West Chester University Magazine, Winter/Spring 2015

W I N T E R /S PRING 2015

West Chester University MAGAZINE

The

HEALTH SCIENCES

ON THE COVER

CONTENTS 2 | University News 10 | Sports

10

12 | Cover Story 19 | Q&A with Dr. Linda Adams

2

20 | Class Notes 24 | Chapter News 26 | Q&A with Kathy Davis

27

28 | WCUAA Board of Directors Candidate Biographies 29 | WCUAA Board of Directors 2015 Ballot

26 WIN TE R / S PR I N G

2 015

President Greg R. Weisenstein

Vice President for Advancement and Sponsored Research Mark Pavlovich

Editor, Executive Director Communications Pam Sheridan

Design and 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, ’68 (secretary) Richard Przywara (executive director) Trustees James P. Argires ’56 Frank Branca ’70 J. Alan Butcher ‘88, M’92 Matthew Bricketto, ex officio Millie C. Cassidy Deborah J. Chase, ’76 Kate Cipriano ’00 Thomas A. Fillippo ’69 (Council of Trustees representative) Cheryl Fulginiti ’80 David A. Gansky ’88 Carol Gersbach ’70 John A. Gontarz

West Chester University Alumni Association Maury Hoberman Charles A. Knott, Jr. Kathleen Leidheiser Donald E. Leisey ’59 Emily Jane Lemole Donald R. McIlvain Mark P. Mixner, ex officio Michael O’Rourke John R. Panichello ’83 Michael Peich Mark G. Pavlovich, ex officio Paula D. Shaffner ’80 James Shinehouse ’80 John Stoddart ’93-’99 MBA Christine Warren ’90 ’99 Greg R. Weisenstein, ex officio

President Rick Loughery ’06, M’10

Vice President Kerry Acker ’05

Treasurer Michael DePrisco ’92, M’95

Secretary Andrea Murray ’07, M’12

Immediate Past President Jeffrey Stein ’91

4

12

Directors

Emeriti

E-mail Addresses

Kerry Acker ’05 Thomas J. Ciaccio ’91, M’03 Michael DePrisco ’92, M’95 Sara Franco ’86 Bill Friedmann M’09 Dean Gentekos ’07 Jamie W. Goncharoff, Esq. ’82 Heidi Hawkins ’07 Matt Holliday ’09 Melanie Holwood ’08, M’10 Jonathan Long ’03 Rick Loughery ’06, M’10 Robert Malone ’08 Maria Milkowski ’09 Andrea Murray ’07, M’12 Christy Nau ’06 Amy Miller-Spavlik ’90, M’92 Jeffrey Stein ’91 Denise Bowman Trigo ’98

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: psheridan@wcupa.edu or Pam Sheridan, Executive Director of Communications and 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

WINTER/SP RING 2 015

|

1

UNIVERSITY NEWS

(3)

MID-WINTER GRADUATION Recalling their experiences as undergraduates at the University, the 2014 mid-winter commencement speakers Samuel Thompson’65 and James Capolupo’74 offered the graduates insights into the future they face and advice on setting their priorities.

Capolupo spoke during the morning ceremony to graduates in the Colleges of Business and Public Affairs, Education and Health Sciences, while Thompson addressed those receiving undergraduate degrees in the afternoon from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Visual and Performing Arts. The following evening, Christine Warren’ 90, M’99 addressed the graduate degree candidates.

A longtime, key administrator at the University, Lawrence A. Dowdy’73, was awarded the President’s Medallion for Service during the morning ceremony. Dowdy had served in a number of capacities at the University over the past 31 years, including the position of Executive Deputy to the President and as the Governmental Relations Officer from 1999 until his retirement in December 2014.

(1)

2 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

(2) A nationally recognized educator, James Capolupo encouraged the graduating class to avoid getting caught up acquiring things and instead, make time helping others. “Even in the busiest of times,” he noted, “ I set a specific time to help others; to help people who need a job, who struggle with their careers and have lost their way.

“You will find that to be very fulfilling and satisfying,” he said.

Named the 2014 National Superintendent of the Year and 2015 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year, Capolupo is in his ninth year as the superintendent of the Springfield School District, a suburban, public school district in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Under his guidance, the district’s schools have earned several marks of distinction.

The co-author of Behind the Curtain: Tackling the Myths and Mistakes of School Management, Capolupo also has taught at several colleges, including Arcadia University, Chestnut Hill College, Lincoln University and Princeton University.

During his address to students at the afternoon ceremony, Samuel Thompson talked about his experience on WCU’s football team and the coaching that helped him develop what he called the “seven P’s of professionalism (passion, principle, precision, practice, preparation and position on the field).

Thompson later described some of the dynamic social, legal and political changes that have occurred in the U.S. and around the world over the past 50 years, and pointed to some of the challenges that remain for the next generation. “I believe a major challenge for your generation over the next 50 years is to guarantee a quality education for every child in our country,” concluded Thompson.

“By doing so, you will have fulfilled the ambitious goal expressed by President Lyndon Johnson in his ‘Great Society’ address 50 years ago when he said, ‘The Great Society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talent.’”

A professor of law and director of the Center for the Study of Mergers and Acquisitions at the Penn State School of Law, Thompson was the partner-in-charge of the tax division of the Schiff, Hardin & Waite law firm in Chicago. From 1999 to 2000 he served, on behalf of the U.S. Treasury Department, as the tax policy advisor to the South Africa Ministry of Finance in Pretoria.

The author of 17 books and more than 75 articles on corporate and international tax, corporate governance and antitrust laws, Thompson earned a master’s and a law degree at the University of Pennsylvania and his L.L.M. in taxation from New York University.

Christine Warren, a director of Client Success for eBay Enterprises and an instructor at the Wharton Small Business Development Center, addressed the University’s master’s degree graduates, encouraging them to use that moment of success as their turning point. “See the world as a child: You can do anything,” she said.

With years of experience in sales, marketing, technology and entrepreneurship, Warren engages people in high-powered teams, one of which helped to create the Women’s Regional Business Council. A non-profit organization, the Center consists of influential women in a variety of industries and professions from banking and higher education to major corporations and organizations in the Philadelphia region.

(1) Samuel Thompson’65, (2) James Capolupo’74, (3) Christine Warren’ 90, M’99 WINTER/SP RING 2 015 | 3

UNIVERSITY NEWS

John Baker:The "Arts Parts" of WCU This spring, in advance of his retirement, artist and chair of the Department of Art + Design John Baker is earning an honor reserved for a rare few in the University community. Thanks to a $100,000 gift he has made

to the E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, the gallery in E.O. Bull Center for the Arts is being renamed the John H. Baker Gallery.

“As gallery director, curating exhibitions has always been a passion for me,” Baker explains. “To endow the gallery is a way of giving back to the department and university.

The endowment will provide support for the department to continue to have visiting artists and exhibitions that will enhance the curriculum.”

“There couldn’t be a more fitting and appropriate name,” says Rhoda Kahler ’95, a ceramic artist and former student of Baker’s. “John has been the face of this art department for many years and has fostered thousands of students. As a WCU alumna, I am so proud to say John Baker was my ceramic professor and he introduced me to the medium I love so much.”

Darcie Goldberg, a photographer and one of Baker’s close friends who is a former executive director of the Chester County Art Association, agrees. “To me, “ she says, “John is a rock star in the art world. Everyone who knows and has worked with him feels that way. He has made everyone feel so welcome in our art community.”

Goldberg first met Baker when she started working at the art center 20 years ago. “We became friends; we did collaborations, public arts programs. He helped me greatly as the executive director of the association. He is a great peer, a very good listener and he encourages you. He allows you to use your creativity at a level I never thought I could achieve. I think there are very few John Bakers in this world, and I’m just lucky that I got to know the real John Baker.”

“I think the world of him,” says Kathy Davis’73. “ Everybody clearly loves him. He offered such sound and gentle guidance.”

Davis is chief executive and visionary officer of Kathy Davis Studios and founder of Scatter Joy Art Center in Horsham, Pa. With her leadership gift toward the renaming of the gallery, she has become the keystone of the campaign to honor Baker. She met him here when they were in the same art class together, and says, “When I returned for my credits for permanent certification for teaching, I decided to take ceramic courses, and lo and behold he was the teacher!”

Baker graduated from West Chester in 1974 and was asked to stay and teach part-time. “My first class was a graduate-level class. I think the students were all older than me,” he laughs.

He found a mentor in art department chair Jack Hawthorne, in whose name Baker created a scholarship. “He acclimated me to the department and faculty and guided me toward academia.” Now, as department chair and associate dean for the College of Visual and Performing Arts, he says, “This was all part of the plan.”

That plan involved spending long hours at the ceramic kilns; going to national conferences with students and colleagues; mounting art exhibits here and abroad; launching and leading an art camp; participating in the regional arts community; supporting faculty; overseeing curriculum; and of course, creating and teaching. Many of his memories are of the senior student art shows every spring.

Baker has guided the department with an inclusive attitude, sharing opportunities to get faculty noticed and involved regionally and beyond, even at China’s Guizhuo University, where “both junior and senior faculty could exhibit at the international level.”

He has connected the University with the regional art community in many ways, including the Art Trust at 16 West Market Street in West Chester, which promotes regional and emerging artists, links businesses and art philanthropically, and has brought scholarship dollars into the department.

He also directed the department’s move, with the entire department participating in the building renovation plans. “The move to Bull Center recognizes our corner as the ‘arts parts’ of campus. We are the supporting foundation. As a department, we really are like a family, and our students recognize that.”

While he liked the Long Gallery in Mitchell Hall for the windows that fronted onto South Church Street (“great advertising – we always left the lights on at night”), Bull Center for the Arts now houses “the two premier exhibit spaces, and they are more accessible to the community.

These are very sought-after spaces by artists. We have the next two years booked already and proposals for about four years. And as a teaching gallery, we feed [artist lectures] into the curriculum.”

4 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

As for retirement, Baker says he’s anticipating spending more time in his studio working on ceramics, handmade paper and mixed compositions. “Now I can pick up where I left off 18 years ago when I became chair.”

An exhibit of works by John Baker, Gus Sermas, and Sally Van Orden, entitled “Past and Present,” is on display in the John H. Baker Gallery through April 10.

If you would like to honor John by making a gift to the John H. Baker Art Gallery Endowment, please visit www.wcufoundation.org/giving and enter fund #2450-854FN. You may also contact Sarah Botes at the WCU Foundation to discuss your contribution by calling 610-430-4153.

Two Distinguished Alumni Honored at Martin Luther King, Jr. Brunch Members of the University and surrounding community came together in January for the 22nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brunch. Sponsored by the

University and the Frederick Douglass Society, the brunch kicked off a series of events commemorating the civil rights leader, including a performance by the WCU Gospel choir, a panel discussion on the “color of justice, a service project, soul food dinner and a free screening of the film, Dear White People.

For the remainder of January until midFebruary, Sykes Student Union hosted a display of Dr. King’s original books, magazines from the 1960s, as well as historical memorabilia from the Stephen McKiernan archive collection.

As part of the brunch program, a video was shown of students from the University, West Chester East High School and B. Reed Henderson High School responding to questions about D. King’s dream and those who embody it today.

This year’s Drum Major for Justice honorees were two distinguished alumni: Pamela Long’96 and Otis Bullock’00. The reference to “drum major for justice” is from one of Dr. King’s sermons in which he talked about his life and how he hoped to be remembered: “… if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness.”

A native of Philadelphia, Otis Bullock was a former chess student of Salome Thomas-El, a former teacher and principal with the Philadelphia School District where he received national acclaim as an educator and chess coach at Vaux Middle School. When Bullock graduated from University City High School and later received his bachelor’s degree in political

(L to R): Jerome (“Skip”) Hutson, Director of Multicultural Affairs; Tiffany Lane, assistant professor and President of the Frederick Douglass Society; the 2015 Drum Major for Justice honorees Otis Bullock’00 and Pamela Long’96; WCU Provost Linda Lamwers

science from West Chester, he was Thomas-El’s first student to graduate from high school. A graduate from Temple University School of Law, he was the first in his family to complete college and law school.

A former counsel and legislative aide to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Bullock now serves as Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Service.

Since her graduation from West Chester in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Pamela Long has been actively involved in community service projects throughout Chester County, as well as in Detroit, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With the support of her son, a professional NBA basketball player, Long works with the Rip City Foundation, servicing children and their families, as well as collaborating with surrounding agencies to provide sports programming, tutoring, mentoring, reading support, and, at times, financial assistance.

Proceeds from the brunch support the University’s Frederick Douglass Society Scholarship Fund, which underwrites book purchases for selected fulltime-time undergraduates.

WINTER/SP RING 2 015

| 5

UNIVERSITY NEWS

ATHLETIC TRAINING: GOAL-ORIENTED, WINNING

The Center for Healthy Schools

Faculty, students and alumni in the University’s undergraduate Athletic Training (AT) program in the Department of Sports Medicine have been earning some high profile recognition lately.

Holistic: that’s how health educator Bethann Cinelli would like to be able to describe the environment in all K-12 schools.

As director of the Center for Healthy Schools and chair of WCU’s academic Department of Health, she takes an active role in enabling schools to make policy and curriculum changes toward becoming more holistic environments for student health and learning. The Center is at the leading edge of the effort to integrate health and wellness with education.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), research has established that there is a link between students’ health and their academic achievement. Both healthy eating and physical activity are integral to a child’s ability to learn but there are many facets of wellness. The CDC recommends that schools implement a coordinated health model during children’s formative years for their social, psychological, physical and intellectual development.

“Safe schools are more than metal detectors,” Cinelli emphasizes. “Children’s physical safety in schools is perhaps the most obvious facet and one often covered in the media. It’s the prevention of risky behaviors and addressing the underlying causes that concern educators. To achieve a healthy school environment, she says, “We have to focus on prevention, consider the whole child and create a coordinated model with all teachers and staff providing consistent health messages, applying best practice strategies and linking policies and curriculum to student health and learning.”

These are some of the issues that the Center for Healthy Schools at West Chester addresses in its mission as a core connector that facilitates the alignment of health-promoting school, community and family environments.

The CDC figures prominently because “WCU is a partner in a five-year Pennsylvania Department of Education and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant,” Cinelli says. “Its purpose is to work with 15 Pennsylvania school districts to build the capacity of districts and schools to effectively contribute to the reduction of HIV infection and other STDs among adolescents.

Program activities are expected to reinforce efforts to reduce teen pregnancy rates.”

WCU’s Center is “providing professional development and technical assistance to schools for the development of grades 6-12 exemplary sexual health curriculum, policy development and strategies to create safe and supportive schools for health and learning.”

Regular professional development for educators through the Center’s School Health Leadership Institute is part of the equation for success.

In June 2014, Cinelli organized a two-day workshop for administrators and educators to learn about resources, acquire skills

6 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

Bethann Cinellli

and create action plans around the theme “Creating Safe and Supportive Schools.” Participants included administrators, teachers and staff from 12 educational institutions including Avon Grove and William Penn school districts, Chester County Intermediate Unit, Fugett Middle School (West Chester Area School District), Olney Charter High School (Philadelphia) and St. Agnes School (West Chester). Curriculum writing, parent engagement, revision of policy, and program sustainability were among the issues addressed. The workshop materials –part of an electronic tool kit -were shared with participants on a flash drive, one way to sustain the work. There is a booster session on April 14.

This year, a spring event for middle schoolers in the Coatesville Area School District addressed issues around bullying. WCU student athletes in health professor Tammy James’ “Life Skills and Leadership for Athletes” course worked with the CASD middle school students to create social media messages to prevent bullying.

The Center for Healthy Schools Summer 2015 School Health Leadership Institute convenes June 22 and 23, and Cinelli says, “The theme will again focus on safe and supportive schools as this remains a priority for educators and the community.”

Then there’s the Campbell Soup Company’s Healthy Communities initiative, their 10-year, $10 million investment in Camden, where the company’s headquarters is located, to reduce childhood obesity, eliminate hunger, stress healthy eating and physical activity.

“We follow a collective impact model and are the architects helping with policy, curriculum and implementing strategies for healthy eating and physical activity with public and non-public schools and the City of Camden,” notes Cinelli. “We’re creating the infrastructure so they can establish and sustain a community of wellness, create action plans for wellness and measure success.”

Cinelli says this continues to be “a very positive experience, partnering with highly engaged educators, district administrators, community prevention partners, families and students.” She hopes that other corporations will emulate the Campbell model of collective impact and empower healthy schools, children and families to build strong communities.

At the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association (EATA) January meeting, the WCU coordinator of athletic training education won the Presidential Recognition Award; another faculty member won EATA’s 2015 Graduate Student Outstanding Poster Presentation Award; a WCU alumna presented the keynote address; and a WCU senior AT major won a scholarship.

Separately, a second alumnus received regional recognition from the National Association of Athletic Trainers (NATA), and a current junior won a free trip to NATA’s national convention for her creativity.

Their success reflects the quality of the AT program at WCU. According to the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), WCU boasts the country’s second largest AT program based on the number of students graduating each year and the number who pass their certification exam. Over three years (2012-2014), the CAATE reported a 97 percent pass rate for the 93 WCU students who took the BOC exam in that time period.

This distinction is one of the elements that makes WCU’s AT program unique, notes Neil Curtis Neil Curtis, who won the EATA Presidential Award. A previous winner of NATA’s Athletic Trainer Service Award (2010), he was honored for “unselfish and dedicated efforts that have advanced the EATA and the athletic training profession.” Among that service are his various roles on EATA committees, his mentorship of students and graduates, and his professional commitments to the organizations.

Curtis says several other elements differentiate WCU’s AT program from the 356 other accredited programs. “One is that freshmen enter directly into the program. Only about 10 percent of accredited programs bring in first-year students and that helps us attract good candidates.

Another aspect that sets WCU’s program apart is that the faculty are active athletic trainers. “The interaction with our athletic training majors while we’re providing care for our student athletes and supervising clinical rotations allows us to really get to know them,” says Curtis.

His own clinical responsibilities have included Golden Rams women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming, track & field, as well as general rehabilitation. On average, he supervises five students a year during their clinicals and serves as advisor for about 20 every year.

The faculty’s dual role allows students to observe and learn from them in both professional and academic settings. All faculty are nationally certified athletic trainers from the Board of Certification, Inc., and are licensed by the Pennsylvania State Medical Board.

Founded in 1970, WCU’s AT program is the first in Pennsylvania and one of the first five in the country. A member of the faculty since 1993, Curtis also has served as chair of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society Research Committee, on the editorial review board and continuing education column editor for International Journal of Athletic Therapy & Training, and since 2002 as guest article reviewer for the Journal of Athletic Training.

SENIOR TO PRESENT RESEARCH AT PROFESSIONAL MEETING After participating in the University’s first Summer Undergraduate Research Institute last year, public health promotion

major Victoria Martin received good news about her work. Her research on mental health among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) college students was accepted for presentation at the Society for Public Health Education’s (SOPHE) 66th Annual Meeting.

“I surveyed students who identity as LGBTQ+ on their perceived mental health state, mental health diagnoses, and access to mental health services,” Martin explains. She

found “that LGBTQ+ students experience significantly higher rates of mental illness, self harm, and suicidality than the general population, and access mental health care less often.

“I was able to show that there is a need for mental health care and education in the LGBTQ+ population.”

The senior is a member of the LGBTQ+ community who has volunteered for three years for the LGBTQ youth organization Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition.

She chose her major based on her passion about access to health care, but says she

might not have investigated the topic without being part of the University’s summer research program. She credits her advisor, Tanya Gatenby, for guiding her through “the technical side of research, publishing, and many other areas of academia in which I had no experience.”

According to the SOPHE Abstracts Committee, a record number of 542 abstracts were submitted for this conference, to be held in late April in Portland, Ore. Martin will give her first professional presentation in a 15-minute session, followed by audience questions and answers.

WINTER/SP RING 2 015 | 7

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Sports Drinks vs. a Healthier Option Testing athletic performance using a vegetable-based beverage Melissa Reed

When it comes to sports drinks, many sports dietitians express concern over the quality of the ingredients they contain. In a study supported by the Campbell’s Soup Company,

Christine Karpinski ’89, a sports dietitian and Melissa Reed, a clinical exercise physiologist, attempted to find if a drink with carbohydrate sources other than those contained in popular commercially available sports drinks would provide comparable energy levels for elite endurance athletes.

“We wanted to see if a vegetable-based beverage would be comparable to a sports drink in helping the performance and recovery of these athletes as they undergo endurance tests on stationary bikes.”

The two faculty members in the University’s College of Health Sciences conducted their test in the Human Performance Laboratory with 28 athletes who compete in triathlons, bike and road races. Initially, Karpinski and Reed measured the athletes’ aerobic capacity, conducted a series of blood tests, analyzing and determining the athletes’ body composition.

From those initial tests, they determined the subjects’ maximum power and calculated the workloads the athletes would perform at for each trial. Two weeks later, the athletes participated in exhaustive trials on the bikes to completely deplete them of all their glycogen (carbohydrate stores).

“Basically, we had them cycle intermittently on the stationary bikes 90 percent of their maximum power output with a 50 percent recovery,” explains Reed. “When they couldn’t sustain that, we gradually reduced demand on their output until they couldn’t sustain that performance.”

Immediately following the depletion trials, the athletes consumed a flavored water placebo, the experimental beverage, or a commercial sports drink. After a four-hour rest period and more measurements, the subjects were asked to pedal at 70 percent of their maximum workload until they couldn’t cycle any longer. They returned two weeks and four weeks later to perform the same tests, consuming a different beverage.

“The participants were blinded to beverages they were consuming so they didn’t know which drink they were being given,” says Reed, “and by having each of them consume each of the three beverages, we were able to compare the effect of each drink against their performances.”

The faculty members’ findings, which they plan to present at the American College of Sports Medicine's national conference in San Diego in May, showed athletes cycled significantly longer after consuming the vegetable-based beverage, compared to the flavored water, and there was no significant difference in the athletes’ performance after they had consumed the vegetable-based beverage versus the commercial sports drink. These data indicated that the vegetable-based beverage offered similar results to the commercially available sports drink.

According to Karpinski and Reed, the vegetablebased drink is novel in that none of the commercial sports beverages currently on the market are vegetablebased.

“It’s a healthier choice,” notes Karpinski, “particularly for children, most of whom don’t need sports drinks, but are consuming them like regular beverages. Sports drinks are exactly that – they are supposed to be taken Christine Karpinski before, during and immediately after a sport.”

8 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

Karpinski is a registered and licensed dietitian, a board certified sports dietitian and assistant professor in the College’s Department of Nutrition since 1999. For several years, she has volunteered her expertise to WCU athletes, and this fall, she started a sports nutrition student interest group with fellow certified sports dietitian Jeanie Subach.

“Many of the nutrition majors are interested in working with athletes,” notes Karpinski. “We share information and our experiences with them and teach them some of the skills they need to know to eventually become sports dietitians. The students also participate in team talks and working with the athletes.”

A certified clinical exercise specialist and assistant professor in kiNutrition Lab nesiology, Reed teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in exercise science. This past fall, she and other faculty in sports medicine, nutrition and nursing implemented a project on fall prevention at the Coatesville Area Senior Center. Twice a week, the faculty and students from those various departments provide an hour of education on health, and balance and strength training.

“This interdisciplinary approach makes it possible for the students to see and experience how the different disciplines are applied to helping the seniors,” notes Reed.

Reed also has created an ongoing wellness project with the West Chester Borough police in which the officers’ aerobic fitness, muscular fitness and endurance, flexibility and body composition are assessed. The officers are provided with packets of information related to their metabolic risks and overall fitness level. The officers are offered personal training, and then re-evaluated every six months.

“Both graduate and undergraduate students work with me on this project as well,” says Reed. “The experiential learning component for the students is the most beneficial aspect of the project.”

Service to Others Brings National Recognition For the ninth consecutive year,West Chester University’s student volunteers have ensured the University a place on the prestigious President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

The Corporation for National and Community Service annually names universities to the Honor Roll to recognize institutions that achieve meaningful, measureable outcomes in their communities.

“This prestigious award highlights the role West Chester University plays in meeting community needs and placing our students on a lifelong path of active citizenship,” notes Jodi RothSaks, director of the Office of Service-Learning and Volunteer Programs.

In the 2013-2014 academic year, West Chester students recorded 605,532 hours of service to area organizations, schools, communities and individuals. These hours are from student clubs and organizations, field experiences and student teaching, service learning courses, residence hall associations, athletics, and volunteer work performed with non-profit agencies or governmental organizations.

By the numbers: There were 200 faculty who included a service-learning component in their courses and 6,775 students engaged in community service through those courses. More than $106,500 was raised for charitable causes, benefiting more than 220 community agencies.

Roth-Saks notes that the actual number of service hours is greater than the hours reported since it does not include

individuals’ volunteer time or every course in which students complete field placements, practica and internships with non-profit agencies or government organizations.

In the spring 2014 semester, the Office of Service-Learning and Volunteer Programs initiated the two-semester Service-Learning Canvassing Project, designed to provide a professional development opportunity where faculty could learn how to integrate servicelearning into the curriculum, become well informed about resources, and engage others with this new knowledge. The office continued the outreach with a service-learning curriculum integration workshop in the fall 2014 semester.

To date, the Canvassing Project has led to 12 new service learning course sections being added to the 2013-2014 report and nine new service-learning course sections being developed in 20142015.

The Office of Service-Learning and Volunteer Programs also established a volunteer council and an international servicelearning committee. The former assists representatives from student organizations in promoting their events and creating partnerships with one another to reach philanthropic goals. The latter works with the University’s Center for International Programs to support faculty and staff who lead service-learning trips abroad.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs.

WINTER/SP RING 2 015 | 9

SPORTS

WCU STUDENT IN NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL In a recent interview, West Chester University senior, defensive back Al-Hajj Shabazz talks about his time at WCU and his selection to participate in the 2015 National Football League Player’s Association (NFLPA) Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 17. The

Sr., defensive back Al-Hajj Shabazz (#2)

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl is a premiere post-season all-star game for draft-eligible college players. The week-long event (including practice sessions for the game at the end of the week) provided participants with a first-class professional experience while introducing them to the business of the National Football League. The annual game gives prospective NFL players the best opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers and fans.

A Communication Studies major hailing from Philadelphia and John Bartram High School, Shabazz was very active in the Horrocks Leadership Academy established at West Chester University. He served as a team co-captain on the 2014 Golden Rams' football team this past fall.

When you were first notified that you would be playing in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, what were some of your first reactions? What came to mind immediately?

It was a weight lifted off my shoulders because my family and I knew we had a shot to be put into the game from a credible source.

When I got the email I was in class and immediately stepped out to call and give my father the news. I’m sure the students who saw me on the phone jumping up and down with excitement wondered what was going on.

What did you learn most from working with former NFL players and coaches?

I learned that the smallest details in your game become the biggest part of the game because the higher you go the better every player gets. So, the winners of these position battles are going to be the ones with sound technique and concentration.

How will you spend Draft Day this April?

Alumni Weekend !

sponsored by

Liberty Mutual Insurance

MAY 15 – 17, 2015

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 8 AM - 5TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING SPONSORED BY THE FRIARS The Friars Society Alumni Association is hosting their annual golf outing at Broad Run Golf Club. It will be an 8am shotgun start, and is open to all alumni and friends. For more information contact Kerry Acker at kerryacker@gmail.com 6 PM TO 9 PM - KICKOFF “RAT PARTY” IN EHINGER HALL & ON TENTED FRONT LAWN Enjoy wine, beer and Philly-themed food while listening to Bryen O’Boyle (formerly of Mr. Greengenes) and his band in Ehinger Hall. Take the elevator home and stay in Brandywine Hall with all your friends.

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015 10 AM- BREAKFAST BUFFET AND THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING Alumni and Foundation Center, 202 Carter Drive Hear all the news from your Alumni Association and talk to other board members about volunteering.

AFTERNOON EVENTS 12 PM TO 4 PM Campus Tours, Education Alumni Awards Ceremony and

Reception, 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Finance Department, Planetarium Show 5 PM - 25TH ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION FOR THE CLASS OF 1990 *NEW* Alumni and Foundation Center, 202 Carter Drive West Chester University Alumni Association inducts the Class of 1990 in the Silver Ram Society to celebrate their 25th anniversary of graduating from WCU. Bring your fellow classmates and see what your friends have been up to since graduation.

6 PM – DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS DINNER Alumni and Foundation Center, 202 Carter Drive Come out to honor Distinguished Alumni Award recipients: Linda Cassotti (Community Leadership), Larry Dowdy (Higher Education) and Rick Loughery (Young Alumni); and Alumni Association Service Award: Brigadier General Richard Merion

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015 10 AM – 12 PM – SUNDAY BRUNCH Lawrence Center

VISIT WCUALUMNI.ORG FOR THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND TO REGISTER!

I plan on having a regular day – maybe step out with family and go to the movies or something. I honestly doubt if I could stand in front of a television and watch every single draft pick. I’m just going to wait for a call and lets the chips fall where they may.

If you could pick one or two of your fondest memories of West Chester University, what would it/they be?

I have so many to choose from, but one of my fondest memories is the day I should have been going home for winter break but left something in the locker room. I went down to the locker room and found my good friend Ronell Williams sitting at my locker to tell me that he just made 1st Team All-America! Being the only sophomore in the school’s history to do so, he said, “It’s good to make, but it’s better when your teammates make it with you” referring to me and how he was waiting for me to reach my All-America milestone.

For him not to fully embrace his award because I was not on the list gave me more motivation than I could ever imagine.

How have your West Chester coaches prepared you for what may be ahead at the next level?

What I will take from our coaching staff here is that everything always has to be earned and not given.

10 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

Take the elevator home from Friday and or Saturday night's parties. Stay overnight in Brandywine Residence Hall. These beautiful modern one and two bedroom suites with private baths include hotel-like amenities as well as linens and towels.

BONUS with your stay is a complimentary ticket to Friday night's Kickoff Party!

NOON - DORM CHECKOUT FOR FRIDAY NIGHT ONLY STAY NOON - DORM CHECKOUT FOR SATURDAY NIGHT ONLY STAY OR WEEKEND STAY

WINTER/SRING 2015 | 11

COVER STORY

The dozens of alumni profiles lining Sturzebecker’s Hall of Fame represent the College of Health Sciences’ enviable history and reputation. Since its earliest program in physical education, the College has experienced tremendous growth in its curricula and programming.

Today’s future graduates from the College are being taught and mentored by faculty from an array of healthrelated fields which didn’t exist a few years ago. In the following pages are examples of some of their research and outreach projects.

The

HEALTH SCIENCES 12 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

WINTER/SP RING 2 015 | 13

COVER STORY Parents of children both with and without disabilities will find her latest book accessible. “It’s not a textbook so any parents or anyone would be comfortable using it to teach children to swim,” she says of Aquatic Assessments and Activities: Six Levels of Differentiations, which is available this spring (Human Kinetics Publishers).

POSITIVE AND REMARKABLE Working with disabled youth Monica Lepore has believed that physical activities should be available for all students regardless of disability

country.” This academic work is typically at the graduate level.

A “Certified Adapted Physical Educator” and expert in adapted aquatics, Lepore developed the minor so future physical education teachers would know how to plan, implement and advocate for developmentally appropriate physical activities for people with various physical and cognitive disabilities. Those activities include not only exercise, fitness and sports but also recreation, dance and aquatics.

“We designed the program around the Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS), which has a set of 15 standards of specialized knowledge, some

since long before federal legislation made such programs mandatory in schools.

In 1987, Lepore established West Chester University’s first adapted physical education program combining activities in the gym and pool for youth with disabilities ages 5 – 21 in the local community. Since then, the once-weekly, 10-week-per-semester program has provided free one-on-one instruction for 50 individuals through the service of 75 WCU Health and Physical Education majors.

The volunteer experience is so rewarding for the college students that they recently chose Monica Lepore “Positive and Remarkable” as the motto for the programs under the University’s Adapted Physical Activity umbrella.

That umbrella covers three “Rammies” Special Olympics teams (soccer, swimming, and, new last year, basketball), plus CampAbilitiesPA@WCU for youth with visual impairments, and the Adapted Lifetime Physical Fitness program. The latter was created by Lepore’s fellow kinesiology professor Kat Ellis.

This Monday evening program is for individuals with cognitive disabilities who are of which are graduate-level work,” Lepore age 16 or older and are ready to transition notes. She served on the APENS committee from a school environment into the community. Attendees build self-confidence in a that designed those standards and developed a test for the designation of Certified supportive exercise group that meets once a Adapted Physical Educator. week for nine weeks each semester.Students can complete their 200 required These programs are so popular that indihours working with children with disabilities viduals wait years to get a spot. right on campus through the Adapted PhysiSome WCU volunteers studying health cal Activity programs. “Our students are able and physical education carry an Adapted to combine coaching and training these inPhysical Education minor, another of dividuals with service learning and commuLepore’s innovations, which was implemented in 2006. She estimates that there are nity services,” she says. WCU students who volunteer in the Special Olympics programs “probably only five undergraduate Adapted Physical Education (minor) programs in the can also become certified Special Olympics

14 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

Maura Sheehan

coaches in several sports.

“At the beginning of the semester, our students might understand these children’s abilities but may doubt their own and question, for example, if they should correct a participant. By the end of the semester, they are challenging our attendees at a better, more appropriate level.

“Once they get the connection, some move into the Adapted PE graduate certificate program or earn graduate assistantships around the country.”

Undergraduates may have majors in professional studies or special education.

The minor also attracts students in WCU’s pre-physical therapy and pre-occupational therapy programs. Approximately 10 percent of general PE majors take the Adapted PE minor.

In working with youth with disabilities, Lepore notes, graduates gain flexibility in their teaching skills, even if they aren’t planning to stay in that field fulltime.

Each of the programs has a skill set for participants to complete and the volunteers might have to stretch their teaching envelopes to help the child achieve the goals.

Camp Abilities is all about pushing one’s envelope. The residential sports weekend serves 30 young people who are blind or visually impaired, ages 7 to 18, with 30 WCU Adapted PE students providing one-on-one mentorship. In 2015, Camp Abilities celebrates the 20th anniversary of its founding at Brockport, N.Y., and the 10th anniversary of the WCU site, which Lepore founded with two colleagues.

Three of the APA programs offer swimming as one of the activities. As an expert in adapted aquatics, Lepore is the lead author of the only textbook for adapted swimming (Adapted Aquatics Programming: A Professional’s Guide) and wrote, consulted for, and appeared in the DVD Intro to Adapted Aquatics (2006).

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

Ensuring healthy, safe workers “Almost every research project is a collaboration with my colleagues,” says certified industrial hy-

gienist and environmental health professor Maura Sheehan, and that’s one of the things she finds so rewarding about her work.

Not only is industrial hygiene about protecting people, but the professionals are generally cooperative individuals with the unifying goal of ensuring healthy, safe workers, families and communities.

One of the founders of WCU’s environmental health program, Sheehan joined the University faculty in 1980, bringing expertise in human toxicology, industrial hygiene, aerosol science, air quality, and occupational safety. She has been active for decades in leadership roles in the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) at the local and national levels. The connections she has forged have advanced the education and careers of her students as well as her own research, which focuses on aerosols such as metalworking fluid mist in the workplace.

“I am most proud of bringing students into the industrial hygiene profession. My service to my profession helps me accomplish this goal and further my own scholarship,” she says. “As a past officer in our local section and on the Aerosol Technology Committee (ATC) of the national AIHA, I have taught professional development courses, organized and promoted technical sessions, and developed many aerosol-related roundtables. My work with the ATC helped expand my research and career opportunities and opened doors for my students as well.”

As a result of her service, in 2009 she was named an AIHA Fellow, a lifetime honor limited to five percent of AIHA membership.

Her research on metalworking fluid (MWF) aerosols in the workplace surrounds issues of measuring them, how those aerosols are generated, and evaluating controls used for these complex aerosols as well as other dusts. Think coal mines or automobile and airplane manufacturing plants, where drilling, sanding and machining take place.

Sheehan’s leadership in conducting research with Ford Motor Co. on metalworking fluid mists led to her chairing the OSHA committee responsible for a 1999 landmark study on metalworking fluids. She also spent her “sabbaticals at the Chemical Industries Institute of Toxicology, the EPA and the University of Iowa -- all direct results of affiliations I made with colleagues on the ATC.” At the University of Iowa, she was engaged in generating aerosols in the nanoparticle size range to help develop new test equipment and methods to measure nanoparticles in the workplace and other environments in order to control worker exposure to airborne particles. Today, an alumna is working with Sheehan’s Iowa colleagues continuing this type of research.

Sheehan has spent the past five summers conducting research on airborne coal dust and diesel exhaust at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Office of Mine Safety and Health Research.

“This opportunity was opened to me by my own mentor and colleagues,” she explains. “The NIOSH group and I, along with my mentor, published the work on the development of a sampling device for mining-related aerosols last year. In Spring 2012, one of my undergraduate students who was interested in research did her internship with my colleagues at NIOSH. That summer, I had the fun opportunity to work with her, my colleagues at NIOSH, and my old mentor -- three ‘generations’ of industrial hygienists/aerosol scientists.”

Another aspect of her profession that Sheehan finds rewarding is teaching environmental health courses to undergraduates. “It’s usually in the second semester of their junior year when their eyes open and they see themselves becoming professionals.”

Thanks to her professional affiliations, Sheehan has been eminently successful at combining her own and her colleagues’ expertise and cooperative nature with the epiphany of an undergrad in the major to develop several ways to involve students with practicing industrial hygienists, some of whom are alumni.

“I tap my colleagues as mentors and internship supervisors for my undergraduate students. In my industrial hygiene class, I set up pairs of students to interview local industrial hygiene colleagues about their specific problem-solving experiences, tour their facility, then the students share their experiences with the class. These enthusiastic presentations result in more students becoming interested in industrial hygiene.”

WINTER/SP RING 2 015 | 15

COVER STORY Local colleagues also supervise the full semester internships required of every undergraduate, she continues, noting, “My graduates are now some of my colleagues and internship supervisors. This weaves an even tighter network.”

By mentoring, networking and collaborating, Sheehan concludes, “We are ‘paying it forward’ to protect workers, their families and our communities.”

THE SCIENCE BEHIND COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS The expanding scope of communication disorders

Early practitioners worked primarily with children who stuttered or had hearing impairments, but

today’s speech-language pathologists can be found in a variety of settings, including pediatric centers, early intervention programs, schools, hospitals, acute care and rehabilitation settings and skills nursing facilities.

According to Jennifer Means, an associate professor and director of clinical services in the University’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program, language impairments are a major component of what speech-language pathologists or therapists treat.

“Our scope of practice encompasses more than treating articulation disorders among children and adults, as it had in the past,” explains Means.

As a result, students interested in the field are required to know much more of the science behind communication disorders. Practitioners, for example, must have obtained a master’s degree. “Acceptance to graduate school is extremely competitive,” she says.

Jennifer Means “We receive about 300 applications, but can only accept approximately 28 candidates.”

Undergraduates in West Chester’s program learn about normal speech and language development, as well as anatomy, physiology and neurology. Programs at the master’s level not only involve coursework addressing varying speech, language, voice, fluency, and acquired neurological disorders, but a number of hours working with patients across the lifespan, Students in the graduate program complete two in-house therapy clinical experiences, one each semester, under the direct supervision of a certified speech-language pathologist utilizing an analog video recording system.

Once they’ve completed the two clinical experiences, the master’s degree students are placed in a school setting followed by a semester-long affiliation with a hospital or rehab facility where they work with adult patients.

“Through both experiences, we’re ensuring that students have exposure across the lifespan with all different types of disorders,” says Means.

Recently, the department started a bilingual track in which students must work with a bilingual patient during the clinical component of their studies. “Students who choose this track must consider the culture of their patient, and how it might impact their treatment or assessment plan,” explains Means.

Prior to joining West Chester’s faculty in 2004, Means was a public school speech-language pathologist with expertise in reading and writing disorders. In the process of creating a writing program, Means observed that children with these disorders tended to focus anxiously on the mechanics of writing versus content. In her research, she was able to help alleviate their writing anxiety by having them only edit their work from a typed version.

“Children learn how to spell based on what they read in print, which, of course is in a typed format,” says Means. “Therefore, it’s much easier for them to recognize a misspelled word, for example, if it’s typed.

“Once I was able to get them to focus on editing only when they were looking at the typed version, they were less anxious about writing and able to focus on their story content.

“As a result, their writing actually improved.”

Today, Means directs the University’s Clinical Speech, Language and Hearing Services, coordinating services for children and adults in the department’s on-site clinic. She also oversees the department’s school-based and medical internships for all graduate students. Her primary teaching responsibilities are in the areas related to school-based practices, fluency disorders and clinical supervision.

A 1986 alumna of West Chester, Means received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University and her doctor of Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. She has written several publications and given presentations on clinical supervision, educational law, and school-based services.

16 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

A commonly held belief is that excessive amounts of salt consumption can increase a person’s blood pressure or resting heart rate. In fact, a recent study by West Chester profes-

sor of sports medicine, Sandra Fowkes Godek challenges that assumption. “During pre-season, I found that University football players, for example, can consume tremendous amounts of sodium without negatively affecting their cardiovascular systems,” says Godek.

The nation’s leading expert on fluid and electrolyte replacement in football players, Godek directs the University’s HEAT (Heat Illness Evaluation Avoidance and Treatment) Institute. Over the past 13 years, she has worked with both WCU football players and professional athletes, demonstrating the benefits of replacing the significant sodium losses they experience during summertime pre-season practices.

Most recently, she has performed individualized sodium supplementation in NFL players with a history of muscle cramping, as well as lactate testing and sweat testing in professional ice hockey players during on-ice conditioning and practices. Her research has also involved studies on thermoregulation and heat disorders in athletes, such as exercise-induced hyperthermia and rapid cooling methods.

Last summer, Godek and one of her graduate assistants replicated some of the sodium-replacement studies she has done with the Philadelphia Eagles with two groups of six WCU football players each.

During the first nine days of training camp, one group was given a very low amount of sodium in fluids similar to what’s contained in sports drinks and the other six players were given fluids containing a very high sodium content. Godek measured their blood pressure and resting heart rate, and took blood and urine samples to determine whether or not they were in fluid and electrolyte balance and ensure that they remained hydrated.

“We determined that regardless of a low or high intake of sodium, there were no differences between the two group’s systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels or in their resting heart rates,” reports Godek.

“Given that football players need a great deal of salt because of how much they lose, particularly during several days of practice, this was good news.”

Godek has been a member of the College of Health Sciences’ sports medicine program since 1991.

In 2004, she was appointed director of physician services for sports medicine, serving as liaison to the team physicians and as supervisor of the orthopedic and internal medicine fellows. In 2005, she founded the University’s HEAT Institute.

The author and co-author of numerous articles in the Journal of Athletic Training, the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Sports Health Care, and other

HYDRATION AND HEAT ILLNESSES Dispelling myths in sports medicine

Sandra Fowkes Godek

sports medicine journals, she has been called upon to provide presentations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Godek also has provided expert input on NASA 360, CBS Nightly News, Comcast Sports Net, and MSNBC. Last month, Godek was the key organizer of the third international conference and consensus meeting on exercise-associated hyponatremia. Seventeen world experts from as far away as New Zealand and Australia, met in San Diego, California to present the most current research on this life-threatening condition that occurs when the level of sodium in a person’s blood is dangerously low.

“Sodium helps regulate the amount of water that’s in and around our cells,” explains Godek. “Hyponatremia can occur from drinking too much fluid, for example, during endurance sports.

“As the body’s sodium is diluted by overdrinking water or sports drinks, its water levels rise, and the body’s cells begin to swell, causing mild-to-life threatening problems primarily associated with brain swelling or fluid in the lungs.

“Many athletes” she says, “ continue to drink dangerous amounts of fluids because they falsely believe it will prevent muscle cramps and improve their performance.”

Noting the tragic death of two, 17-year-old high school football players who died in August 2014 from hyponatremic encephalopathy as a result of excessive drinking , Godek says the conference’s primary mission was “to set the record straight on hydration, because the message has not yet fully reached the world of sports.

“It is critical that we get the word out that athletes should drink when they are thirsty and stop drinking when thirst goes away,” warns Godek. “ Hyponatremia is 100% preventable if athletes consume fluids before and during exercise sensibly.”

WINTER/SP RING 2 015 | 17

COVER STORY

NUTRITION AND SPORTS

Dispensing Dietary Advice for Athletes As a registered dietitian and a board certified sports specialist dietitian (CSSD), Jeanie Subach knows that

“Fitness without good nutrition just won’t work.”

She emphasizes that message with people she works with – from the Philadelphia ’76ers basketball players to youth sports teams.

Subach has worked with the Sixers since 1989, and was previously team nutritionist for the Eagles (1999 – 2013) and for the Flyers (1989 – 1997). Professional adult athletes have different nutritional needs from amateurs or youth but as one of the first 49 professionals to achieve the CSSD credential, Subach is particularly well-placed to advise any athlete.

WCU nutrition students benefit from Subach’s connections – not by scoring Sixers swag, but by scoring opportunities for professional experience.

Usually, Subach has two WCU nutrition students per semester working alongside her with the Sixers; right now, four are. They assist at physicians day with nutritional assessments, creating profiles of the players in order to ensure their nutritional needs are met. Students develop meal patterns for the players. They plan, shop and pack snack boxes for the players. Students learn management skills like decision-making and procurement as well as using nutrition for fuel and recovery.

Subach, a mother of three, also has younger people’s diets and health on her radar. Her passion is nutritional education for the children playing local sports such as her daughters’ swimming and field hockey teams.

“It’s their responsibility to fuel their bodies, so we have to teach them about using food as fuel, recovery nutrition, eating as a teen, healthy eating on a budget … . And girls have to understand the need for suf-

18 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

ficient energy availability to support athletic performance, bone health and development.”

She makes frequent nutrition presentations to local schools. She has been a spokesperson for the NFL Fuel Up to Play 60 program, designed to educate elementary and middle school-age children on proper nutrition and encourage them to spend 60 minutes a day in physical activity – to make “wellness part of the game plan in schools across the country.”

That goal fit nicely when Subach, then still nutritionist for the Eagles and a spokesperson for the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Council, partnered with the team’s head chef for

and Dietetics’ Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo conference last October.

One of the products recently promoted is Campbell’s V8 Protein drink, which Subach added to the training table for the ’76ers as well as for West Chester East High School wrestlers, where her nephew is a team member.

She is also nutrition director for Camp Abilities, a weekend camp for visually impaired youth. Subach’s students develop the menus and learn about quantity foods production.

“This experience gives our students a leg up when they apply for internships because they are prepared for ServSafe certification through the National Restaurant Association at the manager’s level.”

Beginning in the fall 2013 semester, she had her students work with the parents of children who attended the Adapted Physical Activity evening program run by WCU kinesiologist Kat Ellis, who co-directs the minor.

Subach wondered: Could these children improve their nutrition status? She asked parents to monitor their children’s intake over the three days before and the three days after she presented the class with some nutrition Jeanie Subach education.

“We found that a welldesigned nutrition education presentations to area schools on drinking program has a positive impact on students chocolate milk for its ideal ratio of carbohywho were in the Adapted Physical Activity drates to protein (4:1). program,” she notes. Parents insisted she She has also served as a spokesperson for continue because their kids were so excited food companies including Campbell Soup to show Subach their food choices that they Company, Green Giant, and General Mills. emailed or texted her photos. Now, she Campbell, which has connected with presents nutrition information to that group several WCU health science faculty, is most every semester. interested in her expertise as a sports special“These activities make us better profesist dietitian. Subach’s students are part of an sionals. They get the brain juices flowing, arrangement where they receive not only cause us to ask more questions,” Subach education in nutrition but also training in concludes. marketing. Campbell also sponsored a WCU student to attend the Academy of Nutrition

Q&A with DR. LINDA ADAMS, Dean of the College of Health Sciences Today, the health sciences encompass a wide variety of fields in health care practice, education and research. As dean of WCU’s College of Health Sciences noted

in a recent interview, it is an exciting time for both the faculty and future WCU graduates in the health sciences.

In light of what is occurring in health care related fields today, what are some of the growth areas occurring in the College of Health Sciences?

One of the College’s biggest growth areas is community health, specifically, promoting health as a community and creating a culture of health. Knowing how to effectively educate and orient people to take more responsibility for their health has become increasingly critical. Moving into a culture of health involves people not just understanding how to manage their health, but putting a value on health as well.

Another area where the College is experiencing growth is in nutrition. We’re looking at expanding our undergraduate program in nutrition to include a focus on community nutrition.

For example, when we think of patterns of food consumption and how they influence disease, many nutritionists are beginning to look at food and nutrition as a prescription for managing our health and level of wellness.

As people are taking greater responsibility for their health, has that had an impact on how you prepare the College’s future graduates?

The baby boomer generation has been one of the most educated groups, and a large number of them have resources.

They’ve taken better care of themselves, and they are more consumer-oriented when it comes to their healthcare. By the time most people seek a doctor, they’ve researched their health problem on the web, for example, and they come to their doctor with information about their health issue and sometimes even what the treatment should be.

Based on this new consumerism, I think health science professionals will need to develop a partnership approach with their client or patients, talking with them and understanding their lifestyle so they can help them help themselves.This will require not only book knowledge on the part of the student, but the development of students’ emotional intelligence as well.

Are students in the College of Health Sciences being prepared to apply what they’ve learned in a global world?

We try to have students understand diversity from multiple perspectives, and we encourage them to work with multiple

Linda Adams

cultures- whether in this community, outside this area, or through opportunities for research and study abroad.

I refer to the ability of understanding other cultures and appreciating another person’s perspective as “cultural humility.” It’s an ability to manage and help patients or clients while taking into account their cultural perspective.

Prior to her appointment as dean of the College of Health Sciences in 2013, Adams was the associate vice chancellor and provost of North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, N.C. With degrees in public health and nursing, she has spent the majority of her career promoting policies and programs to improve the quality of life for children and youth both here and abroad. She was one of the first nurses to assess the characteristics of incarcerated youth, risk factors for delinquent behavior, and the importance of collaborative partnerships to promote healthy behaviors. This research led to the development of a national policy requiring mental health assessments of all detained and adjudicated youth. Adams also has been an integral part of policy development for children and youth through her advisory and consulting roles in China, India, Korea, Brazil and the Caribbean.

A member of the National Advisory Council of the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institute of Health and the National Advisory Council of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Nurse Faculty Scholars Program, Adams has served on numerous boards, including the National Initiative on Children’s Healthcare Quality, the Urban League, and the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. She also has served on the government affairs committee of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Magnet Hospital Recognition Board of the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the American Medical Association’s advisory panel on improving health provider’s cultural competence.

WINTER/SP RING 2 015 | 19

CLASS NOTES

A MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI DIRECTOR

1930s

Herman Giersch ’37 celebrated his 100th birthday with more than 100 friends and relatives in October.

1940s

Stanley Weintraub ’47 recently published A Christmas Far from Home: An Epic Tale of Courage and Survival during the Korean War. Dr. Leon Bass ’49 who is a veteran of Battle of the Bulge and liberator of the Buchenwald concentration camp, spoke to students at Jack Barrack Hebrew Academy in Radnor on November 11 about his fascinating experiences in the war.

How proud am I to be affiliated with West Chester University and its successful alumni program. In my short three month tenure, I have met the most wonderful people including faculty, staff and of course, dynamic alumni who truly love their alma mater. I am looking forward to growing the alumni program to meet your needs.

That being said – GEAR UP FOR ALUMNI WEEKEND Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17 ! Haven’t been on campus in a while?

Thinking about reconnecting with your WCU friends but don’t know where to go? Alumni Weekend is the answer.

We are hosting a weekend full of events that is sure to please. Join us Friday night for a concert featuring alum Bryen O’Boyle, formerly the lead of the band Mr. Greengenes. Take the elevator home! For the first time, we are offering overnight stays in one of our brand new residence halls, Brandywine Hall. The rooms are new, modern and each has a private bath. You will also enjoy fresh linens and hotel-style bath amenities.

Also, we are inducting the Class of 1990 into the Silver Ram Society to celebrate your 25th reunion. A private reception and induction ceremony will be held prior to the Annual Alumni Awards Dinner on Saturday night. Lots of other activities are planned for the Alumni Weekend including the Friars Golf Outing on Friday; Alumni Breakfast at the Annual Board Meeting, Education Alumni Awards Ceremony and Reception, the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Finance Department, the Planetarium Show on Saturday and the Alumni Awards Reception and Dinner just to name a few. Check out our homepage at www.wcualumni.org for more information and to register for any or all events.

Everyone is guaranteed a RAM good time!

Debbie Cornell Naughton Director of Alumni Relations

20 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

1950s

Sam Rhinesmith ’52, was recognized by the governor of Indiana for his distinguished career and dedication to music education and service to senior citizens of the state. Governor Pence named him the state’s newest “Sagamore Of The Wabash,” the highest honor which the governor of Indiana can bestow.The award was presented at a conert of Rhinesmith’s New Horizons Band in December . Among those who have received this award are astronauts, presidents, ambassadors, artists, musicians, politicians and ordinary citizens who have contributed greatly to the Hoosier heritage.

Alumnus of the Year for his distinguished career as a conductor, composer, arranger, vocalist, pianist, student, teacher and mentor.

Stephen Brotschul ’65 has retired to South Carolina near Hilton Head.

W. Samuel ’66 and Alida Weidner ’69 Menefee each received the President’s Call to Service Award in recognition and appreciation of their commitment to strengthening our Nation and for making a difference through volunteer service. Sam and Alida have served as Campground Hosts at Glacier National Park for the past ten summers and have each accumulated more than 7000 hours of volunteer service helping to operate the campground and being a mini visitor center educating campers about the park. They have also volunteered as Campground Hosts at Death Valley National Park. The award consisted of a certificate, a President’s uniform pin, and a written letter of commendation from President Obama.

Jim Steidle M’66 was honored by the Pottsville Area School District, which named their new baseball field after him.

Steidle was a standout baseball coach for Pottsville and recently retired.

William Harvey ’68 has been appointed as American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity Distinguished Scholar.

In this position, Dr. Harvey will provide advice and guidance on issues involving diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity and related social justice issues affecting education, business and industry, government and the non-profit sectors.

Harry Lewis Jr. M’68 was sworn in and officially began his term as state House Representative in January.

Richard Merion’59, M’96, recently sponsored WCU students at the ACTION of PA breakfast, an opportunity to meet candidates running for office. (L to r): Cody Marks; Renee Everett (Richard Merion’s daughter); Jeanette Merion; Emma Yasick; Justin Borregine; and Chris Tabikan

1960s

Jeff Haskell ’62 has been named the University of Arizona College of Fine Arts

Mary Ann Gallagher Curran ’69 was inducted into the Delaware County (PA) Athletes Hall of Fame on April 13, 2014 and the Amateur Softball Association of Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 2010.

Patricia Meiser ’69 a longtime collegiate athletic director, was appointed the chair of the Connecticut Sports Advisory Board, a division of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB).

1970s

Tom Faustman ’70 recently published Dylan’s Nam his 3rd book which was released this past Thanksgiving. This is the 2nd edition of The Misadventures of Dylan Series.

William “Rocky” Rees ’71 was inducted into Shippensburg’s 2014 Hall of Fame class. Rees is Shippensburg’s all-time leading coach for victories.

Dave Mapes ’72 received a one of a kind Ram puzzle his daughter made for him as a Christmas present.

It was painted, laser cut, and repainted to come up with 156 piece 12” square puzzle.

In January Kathy Davis ’73 owner of Kathy Davis Studios, opened the “Scatter Joy Center for the Arts,” an accessible non-profit center that aims to enhance the arts and culture for people in the community.

Nathaniel Gadsden ’73 spoke about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s leadership and commitment to peace and nonviolence at a program at Cornwall Manor in Lebanon, PA on January 19.

Kathleen Brewer-Smyth ’79 was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) on October 18.

Nancy Frey Viau ’79 published her fourth children’s book, City Street Beat (Albert Whitman & Co. 2014).

1980s Leslie Unger ’80 has been named lead administrative assistant at The Victory Bank in Limerick.

Joseph S. Clark ’81 won his bid for reelection to the Ocean City, NJ, Board of Education on November 4.

Dorothy Mohl ’82 directed the Pleasant Valley Choral Society at its annual Christmas concert “Sounds of the Season” in December.

Mark Pennypacker Sr. ’82 was inducted into the Pottstown High School Alumni Honor Roll.

Stefano “Steve” Carchedi ’83 has been named CEO of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals.

Earle Mosley ’73 was the featured speaker at the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame’s Delaware County Chapter fall awards luncheon on December 11.

Linda D. Miller ’84 M’00 has been named a Worldwide Branding Entrepreneur of the Year in Nutrition Services by Worldwide Branding.

Olivier Dunrea ’75 recently published a book for the Green Light Readers series of children’s books. Dunrea has published 59 books for children.

Dean Dortone ’86 has decided to leave his position as Lower Merion Township CFO, and has accepted a new job as CFO of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Lea Grubbs ’75 received the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Wyoming Chapter 2014 Social Worker of the Year Award.

David Rohrer M’86 was a guest conductor at the Susquehanna University Symphonic Band performance on November 23.

Nancy Stevens ’76 head field hockey coach at UConn, was named the NFHCA Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year, after leading UConn to its second consecutive NCAA DI National Title.

Brigadier General Carol Eggert ’87 delivered the keynote speech at Immaculata University’s Veteran’s Day celebration on November 11.

Mary Divers ’78 directed a holiday concert of the New Horizons Band of the Lakes Region in Laconia, NH on December 20.

Mark Grandizio ’88 was inducted into the Old Timers Hall of Fame in Kennett Square on January 17.

College of Health Sciences professor James Brenner ’89 was #13 on a list of the

Top 25 College Professors according to RankMyProfessor.com.

1990s William Dabback ’91 was awarded the Distinguished Music Alumni Award at WCU on September 21.

Robert Palsgrove MBA’92 has been hired

by WSFS Bank as Senior Vice President and Senior Market Manager for Maryland.

Gloria Casarez ’93 who was Mayor Nutter’s LGBT Liaison prior to her death in October 2014, is being honored with a scholarship effort. Funds are being solicited for the Gloria Casarez Scholarship Fund for Latino Students attending WCU. Stephanie Marks Sawyer ’93 M’96 recently published her first book, Mount Laurel, about her beloved hometown in New Jersey.

Glenn Bentley ’94, artist and photographer, whose artwork was featured at The Palette & The Page gallery show in downtown Elkton, PA in November.

Kevin Hyland ’94 was awarded the 2015 Gatorade Secondary School Athletic Trainer Award for his 20-year career as trainer at Manasquan (NJ) High School.

Kevin Peragine ’94 has joined Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company of Abilene, TX. Ceramic artist Rhoda Kahler ’95 and photographer Darcie Goldberg, who collaborated on a project in which they created an artistic exploration of their travels to 7 U.S. cities, provided an exhibition of the show at the New Gallery at WCU in February.

Diana Torralvo ’97 was promoted to Senior Account Executive of Bellevue Communications Group, the public relations and crisis communications firm in Philadelphia and Harrisburg.

Darrien Davenport ’98 has received his Doctorate in Education, with a concentration in Higher Education WINTER/SP RING 2 015

| 21

CLASS NOTES Administration, from Northeastern University.

Matthew Sasso ’98 has been hired to the creative team of Fingerpaint, an advertising agency based in Saratoga Springs, NY.

2000s

Ralph Bretz ’00 has been named the new athletic director of the Owen J. Roberts school district.

WCU art professor Maya Winters ’00 who holds a strongman title and is classified as No. 2 in the world for her weight class, competed at a couples strongman competition in Connecticut on December 6.

Jessica Barth ’01 has been named one of Maxim Magazine’s “The 23 Women You’ll Get to Know in 2015.” Jessica will be starring in “Ted 2”, alongside Mark Wahlberg and Amanda Seyfried in theaters this June.

Amy Baumgardner ’01 along with her husband Matt, recently published From This Day Forward: A Love Story of Hope, Faith and Forgiveness.

Stephen P. Smith ’01 an attorney who previously worked for two Harrisburg law firms, has been named Director of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission.

Joseph Meade ’02 has been named to Governor-Elect Tom Wolf ’s transition team. Meade is currently Director of Government and External Affairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Asaf Romirowsky M’02 was the featured speaker at American Jewish Committee’s luncheon in December, on the topic of “Israeli-Palestinian Dynamics in the Global Arena.”

Chris Erwin ’03 who plays trumpet, was the featured soloist at the Rose Tree Pops Orchestra concert on November 23.

Michael Shoremount ’03 is the new director of Traditional Music at Grove United Methodist Church.

22 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

Kiera Wooden ’03 who played basketball at WCU, earning first-team PSAC honors, was recently named head coach of Women’s Basketball at WCU. Nicholas Greeson ’04 who conducts the Sussex, DE, Central High School band, conducted at their concert on November 20.

Daniel Valentino ’05 joined Wilmington Trust as a team leader for Trust, Fiduciary, Individual Compliance, and Training.

Sara Baumgardner ’06 recently joined Main Line Health System coordinating the Art Ability program at Bryn Mawr Rehab, an international juried art exhibit featuring artists with disabilities.

Danielle Marinelli ’06 has joined Hoover Financial Advisors in Malvern as Client Service Advisor.

Business Accelerator Program and Competition – Mass Challenge.

Tim Teefy ’09 was hired as Temple University’s head Olympic strength and conditioning coach.

E ngagements

Chris Carullo ’11 to Whitney Derrico ’11

F uture A lumni

Hyun-Jin Kim ’10 has joined the Tax Accounting Group of Duane Morris LLP as a CPA.

Gary Gingrich ’86 and Alison Gingrich welcomed Nancy Ryan Gingrich September 2013

Thomas “Tony” Scheivert M’10 was hired as New Garden, PA township manager.

Stephanie Constan Matteo ’96 and Brian Matteo welcomed Madison Faith Matteo July 2014

Whitney Derrico ’11 opened Liven Up Health and Fitness (www.livenupfitness. com), a 7,000 sq. ft. personal training facility in the Lehigh Valley in PA.

Kayla Felty ’09 was inducted into the Nativity BVM High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class on January 23. Felty played basketball while at WCU and is the Bryn Athyn College’s head women’s basketball coach.

Brandon Artman ’12 entered Saint Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Seminary (Wynnewood, PA) in 2012 and received Candidacy toward Holy Orders/Sacred Priesthood in November 2014.

Ryan Gibbons ’09 has joined Siegfried Group LLP in Philadelphia as an Associate Manager.

Jennifer Boyd ’13 was hired by Delaware Hospice of New Castle County as a medical assistant.

Betsy Nunez ’09 and sister are Co-Founders of Sword & Plough, a quadruple bottom line bag company that works with veterans to repurpose military surplus fabric into stylish bags, has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30: Social Entrepreneurship list. They have also been filmed and recognized on USA network’s Change Maker Series commercial presented by Overstock, named one of Business Insider’s 20 Most Inspiring Companies of 2014, named one of Inc.’s Made in America 6 Veteran Run Businesses to Watch, and have been recognized by The White House as Crowd-funding Champions of Change.

They were also included in the Top 10 Funded Fashion Campaigns on Kickstarter, and were the Top 15 and the only retail company of 1,200 companies to advance in the 2013 World’s Largest

Joe Kenney ’13 will be releasing an album of original jazz piano compositions, “Afflictions and Remedies,” which showcases an innovative musical sound that fuses elements from classic jazz and contemporary music. He performed selections from this original project at the Phoenixville Public Library on January 12.

I n M emoriam

Matthew ’12 and Kristen Williams welcomed Luna Rose on September 15

M arriages

1937 Mary Ellen Sheesley 1949 Warren Grim 1949 Jeanne Jagers 1952 Jacob Miller 1953 Janet Klinedinst Nell 1954 Gertrude Cooke LoFurno 1954 Ingrid Dahlgren Fleishcher 1957 Nancy Fehr Bolton 1958 Robert Zeigler 1964 Dorien Capello Hainey 1965 Elizabeth Zeller Shannon 1965 Mary Panny 1970 John McCool Jr. 1971 Joseph McLaughlin

1971 Lewis Ludwig 1989 John Brookover III 1993 Gloria Casarez 2009 Travis Jackson

Retired Faculty/Staff Kenneth H. Brown Stella Conaway Dr. Rose Fickner ’73 Dr. Walter E. Funk Dr.Yoko Hashimoto-Sinclair Harry Wilkinson

Todd Istenes ’04 to Mandy Morgan ’11

Alexis Stinson ’13 was named Miss Susquehanna Valley and will compete in the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant in June.

Joe Wendle ’13 who played baseball at WCU, was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Oakland A’s. Wendle is ranked No. 14 by MLB.com on the Athletics’ Top 20 Prospects list.

Bridget Waldron ’14 was hired by the Delaware County Transportation Management Association as Project Coordinator.

Michael Charles ’09 to Kristina Corrigan ’08

Death Notification Procedure To notify West Chester University of the death of an alumnus, 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.

WINTER/SP RING 2 015

| 23

ALUMNI CHAPTER NEWS

ABBÉ SOCIETY ALUMNAE CHAPTER

The annual Abbé Society Alumnae Tea will be held on Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m. Please RSVP to abbealumni@gmail.com if you are able to attend! Also, be on the look out for upcoming service projects happening this spring and summer. E-mail abbealumni@ gmail.com for more information. We hope to see you at an event this season.

ALUMNI DANCE CHAPTER

The Alumni Dance Chapter presented its seventh Winter Dance Festival, Raising the Barre, on Jan 24 and 25, 2015. Sandwiched between two snowstorms, the festival proved to be very successful with a record number of people attending both performances.

Traditionally, this year’s production included performances from alumni dancers, the University Dance Company, and various community dance studios and companies.

Both ticket sales and sponsor ads enabled the chapter to continue its support to the Barbara J Lappano ’67 Dance Scholarship. The following awards were presented at the concert by the chapter: the Jeff Choice Award to April Halligan-Rostek ’06, and a student choreography award to Natalie Flynn, a senior member of the University Dance Company.

In conjunction with the concert, the chapter also held a Dine To Donate event at Iron Hill Brewery in WC on Wed Jan 28. During the month of February the chapter will be holding elections for three new board members: President, Vice President of Programming, and Associate Treasurer. Anyone interested in joining the chapter should contact us at wcuadc@yahoo.com.

BALTIMORE-METRO ALUMNI CHAPTER

The Baltimore Metro Alumni Chapter (BMAC) last gathered on Thursday, November 13, 2014 to celebrate the Holidays early.

Most members brought winter gloves, hats, and scarfs for the “Winter Wardrobe Drive” to support the New Hope Academy. Megan Boettcher ’07, one of our alums teaches there, and was happy to bring back all the warm winter clothes for the kids. We did this drive in lieu of our usual donation to a local charity. One bear was collected to support Washington Chapter’s Bear Fair. Megan volunteered to bring it to West Chester for the Bear Fair. Our next event will be Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the new Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore. We will have a meeting, election, and continued discussion for 2015

24 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

activities. If you are interested, please email alumni@wcupa.edu.

BAND ALUMNI CHAPTER

We are excited to start planning for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Macy Parade where the WCU Band is one of eleven bands chosen throughout the country to perform. We will keep you tuned as to what the plans will be.

BOSTON ALUMNI CHAPTER

We have not had an event since the end of September. We are getting a decent amount of people who are interested via Facebook and LinkedIn. Looking to have an event late March, and then hopefully something for the summer as well.

CHESTER COUNTY CHAPTER

The Chapter wants to thank Angela Loud Morris and Tracey Dukert ’06 for all of their tireless help over the past few years. On March 13 , the Chester County Chapter hosted a pre-show reception of the chapter in the Autograph Library followed by “The Masters of Soul” show for all Chester county alums. We are looking to add to our chapter committees and all are welcome to join the chapter. Please call Joe Kienle at 610-608-4506 or email jfkienle@gmail.com if interested.

COMMUNICATION ALUMNI NETWORK

Find us on LinkedIN (WCU communication Alumni Network) and friend us on Facebook.

If you would like to become involved, please email WCU-comalumninet@gmail.com.

DELAWARE COUNTY CHAPTER

The Delaware County Chapter had a successful food drive for the Preston and Steve show before the holidays, during our Happy Hour at Barnaby’s in Marple. Elaine Wasekanes ’83 and Marion Boas ’06 joined in a visit to Herman Giersch ’37, who is 100 years old.

Herman enjoyed the visit and receiving a WCU blanket for his bed. We hope to visit our proud alum again in the early spring.

The chapter hopes to be part of an event during Alumni Weekend in May. To be added to the e-mail list please contact Nancy Baulis ’09 610-543-2117 nbaulis@verizon.net.

FLORIDA GULF COAST RAMS AND SNOWBIRDS CLUB

President Weisenstein greeted alumni at an afternoon reception in Palm Beach on February 21 at the home of the Dr. and Mrs.

Gerald Lemole. The next day he travelled to Sarasota to meet with alumni at the Sarasota Polo Club for an afternoon of tailgating with food and fun.

FRIARS SOCIETY ALUMNI CHAPTER

The Friars Society Alumni Association is hosting their annual golf outing on Friday, May 15th at Broad Run Golf Club. It will be an 8am shotgun start, and is open to all alumni and friends. For more information contact Kerry Acker at kerryacker@ gmail.com.

GRADUATE STUDENT ALUMNI CHAPTER

The Graduate Student Alumni Chapter was established in late 2014 as a way to help graduate alumni connect through social and professional networking events. This fall, we enjoyed meeting graduate alumni during Homecoming Weekend, and we are looking forward to our first social networking event which will be held this spring. If you are an alumnus of a WCU graduate program and would like to get involved, please email gsac. wcu@gmail.com. You can also follow our chapter on Twitter: @GSAC_WCU and on Facebook!

GREATER SEATTLE AREA CHAPTER

The Greater Seattle Area Chapter will be hosting Dr. Greg Weisenstein the weekend of April 11th, details to follow. Seattle area residents interested in joining the Chapter are encouraged to email Brett Cooper at BrettAustinCooper@gmail.com.

HONORS COLLEGE ALUMNI CHAPTER

The Honors Alumni Chapter is proud to say that our first fall alumni event at Landmark was a great success. With over 60 attendees we ended up having a wait list, so be sure to sign up early next year! Thank you so much to everyone who attended and helped put together this event. In other news, be on the lookout for updates regarding our Spring 2015 event: The Honors Alumni Brunch. This annual brunch will take place immediately before the 10th Anniversary of Aid to South Africa, allowing us to mingle with old friends before admiring the efforts of the current West Chester students. Contact us at honorsalumniwcupa@gmail.com with any questions or suggestions.

A MESSAGE FROM THE WCU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

LAW ALUMNI CHAPTER

The WCU Law Alumni chapter is having a Careers in the Law event on March 3 from 6-8pm in Sykes. Alumni are encouraged to participate to share your career experience with students who are interested in pursuing the legal field. If you would like to be part of the event, please email alumni@wcupa.edu.

LGBTQA ALUMNI CHAPTER

Save the date for the LGBTQA 40th Anniversary Celebration! Saturday, October 10th 2015 at the WCU Alumni and Foundation Center. We’re getting all the plans together for a fantastic event. This is an amazing milestone for all of us! We have launched a campaign to raise $40,000 by the 40th Anniversary for our LGBTQA Administrative Fund. Please contact Sarah Botes sbotes@ wcufoundation.org at the WCU Foundation to request more information about how to pledge or give. We will be contacting all our alums and allies regarding this fundraising goal soon, so keep an eye on your mailbox.

And, elections are open for the 2015-2017 class of Executives to run the LGBQTA Alumni Chapter. Due to family commitments and term-limits, the current executive board is stepping down, so that leaves plenty of room for fresh talent. Please email contact@wculgbtqaalumni.com with a short bio about yourself to throw your hat in the ring. As always, stay connected by joining our Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/groups/wculgbtqaalumni/.

WASHINGTON, D.C. CHAPTER

I hope the New Year has been treating you well so far! The Alumni Association has been very busy getting ready for the year ahead.

With spring right around the corner, we have been hard at work preparing for the 2015 Alumni Weekend to be held Friday, May 15th through Saturday, May 17th.

We have expanded Alumni Weekend to allow alumni to rent rooms in one of the brand new, stateof-art residence halls on campus during the weekend.

Our kick-off party on the evening of Friday, May 15th is also getting bigger and will feature a very special musical guest! I also encourage you to attend the Alumni Association Annual Meeting & Breakfast on Saturday, May 16th in our brand new Alumni & Foundation Center to learn more about how we’re stepping up our efforts to engage alumni and join the conversation about how we can better support our alma mater. The Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner will follow on the evening of Saturday, May 16th to celebrate the achievements of our award recipients.

Many of our alumni chapters are also getting involved by hosting and sponsoring various events during Alumni Weekend. The Friars Society Alumni chapter will host their annual golf outing, which I personally enjoy participating in and encourage you to do so too, on the morning of Friday, May 15th. I am also excited for our Fraternity & Sorority Alumni to showcase their new chapter. With many more in the works, this will be a great opportunity for you to get to know your alumni chapters!

The 2015 Alumni Weekend is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever! I encourage you to block off May 15th through May 17th on your calendar to come back to campus. Spend the weekend with your college friends and join us back at West Chester University to reminisce and re-connect.

More information about the 2015 Alumni Weekend will be posted on our website www.wcualumni. org.

The Alumni Association and I also welcome Debbie Naughton to the Alumni Relations Office.

We look forward to working with Debbie in our efforts to strengthen our organization, improve alumni engagement and support the great things happening at West Chester University!

Rick Loughery ’06 M’10 President, WCU Alumni Association P.S. Don’t forget to join us for Rams In the Sand, our annual party at the Jersey Shore, on Saturday, July 18th, at La Costa in Sea Isle City, NJ!

To help us plan future events in the D.C. metro area, please take our survey (https:// www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z2J36G2) to let us know the types of events you’d be interested in attending. Thanks in advance for your participation! Follow us on Twitter (@ WCUAA_DC), find us on Facebook (West Chester Alumni Association, Washington, D.C. Chapter), or subscribe to our Yahoo listserv (WCUCAPAREA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com). Be on the lookout for our upcoming events!

YORK COUNTY CHAPTER

The 2015 Spring Scholarship reception will be on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 6:00PM at Mudhook brew pub in York. If you are interested in attending, please email alumni@ wcupa.edu.

WINTER/SP RING 2 015

| 25

How did you develop your theme or brand, “Scatter Joy?”

Q&A

with

K athy D avis

Believe in yourself and in your dream; Be open to happy surprises.

Kathy Davis Chief Executive and Visionary Officer Kathy Davis Studios

Throughout her career,West Chester alumna and entrepreneur Kathy Davis has offered similar expressions of encour-

agement and sympathy by way of greeting cards and now, much more. What the 1973 graduate started as a creative outlet 25 years ago – designing Christmas cards for her family and close friends – has evolved into Kathy Davis Studios with 30 employees, annual retail sales of over $100 million, and dozens of licensing agreements for a wide range of home accessories.

It was about 10 years ago when people were talking about my work as a brand. I hadn’t really thought of the style and writing in my cards as a brand. When asked how I would describe my work, my response was that all I really want to do is scatter joy. “Scatter joy,” in fact, is a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. I had used it on a poster one time as a way to say that I wanted to put positive things out in the world. That has stayed with me and is incorporated into everything my company produces. It’s also the basis of an art center we’re starting. We’re calling it Scatter Joy Center for the Arts.

What is the Scatter Joy Center for the Arts?

The Center has been a dream of mine for many years. With the help of other interested board members, we have established this non-profit organization. It’s located in a renovated farmhouse with several classrooms adjacent to our studio. Having been an art teacher, I’ve always want to mentor other people and give back through the arts. I just didn’t know what form it would take.

This is the Center’s first year. While our initial focus is our local community, we hope to spread our message of giving back through the arts to other locations nationally. Our goal is to support the creative development in people of all ages – not just in the visual arts, but all areas of art, including writing.

What advice do you have for WCU students who are studying art?

The key is to experience as many different courses, techniques and styles as they can, because they really are just building a repertoire.

I think it’s rare for someone at 18 or 20 years old to know what they’re going to do with the rest of their life. I think all the experiences a person accumulates lead them somewhere meaningful. Students should just trust in the journey and not compare themselves to others. It’s really the uniqueness of their voices that will make a difference.

How did your career designing greeting cards begin?

After graduating with a degree in elementary education and a minor in art at West Chester, I taught elementary school for six years. I liked teaching a lot, so I pursued a master’s degree in order to teach my true passion, art. Then, I taught art for several years at the high school level.

I left teaching when my children were born and started freelancing from home. I really wanted to do something creative involving art, and I began making Christmas cards for my family.

At the urging of a few friends, I attended a national stationery show in New York, where I sold some of my work, basically creating one card at-a-time. In my late 30s, I was divorced, a single mom raising two children. I worked a number of part-time jobs until I could support myself with my freelance greeting card business. That was 25 years ago.

I knew it would take time to build a business either one card at-a-time, one day at-a -time, or one employee at-a-time. But, I’m pretty patient.

How did you develop the style of your greeting cards?

I don’t consider myself an exceptional illustrator. Most of my work is expressive free form watercolor.

I wasn’t trained as a writer, but, as with my painting, I just don’t overdo it. Because my writing and art are not overworked, I think the cards feel more personal. I believe this personal style really helped to distinguish my designs from other cards.

When I’m writing, it’s usually on a particular topic or theme like birthdays, or to express encouragement or sympathy. I just allow myself to write, to express my true feelings before I edit my copy.

Other times, I just allow myself to paint. I like having that flexibility of both writing and illustrating, as I think it keeps my work “fresh.”

GOLDEN RAMS TO MARCH IN MACY PARADE NEXT THANKSGIVING, THE GOLDEN RAMS MARCHING BAND will be one of only ten marching bands out of hundreds of high school and college applicants nationwide to perform in Macy’s 2015 Thanksgiving Day Parade. The band’s selection, according to a parade official, was based on its “…very unique approach that mixes fantastic college level musicianship with high energy and artistic style.”

Under the direction of Andrew Yozviak’91, the 324-member band will be seen by nearly 50 million TV viewers and more than 3.5 million people along the 2.65 mile parade route from 77th St. and Central Park West to 34th and 7th Avenue.

Dressed in a contemporary look with black pants and a WCU purple and gold jacket, the Golden Rams should proudly represent the University’s community and its alumni in what is arguably the most famous parade in the country.

To help support the musicians’ transportation, food and lodging for this very exciting experience, you may make a gift to “WCU Foundation,” indicating “Macy’s Parade” in the memo line, and mailing to WCU Foundation, PO Box 541, West Chester, PA 19381.

Or you can call Sarah Botes at 610-430-4153.

Is it a challenge to keep your creativity “fresh,” while running a business at the same time?

Building a business involves a completely different part of your brain. I have worked very hard trying to balance my creative life for writing and painting versus the managing the business. Since my business has grown, I have built up a management team that I trust. But, at the end of the day, my name is on everything, and I feel responsible for the way the business is running.

26 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

WINTER/SP RING 2 015

| 27

WCUAA Board of Directors Candidate Biographies

Dr. James Capolupo

Education: WCU, B.S., Music Education, 1974, Arcadia University, M.A., Education, 1976, The Combs College of Music, D.M.A., Music, 1984 Like all of you, I love West Chester University.

Everyone told us that your years in college are the “best years of your life.” Well, they were right. While having an incredible career as a high school band director, and then a principal and now a superintendent, it all started with the foundation of learning and life lessons that I received at WCU. I owe much of my success to WCU. It is time for me to “give back.” I want to remind our Alumni how special WCU is and will be.

Clay Cauley, Sr., Esquire

Education: WCU, B.A., Communications, 1996, Howard University School of Law, J.D., 2003 I am passionate about the Chester County community. I have served in public service in various capacities, namely as Master presiding over dependency cases but previously as a prosecutor. I have witnessed the growth in West Chester and more specifically at the University and believe that I offer a diverse business and legal perspective that will add a unique dynamic to the Board that will be helpful in continuing the growth of the University.

Matt Holliday

Education: WCU, B.A., Political Science, 2009 I cherished my time at West Chester University. Being a member of the Friars Society and an active student leader were major parts of my college experience. I have served on the WCUAA Board of Directors for the last three years, and as my first term comes to a close, I humbly ask for your support of my candidacy for another term, as there are still a number of positive changes I would like to help our Alumni Association implement.

Jerome R. Hunt

Education: WCU, B.A., Political Science, 2003, M.S.A., Public Administration, 2006, Howard University, Ph.D., 2012 I want to serve on the WCUAA Board of Directors because it would afford me the opportunity to give back to the university that has made me who I am today. WCU provided me with invaluable education, experiences, skills, and mentorship. It would be an honor to advocate for and support the efforts of the University. Additionally, my experience working

28 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY

in academia will allow me to bring a unique prospective to the board.

Rachael Kretovich

Education: WCU, B.A., English, 1999 My time at West Chester was amazing, I met friends and was able to prepare myself for “the real world.” The campus is beautiful and the professors were always going above and beyond for their students. I remember the first class I stepped into, I was so nervous and didn’t know anyone, that soon changed. Within the first week I had grown comfortable and confident that I belonged there. I encourage my kids to work hard in school so that they can also go to college and do whatever they want. I want to serve on the board for West Chester so that I can give back to it what it gave me.

Ruth Lathe

Education: WCU, B.S.N., Nursing, 2007, M.S.N., Nursing, 2013, As a graduate of WCU, I see what a valuable community resource the university is. The use of geothermal energy shows that the university is dedicated to sustainability and to enriching the borough. The ongoing dedication to quality education is apparent. I am continually amazed by the commitment shown to both students and to education. WCU has demonstrated that it is a strong community partner forging ahead and educating our future leaders.

Rick Loughery

Education: WCU, B.A., Political Science, 2006, M.P.A., Public Administration, 2010 Our Alumni Association is key to the success of WCU! As your Alumni President, I have expanded our efforts to engage alumni, enhance our financial stability, improve our relationships with key stakeholders and strengthen our organizational structure.

These are critical endeavors to secure our organization’s future, support our alumni and match the growth of our university. I hope to continue to serve you and our prestigious university for another three years.

Jennifer Miller-LaPira

Education: WCU, B.S., Early Childhood Education, 1991 As an alumna of West Chester University, Class of 1991, I would be honored to join the WCUAA Board of Directors. Being a member of the Board gives me an excellent opportunity to give back to the university that gave me so much. My experiences and lessons learned as a student at West Chester University helped me to become a successful driven professional.

Amy Miller-Spavlik

Education: WCU, B.S., Elementary Education, 1990, M.S., Elementary/Secondary Counseling, 1992 WCU is near and dear to my heart! With all the great things happening at WCU, I feel even more proud to have graduated not only once, but twice from this fine institution!

Being on the Board the past three years has zipped by so quickly, that I would be honored to have another three years to continue my service to WCUAA, its mission and to YOU – WCU Alumni.

Nick D. Polcini

Education: WCU, B.S., Special Education, 2000, M.S., Education, 2005 I have served on the board for the WCUAA for the past 12 years and love giving back to West Chester University through various activities. I am currently a special education teacher in the West Chester Area School District at Henderson High School. I am active in the community and throughout different professional organizations. I love West Chester University and am proud of my alma mater. I want to continue to serve WCUAA and WCU with it traditions within the West Chester community.

Robert E. Smith

Education: WCU, B.S., Business Management, 1972 I’m so happy to be back in PA after 21 years in the South and excited to get involved again with WCU. After a long 31-year career in aviation and working 31 years in that field for European companies, it’s time to now give back the knowledge and experience I’ve gained during that time. What better place than WCU to give back to as my degree from West Chester State College was the springboard to my interesting and challenging time in the global business arena.

It is great to see how WCU has grown and serving on the WCUAA Board of Directors would be a great opportunity and honor to help WCU continue to grow.

Michael Willard

Education: WCU, B.S., Liberal Studies, 2003, Villanova University, Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate, 2012 WCU provided me not only a great education, but great experiences as well. As an alumnus still actively involved with the University, I have a vested interest in providing the best possible experience for past, present, and future Rams. I am so grateful for all that was provided to me and want to do my part to give back to West Chester University. GO RAMS!!

2015-2018 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION The Nominating Committee of the West Chester University Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2015 WCUAA Board of Directors ballot. Six members will be elected to serve a three-year term of office beginning on July 1, 2015.

The results of the election will be published in the fall issue of the West Chester University magazine.

The procedures and regulations for casting ballots are as follows:

The background information on each nominee for the 20152018 term appears on the previous page. Please note that nominees are listed in the same order that they appear on the ballot. Questions regarding the election should be directed to the Office of Alumni Relations at 610-436-2813 or alumni@ wcupa.edu.

You may also complete the ballot form that appears in this issue of the WCU Magazine.

To cast your ballot online, go to www.wcualumni.org and click on: Board of Directors 2015 Election. Follow the voting instructions. Electronic ballots must be received by Friday, May 22, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.

Verification of the names, addresses, and class years on ballots received by the deadline will be conducted. Votes will be tabulated by the Alumni Association’s Nominating Committee.

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015 BALLOT The following alumni have been nominated for election to serve on the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the WCUAA Nominating Committee. Each has agreed to serve if elected. All WCU graduates are eligible to vote for a maximum of six (6) candidates.

Alumni may also vote online at www.wcualumni.org. If you do not wish to vote online, please check the circle next to the name of the candidate(s) of your choice as listed below. Couples who are both WCU graduates may use one ballot, indicating Voter 1 and Voter 2. The Office of Alumni Relations will verify the name(s), class year(s) and address on each mailing envelope* as requested by Nominating Committee. The order of names on the ballot was determined by lot.

FOR THIS BALLOT TO BE CONSIDERED VALID: Each voter must sign and complete the name, class year, and address section of the ballot Please print or type.

The ballot must be received by mail no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2015.

Candidates for Board of Directors Voter 1 Dr. James Capolupo ’74 ❍ Clay Cauley ’96 ❍ Matt Holliday ’09 ❍ Jerome Hunt ’03 M’06 ❍ Rachael Kretovich ’99 ❍ Ruth Lathe ’07 M’13 ❍ Rick Loughery ’06 M’10 ❍ Jennifer Miller-LaPira ’91 ❍ Amy Miller-Spavlik ’90 M’92 ❍ Nick Polcini ’00 M’05 ❍ Robert Smith ’72 ❍ Michael Willard ’03 ❍

Voter 2 ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

Signature of Voter 1

Voter 1 Name/Year

Signature of Voter 2

Voter 2 Name/Year

Street City/State/Zip Telephone (with area code)

E-mail

*Please seal the ballot in an envelope, one ballot per envelope. Clearly write your name(s), class year(s) and address on the outside, and mail to:

WCUAA Nominating Committee, Office of Alumni Relations, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382.

WINTER/SP RING 2 015 | 29

West Chester University West Chester, PA 19383-7401

NON-PROFIT ORG.

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 Public Relations, 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

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 1274 SOUTHEASTERN, PA

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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

Save the Date

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2015 MAY 15-17

WWW.WCUALUMNI.ORG

CONNECT WITH US