson College. His poems are widely anthologized, most recently in Best American Poetry 2015.

Gwynn has also edited successful literature anthologies for Pearson Education and has regularly written criticism in many journals, including the Sewanee Review and the Hudson Review.

“What has always distinguished the WCU Poetry Conference is the focus on form and narrative,” he notes. “This conference is the only one in the U.S. that has highlighted craft and tradition.”

Gwynn plans to emphasize diversity, student participation and successful younger poets on the conference faculty. Part of his role is to expand scholarship availability for conference participants and advise on strategic awards. “Not many MFA programs teach form and some MFA programs don’t offer prosody,” he says, adding that he learned many poetic techniques on his own. “I’d love to make some new conversions to formalism. … Often, undergraduate and graduate students will follow their mentors from formal-friendly writing programs like the MFA programs at Johns Hopkins and the universities of Arkansas, Tampa and Florida, for example, and we hope to attract those people.”

That also means Gwynn will be engaged in marketing the conference, developing future fundraising plans for it, and participating in fundraising activities. He already has 30 years of fundraising experience, having been “solely in charge of securing funding, largely from private donors, for Lamar’s visiting poets.”

He is charged with engaging West Chester faculty and students in the conference and will also be involved in both the promotion and the selection of winners of the Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards. Those undergraduate awards, which will be presented at the 2016 conference, were established through the generosity of Kean Spencer, who is also a member of the Poetry Center Advisory Board. Spencer applauds Gwynn’s appointment: “As a volunteer coordinator of the WCU Poetry Salon Committee, I can attest to Sam’s commitment to the activities of the Poetry Center as well as our mission. In fact, Sam was the guest poet at the second of more than 50 poetry salons held over the past decade.”

Gwynn will coordinate the appearances of poets for upcoming salons and recommend a poet-in-residence for West Chester. The Poetry Center Advisory Board and the Faculty Advisory Committee will provide advice and recommendations.

Assisting Gwynn with the business side of the conference is Ann Mascherino, who has been program coordinator with the Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project (PAWLP) at WCU for 20 years.

Her expertise in organizing large, multi-day/multi-site programs, planning conferences, managing logistics, and her experience collaborating with the University’s conference services office will smooth the transition.

“People feel loyalty to the conference itself because of the help they received there, the social exchanges, the support and helpfulness of everyone,” says Gwynn. “Many participants have had books published through the conference or as winners of the Donald Justice Awards.”

And while poets have options to attend many writers’ conferences, he adds, “We are dedicated to bringing in the best – those recognized for their ability, talent, quality and commitment to poetry. Competition is good for the art in general.”

A MULTICULTURAL MALE SUMMIT

As part of an educational multicultural male summit this September, young men of color at WCU attended a talk by Kevin Powell on being a man

of color, what that means to society, and what they can do to have a successful college experience.

The author of 12 books, including a critically acclaimed autobiography, Powell is the past president and cofounder of BK (Building Knowledge) Nation, a national, progressive, multicultural organization focused on education, civic engagement, leadership training, health and wellness, social media, arts and culture, and job and small business creation.

Following Powell’s remarks, those attending broke into small group discussions facilitated by the guest speaker and members of the student organization, “Black Men United.”

According to Jairo Henao, a graduate assistant with the Center for Multicultural Affairs, who helped organized the “Remain and Retain” event “...the summit was an opportunity for male students of color on campus to come together to identify areas of struggle, disparity and need within the college and community setting.

“Our goal was to inspire young men of color to motivate, encourage and help each other flourish on and off campus.”

"Becoming More" Campaign Moves Ahead

Since the last issue of the WCU Magazine,

the "Becoming More" Campaign received more than $3 million in new gifts and pledges. As of October 31, $33,420,055 has been raised toward the Campaign’s $50 million goal. In addition to providing annual operating support, Campaign donors are contributing to the development of new facilities such as the Business and Public Affairs Center, academic programs, technology, scholarships and endowment. For more information visit the campaign website at http://www.wcufoundation.org/.

FALL 2 015 | 5

UNIVERSITY NEWS

A $400,000+ NIH GRANT SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON PREVENTION OF VOICE DISORDERS

Elizabeth Grillo is working on a novel way for student teachers to safeguard their voices. She’s planning to incorporate a smart phone

app into the telehealth equation, using technology to measure voices daily and to deliver speech-language pathology services at a distance. She has secured a National Institutes of Health grant in the amount of $410,260 to support her research.

The specific NIH institute overseeing the grant is the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. The project aligns with the NIDCD’s strategic plan to improve prevention of voice disorders and to develop telepractice and emerging technology platforms.

“This is the first [project] to design and test an online telepractice model using an app for the

prevention of voice disorders,” notes Grillo, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders. “No prior work has tested a telepractice model, using a combination of synchronous [real-time] and asynchronous [store and access later] methods, delivered totally online with no in-person interactions.”

Over the next three years, Grillo will help future teachers protect their voices through her Global Voice Prevention Model (GVPM). She will compare the effectiveness of an online telepractice GVPM versus an in-person GVPM for preventing voice problems in vocally healthy physical education and vocal music student teachers – the specialties that are at the highest risk for voice disorders – during their first student teaching experience. The students will capture voice-related measures daily on a smartphone app. The data will represent the effects of vocal loading from student teaching.

The grant is specifically designed to involve students directly in research. When the project begins in spring 2016, undergraduate students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program will assist Grillo with research and the pilot of the smart phone app. Graduate students will assist with research in the second and third years. Her subjects will be West Chester University student teachers.

Grillo’s long-range goal is “to create and test novel delivery methods for the prevention, assessment and treatment of voice disorders. Voice disorders appear to be the most common communication disorder across the lifespan and are more prevalent in professional voice users who depend on their voice for work, such as teachers.”

Grillo joined the WCU faculty in 2006. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). After earning her bachelor of music in voice performance from Indiana University (Bloomington, Ind.), she pursued a career change to speech language pathology by earning a master of science in speech language pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh.

Research reported in this article was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health under grant number R15DC014566. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

He applied that same self-motivation to his schoolwork here and graduated high school a half-year early, despite having been on the road for more than 40 days during his junior year while competing on the U.S. Cycling Junior Development Team in North America and Europe.

His career path was clear – until he suffered a dislocated patella on the second day of a race in Canada. Three knee surgeries and time in physical therapy made him consider college, and he enrolled at Syracuse University. He didn’t resume riding again until his junior year, and by senior year, he was cycling with a small continental pro team.

Then, he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (bicuspid aortic valve disease) after pulling up at a race short of breath and suffering chest pains. “This was a big factor that influenced my decision to stop racing

altogether, but not the only one. … It was the perfect storm of circumstances that made me give up cycling.”

The time Carmona spent in hospitals, with doctors, and in physical therapy gave him an appreciation of those providers and a curiosity about how he could find his personal and professional usefulness in healthcare.

He combined that curiosity with what he’d learned about the world while traveling and while completing his degree.

This summer, he interned full-time at the Lehigh Valley Super Utilizer Partnership (LVSUP), which provides intensive outreach and care coordination for mostly disadvantaged patients with complex illnesses who have been hospitalized two or more times in a six-month period. That firsthand exposure to the world of helping clients navigate the health care jungle inspired him to direct his

Education Professors Deliver 100 iPads to Philly School

Diane Santori

Finding the Tools to Make a Change in the World Juan Carmona’s current goal may not be as distinct as the tape he saw at the finish line when he was a champion cyclist, but he is even more determined to reach it.

He is taking the science courses as a post-baccalaureate student at West Chester that will enable him to enter medical school, on track to a career that professional cycling helped him find.

Carmona, a native of Colombia, earned two undergraduate degrees at Syracuse University: international relations and geography. He grew up playing soccer in Colombia, but admits he was only “an OK player who tried really hard.” When he left that sport, an older cousin got him into cycling by taking him for a 50-mile bike ride his first time out. “I finished and I really liked it. Then when I won one of the first races I entered, I gained more confidence,” he recalls. “It was a decisive feeling that this was what I wanted to do.”

As a 14-year-old, he came to America to live with his father in the Lehigh Valley. “I knew no one in school and there was [initially] no ESL teacher, but I still learned English in my first year here.”

6 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

focus. While working at LVSUP, Carmona found “a sense of purpose in working oneon-one in mental health consults” under supervision, and in conducting home visits as part of the LVSUP team.

The internship led to a part-time job doing medical transcribing with their affiliate, the Neighborhood Health Centers of the Lehigh Valley (NHCLV) in Allentown. He puts in about 30 hours a week and is assisting with research on how a person’s community impacts his or her health.

It’s not easy, Carmona admits, but one factor that makes it a little easier is “the West Chester professors who genuinely care that students succeed.

“Losing cycling was such a big loss. I lost my identity. It was eat/breathe/live cycling,” he says. “Now I have the tools to make a change.”

Participating teachers include two WCU alumni as mentors (Daniel Ballinger and Kristin Bond, both of Haverford Middle School) and one WCU alumna at Hill Freedman (Margaret Haug, music teacher) as a participant. The other mentor teachers are Phoenixville Middle School’s Jason Short and Kyle Worrell. The mentor teachers will continue their support of Hill Freedman teachers throughout the year.

Smith and Santori have been collaborating on other research into technology-based classrooms, digital literacy, and how best to prepare tomorrow’s teachers to effectively integrate tablet tech to maximize students’ potential. Smith’s research interests focus on teacher preparation and professional development for technology-based teaching and learning, and issues of social equity in the acquisition of digital literacies. Santori, a two-time winner of the WCU College of Education School-University Partnership Award, researches digital literacy skills. She is also president-elect of Pennsylvania Professors of Reading Teacher Educators (a chapter of the International Literacy Association).

Thanks to a partnership forged by the WCU Literacy Department, students in four classes at Hill

Freedman World Academy in the Philadelphia School District received iPads, and their teachers are getting professional support.

In October, literacy associate professors Carol A. Smith and Diane M. Santori delivered 100 iPads and all related equipment to Hill Freedman teachers Margaret Haug (music), Ambra Hook (science teacher and previously the director of science education for the District), Martha Schlatter and Michael Towle.

Smith, who chairs WCU’s Department of Literacy, and Santori are embarking on a three-year research project examining how best to support urban teachers’ use of iPads for teaching and learning. They have linked four iPad- and tech-savvy middle school teachers from suburban schools with four Hill Freedman teachers for professional development sessions that began this summer.

Carol Smith

FALL 2 015 | 7

SPORTS

Robert Leib’67

WCU’S 2015 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES This fall, the University announced the 2015 inductees into its Athletics Hall of Fame: four individu-

als (Robert Leib’67, Matt Sandercock’92, Catherine Walsh Hay’66,’03, Denise Zelenek’91, and the 1979 U.S. Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association (USWLCA) national championship team.

The introduction of the class of 2015 marks the end of a lengthy selection process by a 10-member selection committee representing athletic administrators and current head coaches, former West Chester University athletes and Rams’ Athletic Association members.

1979 Women’s Lacrosse (11-5)

Under the direction of head coach Sue Lubking, the 1979 West Chester University women’s lacrosse season got off to an inauspicious start as the Golden Rams won just two of their first five games. However, a win over second-ranked Maryland inspired (L to r): Robert Leib, Denise Zelenak, Catherine Walsh Hay, Matt Sandercock West Chester’s women to finish the regular-season 4-2 and enter the U.S. Women’s Intercollegiate Lacrosse Coaches’ Association (USWILCA) national tournament with a 6-5 mark.

From there, West Chester ran the table, rattling off five consecutive victories, including a triumph over nearby rival Ursinus in the national championship game – avenging a pair of losses to the Bears earlier that spring. In all, the Golden Rams won their final six contests of the season to take home the top prize in women’s lacrosse that year. West Chester was armed with 12 players, who would later be named to the Philadelphia College Lacrosse Association All-College team.

Matt Sandercock’92

An All-American in both cross country and track & field, Matt Sandercock left an indelible mark on West Chester University’s men’s program during his four-year stay. He still holds two school records 23 years after graduation. He set the school standard in both the 5,000-meters indoors and the 10,000m outdoors while still listing among the Top 10 in the 3,000m indoors and both the 1,500m and the 3,000m outdoors. His record time of 29:42, set at the Penn Relays in 1991, is better than the next best effort by 86 seconds. Nobody has challenged his mark in the 10K, since he graduated.

Sandercock placed fifth in both the 5,000m and 10,000 at the 1991 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning All-America honors in both races. That came off the heels of his No. 1 seeding in the 5,000m at the 1991 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. His 22nd-place showing at the 1990 NCAA Cross Country Championships earned him his All-America citation. He entered nationals as the No. 1 individual qualifier out of the East Region that fall.

Sandercock continued to run post collegiately, qualifying for both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic trials in the Marathon. He placed 41st at the 2000 trials and 23rd at the 2004 trials. He also finished fourth and second in back-to-back years at the Broad Street 10-mile race with a time of 48:28 and 49:14, respectively. He continues to run as a competitive Masters Runner.

Catherine Walsh Hay’66

During her four-year career, Catherine Walsh Hay served as captain all four years while running with the varsity squad and led her women’s swimming team to four undefeated seasons. She was undefeated in the breaststroke events during her career and was a member of the former 200 medley relay team that set a national record.

Currently, Hay coaches swimming at nearby Villa Maria Academy High School, a program that she has been with since its inception in the 1999-2000 season. Four years into the program’s history, she won her first PIAA Women’s District One championship. Since then, she has gone on to win 13 consecutive PIAA Women’s District One Championships titles (2003-2015). In 2015, she won her fifth consecutive PIAA Women’s State Championships title. That streak of five consecutive PIAA state championships is tied for the most consecutive state championships in any sport and any division in PIAA history.

Hay is a three-time Coach of the Year in Chester County and was the Pennsylvania State Swimming Coach of the Year in 2012. Her teams have scored more points than any other women’s AA swimming team in PIAA state championship history.

A two-time All-American and former team captain under legendary head coach Mel Lorback, Bob Leib helped continue West Chester University’s tradition of excellence on the pitch in the mid-1960s while a member of the men’s soccer squad. The Golden Rams authored a record of 32-11-1 while Leib took home All-America honors in both 1965 and 1966.

But, as special as his playing career was at West Chester University, Leib’s professional career as a coach and mentor to youth soccer up and down the Eastern Seaboard has been equally impressive. During his 30-year coaching career at University of Maine-Farmington, he was named coach of the year at the conference, state and regional level nine times and coached 17 All-Americans, including 13 Academic AllAmericans. He was active in his community and responsible for bringing recreational soccer to Farmington, which led to the establishment of a men’s and women’s soccer program at the local high school. Leib served as head coach of the men’s program at Maine-Farmington for 25 years and the women’s program for 11 years, guiding both programs at the same time for seven seasons.

In 2001, Leib was awarded the Gene Davis Memorial Alumni Soccer Award for his service to developing youth soccer. Among his outstanding achievements during his 30-year career, he authored a record of over 800 wins and a pair of NAIA national championship appearances.

Denise Zelenak’91

A member of some of West Chester University’s most successful Division I programs of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Zelenak helped the Golden Rams field hockey team earn a Top 20 ranking throughout much of her playing career. She earned all-region recognition and was an Olympic Festival participant as well. In 1989, she played for the U.S. National Reserve Team, before graduating in 1991 with a degree in Health & Physical Education.

Over the last 21 years, Zelenak has served as head coach at Drexel University, carving out a 214-185 overall record since taking over the program in 1995. She was named the Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2009 and has twice been named NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year (2000, 2009). Zelenak has guided the Dragons to the CAA title three times (2009, 2010 and 2012) and has mentored nine NFHCA All-Americans. In the meantime, her field hockey team has also been honored as an NFHCA All-Academic squad in each of the past 13 seasons.

Most recently, Zelenak earned a spot on the Masters’ World Cup over-40 team. She captained the United States National Indoor Field Hockey team from 2004-2011 and led the Americans to a silver medal at two Pan Am Games. A USFHA National Indoor Tournament all-star in 1994 and 1995, she led her team to the 1998, 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2012 National Indoor Championship.

The induction of this year’s class brings the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame total number of honorees to 368 plus 10 teams.

Postseason Outlook for Fall Teams FOOTBALL – (At time of the magazine printing) West Chester and Shippensburg are tied atop the

PSAC East standings with only one game left to determine the East representative in the PSAC Championship Game.

FIELD HOCKEY – West Chester has clinched a bid to the PSAC Tournament and will be either

the fourth or fifth seed. The Golden Rams, ranked third in the nation according to the latest NFHCA coaches’ poll, is ranked third in the NCAA regional rankings, which decide who goes to the NCAA Tournament. The top three ranked teams earn a spot in that postseason tournament.

WOMEN’S SOCCER – West Chester finished in second place in the regular-season standings and earned the second seed in the PSAC Tournament. The Golden Rams, ranked 20th in the latest NSCAA national polls, are also ranked third in the NCAA regional rankings. The top six ranked teams earn a spot in that tournament.

VOLLEYBALL – West Chester is currently in fourth place in the PSAC East standings with seven more conference matches left

on the fall slate. Right now, the Golden Rams would be in the postseason tournament (top four in each division make the postseason).

MEN’S GOLF – West Chester finished third at the PSAC Championships.

WOMEN’S GOLF – West Chester finished fourth at the PSAC Championships.

8 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

FALL 2 015 | 9

COVER STORY

I

n 2013, West Chester University announced its plans for the next decade in a document entitled, “Building on Excellence.” In setting forth its goals, the University cited a number of strategic commitments, including outreach to and engagement with regional and global partners “through which intellectual and material resources can be leveraged for mutual benefit.”

Both formal and informal examples of the University’s growing array of outreach and engagement are described in the following pages.

A SOURCE FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS Whether in the form of student and staff volunteerism or faculty providing expertise and consultation to non- and for-profit organizations, WCU has a long tradition of community engagement. This summer,

university engagement

Collaboration within and beyond the University

10 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

the University established a Center for Community Solutions under the direction of Christopher Fiorentino, the University’s Vice President for External Operations to facilitate those connections through a single point of contact.

“Over the years, numerous informal arrangements have taken place between WCU and outside organizations seeking help or professional advice from the University,” notes Fiorentino. “The Center was created to formally expand the positive impact of the University in the community.”

Fiorentino points to several examples of ways in which WCU has assisted the community through problem solving, leveraging its resources and providing expertise regarding community concerns. One such example involved the development of a health needs analysis for Chester County, and in another case, the University provided GIS and marketing capabilities to support revitalization of the West Chester business district.

“In some cases, such as one project involving the University’s Geography and Planning Department, students and faculty have worked as teams to solve a

problem for a community organization or group,” says Fiorentino.

In this particular circumstance, township leaders and community stakeholders were anxious to identity the desert-like habitats for rare and unusual plant species in their area, called serpentine barrens. Utilizing GPS and GIS technologies, WCU faculty and students created an inventory of these species, thereby allowing the community to develop preservation and management strategies to protect the desert-like habitats.

Other examples of students contributing to important community projects have involved partnerships with the United Way, the West Chester Chamber of Commerce and the University, such as the “Leadership Chester County” program.

“The fact there are many community-related projects in which the University has and will continue to become engaged is not only beneficial to the community, but to the participating faculty and students,” notes Fiorentino.

As a result of the many community and business contacts he developed during his tenure as the University’s Dean of the College of Business and Public Affairs, Fiorentino was able to bring together an advisory board

Christopher Fiorentino meeting with the Center for Community Solutions staff

for the new Center that includes key representatives within the school districts, township and borough governments, health, environmental, and non-profit organizations. “ I’m envisioning that the board members, all of whom have links to the greater community, will help us focus on what types of projects we should be supporting, what opportunities are out there and generally spread the word about the Center,” says Fiorentino.

For more information, contact the Center at 610-425-7431 or communitysolutions@wcupa.edu

FALL 2 015 | 11

COVER STORY

EDUCATION IN PRACTICE: WCU’S SPEECH AND HEARING CLINIC

Sojung Kim manages the University’s Child Research Laboratory

The role of today’s professionals who evaluate, treat and counsel individuals with hearing, speech or language disorders has expanded

greatly from when “speech correction” courses were first taught in the early 20th century. For example, scientists develop new technologies, methods and treatments as they learn more about autism spectrum disorders, which can affect speech, language development and social communication.

Individuals in the region can take advantage of what the latest research has uncovered at West Chester University’s Speech and Hearing Clinic, which offers its services to the public, some for a fee, and some for free.

Both undergraduate and graduate students in the WCU Communication Sciences and Disorders program are exposed to the breadth of disorders and to methods and technology to treat those disorders at the clinic. They complete a rigorous academic program with faculty who are at the forefront of research, then add practicum experiences both onsite and in the field. A master’s degree is required to achieve the Certificate of Clinical Competence-Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP).

The clinic’s diagnostic team completes comprehensive evaluations for both children and adults presenting with difficulties in speech, language or hearing.

Therapy sessions are offered once or twice a week during the fall and spring semesters. Summer programs are offered throughout the day during the month of July. Faculty are speech-language pathologists and audiologists, all holding professional certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensure from the state of Pennsylvania.

Directed by Associate Professor Jennifer Walsh Means ’86 M’89, the clinic includes six individual 12 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

sound-treated therapy rooms, a group/adult therapy room, a child language therapy room, therapy observation areas, and a video control room. In addition, the clinic contains a double-walled audiometric test suite. Graduate students participate in monthly stuttering support group meetings that she runs, gaining experience in group therapy dynamics and group counseling.

The Speech Science Laboratory houses a sound-treated booth along with a variety of electronic instruments that are used in conjunction with teaching, research and clinical work. Anatomical models and specimens are also available for use in the lab.

Assessments are conducted in four areas, each of which has a corresponding lab: Child Research Lab, Bilingual Language Lab, Voice Lab, and Speech and Acoustics Perception Lab. All offer assessments and therapies to clients as well as research opportunities for students and faculty.

Assistant Professor and Assessment Coordinator Sojung Kim manages the University’s Child Research Laboratory (CRL). Applied research activities are focused on the development of innovative approaches to early assessment and intervention for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

One ongoing project includes a series of studies of the complex relationships between parental influences (such as parents who read books to children) and children’s oral and literacy development and their changes over time. Another investigation focuses on adaptations, including assistive technology and other devices, especially iPad and applications, to promote learning opportunities for young children.

A study by Kim, entitled “An iPad-based intervention on turntaking behaviors in preschoolers with autism” appearing in the Behavioral Development Bulletin, examines the effectiveness of an iPad-based intervention (the app “ITakeTurns”) on turn-taking behaviors in preschoolers with autism. Despite a variety of iPad applications available for the assessment and intervention in the field of speech-language pathology, there is little data supporting the effectiveness of iPads for these uses. This study will be one of the first investigations that establishes groundwork for future research to determine the effectiveness of iPad application in the young population with autism.

In the Bilingual Language Lab, Assistant Professor Patricia Swasey Washington directs research that investigates language acquisition and treatment of language disorders in Spanish-English bilingual children. Washington’s own research is on the development of language in Spanish-speaking English Language Learners.

Under the direction of Assistant Professor Supraja Anand, the Speech Acoustics and Perception Lab conducts research on the evaluation of speech and sensorimotor deficits in healthy young adults, older adults (60-90 years) and individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) through acoustic and perceptual analyses. Such research could facilitate better understanding of the progression of PD and give rise to improved diagnostic and treatment methods.

Communication Sciences and Disorders majors directly benefit from the work of their professors in the Scholarship of Teaching Lab. Department faculty assess, target and document students’ critical thinking abilities, application of evidence-based practice and professional writing skills. Their goal is to enhance the majors’ professional contributions to the field of speech-language pathology and audiology.

GIS MEANS BUSINESS If a retailer wants to find out how many commuters are passing a potential new storefront, or a

municipality wants data on a possible correlation between a densely populated area and a high incidence of crime, they might turn to the Center for Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis (GISSA) at West Chester University.

Researching those types of inquiries is one of the services the center offers regional communities and businesses.

Gary Coutu, Associate Professor of Geography and Planning, manages the GISSA lab for the department. The lab was just getting off the ground when Coutu arrived on campus in 2005. Now, students and faculty regularly use the center for classes, research and to assist external clients.

GIS is a tool for problem-solving in many fields. The technology pulls environmental, political, economic, demographic and other types of information from various databases, such as the Census Bureau’s, and draws correlations among them using location as the key variable. Results can be used by both the public and private sector, including land planners, environmental companies, and public health and safety officials, among others. To date, GISSA clients have included the Brandywine Valley Association, Chester County Economic Development Council, Fame Fire Company No. 3, WCU’s own Gordon Natural Area, the Natural Lands Trust, Philadelphia Water Department and others.

At the graduate level, Geography and Planning students are doing much of the work on these projects, having developed the management and analytical skills to solve certain problems and assist in

clients’ decisions under Coutu’s direction.

He directs undergraduate internships and graduate student thesis and project work as well.

While Geography and Planning majors are the primary users of the lab, business students majoring in marketing and management also benefit from GIS classes. Using the center’s technology, they acquire analytical skills in developing business strategies, focusing on using GIS technology as an analysis tool to improve decision-making.

The broad application of GIS in research is evident in the range of topics students investigate. In the 2014-15 academic year, for example, Adam Blough, Brian Hreha, Keith O’Neill and Shane Lukenda examined plots within the Harmony Hill Conservation Area in East Bradford Township (Chester County) to try to determine whether the slope of the land and orientation affected the total carbon stock of the trees in those plots. “The results showed a young, changing forest that varied in carbon storage, composition and structure but not according to topographic position. … Slope and aspect were not the main contributing factors. …”

Another student, Robert J. Rodriguez, examined the 2017 relocation of the Atlanta Braves from a racial and socioeconomic class perspective. The team selected a site at the intersection of two major highways approximately 10 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, where the team currently plays at Turner Field.

Rodriguez gathered data from the 2014 U.S. Census to analyze demographics for Fulton County (Atlanta) versus Cobb County (site of the proposed stadium).

Students Phil Johnson and Josh Marcinik completed a study of

Associate Professor Joy A. Fritschle

“Emergency Calls and Public Safety” in the fall 2014 semester and followed up in the spring 2015 semester with a study of “Spatial Analysis Perspective on Emergency Calls.” Associate professor Kristen Crossney provided guidance to several students, including Emerson Hauck, who studied how “Inconsistent Weather Impacts Midwestern Cattle Ranchers and Beef Prices across the U.S.” and Jeffrey Griffiths, who examined the “Effects of West Chester University Road Salt Usage on Water Quality of the Plum Run.” Associate Professor Joy A. Fritschle, who is also the University’s Sustainability Coordinator, researches many areas related to ecology, environmental conservation, and sustainable development through agriculture and forestry. She uses GIS in combination with archival evidence to reconstruct historical landscapes, including those related to California’s redwood forests.

Associate Professor Matin Katirai’s research interests include using GIS as a tool to evaluate the spatial patterns of urban sprawl and their impacts on FALL 2 015 | 13

COVER STORY emergency response time. He has also researched the impact of distance to health services on late stage diagnosis of colorectal cancer in Kentucky.

Coutu, whose research interests include the impacts of land use change on overland flow and flooding events, is advisor for WCUsourced GIS projects with the Delaware Nature Society and the Red Clay Creek watershed. Additionally, he is the outgoing president of the Pennsylvania Geographical Society, which held its 2015 annual meeting in early November at WCU. The Center is actually housed in three computer labs equipped with the most current versions of GIS software, printers, plotters, hand-held global positioning systems (GPS), and other hardware, plus more than three terabytes of GIS data including access to vast demographic and consumer behavior datasets for all of Pennsylvania resting in virtual servers.

PAWLP EMPOWERS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO GROW AS WRITERS

Mary Buckelew, PAWLP Director

Now entering its 36th year, the West Chester University-based Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project (PAWLP) has provided professional development for thousands of the Commonwealth’s K-16 teachers. As one of the

oldest sites of the National Writing Project (NWP), the WCU program has built a network of teachers dedicated to sharing their passion for writing with their students.

The goal of the project is to improve writing and learning in the nation’s schools by inviting experienced, talented educators to study literacy development and the teaching of writing in a relaxed, collegial atmosphere.

“We help teachers understand the difference between assigning and teaching writing by encouraging teachers to embrace the writing process with their students,” says Mary Buckelew, WCU Professor of English and PAWLP director.

The WCU site caters to teachers from more than 50 rural, urban and suburban school districts in Chester, Berks, Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery and Lancaster counties. More than 400 Pennsylvania teachers take part annually in the PAWLP summer programs, building a network of teachers dedicated to improving students’ writing and literacy skills.

Teachers accepted into the Summer Institute read, write and reflect not only on their teaching, but also on their experiences as readers and writers. PAWLP believes 14 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

that teachers who write are better teachers of writing. The Institute experience empowers teachers to become regional leaders. Those who complete the program earn an internationally recognized credential as a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant as well as a Fellow of the Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project. They also earn six graduate credits from WCU. There is time built into the 12-day invitational summer program for reflection and research as well as workshops, seminars and labs. There is also continuity, beginning with three spring dates to start the creative juices flowing and a fall date as follow up.

Diane Barrie, a former teacher who is now curriculum coordinator for the Kutztown School District, is an alumna of the 1995 Writing project.

“There are many reasons I stay connected to the PA Writing Project, even though I no longer spend my days in front of … seventh-grade writers,” she says, noting that she misses the interactions with students and watching them grow. “What the Writing Project gives me, a teacher without a classroom, is a community. No matter how long I am away from the people or the presence of PAWLP, I am always drawn back. When I need the highest quality professional development on anything literacy-related, it is the first place I call.

Through this wonderful relationship, I have been able to provide professional development that breathes new life into reading and writing. …”

The program’s Fellows offer much in the way of professional development and customized in-service programs. One example was PAWLP “alumni” providing professional development for 3rd- through 6th-grade teachers in a Bristol Township (PA) high-needs elementary school during the 2013-14 academic year, a program funded by the National Writing Project.

Barrie calls the WCU program “a gift that will enrich your teaching life, keep you grounded in best practices, give you a sense of belonging as a teacher, and help you find your voice so that you may help children find theirs.”

WCU’s PAWLP creates additional opportunities for teacher collaboration and support plus inquiry into best practices for teachers and student-writers in the region. Teachers engage each other in continuing education and research. Buckelew emphasizes maintaining continuity through the program’s cyber presence, its monthly electronic newsletter and regular Twitter feed as well as its blog. “We continue to aim for a balance of hard copy and electronic venues for keeping our community connected and informed.” The NWP site also capitalizes on social media connections and offers its own blog, radio and YouTube channels with educational content and special live programs.

In addition to the teacher element, PAWLP sponsors two summer programs for youth in grades 1 through 12 known as Young Writers/Young Readers, which celebrated its 30th year in 2014. These half-day camps run for one or two weeks at WCU as well as partner school districts.

There are also special programs offsite for children, for example, exploring nature at Longwood Gardens while reading and writing about it. The National Park Foundation has funded a program that takes place at Valley Forge National Park and encourages elementary school children to discover untold stories and events at the landmark. That initiative proved so successful that it’s been repeated at other national parks.

“The 2015 writing classes filled to capacity,” reports Summer Youth Co-Director Karen Pawlewicz, a ’92 alumna of PAWLP’s

Writing program, “proving that what we stand for remains forefront in parents’ minds.

We served 463 students and utilized more than 35 teachers and site coordinators.”

Nicholas A. Spennato ’55, M.Ed.’64, a Delaware County Intermediate Unit educator who assisted in the formation of WCU PAWLP, commented on the program’s 35th anniversary in a note to Buckelew: “In my opinion, the PAWP Project initiated by [retired faculty member] Bob Weiss and continued by your staff and you has impacted pupils, teachers and schools more

than any other project - federal, state, or local - in at least the last 50 years. As a result of the project’s work, pupils are writing more frequently and more effectively and have learned that writing is a process and not a series of disjointed activities (handwriting, spelling, grammar). The thinking of teachers and pupils regarding the writing process has changed dramatically in the past 35 years because of the outstanding work performed by the project.”

INCREASING ACCESS TO RESEARCH SERVICES Even before its list of clientele included national corporations, the Center for Social and Economic Policy and Research, had made a name for itself. In the 2000 presi-

dential contest, when news organizations across the country were forecasting a Gore loss in Pennsylvania, the Center’s pollsters predicted that the Vice President would, in fact, carry the Keystone state. He did so by a 4.17% margin.

Since then, the Center has conducted research for dozens of non-profit organizations – its largest contract to date involving Astra Zeneca Healthcare Foundation’s, “Connections for Cardiovascular Health (CCH).”

Since 2010, the Foundation’s CCH program has provided annual grants to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations engaged in charitable work at the community level. Using culturally-appropriate approaches, the CCH-funded programs are meant to address specific unmet needs of communities across the country, especially underserved communities. “The community based organizations set their own goals, and we evaluate each program’s progress toward those goals,” explains Jeffery Osgood, Center director Jeffery Osgood the Center’s director, who currently also serves as interim associate provost and dean of graduate studies.

Thus far, Osgood and his team of research associates, analysts and graduate students, have evaluated 39 CCH-funded programs within 38 specific organizations, which have received 74 grant awards.

The Center for Social and Economic Policy and Research also has had a long running relationship with Greater Harrisburg’s “Healthy Start” program. In 2015, the Center helped the organization successfully submit a $3.75 million federal grant proposal to expand their services for pregnant and postpartum women, their babies, families and the community at large.

One of the first projects undertaken by the Center was the design of “The Blueprint Report” for the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls. According to Osgood, the Center was established in 1998 based on a vision shared by the-then dean of the College of Business and Public Affairs Christopher Fiorentino and Laurie Bernotsky, a member of the College’s faculty, now serving as interim provost. “What was increasingly clear to both of them was the need for the surrounding communities to have a method of accessing faculty expertise and resources,” recalls Osgood.

“Connecting the University’s resources – its students and faculty – to the community, seemed ‘natural,’ to them.”

One of the first projects undertaken by the Center was to design “The Blueprint Report” for the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls.

The report helped the County identify key areas of concern or interests in improving the lives of women and children. Currently, the Center is again working for the County Fund helping them identify a core set of objectives around its strategic plan outcomes.

Other projects have included a survey of Thorndale Township tax payers to gauge their willingness to pay more taxes to continue contracting with a regional police force versus having only service by the state police. The results, claims Osgood, favored tax increases to continue working with a regional police force.

According to Osgood, Chester County is a leader in managing for results. Citizen input and key metrics within the County departments revolving around customer service and efficiency are evaluated.

“We helped the county commissioners conduct a county-wide survey, for example, to identify citizens’ perceptions of the quality of services they are receiving,” explains Osgood. “In that way, the Center aided the County in evaluating the county’s service delivery.”

FALL 2 015 | 15

COVER STORY

BRINGING TOGETHER STUDENTS AND BUSINESS LEADERS

Matthew Shea, Director of the Cottrell Center

The Dr. Edwin Cottrell Center is another example of the University’s commitment to engagement with business leaders, particularly entrepreneurs,

in its immediate community and the region at large.

Established by Gary Daniels’75 in honor of his golf coach at WCU, former faculty member and dean with the-then School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, the Cottrell Center promotes entrepreneurship at the University and throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. It does so through an annual speaker series, a business plan competition sponsored by the Pennsylvania State System

of Higher Education, a business idea competition, and the appointment of an entrepreneur-in-residence.

As part of a global consortium of college and university entrepreneurship centers, the Cottrell Center sponsored several guest speakers during this November’s “Global Entrepreneurship Week.” Among the guest speakers were Chris Heivly’82, head of the StartUp Factory, and Luke Beatty, president of Media Brands at AOL. Distinguished alumni and business leaders also gave presentations on international and social entrepreneurship, as well as advice on how to attract venture capital.

Heivly, often referred to as the “startup whisperer,” has directed over $75 million in investment capital for companies including MapQuest, Rand McNally and Accenture. His firm’s 35 investments in the past three years to emerging technology companies have had an unusually high rate of success raising follow-on capital under his direction.

An expert in cross-screen digital media, scalable content collection and distribution strategies, and media monetization, Beatty oversees the operation of a number of brands, including TechCrunch, Engadget, Autoblog, Mapquest, and Moviefone. Prior to this, he served as vice president and general manager at Yahoo, where he managed Local, Flickr, and Yahoo Contributor Network – an evolution of Associated Content, a media company founded by Beatty in 2005.

This year’s entrepreneur-in-residence for the Center is Eli Kahn, founder of the E. Kahn Development Corporation, a

privately held real estate firm specializing in acquisition, repositioning, and development of commercial, industrial, and multi-family real estate throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.

This coming spring, members of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce and high school students from the West Chester Area School District will be eligible to participate in the University’s business idea competition for several cash prizes, the grand prize being $3,000 and the opportunity to present at the Keiretsu Forum Angel Capital Expo.

Co-hosted by the Center and the Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic, the competition is open to WCU graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, staff, and clients of SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties, a non-profit organization offering free small business advice.

The Cottrell Center also facilitates the State system’s business plan competition, which is open to graduate and undergraduate students who are enrolled at one of the State System universities.

“The Cottrell Center is here to help all students, not just business students, find their inner-entrepreneur through interactions with experienced entrepreneurs, regional business leaders, and distinguished alumni,” says Matthew Shea, an assistant professor of management and director of the Cottrell Center.

A graduate of Temple University’s doctoral program, Shea teaches strategic management, compensation and entrepreneurship. His research in not-for-profit management and sustainability in the risk industry has been published in such journals as Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Thunderbird International Business Review, and the Journal of Social Entrepreneurship.

INTEGRATING HEALTH AND WELLNESS WITH EDUCATION Increasing demands for academic achievement in terms of test scores can often overshadow the importance of students’ emotional needs.WCU’s Department of Health chair, Bethann Cinelli, believes it is just as important for teachers, administrators and parents to look at their school’s climate as well.

“When I ask if a school has a safe and supportive environment, I’m not referring to whether it has metal detectors, but if its students have a sense of belonging and feel safe and positive about their school and,” explains Cinelli.

As director of the Center for Healthy Schools, she has developed a comprehensive program of professional development for teachers and administrators in Pennsylvania public and non-public schools around health issues that impact students’ learning and academic success.

16 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

She notes a long list of risk factors covered in the School of Health Leadership professional development program: substance issues, mental and emotional health, inadequate diet, physical activity, sexual behaviors, intentional and unintentional injuries including violence and school safety. The professional development can take place through the school curriculum¸ prevention programs, school-wide policies, as well as a collective impact model that reinforces strategies involving a school’s teachers, administrators, staff and families.

Currently, Cinelli and the Center are designing a curriculum-based prevention program around sexual health issues that not only affect student health, but academic success as well. She will be looking at such areas as unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and STDs in grades six to twelve. Now in the third year of a five-year grant with funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Cinelli also is examining issues related to safe and supportive schools. “We are focused on 15 school districts that Dr. Mary Rose-Colley, during a presentation at the Center's the state has identified as priority school districts for programs, resources, curricuSchool of Leadership Institute lum, and policies related to student health and wellness. The project addresses sexual health and safe and supportive schools including school climate, school connectedness and social and emotional learning,” explains Cinelli.

As part of her work on this project, she met in Harrisburg with teams from each of the school districts to provide technical assistance related to needs assessment of their schools’ social, mental and emotional health issues. “Based on the results of their assessment, they will be submitting action plans focused on school climate and social and emotional learning,” says Cinelli.

This past summer, the Center partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health on a professional development workshop on childhood obesity, physical activity, healthy eating, wellness policies, and the impact they have on learning. In another project focusing on this critical topic, Cinelli is working with the Campbell Soup Company’s Healthy Communities initiative, a 10-year, $10 million investment in Camden, to reduce childhood obesity, eliminate hunger, stress healthy eating and physical activity.

“We are working with the public and non-public schools and the City of Camden to implement wellness policies, and create an infrastructure with support policies, curriculum, and mutually reinforcing strategies for wellness and a healthy school community,” says Cinelli.

NEW POSITION, NEW PROGRAMS EXPAND SCOPE OF SERVICE LEARNING To say service learning is huge at West Chester University is an understatement. After all, WCU students completed more than 812,000

service hours through coursework and an additional 93,114 hours of service through co-curricular efforts in the last academic year.

Service learning is a teaching strategy that combines meaningful community service with critical thinking, reflective practice, and civic responsibility, with the goal of creating lifelong active citizens.

Led by Jodi Roth-Saks since 2012, West Chester’s Office of Service Learning and Volunteer Programs (OSLVP) promotes community-based learning experiences that address real community needs by building mutually beneficial partnerships. As one way to accomplish this mission, Roth-Saks assists faculty who want to incorporate service learning into their coursework. She is building on the foundation laid by Maggie Tripp, who established the office more than 15 years ago and was its director until her retirement in 2012.

The Annual Volunteer Fair Tripp connected the University with more than 120 regional agencies and began to build the culture of service that led to WCU being worthy of the Carnegie Foundation’s prestigious Community Engagement Classification.

Roth-Saks is taking the office even further by developing new service learning courses and more thoroughly connecting academics, student leadership development opportunities, and community engagement activities. Roth-Saks has received positive feedback from faculty and community agencies about the sustainable partnerships that have been created.

Liz Wang, the Service-Learning Faculty Associate, shared a response from the Chester County Food Bank (CCFB) after the students in her Fall 2013 MKT:330 Consumer Behavior course helped CCFB with marketing initiatives. Anne Shuniak ’99, CCFB’s FALL 2 015 | 17

COVER STORY Community Engagement and Marketing Manager, noted, “Sometimes the University students can be overlooked as viable contributors to the local community, but as a WCU alumna, West Chester resident and employee of a local non-profit, I am excited and proud of the work done by Dr. Wang and West Chester University.”

40th anniversary of WCU’s LGBTQA organization

Community Engagement Scholars

One new program enables both undergraduate and graduate students to serve as liaisons between WCU faculty and community agencies. OSLVP staff train Community Engagement (1) (CE) Scholars to spend about six hours a week assisting faculty who are teaching or developing academic service learning courses or conducting community-based research.

Associate Professor of Nutrition Mary Beth Gilboy is the faculty partner for CE Scholar and Senior Nutrition and Dietetics major Jill Altimare. Gilboy has been at WCU since 2007 and has made service learning part of her curriculum since 2008.

At the beginning of the semester, Altimare gave a presentation about service learning and available public service opportunities to two sections of a (2) community nutrition course. Over three more class visits she had the chance to “facilitate service learning reflections …” “ When students discuss what they have been doing at their service learning sites and things they were not expecting,” she explains. “Each student can look to me as a resource.”

Altimare values her CE Scholar experience for building relationships with students and professors, learning and honing skills, and the professional development meetings every two weeks with the other CE Scholars and Roth-Saks. “ These meetings are a big benefit of the program,” says Altimare. “ They teach the CE Scholars skills to use now at West Chester and in our future professional careers.”

Gilboy concurs: “When the CE Scholars meet as a group with Jodi [Roth-Saks], they learn from each other. … They get out of their departments, meet people they might otherwise not have met, and learn more about service learning from other scholars’ perspectives.”

New Position Supports “America Reads”

Also new this year is an AmeriCorps PACC*VISTA position funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Campus Compact (PACC) and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Having just earned his bachelor’s in political science and history from the University of Pittsburgh at John(3) stown, Dylan Lahm joined OSLVP in July in that position to coordinate the America Reads program, which pairs college students with disadvantaged youth to provide the individualized attention needed to enhance academic enrichment. Lahm recruits, trains and provides additional support and professional development opportunities to WCU students serving as mentors in America Reads.

Launched in Spring 2013, WCU’s America Reads now partners with such programs as the Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center; the YMCA Oscar Lasko Youth Program Center; the West Chester Area Day Care Center; and the Blessed Dorothy Day Ministry Center where students serve as mentors, engage with area children in one-on-one tutoring, team sports, cooking workshops and other hands-on activities.

“In turn,” Lahm adds,” these community partners help our students grow and evolve as individuals. Most of them have never been in a position like this and it gives them an opportunity to develop and enhance skills that they did not previously know they had.”

(1) Members of Greek organizations serving with the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force. (L to r): Trip leader Alex Rafuse, Brenn McCans, Lauren Grow, Ryan Schaefer. 2) Sierra Calaman helping to gather and load student donations on non-perishables. (3) WCU student leaders sorting and packaging food for the Chester County Food Bank

18 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

Spencer Pyle ’97 (right), who is president of the LGBTQA chapter of the Alumni Association, and George Lutz ’84 attended the LGBTQA 40th anniversary celebration. They met on campus and got married in the same place on campus on the same day, 19 years later, at Homecoming 2015.

On Oct. 10,West Chester University alumni, students, faculty and staff gathered at the WCU Alumni & Foundation Center to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the

LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning and ally) organization on campus.

The mission of the Office of LGBTQA Services is to assist students with issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. University and community members who are “out,” questioning their sexuality and/or gender identity, and allies (members of the campus community who are trained to be advocates to LGBTQA students, faculty and staff) can find a safe space with LGBTQA Services.

Although not initially known as the Office of LGBTQA Services, the organization took root in 1975, when a small group of students formed the Gays of West Chester, meeting in Wayne Hall. Significant progress was made in LGBTQA services and programming beginning in 1989, when Jacqueline S. Hodes was asked to be

co-advisor of the GLSU; she was appointed coordinator of LGB Services in 1994.

Now an assistant professor in WCU’s counselor education department, Hodes promoted the organization, connected people and resources, strengthened support for LGBTQA students, and set in motion positive campus changes during her time with Student Affairs.

Now, Aneesah S. Smith ’02, M’05 has taken the wheel. As Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs for LGBTQA Services and Special Projects since 2012, she is bringing more visibility to the LGBTQA community both on campus and off.

Among the new programs she is overseeing: The LGBTQA Peer Educator program launched in 2013. It employs, trains and develops LGBTQA-identifying students to facilitate presentations on and off campus.

WCU LGBTQA students visit local high schools’ Gay-Straight Alliances to provide support, trainings and Speakouts (WCU volunteer speakers or panelists who raise awareness and sensitivity to LGBTQA issues by sharing their stories with classes or organizations).

The Rainbow Connection Leadership Conference was established for education and networking and is a recruitment initiative. It provides a venue for gay and straight students, teachers, counselors, administrators and community members to meet and participate in workshops designed to help everyone better understand and advocate for LGBTQ high school students in Pennsylvania and beyond. More than 200 high school students attended the third annual conference in 2015.

WCU’s Athlete Ally program is launched to train athletes regarding issues of inclusion and acceptance.

Shades of the Rainbow was established as a discussion group for WCU LGBTQA students of color.

Smith counts on graduate assistant (GA) Malik Muhammad to ensure the success of these programs and others.

Another way Smith has expanded the awareness of the WCU LGBTQA community is through student and professional conferences. She has attended the "Creating Change" Conference in Houston, Texas, and is on the faculty for "Camp Pride," the premiere national leadership academy for undergraduate LGBTQ and Ally students, which three WCU students attended this year. Annually, WCU’s LGBTQA students attend and present at the Annual Mid-Atlantic LGBT Conference at Bloomsburg University; Campus Philly’s Inclusive Leadership Conference at Temple University; and the Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference at University of Pennsylvania.

Shannon Gillespie is the student president of LGBTQA as well as an LGBTQA peer educator and diversity ambassador. She notes that students want their organization to continue to “be a more inclusive, loving and educational resource for all students grappling with and embracing their identities.” She says student numbers have doubled at weekly meetings and awareness across campus for LGBTQA issues has increased as the office’s programs have been expanded. “Seeing allies putting our tools into practice for their residents, team mates, and friends to feel as though they can express their truest self without judgment gives us peer educators an indescribable pride in what we do.”

Of being president, she adds, “I thrive on knowing I once had someone inspire me to get involved in West Chester’s community and spread the love and acceptance our organization strives to give daily so, for that reason, I hope to be that inspiration for other people.”

FALL 2 015 | 19

CLASS NOTES

A MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI DIRECTOR

1930s

Mildred Lawler Wilson ’33 turned 102 years old in August. She was an elementary school teacher for the Parkland School District for 32 ½ years.

1950s Iris Gray Dowling ’56 M’66 recently pub-

lished The Right Connection, a book of twenty puppet skits for children, 2015. Iris published Echoing Memories in 2014, a book of forty-eight stories that took place in Southern and Northern Chester County, PA. These stories are written with a question and answer format to help improve reading comprehension skills.

As the Director of Alumni Relations, I hear a lot of stories about alumni and their experiences at WCU. Recently, the son of a deceased alum from the Class of 1943 wanted to send me his dad’s freshmen beanie and his nametag that were in a box of his “cherished possessions.” I wanted to share this story with you.

“My father grew up as a child of the Great Depression. My grandfather and grandmother sacrificed so my dad could attend West Chester. They took in boarders and raised chickens to sell the eggs so he could attend. In order to get to WC, he hitch-hiked. Immediately upon graduation, he joined the Army and Air Force – he trained fighter pilots getting ready for the invasion of Japan. He knew there was a strong chance he might not return. But, he did.

After the war, he became a school teacher in Danville, Pa. He advanced to junior high school principal and retired as the superintendent of the school district 1n 1983. He passed away in 2004 having a wonderful life.

He cherished his WC education. It enabled him to have a long and successful career. He was a ‘Ram’ who still knew the words to the WC Fight Song when he passed.

We hope West Chester University enjoys these two memorable artifacts.”

It is a continuing legacy that WCU students come from humble roots, giving families and become outstanding alumni who loved their WCU experience. Please feel free to share your story with me.

Debbie Cornell Naughton Director, Alumni Relations dnaughton@wcupa.edu

20 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

1960s

Antoinette (Martinelli) Walsh ’60 retired after teaching elementary education in the Central Bucks School District for 32 years.

She is a volunteer at two nursing homes and enjoys reading mystery and suspense novels.

Robert (Garry) Powel ’61 M’64 was inducted into the Catonsville Community College of Baltimore County Athletic Hall of Fame on December 6, 2014.

Ross Care ’63 was presented in a program dedicated to the use of classical music in early Disney films at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco in 2014. Excerpts from Care’s personal correspondences were included in the exhibition, MAGIC, COLOR, FLAIR: the World of Mary Blair. Blair contributed to Disney animated films, such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, and designed theme park attractions, most notably “it’s a small world.” As a composer Care’s fourmovement “Rock Mass” was performed at the 1st United Methodist Church of Ventura in Nov. 2014.

Chrystyna (Tatomyr) Melnyk ’65 married Andrew Melnyk in 1969 and moved to Canada and obtained her master’s in special education from the University of Toronto. For the past 30 years, she was a special education teacher and consultant in Pennsylvania, Quebec and Ontario, Canada. After retirement,

her husband and she have been in the international teaching circuit, working in Spain, Egypt, Japan, Kuwait, Trinidad and Malaysia.

Presently they are posted in Trinidad.

Doug Dash ’66 was selected to be part of the Papal Mass Choir that sang for Pope Francis during Mass on September 27, 2015 in Philadelphia.

M.L. Corbin Sicoli, Ph.D. ’66 M.S.’73 has presented her most recent research at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association held in Toronto this August. Her research was titled “War and Peace: Tyrants vs. Noble Peace Laureates,” which focused on early life factors of the two groups. Among other things, she found the role of the father to be crucial in the development of their sons. Dr. Sicoli also received a commendation from Psi Chi for her role as frequent reviewer of undergraduate through doctoral level research. Dr. Sicoli has a private practice in West Chester specializing in the diagnosis of learning disorders.

1970s

Dr. Anne Sourbeer Morris ’70, ’79 published her first book, Unexpected Pathways: The Journeys of Women in the Workforce, telling the career/life stories of 23 diverse, multi-generational women. The book is available on Amazon.com.

Scot Dapp ’73 recently retired from Moravian College after 28 years. He was head football coach for 24 years, athletic director for 4 years, and the most winning football coach in Moravian’s history.

Barbara (Reiman) Byrnes ’76 has recently completed her 30th year teaching in PA. She taught health and physical education, and coached basketball, lacrosse, softball, gymnastics, and hockey in William Penn School District for 6 years. She took nine years off from teaching to spend time with her three sons. Since 1992, she has been teaching physical education. at Primos Elementary in Upper Darby School District.

Kathy Shelton ’76 was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame for field hockey at the 12th Annual Induction

Ceremony and Reception on November 12th at the Society Hill Sheraton.

Nancy Stevens ’76 head field hockey coach for the University of Connecticut, reached 600 wins, the most in NCAA field hockey history across all divisions. In her 26th season at UConn and 37th overall, Stevens is the first Division I field hockey coach in history to achieve the milestone.

A 2007 inductee into the NFHCA Hall of Fame, Stevens has coached 42 First Team All-America selections, 80 First Team AllBig East selections and nine U.S. National Team members. Stevens belongs to the Connecticut Field Hockey and West Chester University Halls of Fame. She is an eighttime Big East Coach of the Year and eighttime NFHCA Mideast Coach of the Year.

Cindy Timchal ’76 was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame for lacrosse at the 12th Annual Induction Ceremony and Reception on November 12th at the Society Hill Sheraton.

Mark Dehnert ’79 and his wife Mary ’79 have lived in the Spring-Ford Area for 35 years. Mark has served as board of director for the Spring-Ford Area School District for the past eight years. He was recently elected as the school board president. Mark has coached youth basketball and soccer in the Spring-Ford Area and coaches a boys’ travel basketball team for the Spring-Ford Recreation League. Mark currently is a contract services lead for Accenture in King of Prussia.

Mary (Woynarowski) Dehnert ’79 will begin her 36th year of teaching this fall.

She is an Instructional support teacher at Schuylkill Elementary in the Phoenixville Area School District. She also is a member of the school’s literacy team, and she recently earned her Reading Specialist Certification.

Mary previously taught in the Exeter Township School District for 10 years prior to coming to Phoenixville. Mary and her husband Mark ’79 are the proud parents of two children, Devin and Kurt.

1980s

Sharon D’Amore ’80 is the program specialist at United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia and Vicinity. She works with adults with disabilities ages 22 to 86 helping them to lead a fulfilling life and reach their highest potential by developing and implementing activities based on needs. She develops

individualized plans for success and act as a liaison between entities to protect their wellbeing.

Elizabeth (Claghorn) Austin ’80 received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the Northern California Consortium of Fresno and San Jose State University. Her project was a Family-Centered Radiation Therapy Experience-A Nurse Promoted Program.

She was able to coordinate two hospital systems and nine departments to facilitate a family-centered pediatric radiation therapy experience.

Thomas Glenn Shorley ’80 started a coffee roasting business after retirement called Cave Bird Coffee. The business provides 100% of net proceeds to build clean water wells in Uganda. cavebirdcoffee.com Suzanne McCoach ’81 currently serves as the systems analyst for the County of Chester in West Chester, PA. Steven Hake ’82, President/CEO at Stambaugh Ness, CP, has been named to the 2015 year’s list of “100 Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania.” The firm is strategically focused on the architecture and engineering, construction, manufacturing, not-for-profit, and professional services industries, serving clients nationally.

Professor Gloria Galante ’83 and the Divine Hand Ensemble were selected to perform for Pope Francis during his visit to Philadelphia in September 2015.

1990s

Sandra Bogaczyk ’93 is currently planning a non-profit and educational orchard and berry tree farm with fiancé, Jim K. Schmidt, in Kintyre, ND, as well as working for the City of Bismarck’s Community Development Department. She spent a year with WCU at Swansea,Wales taking history and geography courses and taught American and world history, comparative government, AP geography, sociology and financial and career prep for 20 years in Philadelphia, Newton and Boston College HS, Chicago and Emmons County, ND. She started a financial literacy and budgeting business called budgetbuddylintonnd.com.

Dina Monsen ’97, senior manager, Quality Assurance, MedImmune/AstraZeneca Biologics, Philadelphia, PA, has been certified as a registrant of the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists (NRCM). On June 26, 2015, she became certified as a specialist microbiologist in pharmaceutical and medical device microbiology.

Kimberly Gilbert ’98 was awarded the 2015 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for the production of “Marie Antoinette” with the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

Jenni Brandon ’99 is an award-winning composer whose music has been commissioned and performed around the world, including Zankel Hall in Carnegie Hall.

Jenni is the recipient of the American Prize for Choral Composition, winner of the Women Composers Festival of Hartford International Composition Competition, and the Sorel Medallion. Her work for solo bassoon, the winner of the 2014 Bassoon Chamber Music Composition Competition, is a required competition piece for the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Bassoon Competition and Symposium in January 2016 at the Colburn School in Los Angeles.

2000s Meredith Bowen ’00 is currently the artistic director of the Holland Chorale. Since 2012, she has enjoyed a rewarding collaboration with the Holland Symphony Orchestra including the annual holiday program as well as preparing the chorus for William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s The Bells.

Craig Metcalfe ’00 was named principal of Universal Vare Charter School.

Joseph Meade ’02 was sworn in as deputy secretary of Community Affairs and Development for Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development on March 10, 2015.

Shawn Schrader ’02, with the support of Art + Design Alum TBWA\Media Arts Lab, won the Grand Prix for Apple.

Jon Yucis ’03, a partner at Durkan Group, recently returned to West Chester University as adjunct professor of graphic/interactive design.

FALL 2 015 | 21

CLASS NOTES Sherri Stuart MBA’04 was promoted to senior vice president, Marketing for Wayne, PA-based Medecision, Inc. – a healthcare software company..

Julie Meyer M’04 is a postdoctoral scientist in marine microbiology at the University of Florida. Meyer’s research focuses on the role of microbial interactions in the health and stability of coral reefs and is performed in collaboration with the Smithsonian Marine Station. Specifically, Meyer is researching how shifts in coral microbiota are associated with Black Band Disease, a disease that kills healthy tissue in many different species of reef-building corals. The L’Oreal USA For Women in Science fellowship will support the further development of Meyer’s research including the sequencing of whole genomes.

Building on her strong commitment to mentoring, Meyer will also use the fellowship to produce a short documentary film highlighting the work of women in coral reef research. The documentary will be shared online and presented to girls in the Gainesville area as part of Meyer’s effort to expose girls to the diversity of scientific careers. Meyer, 39, received a Ph.D. in Marine Biosciences at the University of Delaware, an M.S. in Biology from West Chester University, a B.S. in Biology from Salisbury University and a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Sciences at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. After growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Meyer now lives in Gainesville, Florida with her husband and young daughter.

Michael Bird ’05 is currently supporting J.Crew as Associate Art Director, Email Marketing & Editorial Content. Michael has previously been awarded with two GOLD RACie awards for his work with Lane Crawford and Shanghai Tang.

Drexel Undergraduate Student Government Association Honor Dragon Award for the faculty/staff member who has most supported student organizations on campus.

In June, she completed her master’s of science degree in Publication Management from Drexel University.

Joe Gaudio, CPA ’08 was recently promoted to supervisor at Belfint, Lyons & Shuman’s Tax & Small Business Department.

Jill (Sobolefski) Palme M’08 serves as the lead school counselor for the Agora Cyber Charter School in Wayne, PA. She presented at the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) national convention at the Phoenix Convention Center on June 30, 2015. Palme is one of three counselors that provided an overview of a day in the life of an Agora Cyber Charter School counselor and shared how the Agora Cyber Charter School Counseling Department is working to align its program to become one of the first cyber schools in the country to earn the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation.

Justin Rentzel ’08 joined Tattoo Projects, a creative advertising and marketing agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina, as senior art director. Justin will be supporting advertising campaigns for Victory Motorcycles and Sheetz.

Brian Englishman ’10, recently completed a score for the U.S. Marine Corps’ commercial.

Kyle Rheiner ’06, a partner at Strickler Insurance, was invited to speak in New Orleans as a specialist on Craft Brewing, Distilling and Winery Insurance to over 150 industry members. His website craftbrewinginsurance.com launched in 2015.

Alex Masciantonio ’10 was recently promoted to supervisor at Gunnip & Company CPAs. He earned a master’s of tax in 2014 from the Florida Atlanta University. Alex celebrated his fourth anniversary with the firm in January and works in the firm’s Tax department.

Natalie Shaak ’07 started a new role in July as communications manager in the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University. In her previous role as associate director of student affairs, she received the

Lauren Comiskey ’11 is currently working as program coordinator for a small non-profit agency, Monroe County Youth Employment Service, which hosts leadership and career readiness programs for in and

22 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

out-of-school youth ages 14-21.

Students and graduates of the WCU history, education, and Holocaust & Genocide Studies programs participated in the 5th Anti-Defamation League Walk Against Hate in Philadelphia in April, 2014. The walk benefits the ADL’s education programs.

Participating were Rob Battista, Hilary Bentman ’11, Katie Brennan ’11, Chris Hentschel ’12, Brittany Feeney ’13, Michael Feeney, Pamela McMahon ’14, Rick Salvi ’13, and Ryan Woodward ’13.

I n M emoriam 1941 Jayne Kahler Miller 1943 G. Arthur Hornberger 1950 John McWilliams 1951 Bruce Morgan 1954 George Murray Jr. 1954 Louise Shoop Klock 1954 J. Gordon Pfleiger 1955 Barbara Callen Hobby 1959 A. Scott Collins 1960 Cynthia Seruntine Ballantyne 1960 Margaret Upholzer Scully 1967 Albert DiCicco 1969 Elaine Bupp Dacheux 1990 Debra Donohue 1990 Monica Donlin Johnson

David Goldhahn ’12 has been named creative manager for Marbaloo. Notable clients include UMG Nashville, Sony Music Nashville, Dot Records, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, and Tim McGraw.

Joe Wendle ’13, Nashville Sounds infielder, was named as the second baseman on the 2015 All-Pacific Coast League team.

RETIRED FACULTY/STAFF

Connie Bannan David E. Dempsey Mary Donia Mary S.Velde Dr. Albert Filano

Oliver Reid ’13 was promoted to senior staff accountant at Gunnip & Company CPAs. Oliver worked as an intern with the firm while attending West Chester University and started full time after graduating. He recently passed all four portions of the uniform certified public accountant exam and received his CPA designation this August.

Becca Clair ‘15 has been hired as a season apprentice with InterAct Theatre Company in Philadelphia for this year.

DEATH NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE To notify West Chester University of the death of an alumnus or alumna, please contact the Alumni Relations Office via email: alumni@wcupa.edu or via US Mail: 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382. The notification must include a copy of the decedent’s obituary from a newspaper or the internet, or, a copy of a letter or email from a family member of the deceased. Please note: death notifications will not be accepted via telephone.

Tyler Dorso ’15 is currently pursuing his CPA certification and recently joined Belfint, Lyons & Shuman as a staff accountant.

Lauren Igo ’15 was featured in Communication Arts September issue for her student work while at WCU.

F uture A lumni

M arriages

Stephan Pron ’08 and Rosemary Kolmus Pron ’10 welcomed Lily Roe Pron May 2015

Mackenzie Sheely ’15 recently started working for Mighty Engine. Her first project will consist of designing billboards, bus shelter wraps, and bus ads for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

Morgan Wampler ’15 was hired as a production artist/graphic designer at Fanatics LLC.

Jerome Hunt Ph.D.’03,’06 to Alvin Ford Jr.

Lorie Zuchowski Mason ’94 to Shannon Mason ’08

Dr. Charles Cognato ’84 to Elisabeth Needhammer

Bryan Steimel ’06 to Alexandra Jaccard

Christopher Bannan ’06 and Christina Hartmann Bannan ’09 welcomed Kevin Gerard and Kimberly Rose on July 19

FALL 2 015 | 23

ALUMNI CHAPTER NEWS

ABBÉ SOCIETY ALUMNAE CHAPTER

We participated in Adopt-a-Block with the active society on Sunday, October 25; making blankets for CHOP on Saturday, November 7; making dinner at the Ronald McDonald House on Saturday, November 14; Hanging of the Greens in downtown West Chester on Saturday, November 21; and will be volunteering to help with the West Chester Christmas Parade. We helped the active Friars and Abbe Societies on campus with their Spaghetti Dinner at Holy Trinity Church on Saturday, November 21. All of the proceeds go toward a family in need for the holidays.

ALUMNI DANCE CHAPTER

The Alumni Dance Concert’s winter performance dates are Saturday, January 23 at 8PM and Sunday, January 24 at 2PM in Asplundh Concert Hall. Tickets will be available by December 1st for the BROADWAY OUR WAY production. Call 610.436.2266 for more information.

BALTIMORE-METRO ALUMNI CHAPTER The Baltimore Metro Area Chapter is holding elections and planning upcoming business for the year.

BANDS ALUMNI CHAPTER

The Band Alumni Chapter participated in Homecoming Weekend with a Music and Drill Rehearsal, parade, tailgate party, a combined performance with the Golden Rams Marching Band during halftime at the football game, followed by dinner at Swope.

We are still planning for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Macy Parade where the WCU Band is one of eleven bands chosen throughout the country to perform.

BLACK ALUMNI CHAPTER

Nearly 150 alumni attended the Black Alumni Chapter Party during Homecoming Weekend. The food and bar and DJ were great and we look forward to the rest of the year’s activities. If you would like to be included on our email list, please send your information to alumni@wcupa.edu.

BOSTON ALUMNI CHAPTER

Our chapter is looking to have an event in early spring. We are still recruiting members through social media and have added a few new people who have recently graduated and moved to the area. We are excited to get our chapter going with more events and new members.

24 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

CHESTER COUNTY CHAPTER

Since we are in the University’s back yard, the members of the Chester County Chapter take part in numerous activities on the WCU campus. We sponsored a “Back to School” Happy Hour at Timothy’s, and co-sponsored a Wine and Cheese event at the Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford in conjunction with the Delaware County Chapter. We will be holding election of officers in the near future.

COMMUNICATION STUDIES UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTER

Alumni gathered at Boxcar Brewing Company during Homecoming weekend. There was plenty of food and beer as well as door prizes.

DELAWARE COUNTY CHAPTER

The chapter held a wine tasting at the Sanderson Museum in October where we also invited alumni from Chester County.

Christian Sanderson graduated in 1901 from West Chester Normal School (now West Chester University). His museum is located in Chadds Ford and houses his collection of historical relics, artifacts and memorabilia which celebrates his singular vision of the American experience.

FLORIDA GULF COAST RAMS AND SNOWBIRDS CLUB

WCU visited The Villages in central Florida and had a delicious Caribbean alumni dinner at the Waterfront. 15 alumni and friends gathered to hear the news from WCU. Watch your mail and emails for upcoming events in Naples, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Sarasota in late winter, 2016.

FRATERNITY & SORORITY ALUMNI CHAPTER

The Greek Alumni Mixer was held at Barnaby’s if America in downtown West Chester.

58 alumni got together for food and drinks over Homecoming Weekend.

GRADUATE STUDENT ALUMNI CHAPTER

Our chapter had a great event which coincided with the Dan Rather lecture held on campus. Alumni enjoyed wine and beer with delicious hors d’oeuvres before attending the presentation. If you are interested in getting involved with our chapter, please email Heather at heatherruh@gmail.com and gsac.wcu@gmail.com

HONORS COLLEGE ALUMNI CHAPTER

The Honors Alumni Chapter hosted a Fall Social at Landmark restaurant in November which served as a networking opportunity for alumni and 4th year Honors students (soon to be Honors Alumni). Because the event was a social event with a relaxed atmosphere, students and alumni feel more comfortable getting to know each other on a person level, which eventually helps to establish a stronger professional relationship.

RAMS WEST CHESTER GOLDEN RAMS ARE EVERYWHERE !

INTERNATIONAL MILITARY ALUMNI CHAPTER (IMAC)

The military Scholarship brunch was held on November 7 in conjunction with the Military Appreciation football game. ROTC and Veteran students were honored with academic scholarships presented by President Weisenstein and the donors of the respective awards.

After the brunch, everyone was invited to attend the football game which included recognition to our military service alumni and veterans.

LGBTQA ALUMNI CHAPTER

This fall we celebrated the 40th Anniversary celebration of LQBTQA at WCU. In September, Terry Mutchler, author of Under This Beautiful Dome, spoke to students at a Cupcakes and Conversation event. In the evening, there was a reception at Tanglewood followed by a lecture by Terry describing her experiences. On October 10th, there was a great party in the Alumni and Foundation Ballroom to celebrate 40 years of visibility. 89 alumni, friends, faculty and staff helped to celebrate this special occasion.

Sara Mischo ’06 and Emily Sachs ’03 enjoy an afternoon of baseball in D.C. watching the Phillies vs. the Nats in September.

125 alumni and shoobies went “down the Shore” to La Costa’s in Sea Isle City for Rams in the Sand.

The WCU Alumni Association teamed up with New Street Catering (Aramark) for the 13th Annual Chili Cook-off. “Ram Good Chili” took second place out of 80 entries in the competition.

Alumni from West Chester University, Widener University and Neumann University all joined together for hayrides, face painting, apple cider, and donuts at Linvilla Orchards in October.

WASHINGTON, D.C. CHAPTER

In August, we held Chapter BOD elections.

The board for the 2015-2017 term consists of: President - Emily Sachs ‘03; Vice President - Rick Clements; Secretary/Treasurer - Bill Hibbs ‘14; Parliamentarian - Colin Bagwell ‘04; Events Committee Chair - Jessica Lord ‘13; and Immediate Past President - Sara Mischo’06. On Saturday, September 26, we hosted an event at the Nationals vs.

Phillies baseball game. Over 20 tickets were sold, proving this continues to be one of our most popular events! We continue to see our membership and interaction on social media increase, as well as an increase in the number of alumni attending local events!

For more information on any of these chapters please call 610.436.2813 or email alumni@wcupa.edu

FALL 2 015 | 25

HOMECOMING 2015

Review

26 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

FALL 2 015 | 27

We lived in Uganda for about six months covering the war in the north and later travelled to Rwanda to report on ethnic tensions there. We also covered the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Did you have any support when going into these areas of conflict?

It was just the two of us. We purposely wanted to work in places where there weren’t already a lot of foreign correspondents. Under those circumstances, you could do more on-the-ground reporting.

A lot of these places weren’t in full blown conflict. Some of them were, but others were fairly stable. Still, as post-conflict countries, they had issues. However, covering some of these stories felt a little like we were dropping in and out of these countries. I really wanted to investigate a subject on which I could devote a lot more time. It was around then that I stumbled on the Firestone story.

What drew you to the Firestone story?

Q & A WITH JONATHAN JONES’99 Jonathan Jones’99 received two Emmys for his work on the PBS Frontline/ProPublica documentary “Firestone and the Warlord,” an investigation into the relationship between the tire company and the Liberian warlord Charles Taylor.

How did you become interested in investigative journalism?

When I came to West Chester in 1994, I didn’t really know what I wanted to study or pursue after college.

I took a semester off after my freshman year and traveled across the country for 4 ½ months. When I returned, I enrolled in classes in creative writing and news writing, and they changed my whole path. I returned the following fall and switched my major to communications with a minor in journalism and creative writing. I really enjoyed it and got a tremendous amount of support from two professors in particular –Luanne Smith and Walter Fox. My first professional experience in journalism was as a reporter at the Daily Local News, where I worked after graduating from West Chester in 1999 until 2003. From there, I pursued a graduate degree at Berkeley’s School of Journalism and started to learn investigative journalism and began to report overseas.

After graduate school, I covered cultural and immigration for the Bay Area News Group.

How did your career take you to Africa?

I started to travel when I was in graduate school and had done a lot of reporting overseas and in Africa. When my newspaper company went through a merger, I volunteered to take the severance package, and shortly thereafter, my girlfriend, Anna Sussman, who later became my wife, and I ended up reporting from overseas.

She works in radio, and so the two of us decided to start an independent journal project called “Backpack Journalism.” We planned to move to areas like Africa, travel around the world and sell freelance journals to news organizations in the United States. At that time, there was a dearth of international news coverage, and we hoped we could fill a void.

What did you cover?

We covered human rights, and peace and conflict issues. Our primary outlets were the San Francisco Chronicle, Public Radio International and Al Gore’s TV station that was just starting up on one of the cable networks.

We basically did feature length newspaper articles, along with five- minute videos and sometimes five- minute radio pieces. We’d spend about a month looking into an issue before we produced our reports. Often times, we’d cover the same subject just using a different medium.

28 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

There are certainly issues all over the world that we don’t know anything about. I knew very little about Firestone and Liberia, and the role that Firestone and the U.S. had played throughout the country’s history until I stumbled upon a reference in a history book, The State of Africa.

I went looking for a book on Firestone and Liberia, and when I couldn’t find one, I decided to try to write one. Our film covers a chapter of that history – the period beginning in the 1980s to the present – but Firestone has been operating a plantation in Liberia since the 1920s.

Founded by freed American slaves, Liberia’s history was so different from some of its colonial neighbors, and in some respects, kind of a beacon of hope. But by the 1950’s and 1960’s the entire economy was in the hands of foreigners in collaboration with the country’s elites. Rubber became the backbone of the country’s economy and would remain so during the war.

Ultimately, I interviewed more than 100 former and current Firestone workers, including more than a dozen American and Liberian senior managers, diplomats, as well as people from the former warring factions in Liberia.

Having that access and hearing from the people directly involved helped us to piece together a lot of what had happened. For some of them, it was the first time they felt they could speak relatively freely about what had happened. Interviewing people who had gone through such atrocities, you begin to understand what it means to be a mother, a child, a father when war comes to your country. It was, in many cases, a very emotional experience for us.

In addition to 2015 Emmys for outstanding investigative journalism – long form – and outstanding research, “Firestone and the Warlord” won an IRE Award, a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, and an Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism. Below are links to the PBS “Frontline” film and ProPublica article from 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/firestone-and-the-warlord/ https://www.propublica.org/article/firestone-and-the-warlord-intro

UPCOMING EVENTS An Evening with Santa DECEMBER 8, 2015

Phillies Spring Training Alumni Event in Clearwater MARCH 20, 2016

PA Society Reception DECEMBER 11, 2015

Dinner and the Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre APRIL 1, 2016

Dinner and WCU Live Show, Dance Company “FLY” FEBRUARY 12, 2016 Dinner and an Evening of Traditional Irish Music MARCH 4, 2016 Murder Mystery Dinner MARCH 18, 2016

33rd Annual Presidential Scholarship Community Gala APRIL 2, 2016 13th Annual Accounting Alumni Night APRIL 21, 2016 Alumni Weekend MAY 13 – 15, 2016

Visit WCUalumni.org to view all of the upcoming events FALL 2 015

| 29

West Chester University West Chester, PA 19383-7401 The West Chester University Magazine is published three times a year for the alumni, friends and family of West Chester University of Pennsylvania by the Office of Communications, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383-7401.

Postmaster: Send address changes to:

West Chester University Foundation, P.O. Box 541, West Chester, PA 19381

Moving?

Help us keep your magazine coming by filling in the address change and sending it to us before you move.

Name _________________________________ Class Year ____________ Address ________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________________________________ State __________________________________ Zip ____________________ Phone __________________________________________________________ E-mail __________________________________________________________ Mail to: West Chester University Foundation, P.O. Box 541, West Chester, PA 19381

WWW.WCUALUMNI.ORG

CONNECT WITH US

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 1274 SOUTHEASTERN, PA

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED