Campus News

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Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts

“The investment in the creation of a Cultural Center is a significant step forward in becoming increasingly deliberate about centering and affirming minoritized identities.”

CANDACE OKELLO Associate Dean of Student Affairs Westminster’s commitment to building a culturally and racially diverse community continues with plans to develop a new campus Cultural Center and a Teaching Fellows Project aimed to attract educators from diverse backgrounds.

Both projects, included in a total of $1 million in investments approved and funded by the Westminster College Board of Trustees, support the College’s Student Engagement and Support in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Action Plan, which aims to build a campus culture that values and advances DEI efforts.

The Cultural Center, which will be developed this summer, will be centrally located in the former campus gift shop on the main level of McKelvey Campus Center. The center will offer programming as well as study and lounge spaces.

“The investment in the creation of a Cultural Center is a significant step forward in becoming increasingly deliberate about centering and affirming minoritized identities,” said Candace Okello ‘11, associate dean of student affairs.

Through the Teaching Fellows Project, Westminster hopes to attract post-doctoral candidates from historically minoritized groups who can bring underrepresented perspectives and experiences to Westminster’s academic programs.

Under the project, two full-time fellows will receive two-year appointments, giving them the opportunity to further develop their teaching skills and continue pursuing research projects in collaboration with students. Fellows will be encouraged to offer guest lectures in different courses or for the community and represent Westminster by presenting at national conferences.

Fellows will be expected to contribute to the College’s First-Year Program and be mentored by faculty members.

Teaching Fellows are expected to be in place for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Accelerated path toward M. Div. degree

A3+3 program partnership with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will offer Westminster students an accelerated path toward earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree.

The 3+3 program will enable students from any discipline to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Divinity degree in just six years. The agreement allows Westminster students to earn the final 30 credits of their bachelor’s degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, while simultaneously pursuing their M.Div. degree.

Students must indicate their intent to participate in the program during their first year at Westminster. Qualifying students must complete their major and general education requirements by the end of their junior year and formally apply to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary no later than Feb. 1 of their junior year.

“With this new agreement, both institutions clear the way for Westminster students to enter a high-quality graduate program that further prepares them for a life of discernment, service and leadership as they explore what it means to enter the ministry in a period marked by medical and sociocultural complexities,” said Dr. Jamie McMinn, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. Westminster and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) officials gather for the articulation agreement signing. Seated are the Rev. Dr. Leanna Fuller, PTS interim dean of faculty and vice president for academic affairs, left, and Westminster’s Dr. Jamie McMinn, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. Standing are PTS President the Rev. Dr. Asa Lee and Westminster College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson.

Three new members elected to Board of Trustees

The Westminster College Board of Trustees added five members, including three first-time trustees.

Jennifer Bertetto, Chris Frye Jr. and Kristin Mezmar Kaiser ’86 will join the Board, effective July 1.

Bertetto, president and chief executive officer at Trib Total Media in Pittsburgh, is a 30-year veteran of the newspaper industry. She also serves as president of 535media, an affiliate of Trib Total Media which focuses on digital products, services and innovation, and is vice president of InvenGlobal, an e-gaming and video game-based website.

Frye made history in 2019 by becoming the first Black mayor of New Castle, Pa. He earned an undergraduate degree from Gannon University and a master’s in social work with a concentration in community organizing and social administration from the University of Pittsburgh. While in Pittsburgh, he examined neighborhood development, focusing his research on distressed areas that underwent successful revitalization.

Kaiser recently concluded her tenure as director of planned giving at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford, Pa., where she previously served as director of ministry team development. A former teacher in Lexington, Ky., and Pasadena, Calif., she also served as mentor and coordinator for Teach for America, the California Reading and Literature Project, and Project SEED with The National Science Foundation and California Institute of Technology.

Doreen McCall, chief counsel for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and Jeffrey T. Wiley ’75, managing director and chief operating officer of the law firm of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote PC in Pittsburgh, are both are returning to the Board for a fifth term.

Bertetto Frye Kaiser

WHY I GIVE

GRAYSON BLYTHE ’20 MASTER OF EDUCATION

Home:

Granville, Ohio

Professions:

Community coordinator at Denison University

Why Grayson Gives:

I give to Westminster College through the new Coffee Club initiative. I knew that this was a fun and easily manageable way to make sure I was giving back to the school where I received my M.Ed. and launched my career in Student Affairs. By supporting Mother Fair through this recurring gift, I can be sure that I’m doing my part to help current and future Titans succeed. I am proud to be a member of the Coffee Club! Today’s prospective college students are savvy consumers— they want a college that will offer a robust, quality education with an affordable price tag. And Westminster College, according to Money magazine, is a college that fits that bill.

Westminster College was again been named to Money magazine’s annual “Best Colleges for Your Money” report, confirming that Westminster continues to be one of the best value colleges in the nation. The report, which features nearly 700 colleges and universities from across the U.S., ranks schools on quality of education, affordability and alumni financial success.

Money editors considered 24 factors when selecting colleges and universities for the rankings, centered around three measures: quality of education, affordability during college and student debt payoff rates after graduation, and alumni outcomes—all of which are critical conditions students evaluate before selecting a college.

Westminster recognized for affordability

the gift of music

For more than 35 years, Dr. Fritz Horn, professor of English emeritus and 2002 retiree, offered the gift of education to Westminster students. His connection to the College has continued in his retirement, and he and his wife, Gretchen, recently gifted 11 recorders to the School of Music. The donation of bass, tenor, alto, soprano and sopranino recorders—as well as a collection of solo and ensemble scores—has inspired the creation of a new 27-member Recorder Ensemble. Led by music education major Madison Mueller-Howell ’24, pictured above at left, the ensemble held their debut performance during this spring’s woodwind studio recital. Also pictured from left are music performance major Shawn Redmond ’25, music major Hunter Hoag ’24, adviser and member of the School of Music faculty Kim Winfield and Madolyn George ’24. The Horns also donated a crumhorn, a rare Renaissance period wind instrument.

David King ’91, right, with School of Business Chair Dr. Robert Badowski.

Celebrating grad’s entrepreneurial spirit

Aself-defined “serial entrepreneur,” David King ’91 was named the Westminster College Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year at the annual Westminster Entrepreneur Center Symposium and School of Business Award Ceremony in March.

With a passion for the intersection of technology and business, King founded several companies including infiNET Solutions, Inc, where he built and managed an automated tuition billing and commerce system for major universities and helped the company process more than $16 billion annually.

Currently King is chief technology officer of Flywire, a Chicago-based high-growth vertical payments company, where he oversees global technology and solutions. King joined the company as its vice president of engineering in 2018, following Flywire’s acquisition of OnPlan Holdings, where King was a co-founder and leveraged his background in payments, analytics and billing to develop innovative payment plan solutions for the healthcare and education sectors.

At the ceremony, King spoke to students about his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting his experiences, challenges and achievements. He holds a B.S. in mathematics and physics and an M.S. in physics from Miami University.

PDC office under new leadership

Chad Serfass was tapped in the fall to serve as the new director of Westminster’s Professional Development Center (PDC).

Serfass most recently served as director of DeSales University’s Experience in Character and Leadership, a four-year program helping students develop traits that lead to personal and professional success.

At the PDC, Serfass is working with Westminster students to discern their vocational and graduate/professional school aspirations and to polish their networking skills.

Serfass earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from DeSales. Serfass

WHY I GIVE

DAVID ’76 & GAIL CLELLAND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Home:

Richmond, Virginia (formerly of Greenville and Slippery Rock, respectively)

Profession:

Dave is a retired banking executive from Atlantic Union Bank; Gail is a retired nurse from Bon Secours Health System

In Dave’s Words:

Having played football for the Titans, most of our WC giving has been primarily for the football team or other athletic related projects. Now with UPMC Jameson School of Nursing partnership with Westminster’s BSN program—my wife is a 1976 graduate of the then-Jameson School of Nursing who also took courses at Westminster—I felt funding something for the nursing program in honor of Gail would be appropriate. My wife was proud of her pinning ceremony and believed it was an important part of the graduation process, so we felt that providing funding that would give current nursing students the same opportunity would be a great idea. We are proud to be able to make a gift to Westminster and UPMC Jameson that will honor Gail, help show her love of nursing and provide ongoing support for the Westminster and UPMC Jameson School of Nursing program.

honorable mentions

Stephen Adametz, left, is one of many Westminster College students recognized for academic achievements at the annual Honors Convocation ceremony on April 27. Fall Dean’s List honorees, scholarship recipients, service and leadership award winners, student-athlete awardees, and members of the honor societies Lambda Sigma, Mortar Board and Pi Sigma Pi were recognized. Also honored were those seniors who completed the All-College Honors Program, pictured at bottom left. Honors Program students, in front from left, are Emma Bradley (Psychology), Anna Grimenstein (Biology), Hannah Wilson (International Studies), Molly Frank (English), Magen Polczynski (Neuroscience), Mackenzie Hupp (Psychology), Sara Small (Interdisciplinary) and Abby Steinbeck (Neuroscience). In back from left are James Gilbert (Biology), Constantine Kallaur (Interdisciplinary), Noah Luzader (Accounting/Business Administration), Owen Meilander (Physics/ Mathematics), Sam Accordino (Neuroscience), Nevan Schwab (Molecular Biology) and Noah Pollio (Biology). Not pictured is Seth Schrader (Chemistry).

DO YOU MATCH?

Did you know that you can double or triple your year-end giving with a matching gift? Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match charitable contributions made by their employees or members of their boards.

CHECK WITH YOUR EMPLOYER TODAY.

Faculty appointments and promotions

The College welcomed two new faculty members this spring and also granted promotions and tenure. Dr. Ryan Keeling joined the School of Music as assistant professor of music and director of choral activities, roles he held at West Liberty University in West Virginia since 2017. He currently holds positions in three premiere choral ensembles: artistic director of the chamber choir Voces Solis, conductor of the professional women’s choir Virago, and assistant conductor of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

Jennifer Waldo, who previously served as an adjunct in the School of Business and the Graduate School, has been appointed to the full-time position of lecturer in finance. Waldo has more than 26 years of expertise in all facets of human resources including team building, educational advancement, and employee retention.

Promotions and tenure were awarded to:

• Dr. Jamie Chapman, promoted to associate professor of sociology. • Dr. Jessica Sarver, promoted to associate professor of chemistry. • Summer Zickefoose, promoted to associate professor of fine arts. Tenure was granted to Dr. René Picó, associate professor of education.

Speech & Debate are national champs

After three days of competition in parliamentary debate, public speech and oral interpretation, the Westminster Speech & Debate Team walked away as the Novice National Forensic Association’s National Champions.

Competing against 10 other teams during the March tournament at Butler University, Westminster also brought home nine individual championships.

Individual national first-place winners include:

Parliamentary Team Debate: Juniors Iris Davis Hall and Claire Mock

Parliamentary Debate Top Speaker: Senior Mackenzie Hupp

Individual Sweeps Top Speaker (Pentathlon): Junior Kent Dunn

Slam Poetry: Junior Kent Dunn

Impromptu Speaking: First-year Ellis Moore

Impromptu Sales: First-year Ellis Moore

Duo Interpretation: First-year Ellis Moore and sophomore Makyla Wheeler

Westminster also placed first in the dramatic interpretation and public narrative competitions and claimed second, third, fourth and fifth place finishes in various categories.

Dr. Randy Richardson, School of Communication faculty member, is the team’s adviser.

pinning ceremony

Graduating nursing students, from left, Madison Sieczkowski, Joy Snow, Juliana Sienkiewicz, Brianna Powell and Jocelyn Behr, gather with Gail and Dave Clelland ’76 at the nursing pinning ceremony on May 13. Clelland, in honor of his wife, a retired nurse, provided the funding for the Department of Nursing to purchase the pins, a symbol of the students’ hard work and commitment to the health care field.

Early College summer class open for high schoolers

High school students can gain college credits through an Early College STEM program this summer.

Open to 9th through 12th graders, the program— coordinated by Westminster’s Center for the Environment— will focus on hands-on science with real world implications for conservation.

The Early College course Introduction to Environmental Inquiry will take place at Westminster July 5-9.

Activities will include mammal studies using camera traps, lake ecology investigations, a trip to the apiary and pollinator garden ending with a field study at a passive treatment site for abandoned mine drainage.

Westminster’s Early College is a dual enrollment program designed for academically prepared high school students.

For more information and details on how to apply, visit westminster.edu/environment.