York College Magazine 2020 Volume 1

”I HAVE BECOME A ZOOM MASTER.” — Gabriel Cutrufello, Assoc. Prof.

COLLEGE MAGAZINE 202 0 VOL. 1

”WE’RE STILL INTERACTING IN MEANINGFUL WAYS, JUST THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.” — Molly Hayes Sauder, Asst. Prof.

— Kristin Schab ’04, Dir. of Alumni Relations

”WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR FUTURES, AND TO EDUCATION, WILL BE ALL THE STRONGER FOR IT.” — Josh DeSantis, Assoc. Prof.

COPING WITH COVID-19 STORIES FROM OUR YCP COMMUNITY

”YOUR SPARTAN FAMILY IS NEVER FAR AWAY.”

”WE ARE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER SO THAT OUR SOCIETY WILL BE SAFE.” — Nick Delener, Interim Dean, Graham School of Business

CO N T EN TS

COMMUNITY 4 Around Campus

SpartaNation

5 Meet Sueann Robbins

SpartaNation Road Crew member Arianna Keller ’21 talks about friendship and connecting with welcoming alumni during worksite visits.

10 Overheard 12 Engaging York 14 Spartan Sports

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PURSUITS 16 Research

Institute for Social Healing

17 Hands-On

The Institute for Social Healing was established to help the local community by providing resources for YCP student and faculty research. < PAGE 16

FEATURES 18 Coping with COVID-19

Coping with COVID-19

24 In Focus: Quintuple Vision

How have you been coping with COVID-19? Members of the York College community share their stories.

26 Envisioning the Future

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With help from a $6 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant received last year, York College will renovate several buildings on the north side of Kings Mill Road.

CONNECTIONS 30 Alumni News

What Year Is This?

31 Alumni Spotlight

How good is your memory?

Can you say what year this York College photo was taken?

33 A Glimpse of Our Past

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STORY ON PAGE 26

Photo by Ken Bruggeman/Our York Media

Cover illustrations by Rose Wong

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VIE W FRO M M Y WIN DOW

YORK COLLEGE

President Pamela Gunter-Smith, PhD

FO RU M

Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs Laura Niesen de Abruña, PhD

I started my professional career as a physiologist and research scientist studying diarrheal diseases. There are many causes, but the one that has been of most interest to me is cholera. While no longer prevalent in the U.S., it continues to be a concern in many lessdeveloped countries. Studies that determined the source of the cholera epidemic in 19th-century London marked the beginning of the field of epidemiology—the basic science of public health. Because of my research interest, I became a student of epidemics and pandemics. In fact, my bookshelves are lined with books on the topic.

In fall 2009, I developed and taught a course entitled Public Enemy #1: Pathogens and Disease. The course examined the basic science of viruses and bacteria, the actions of antibiotics, antivirals, and the development of vaccines.

Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Mary Dolheimer Vice President, Enrollment Management Daniel Green, DMA Vice President, Campus Operations Kenneth Martin, PhD Vice President, Student Affairs Joseph Merkle, MA Vice President, Business Affairs and CFO C. Matt Smith, CPA Dean, Center for Community Engagement Dominic DelliCarpini, PhD

Europe, the cholera epidemic in 19th-century London, and the 20th-century

Head of School, York Country Day School Christine Heine, EdD

H1N1 influenza, my students explored not only the pathophysiology of the

YORK COLLEGE MAGAZINE

disease, but also its socio-economic and cultural consequences of the time.

Director of Editorial Services Gail R. Huganir

Using the backdrop of the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) in 14th-century

I am by no means an expert on infectious diseases; however, I can’t help but think my interest in the topic provides a framework for my consideration of York College’s response in this time of COVID-19. Quarantines (stay-at-home mandates) have always been effective in controlling the spread of infectious diseases throughout history, even for the Black Death in the 1300s, when, as is the case now for COVID-19, there were no vaccines or effective treatment regimens. Fortunately, we can expect to see the development of both in the near future.

The history of epidemics is one of loved ones lost, livelihoods threatened, and dreams deferred. Certainly, all of these have been experienced by our York College community. However, history also points to the resiliency of

Director of Creative Services Lance A. Snyder ’05 Graphic Designer Ryan Kidd ’13 Design Consultant Skelton Sprouls Photographer Mike Adams Writer Colleen A. Karl Senior Administrative Assistant Colleen M. Adamy

humankind. Yes, there will be a new normal. But it is with great anticipation

Spring 2020 Intern Beck Liberatore ’21

that I look forward to the day campus reopens and students return and bring

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

with them all the things that make YCP such a special place.

In closing, I remind you of our motto: “Servire Est Vivere”— to serve is to live. Every act of kindness is important. On behalf of all Spartans, thank you to all of the people on the frontlines and to Spartans everywhere, continue to be safe, well, and kind.

Pamela Gunter-Smith, PhD President, York College of Pennsylvania

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Vice President, Development Troy Miller

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Send address label along with new address to: Division of College Advancement York College of Pennsylvania York, PA 17403-3651 717-815-1410 or email yorkmag@ycp.edu York College Magazine is published three times a year (May, August, December) by the Division of College Advancement, York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA 17403-3651. Periodicals postage paid at York, PA, and additional mailing offices. Permit No. 174. © 2020 York College of Pennsylvania. Printed in U.S.A.

HOW HAS COVID-19 CHANGED YOUR PERSPECTIVE? Meda Higa, PhD Associate Professor, Biology

I’m a biologist who researches viral infection and even teaches a class on viruses. So my perspective started out different than most. I was more interested in SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). How did it infect cells? What was the zoonotic origin?

Since then, my perspective has changed several times. Change #1: witnessing misinformation communicated through social media and the news, at times more viral than the virus itself! I became one of many trying to stamp out inaccuracies and disseminate factual information.

Change #2: COVID-19 affects my daily life. I’m juggling childcare while working, and learning new ways to teach, communicate, and socialize remotely.

Change #3: a few days ago, my 3-year old ran a fever on top of his existing cough. “Bring him in” was the advice we received. Now, we’re the “patient.” Did we do enough to physically distance ourselves? Who might we have come into contact with? I have a few days to wonder and worry; test results won’t be back for 3-5 days. [Editor’s note: Happily, Prof.

Higa says her son’s test was negative.]

Dr. Janet Powell Interim Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions

The COVID-19 crisis has renewed my faith in humanity and community. The response from the School of Nursing and Health Professions’ faculty and staff has been everything you would expect from healthcare professionals.

They worked tirelessly to find innovative ways to create online lectures and identify virtual simulations that will help keep students on track.

We have donated thermometers to the York City Bureau of Health for use by our local fire and police. We have also been able to support some of our partners in the York community by donating medical supplies such as a ventilator, masks, medical gloves, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to WellSpan Hospital, UPMC Memorial Hospital, and a local nursing home. These agencies are vital partners as they give our students the hands-on learning they need. The COVID-19 crisis has given us a chance to express our gratitude for their support.

Rory Kraft, PhD Chair, English, Humanities, and the Arts Dept., Assistant Professor, Philosophy

I have spent much of my professional life working at the intersection of ethical theory and public life. In that time, I have encountered many brilliant people working in public health, the corporate world, and higher education. Some of my favorite moments in classrooms are those which involve helping students understand the ethical complexities of everyday life. Now we are in the midst of a life that is very much so not everyday. As this COVID-19 pandemic has spread I have been impressed, first in the classroom and then online, by how quickly my students understood that what we were facing was not just a public health crisis but also profoundly a question of how society could respond in an ethically responsible way. I am also trying hard to recast any disappointment in politicization of the crisis into an opportunity for additional discussion about how our political views profoundly impact how we understand the world.

“ I became one of many trying to stamp out inaccuracies and disseminate factual information.”

— MEDA HIGA, PhD

We welcome your news and comments at yorkmag@ycp.edu. York College of Pennsylvania does not discriminate because of race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, sex, or age in employment or in recruitment and acceptance of students.

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COMMUNITY

M EE T SU E A N N RO B BINS

SpartaNation 2020

Director of Graduate and Transfer Admissions

YCP Road Crew

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students

Traveled

2,000+ miles over three weeks in January

Site Visits

32

Events Hosted

11

Engaged

274

alumni and parents

Social Media

89,627

impressions across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

COVID -19

This past January, Arianna Keller ’21 (Baltimore, MD) and her fellow YCP Road Crew were on national television right outside The Today Show in New York City, screaming their lungs out and holding signs for York College of Pennsylvania. Though she is part of many activities on campus — including her sorority, being a student alumni ambassador, an orientation leader, and part of the executive board of U.N.I.T.Y. — one of her favorite extracurriculars is the YCP Road Crew. “You really get to know a person when you’re stuck in a car with them for three weeks,” she says. While

WE’LL BE BACK! Left to right: Rehab Shuwaykan ’23,

Sydney Bennett ’20, Taylor Jackson ’21, Devin Glispy ’20, Ryan Griffith ’20, and Adam Zeigler ’22 show their Spartan spirit.

the crew spent their winter break touring the northeast, they quickly became good friends. Everywhere they went, they met York College alumni. Keller’s most valuable outcome of the break was the connections she made with those alumni. “There are people I could contact right now, and they’d welcome me with open arms,” she says. The YCP Road Crew also visited the Pentagon, the Capitol, and CNBC. Keller can’t wait to go on the road again next year.

It was a big adjustment when he got to Pittsburgh, but he managed well. Rickrode says his York College professors set him up to succeed. They’d emphasized how important Excel was, and he was able to showcase his skills within a project he worked on with another intern over the summer. “We kind of excelled at Excel,” he says.

In a meeting with an HR executive, Rickrode proposed a networking roundtable for interns. Before long, his idea became a real event. He says his favorite part of being an intern was “being able to set up an event myself just by asking and telling [the executive about] my plan.”

In August, when Rickrode got the offer for a full-time job with PNC Financial Services Group once he graduated, he was ecstatic — and relieved. Now, he feels ready and excited to move to Pittsburgh after graduation.

INTERNSHIP LEADS TO JOB

What drew you to college admissions and, more specifically, to graduate and transfer recruitment?

I began at West Chester University in Student Activities and Leadership. When my daughters were young, that area did not fit with our schedule and I found a part-time admissions advising position at Immaculata University. I could stay in higher ed working with nontraditional students and be home to get the girls off the bus. From there, I was able to move to the College of Graduate Studies as a counselor/recruiter and then eventually to Director of Graduate Admissions.

My daughter, Dani Robbins ’16, and I were volunteering at YCP Accepted Student Day when I heard about the position here. Dani had such a wonderful experience and was very involved in campus activities and leadership. Every time we came to visit her, I felt so at home and wanted to be a part of the Spartan experience.

What services does the College offer for a smooth transition for transfer students and graduate students and how have those services been a success?

Seth Rickrode, (Thomasville, PA) a senior Human Resource Management major at York College, is a member of the YCP team whose proposal was selected as one of the top five in the 4th Annual Southeastern Hedge Fund Competition.

He credits his parents for instilling in him a strong work ethic. It’s that work ethic that earned him a highly competitive internship with PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh last summer. It’s also what earned him a post-graduation job offer for the same company, before even starting his senior year.

Graduate students are mainly focused on their degree program and how it can enhance and advance their careers.

They typically live off campus and extracurricular activities are not as relevant to them. However, it’s important to not only provide them with a robust academic experience, but also still make them feel connected to YCP.

“We strongly encourage you to live out our Spartan Oath and continue working to ensure our community is one that is welcoming, inclusive, and respectful.”

Transfer students have an entire team dedicated to making their admissions process smooth and successful. The Transfer Team is made up of myself, Erica Schieler, Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions; Katie Schwienteck, Associate Registrar; and Ed Lane, Assistant Director of Financial Assistance. Transfer students receive hands-on support from all four of us from inquiry to enrollment and beyond.

“Transfer students receive hands-on support from inquiry to enrollment and beyond.”

— SUEANN ROBBINS

In your experience, how has the admissions process evolved in terms of marketing and recruitment to take on the national decline in enrollment?

Social media! At the beginning of my career, there were no cell phones, no laptops, no tablets, no email, and no internet. We had to snail-mail everything, make posters to hang around campus, and physically find students to speak with them directly.

It’s hard to build a relationship with a potential student via text when you are limited to 140 characters. The challenge is to make those limitations stand out, leaving the potential student wanting more, and entice them to visit campus. Once they get on campus, they can see what a vibrant and engaging community YCP is. — C.K.

#YORKTOGETHER #COVID19 #HATEHASNOHOMEHERE

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Cultural Knowledge Winner “Stunning church with a riveting secret!

Santeria, a religion formed during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, conceals African deities as Roman Catholic saints. This church’s patron saint is the Virgin Mary, who represents Yemayá in Santeria. Yemayá, often depicted as a mermaid, is associated with the moon, water, and femininity. Her favorite flower is a sunflower, so Cubans (and we) pour into this stunning church to fill it with sunflowers in hopes of pleasing this beautiful mama.” (Cuba) — Alexis Czaplinski ’20

MAKING AN IMPACT Getting involved is a big step. Sport Management major and women’s soccer team player, Allie Becker ’23, hit the ground running by participating in the IMPACT York scholarship program and volunteering for the Girls on the Run 5K. As part of IMPACT York, she worked with Championship Community Center, an afterschool program offering various activities for local children. “We’re trying to get kids off the street and realize there’s more to the city,” she says.

Last December, Becker and her classmates cheered on the participants in the Girls on the Run 5K. She says, “Just seeing girls’ faces, smiles, and knowing that they were having a good time made it all worth it.”

She didn’t just stand and cheer. Becker noticed a young girl named Sydney near the back. “I ran out to her and said, ‘Let’s go, let’s run this out!’ ” They ran to the

experiences our Spartans are having abroad. Here are some highlights for this year. See the other winners and submit entries for next year at www.ycp.edu/photocontest.

Please note: The current COVID-19 outbreak around the world means that students have returned to the U.S. and will not be traveling until healthcare experts give the all-clear.

COVID -19

“ Having been apart for a prolonged period of time, we’ll have a deeper appreciation for being together.”

NICK DELENER, INTERIM DEAN, — GRAHAM SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

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A HEART FOR HEALTHCARE

Danielle Nusbaum ’07 (Lancaster, PA) understands what it’s like to watch a family member’s health decline. She took care of her 92-yearold grandmother before she passed and now takes care of her father who is undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.

Back at the College for her third degree, the graduate student plans to complete her Master of Science in the Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program. “Not only do the professors in the CRNP program

STUDY ABROAD With 56 entries, the annual Study Abroad Photo Contest is our favorite look back at the amazing experiences our students had around the world.

Students and alumni shared their reflections and stories from Costa Rica, Cuba, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Wales, and many more locations. These photos really speak to the challenges, inspirations, and

finish line and waited for the girl’s mom.

It turned out this was Sydney’s first 5K and Becker made it unforgettable.

The pair have reconnected since and Sydney shared that, “Allie is so positive, she made me feel special that day. The 5K was a little challenging, but I did it and felt powerful.” — C.K.

teach, but they are practicing in the field and can offer many relevant real-life experiences and scenarios that are helpful,” says Nusbaum.

A current registered nurse, she’s often faced with families dealing with similar situations. It’s because of her understanding that she doesn’t get easily frustrated when asked many questions — in fact, she encourages families to speak up.

She has a place in her heart especially for elderly patients. “I just feel like I can make a difference for them,” shares Nusbaum. Hearing about their life story and seeing the world through their eyes can change perspective. “I really care about them,” she says. “If they’re at the end of their life, I want them to be comfortable. I’ll fight for the things that are important to them.” — C.K.

WINNING COMBO For his playwriting class, Computer Science major Joel Horne ’20 (Waynesboro, PA) wrote a script about Ada Lovelace called Ada and Her Programming. Lovelace was known for her work with Charles Babbage when together they created a computer known as the Analytical Engine. Horne says the machine was similar to modern computers, albeit much slower. “The play is about them imagining what kind of impact their machine will have on the world in the future,” he says. The script highlights important advancements of women in computer science.

Horne’s play was selected by the Region 2 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival to workshop into a 10-minute show. During the festival, Horne worked with a director

#YORKTOGETHER

Although we might not all be together, it doesn’t mean we can’t work together.

Show us your workspace and how you’ve taken a piece of YCP with you! We’re in this together, we will get through this together!

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to cast the play and do a stage reading. To his surprise and delight, his play was chosen to be considered for the upcoming Gary Garrison National Ten-Minute Play Award.

Horne enjoyed combining his interests in computers and theatre through the College’s Computer Science and Theatre programs. He hopes to study computer science in graduate school and appreciates the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration at YCP.

ESPORTS EXPERT

E V EN TS

Nicholas “Nick” Nolte ’21 (York, PA) is not your typical athlete. His game of choice isn’t basketball or football.

It’s League of Legends. Nolte is one of a growing number of esports gamers

FALL FEST & HOMECOMING WEEKEND OCTOBER 2–4, 2020

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and now he’s creating an esports club and training facility at York College.

In fourth grade, Nolte was introduced to the game he calls simply “League.”

Nolte practices every day, constantly improving himself. He identifies weaknesses and works until they’re strengths. In 2018, he was ranked among the best in the nation. His competition in online tournaments earned him the rank of challenger — there are only 449 others in North America.

Nolte decided to make an esports program after gauging interest on a gaming app and finding over 100 interested fellow students. The club was approved by student government and a training and gaming facility on campus is underway. Once organized, the club will play against teams from other schools.

• Enjoy First Friday in Downtown York •P articipate in the Spartan Advance Golf Outing and 5K & Fun Run •C elebrate with students at their Fall Festival on Main Campus •C heer on Spartan athletes as they compete in games and matches

STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES EXPANDS Nearly 400 students currently use the Student Accessibility Services and Testing Center Suite and the services it offers. Recently, a generous gift covered the cost of a new office space and testing center, including “desks, dividers, and cubicles for the testing rooms…among other things,” says Linda Miller, Director of Student Accessibility Services (SAS).

As part of the Student Success Division, SAS helps students perform their best via accommodations and facilities. The most popular service is testing accommodations, which have had a 30-percent increase in usage since the upgrades last year. Donors, who wish to remain anonymous, surprised Miller when they presented her with a certificate naming one room the “Linda E. Miller Testing Room.” They wanted to acknowledge Miller, who has aided YCP’s disabled students for over 10 years, and the SAS team for their dedication. Laura Niesen de Abruña, PhD, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, stated, “I am immensely proud of Linda Miller and her staff for requesting better facilities to help our students and immensely grateful to the donor for making the gift that allowed for the expansion of our facility.” In the future, the SAS team hopes to raise more funds to allow for future upgrades to help disabled students. — B.L.

•S avor food, friends, and live entertainment at the Alumni SpartaFest event •A ttend a Class or Affinity Reunion

Go to ycp.edu/fallfest to learn more about this fun weekend.

JAVA JOE RETIRES “I think I’ll just have one more cup,” laughs Joseph “Joe” Merkle, Vice President of Student Affairs, as he heads over to Johnson Dining Hall to grab another cup of “Java Joe” — the special coffee named for him by dining hall staff featuring exactly half decaf and half regular coffee.

After 34 years at York College and 48 years in higher education, Merkle will be retiring in June, leaving behind not only his signature, “Java Joe,” coffee but also many memories and a legacy of campus improvements. “I’ve just been so glad that I’ve been in these positions working in higher education with students and having some impact on learning and personal development,” says Merkle. “I am most grateful to have worked in this educational arena.”

During his time at the College, he has seen tremendous growth in many aspects from campus facilities, athletics, and student organizations, to the number of students and student life programs; as well as the diversity of the student body. “There was always a major project that you were involved with that you saw the College developing and providing more resources for the students’ education,” says Merkle. “I really liked that idea because it showed the vibrancy of the College, and that the College was being contemporary and visionary. Being a part of that, and being involved in these projects has been exciting and fulfilling.”

Working in Student Affairs has made for a “wonderful career! Being an influential part of students’ education and collegiate experiences is rewarding and invigorating. Never a dull moment; and at times very challenging. You get involved in people’s lives and some of the most personal things that they’re dealing with,” shared Merkle. “We’ve had everything, from the simplest things of an event-scheduling conflict, to life and death matters. They’re certainly difficult to deal with, but you can feel good that you’ve been able to be there.”

Once retired, Merkle plans to take

time to do more of what he loves outside of the College — visiting his children out of town, taking trips to the shore, coaching and, most of all, swimming.

“I’ve become positively addicted to swimming,” he admits. With his last day as VP fast approaching, he knows he will greatly miss the College, the students, and the wonderful people he’s worked with here at YCP. “I don’t really think about, ‘Oh gosh, I can’t wait to be retired.’ I don’t have that feeling because I love what I do here. And I know I’m going to miss it. It’s been great.” — C.K.

“I love what I do here.

And I know I’m going to miss it.” — JOE MERKLE

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OV ERH E A RD

“It is something deeper, something that involves the nature of the human mind…

We have many problems that are difficult to resolve— intimidating, perhaps even scary. It gives people great pleasure to pick up on one that they think they have a chance of solving.”

Craig Bauer, Professor of Mathematics, York College, and former scholar-in-residence at the N.S.A.’s Center for Cryptologic History, was quoted in “This Sculpture Holds a Decades-Old C.I.A. Mystery. And Now Another Clue,” by John Schwartz and Jonathan Corum, The New York Times, January 29, 2020, about Kryptos, a sculpture that holds an encrypted message.

“I think now, we’re all sort of living in a twilight zone, in that we’re in our home places but we’re doing work. We’re in our houses, but we’re on Zoom, meeting with colleagues who are elsewhere. We’re all occupying these spaces that aren’t quite what they used to be like anymore, which raises complicated questions.”

Dennis Weiss, Professor of Philosophy, York College, who was quoted in “Zoetropolis ‘PDF’ philosophy film series discussion continues with free ‘Twilight Zone’ livestream discussion,” LNP Lancaster Online, March 26, 2020.

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“We know precisely who our students are and what their expectations entail. ROI must be part of the calculation. But looking at earnings just a few years post-graduation doesn’t include the entire equation. The suggestion that a college education is outdated misses the point that college prepares students for life as well as for the workforce.”

Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith, President of York College in “Letter: College education prepares students for workforce and life,” York Dispatch.com, Opinion, January 22, 2020.

“For example, if a person cites creationism as a reason to forego climate change initiatives, one can also make a religious reference by citing the Bible passage, Genesis 2:15, which says humankind is supposed to take care of God’s creation. This common ground makes one’s point without an outright refutation of the other’s beliefs.”

Erec Smith, Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, York College, was quoted in “How to talk about climate change in an emotionally intelligent way,”

by Stephanie Vozza, Fastcompany.com

“Imagine your Amazon Alexa sending you text messages during the day saying, ‘Oh baby, I miss you. I can’t wait until you get home.’ If this sounds far-fetched, think again. In Japan, the Gatebox, which functions like a digital assistant, also offers a holographic, virtual girlfriend which does just that— sends romantic messages to its owner…When human vulnerability is exploited for profit, by technologically mediated [Artificial Intelligence Relationships] AIR, it is time to rethink the value of virtual interactions.”

Tamara Schwartz, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity and Business Administration, York College, in her article, “How to date your A.I. Tech companies are exploiting the human need for intimacy. Is it a trap?” in Salon.com, February 14, 2020.

WITH A YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA GRADUATE DEGREE YOU CAN CONNECT YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS WITH OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL SHAPE YOUR FUTURE FROM DAY ONE.

Discover our full graduate program portfolio: ycp.edu/graduate

” YCP does a great job of preparing you for real-world experience. They brought in professional patients for us to interact with and assess, they use labs to teach us to splint and suture and we are taught by people in the field who have realworld experience with these skills.”

Danielle Nusbaum ’07, Nurse Practitioner candidate and working professional, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

EN G AGIN G YO RK

CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH MURALS Joe Young ’20 (York, PA) remembers watching the murals pop up around York’s Royal Square District. He saw them breathe life and vibrancy into the up-and-coming neighborhood.

He had an idea. Could murals ignite a similar spark around campus? “It felt like some of the buildings along Grantley Road were very dark and didn’t have much going on,” he says.

“They acted as a barrier instead of a bridge between the College and the nearby community.”

York College’s Great to Greater grant program sought solutions to fix that problem. Young, an Entrepreneurship and Innovation major, submitted an application. “Murals can have a limitless effect on an infinite amount of people,” he says. “Murals create a sense of community, and I wanted to replicate that here.”

After winning the grant, he needed an artist. He found Matthew Apol, a 2007 YCP graduate and recipient of the 2017 Appell Arts Fellowship.

“When I heard Joe’s vision, I became hooked,” Apol says. “We wanted to brighten up that neighborhood since it doesn’t get as much attention.”

They put out a call for artists and received a design from student Alexis Czaplinski ’20 (Glen Rock, PA). The pair tweaked the idea more than 100 times before settling on the final draft.

Last summer, Apol painted the mural on the side of Azteca Mexican Grill. It depicts a picture of the world with the word “Coalesce” painted across it. The mural went up a few days before the beginning of the fall semester. Young raised awareness by including it in a scavenger hunt for students. The first 100 students who posted a photo from the mural won a free burrito.

“We wanted to show that the College and community could coalesce and come together,” he says. “We wanted to include everyone — to let the globe be a common unifier for everything.”

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Young’s project has expanded to include two more murals. The next stages — “Evolve” and “Flourish” — should be ready for painting in summer 2020.

“When we as a community coalesce, that’s when people can evolve and flourish,” he says. A local artist will paint the “Evolve” mural using the artist’s interpretation of the theme. Community panels will decide on the “Flourish” design, he says.

The project keeps him busy. He spends hours meeting with community members and faculty to get everything moving.

“Joe’s going to be an important part of this next group involved in the City’s revitalization,” Apol says. “He’s got a great attitude, and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty to help an idea get done.”

“Murals can have a limitless effect on an infinite amount of people. Murals create a sense of community, and I wanted to replicate that here.”

— JOE YOUNG ’20

Dominic DelliCarpini, PhD, serves as Young’s advisor on the murals. As Dean of the Center for Community Engagement, he believes the first mural is already doing its job. “A lot of colleges have an uneasy relationship with the towns around them,” DelliCarpini says. “The mural is a thank-you to the community for supporting and welcoming our students.” Young will graduate in 2020 and he hopes to use the murals as a capstone for his college career. “I want to leave a mark on the College before I leave here,” he says.

“I hope it shows that the area is alive and well. People should know there are interesting things not only at the College, but also in the community around it.”

Joe Young ’20 stands in front of “Coalesce,” a mural painted on the side of Azteca Mexican Grill by Matthew Apol ’07.

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ACL TEAR CHANGES WRESTLER’S PERSPECTIVE Eric Hutchinson ’22 went into his sophomore year at York College thinking it’d be just another “dominant” wrestling season. Early in December, he entered the New Standard Corporation Invitational as the top seed, but in a matter of seconds, everything changed.

During a match, Hutchinson found his knee in an odd bent position. He tried to get up and continue to wrestle with 10 seconds left, but his knee kept giving out. Something was wrong.

Hutchinson later discovered he tore his ACL, MCL, and medial and lateral meniscus. He had surgery later in the month and spent countless hours rehabbing his knee over the summer months. However, he knew he would have a huge disadvantage wrestling during the following season.

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SPA RTA N SH O RTS

“You know what, it is what it is. I’m going to have to work harder than anyone else and come back and prove I’m better than what I was last year.”

— ERIC HUTCHINSON ’22

“Now I realize, with my wrestling career, you never know what’s going to happen,” Hutchinson says. “Treat every match like it’s your last. I really saw the light with that.”

Hutchinson, a Supply Chain Operations Management major from Wayne, Pennsylvania, dedicated himself to his rehabilitation and training. He didn’t go past what doctors told him he could do, and he attended physical therapy three times a week. With help from a trainer, he started learning how to engage his core and worked to get over both mental and physical barriers.

After cracking the last bit of scar tissue while wrestling with his trainer, Hutchinson hasn’t felt any pain in his knee. He’s wrestled better this season than he had during his past two, he says. He came back this year and won the 2019-2020 New Standard Invitational — the first York wrestler to win the tournament in 11 years.

“I knew no one really expected me to come back this season and be who I am right now. Because coming back from an ACL tear, most wrestlers wrestle scared throughout the season,” Hutchinson says. “I mentally said, ‘You know what, it is what it is. I’m going to have to work harder than anyone else and come back and prove I’m better than what I was last year.’ ” While rehabbing his knee over the summer, Hutchinson discovered another passion besides wrestling: cooking.

After being asked to make dinner for his girlfriend and her family, Hutchinson decided to make barbecue chicken breast. He had nearly 10 hours to do it with little to no experience cooking.

He ended up marinating the chicken, while cooking asparagus, vegetables, and garlic bread, which turned out to be “the best chicken” his hosts had ever had. His friends and girlfriend urged him to make a cooking page with a comedic twist.

Enter @mr.chef_hutchinson. Videos range from a barbecue with the whole wrestling team to what a wrestler would eat pre-match. He even shows the meals that don’t work out, such as a tater tot casserole. However, what started out as a joke now has a pretty serious following.

“My little sister loves it — she’s 13,” Hutchinson says. “My grandmother and my great aunt actually just made an Instagram page because they wanted to follow it.”

The page has also sparked an unexpected love of cooking. Hutchinson found it wasn’t easy to cook all the recipes he was making, but he’s starting to add his own spices and create add-ons to meals. Whether he’s on the wrestling mat or in the kitchen, he’s overcoming challenges and finding joy in both.

The Spartan women’s track & field team earned a second-place finish at the CAC Championship. The finish ties the highest previous finish of a Spartan women’s indoor team. First year Julia Pena (Highland Hills, NY) was named the CAC Rookie of the Year after leading York with 26 points scored.

Head coach Stephen LoBianco was named Coach of the Year.

The men’s basketball program earned their second CAC tournament championship as they went on the road and beat Christopher Newport 79-77 in the title game. Senior Darin Gordon (Spring Grove, PA) was named the tournament MVP while senior Jared Wagner (York, PA) and junior David Giuliani (North Wales, PA) earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.

The men’s basketball championship was the fourth in school history.

They joined the 2004-2005, the 2011-2012, and 2017-2018 teams who earned a conference tournament crown. The Spartans finished the regular season with their third straight CAC Regular Season championship.

Sophomore Eric Hutchinson (Wayne, PA) earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his Spartan career.

Hutchinson advanced to the national championship after finishing third at 149-pounds at the Southeast Regional championship. The championships were canceled by the NCAA one day before competition was set to start in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Hutchinson finished the year with a mark of 32-4.

WAGNER LEADS THE SPARTANS TO ANOTHER CAC CHAMPIONSHIP Senior men’s basketball player Jared Wagner (York, PA) closed out his senior season as one of the best to ever wear the Green and White.

Wagner led the Spartans to their second Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championship in the last three years and their third straight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament berth. Along the way, Wagner was named the CAC Player of the Year, earned a pair of All Mid-Atlantic region honors, and became York’s fifth National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-American as he earned second team honors.

Wagner’s name is all over the Spartans’ career record book. He is the Spartan all-time leader in free throws made (467), steals (288), steals per game (2.5), and games played (115). He is second in free throws attempted (624), assists, (554), and assists per game (4.8) while he is third in games started (98), fourth in minutes played (3,385), ninth in points (1,505), tenth in rebounds (559), and tenth in blocked shots (61).

LONGTIME WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH SET TO RETIRE York College head women’s soccer coach Vicki Sterner has announced her plan to retire from coaching effective at the end of the Spring Semester. Sterner, who completed her 24th year at the helm of the program in November, is the only coach in the history of the women’s soccer program at York.

“I felt it was time to step away from the program and retire,” said Sterner.

“I really enjoyed this last season. It was a fantastic group of players and I feel like the program is heading in a good direction.”

She led the Spartans to the CAC championship match for the seventh time before they fell to Mary Washington in November. During her tenure at York, Sterner captured three CAC championships (2007, 2013, and 2015) and was named the CAC Coach of the Year in 2001, 2003, and 2007. She ends her career with an overall record of 239185-36, good for a winning percentage of 55.9% overall. She owned a CAC record of 103-68-10 (59.7%) as she went 20-177 all-time in the CAC tournament.

“I have been very fortunate to have so many great players, but more importantly, I have had so many fantastic young women. I will value the relationships this job has afforded me more than anything else,” said Sterner. “The memories I will carry away with me will be something I will never forget.”

Sterner has recruited and coached six National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Regional players, five CAC Rookie of the Year players, and 44 players who have earned 33 first-team All-CAC honors and 37 second-team All-CAC accolades.

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PURSUITS

THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL HEALING The Institute for Social Healing was established in 2019 by Amanda Rich, PhD, under the Center for Community Engagement. Rich wanted to help the local community by providing resources for York College of Pennsylvania student and faculty research. “The term ‘social healing’ grew out of the fields of theology, peacemaking, and conflict resolution,” she says.

H A N DS- O N

related topics. Students can attend a yearly symposium to present or view research posters. Additionally, they can participate in project-based and service learning to gain real-world experience in fields related to social healing.

The Institute for Social Healing has planned many events to help reach its goals. A website launch, evaluation of the Quantum Opportunities Program, and hosting of The Symposium on Action Research and Trauma Responsive Communities are just a few. There will be many more events and services offered to YCP students, and students from other colleges, in the future. Rich states, “We hope to connect students from multiple departments and multiple colleges who are interested in learning about, and taking action to address, these issues in order to add to a closely linked network of people who care.” — B.L.

“ The Institute allows on-the-ground work to guide academic research, and academic research to facilitate evidencebased practices.”

— VINNY CANNIZZARO, MPP, DIRECTOR, THE ARTHUR J. GLATFELTER INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY

The institute aims to achieve a number of goals. Combating human trafficking is just one of them. Rich states, “Human trafficking, like many issues of violence, hurt, and exploitation in our communities is not only a problem in and of itself, but also a symptom of other intersecting societal challenges and inequities.” She hopes that the institute will provide a virtual space that contains “valid, reliable, and accessible information on topics related to injustice, trauma, violence, exploitation, peacemaking, healing, and trauma responsive communities.” Community workers can further their knowledge and encourage social healing locally with the help of the institute’s resources.

YCP students also benefit from the institute’s resources, which connect them with local experts and internship opportunities, as well as encouraging independent studies on 16

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CONSERVATION IN MOTION It’s always a surprise when Erika Scheppelmann downloads the memory cards from her trail cameras to her laptop. For almost a year, she’s had 12 motion-sensor cameras spread throughout Richard M. Nixon County Park, in Springfield Township, York, Pennsylvania, documenting its wildlife. For her senior research project at York College, she decided to find out if human presence in the park impacts animals’ habitat use.

Scheppelmann grew up in a hunting family. She first tagged along with her dad and brother as a child. As a teenager, she hunted with them. She feels connected to nature in a unique way many people don’t, watching foxes playing together and hearing birds singing.

She appreciates the food web and her role within it. It made sense for her to pursue a degree in Biology, with hopes of

working in wildlife conservation.

She’s had to trek to her cameras to change batteries and memory cards in extreme conditions — all while trying to protect herself from ticks and leave as little trace as possible. But, it’s been exciting to do research in her chosen field and get real-world experience.

“When I got my first image of a coyote, I was through the roof and immediately emailed my mentor,” she says.

Her mentor, Professor Bridgette E. Hagerty, PhD, helped take Scheppelmann’s research beyond York.

As a member of the Wildlife Society, Professor Hagerty was able to gift a membership to Scheppelmann, who then presented her research at the joint Wildlife Society-American Fisheries Society meeting in Reno, Nevada.

Though incomplete, Scheppelmann presented her preliminary research findings at the conference. “It was extremely intimidating being there with so many professionals,” she says. “I’m just really happy I had the chance to do it.” Her work was well received. Her biggest compliment was an assumption that she was a graduate student because of the quality of her work.

Scheppelmann is still finalizing her results. Preliminary work suggested that animal habitat use did not significantly change with human presence. As her research progressed, there was a drop in some mid-ranking predators in areas that became open to the public.

She’s grateful to the people at Nixon Park, the York College Biology Department, and the Center for Academic Innovation. “Being able to do my research in the park, funding for my research, a lot of work has gone into it,” she says, “and I’m super grateful for their support.”

FIGHTING CRIME WITH SCIENCE There’s something about the draw of television series and movies featuring dramatized crime or the taboo idea of serial killers and binge-watching the next big documentary featuring their infamy. Sophomore Amanda Ott has always found herself intrigued by popular crime shows such as NCIS.

“I’ve always wanted to be like Abby,” she says of the spunky goth character on the show who is always the one cracking the case with her amazing scientific skills. Ott has considered a career in law enforcement, but, like Abby, she is a nerd at heart and has always been drawn to the science fields.

After attending a college fair, Ott made the decision to leave her hometown in Lakeland, Florida, to come to York College and pursue a degree in Forensic Chemistry — the perfect combination of science and crime fighting. While she was “sold” on the College and the program, being accepted for the Presidential Research Fellows Scholarship program opened another door of opportunity. “The scholarship grants me a multitude of opportunities with the school, and I get to begin the research process earlier than most other students,” she said.

Ott’s research is in the very early stages. She is currently conducting preliminary literature research on the subject of hair analysis. She plans to use this research in her overall project of how the use of CBD oil with trace amounts of THC could affect drug tests.

“I’m reading articles on hair analysis of cannabis users, hair analysis by supercritical fluid extraction, and general hair analysis in the forensics field, and collecting information which could be useful for my own project,” explains Ott. With the help of faculty mentors, Kerry Opel, PhD, and Gregory Foy, PhD, she has been able to dive deeper into specific areas. “Both professors are guiding me at the moment in my literature review and will likely help guide my physical research later on,” says Ott. With little research in this area, the process has been difficult, but she is certainly learning a lot from it. “I’ve been learning that the field of forensics is vast and seems to be ever-evolving as new areas of analysis and technology appear,” says Ott. “I’m excited to see what changes will be made in the future in the field of forensics and how that will impact the criminal justice world as well.” — C.K.

Mary Meisenhelter ’80, PhD Professor of Management It only takes one person to make a lasting impression. At York College, one such faculty member commonly named by students and alumni is Professor of Management Mary Meisenhelter, PhD. Meisenhelter found herself in higher education after attending York College as a student herself. She majored in Psychology and worked in a few local area human resource jobs following graduation. After teaching at York College as an adjunct, she was hired as a full-time instructor.

“With the support of the College, I was teaching here full-time and going to school at George Washington University,” said Meisenhelter.

In order to make that lasting impression, Meisenhelter approaches her teaching style and the way she interacts with students in a way that not only challenges them, but also enables them to experience things for themselves. “I design a course with the intent of how I can get the students to

Left to right: Mohammed Raja, PhD, Ryan Meyers ’20, Brandy Fink ’19, Brad Lovett ’20, Mary Meisenhelter ’80, PhD and Sam Miller ’20 at RHI Magnesita.

experience HR,” said Meisenhelter, who doesn’t want students to “just learn theory or content.” Often her classroom has desks arranged in a circle.

A major component of the curriculum is to place students out in the field to experience and see for themselves what it’s like. Through one assignment, Meisenhelter has her students interview an HR professional. “Many times students would get internships as a result of those interviews,” Meisenhelter states with pride.

As a mentor, Meisenhelter had served as a faculty advisor for Students In Free Enterprise “SIFE” (now ENACTUS), a service club that helps the community while allowing students to learn and build their knowledge of business. Many alumni who were part of SIFE will remember their slogan, “SIFE for life.” — C.K.

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COVER STORY STORIES FROM OUR YCP COMMUNITY

COPING WITH COVID-19

How has the YCP community been handling their time in isolation?

I L L U S T R AT I O N S : R O S E W O N G

CO PIN G WIT H COVID -19

We are confronting the worst public-health crisis in a century. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world and will affect our lives for some time to come. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the number of COVID-19 cases will have fallen significantly.

How did the YCP community pull together and manage? With humor, compassion, and resilience. Here are just a few comments. If you want to hear more about how community members managed during these trying times, please visit our website and follow social media, #YorkTogether. Stay safe and well.

Our team is hard at work creating virtual engagement opportunities for our 37,000 Spartans across the globe.

Ideas include a gallery of alumni blogs/webcasts, virtual Coffee and Conversation Sessions with Spartans and YCP Faculty/Staff, social media contests, just to name a few.

We have also started implementing webinars as part of our virtual engagement strategy and the first one went very well. Opportunities will be pushed out electronically, so we are encouraging our alumni to make sure their information (including emails) is updated with our office.

Director of Alumni Relations

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you professionally?

How has the COVID-19 emergency affected you personally?

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted each of us in different ways through our various communities, our families, and our work. There are new changes every day that continue to shake up our lives. We are proud of how we have seen our York College students, alumni, faculty, and staff stepping up and working together through this pandemic.

As we adjust to a new normal and practice social distancing, feeling connected to one another is more difficult, yet more important than ever. Know that your Spartan family is never far away. That’s why we are working diligently to provide even more virtual engagement opportunities. Whether you are looking for a way to connect with students or are seeking professional development opportunities, there is something for everyone.

I am not going to lie…this adjustment is intense. My husband is considered essential at his company and must still report to his office each day. Trying to work from home, participate in phone/Zoom meetings, homeschool a first and third grader, and keep a spunky four-year-old occupied has been a new adventure! Luckily, my husband is now home part of the time.

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Mechanical Engineering

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you academically?

Academically, the situation has changed completely. As an Engineering major, I am used to many in-person, hands-on classes and, of course, everything is online now.

This was challenging at first, but now it has shown to be an opportunity for professors and students to get more creative with reaching their learning goals. We have all learned to adapt and switch many projects to topics that are able to be completed at home. Luckily, our professors are always there to answer questions, and they are very understanding as well. I was planning a trip to Germany this summer with the Graham Scholars that has recently been canceled. We were planning to do design thinking workshops and network with German companies to develop relationships to benefit YCP students. Although we are very disappointed, we are exploring how we might be able to hold workshops and meetings online with the contacts we planned to visit.

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you personally?

Kristin Schab ’04

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John Kershner ’20

What are you doing to help alleviate anxiety or stress?

What is helping me is communication with my amazing husband. He has adjusted his hours at work so he can get home earlier and take the three girls outside for fresh air and exercise. That hour is my time to work in peace, clean the house from school, and start on dinner. I also try and put all of this into perspective as well. How can I complain about all of my things-to-do list when there are some parents not able to be at home and putting themselves in the front lines of danger with their health?

As someone whose favorite part about being on campus is the friends that are there too, going home has been a big change, but a nice one as well. While not being able to hang out in person is very disappointing, we have had fun nights on Zoom calls, and find other ways to stay in touch. Being at home has also not been too bad, as I am getting to spend time with my family, including my sister, who I would usually only see once or twice a semester as she attends college in New Jersey.

“We have all learned to adapt and switch many projects to topics that are able to be completed at home.”

What are you doing to help alleviate anxiety or stress?

To alleviate stress, I’ve been going on lots of walks outside during my family’s lunch break (as my parents and sister are also working/studying from home). I’ve also sought to talk to friends as much as possible and reach out to those I haven’t heard from. And, like everyone else, there are some really great TV shows and movies online that make time fly by.

“Working out has been a huge stress relief, as well as taking walks for fresh air.”

Katie (Lamb) Johnston ’14 How have COVID-19 precautions affected you professionally?

I work for a public relations agency and, thankfully, my work can be done remotely. I’ve set up a home office and have been hard at work supporting my clients. In times of crisis, communications is an essential business function. Companies must communicate with their customers, investors, and the general public to share the steps they’re taking to keep employees/customers safe and share how business may be impacted. We’ve been busier than ever, but I’m lucky to work for a very supportive, transparent, and quick-thinking company.

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you personally?

Unfortunately, we had to cancel a much-anticipated 30th birthday trip to the U.K. for my husband (also a YCP alum), which we were taking with a few other York friends, but it’s better to be on this end rather than stranded in a foreign country! We are heeding the government and healthcare officials’ warnings and have stocked up on necessary supplies for a few weeks, and our cats seem very happy to have us home!

What are you doing to help alleviate anxiety or stress?

Working out has been a huge stress relief, as well as taking walks for fresh air. We are also trying to do our part by supporting local businesses…every bit helps.

Staying connected with friends is also critical, so there

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CO PIN G WIT H COVID -19

have been constant calls, texts, and FaceTimes. And even though I’m in the media business, I’m trying to stay away from obsessively checking for news updates!

Brandon Childs Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach

Sydney Fitzwater ’20 Nursing, Track

How have COVID-19 precautions affected your sports activities and your academics?

As a Nursing major and a student-athlete, these precautions have really changed the dynamic of my studies and my efforts to compete in track. However, I think precautions must be taken to protect us regardless of how we feel of the decision. It is just hard to know what decisions to make at times like this. At first, nursing students were to remain on campus to continue clinicals, but we were later sent home with the rest of the students.

This forced our nursing professors to think of ways to resume clinicals over the internet, which is definitely not the same as an in-person clinical experience. Additionally, with the NCAA decision and the CAC decision, track is not occurring this spring as usual, which is sad since track tends to be an outlet for me.

“…precautions must be taken to protect us regardless of how we feel of the decision.”

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you personally?

Personally, I tend to be all over the place. I study in a few different locations on campus because I often need a change in scenery, so being stuck just in my house is a hard adjustment. I have definitely noticed that I have been struggling with motivation and staying focused on my school work. I do feel as though this has given me the opportunity to refocus my faith and also spend quality time with my family.

What are you doing to help alleviate anxiety or stress?

Currently, I am watching NCIS (sometimes with my cat) which has been a nice way to de-stress. My dad and I have also been working on a 1,500-piece puzzle, which we have made a lot of progress on. Finally, I am a plant mom and I love to take care of my plants and learn more about caring for them.

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How have COVID-19 precautions affected you professionally?

What are you doing to help alleviate anxiety or stress?

To deal with the daily stress and anxiety, I’ve been working out every day and taking walks with my son.

I’m also mowing my own lawn and plan to do some outdoor landscaping around my house.

James and Susan Keogh Parents

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you personally?

What are you doing to help alleviate anxiety or stress?

My kids make me laugh — that does the trick.

Betsy Witman Women’s Basketball Coach

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you professionally?

COVID-19 has affected me professionally because this is the time of year when I try to wrap up recruiting for the fall of 2020. It’s been difficult not being able to meet with prospective student-athletes face-to-face. So, I’ve been forced to communicate with them through emails, phone calls, FaceTime, and text messages.

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you personally?

Personally, it has affected me due to the fact that I have to work from home with my 3-year old son who wants my undivided attention. So many times, I have to wait until he goes to bed to do the majority of my daily work!

What are you doing to help alleviate anxiety or stress?

The quarantine does not prohibit exercise outdoors. Last week I ran 25 miles…this week I am going to have to limit myself to 30 or I think my exercise obsession will get entirely out of hand. When the weather warms just a bit, I am going to get out and bicycle. A lot.

My professional life has just been turned upside down.

As a coach, there is so much that goes into the preparation for your season and then to have your season cut short after only a month is just a bit numbing. This is so unprecedented and, at the end of the day, to have the face-to-face relationship with my athletes gone from my daily work experience is painful. We get into higher ed to make a daily impact on our students and, while it can be done from a distance, it is certainly not the same.

Personally, the uncertainty of COVID-19 is a little scary.

While I do not take the effects of the virus lightly, I do try to find the positives in every situation, and the time that it has given me with my wife and four kids has been so good. Homeschooling our kids and seeing them grow right before our eyes is really cool. This has also given our family an opportunity to teach our children the importance of empathy, sacrifice, and prayer.

in a real bind with nowhere to go, so we are housing them in an extra bedroom for a few weeks. We are suddenly crowded, and all of us are supposed to stay inside — on top of my new office/studio space — the space that was my foyer last week!

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you professionally?

Assistant Professor of Art

The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely affected all of us to varying degrees. I am an electrician for the Elizabeth Police Dept. and am considered “essential” personnel, so I have continued to work as normal. At work, we are trying to take extra precautions by sanitizing areas before we work, but sometimes that is not always possible. With Susan and the kids staying safe at home, I’m worried about what I might catch and bring back home and expose them to.

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you professionally?

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you personally?

It has been a whirlwind. Teaching studio art courses online is particularly difficult, but I have found ways to make it work. My drawing students have been keeping an “Apocalypse Zine,” a farcical sketchbook of their adventures at the end of the world. Most seem to be enjoying the project with a grim, and sometimes silly, sense of humor. There is no substitute for making art together in the same classroom, but we have found ways to continue to learn and grow as artists. In my own practice as a professional painter, it has been more difficult. Last week, I had a solo show of my paintings canceled. I hope it will be rescheduled after the quarantine, but who knows?

I agree with York College President Pamela GunterSmith’s decision to close the campus at the time she did, but as a parent I feel bad for my children who were having a wonderful first year at York. They have all continued their studies online, but they miss the York friends and community that they quickly fell in love with. Both Susan and I believe that just reinforces our belief that the kids made the right decision to go to York.

Ry Fryar

How have COVID-19 precautions affected you personally?

My son has been living and working abroad. Late last week, we heard the institution he had been with decided to return him abruptly to the U.S. We hadn’t expected to see him in three months and this morning I picked him up at the Baltimore airport. We are very happy to see him, but it has been a bit of a shock. One of my students was

“I agree with York College President Pamela Gunter-Smith’s decision to close the campus at the time she did.”

What are you doing to help alleviate anxiety or stress?

I am doing the same as Susan, advising the kids to get outside in the sun, weather permitting, and just take a break now and then. We’re trying not to dwell on the constant bad news being broadcast both on the news channels and social media.

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IN FO CUS

QUINTUPLE VISION Going to college with your sibling can be a different experience, but having four siblings at the same school?

That’s unusual. First-year Keogh quintuplets all decided to attend York College and, so far, the consensus is they love it.

“I like how I have more freedom and room to choose what I want to do,” says Brigid, a Nursing major.

“Having my siblings here with me,” shares Elizabeth, an Early Elementary/Special Education major, “has made York turn into my home away from home.”

“Having siblings here definitely helps adjustment,” admits Jacqueline, a Civil Engineering major.

“It is more fun than I imagined,” says Meaghan, a Pre-Nursing major.

“Going to school with my siblings is great because I see familiar faces around campus,” shared Patrick, a Business major. ­ — C.K. Photo by Ken Bruggeman/Our York Media

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YCP ’ S K N OW L EDG E PA RK

Envisioning the Future Imagine a new beginning for the 200-plus-year-old Schmidt & Ault paper mill along Kings Mill Road; the once blighted property transformed with tall windows and stunning views of the Codorus Creek, shared labs and workspaces—a Silicon Valley atmosphere right here in York.

Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith, President of York College, envisions the building’s new life as a place to foster the free-flowing exchange of ideas among students and professionals from all disciplines in a state-of-the art environment: the York College Knowledge Park.

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YCP ’ S K N OW L EDGE PA RK

“This new venture will allow us to grow our partnerships with companies, agencies, nonprofits or organizations that will provide programmatic connections to York College through student experiential-learning opportunities and collaboration with our faculty.”

— DR. PAMELA GUNTER-SMITH

Working closely with community partners, Jeff Vermeulen, York College’s Assistant Vice President of External Affairs, is leading the initiative to turn the vision into reality. From York College’s perspective, he sees Knowledge Park as a learning lab—a place where students focus on project-based learning and internships while faculty facilitate sponsored research. “It’s a step forward in the evolution in what it means to receive a York College education and how we partner with the community,” he says. “This type of real-world learning will happen on our campus and will speak to the student who’s going to want the York College experience.”

The Knowledge Park is a collaboration between the academic community and the City and is part of the larger vision that combines the connection of York City to the College’s Engaged Scholars programs, its five schools, and three signature high-impact teaching practices of project-based learning, global awareness, and faculty-student research.

About two years ago, when the Codorus Creek Beautification Initiative got underway and grant money from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) seemed attainable, the timing was right for the Knowledge Park vision to become reality. The College received a $6 million RACP grant last year, which will help with renovating several buildings on the north side of Kings Mill Road. Work is scheduled to begin next year.

“With a major need for high tech and cyber-related training, this forward-thinking plan by York College, will boost our region’s emergence as a top location for a highly-skilled, trained, and technical workforce,” says Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York). “This investment will ensure York County will be home to one of the most cutting-edge institutions that leads to family-sustaining careers for many years and will pay major dividends back to the local and state economies.”

Dataforma, a web-based cloud software company that provides services to the construction industry, joined the J.D. Brown Center in 2011. As the company grew into a multimillion-dollar organization with nearly 30 employees,

Left: More than 12 years after it purchased the former Schmidt & Ault paper mill, York College will turn the space into Knowledge Park.

Above: John Schmidt ’48 joined Jeff Vermeulen in a visit to the old mill and looks forward to seeing work on Knowledge Park begin.

Previous and this page: Photos by Ken Bruggeman/Our York Media

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Below: Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith with Mr. and Mrs. John Schmidt.

Right: Drawing of Knowledge Park by abSketches.

they sought to find new space, but didn’t want to lose the connections with the College.

When Dataforma CEO Mark Zeleznock heard about Knowledge Park, he jumped at the opportunity to become an anchor tenant. “We were willing to do whatever it took,” Zeleznock says. “We love working with young students and recent graduates, and York College is providing the skills that our business requires.”

According to Vermeulen, this kind of collaboration is one of the ways to reduce Pennsylvania’s brain drain—where educated people in their 20s and 30s leave the state.

Knowledge Park, he says, can help keep those minds here.

Zeleznock sees the opportunity for Knowledge Park to become a conduit for high-level talent to move into the area. “It’s tough to be in a small town and recruit employees when there’s only one company in town doing this type of development,” he says.

“If you have a concentration of jobs here, the area will continue to attract more talent.”

— MARK ZELEZNOCK, DATAFORMA CEO

York College has done an excellent job of renovating existing buildings that are part of York’s history. One alumnus, in particular, has a strong connection to the mill. For the past six decades, John C. Schmidt ’48 has driven the same way into York from his home in Spring Garden Township—down Grantley Road, through Kings Mill Road, and past the mill his grandfather bought over 100 years ago.

York College has been in communication with Schmidt since the early stages of the Knowledge Park project. Now 89, he can still remember vivid details of the property’s history. He even wrote a book about it several years ago, called The Mill: My Life in Paper.

In 1898, Schmidt’s grandfather and a partner purchased the business, creating the Schmidt & Ault Paper Co. When Schmidt’s grandfather died in 1923, Schmidt’s father took over the business.

The mill employed hundreds of York residents back in the day, but for Schmidt, the mill was his life. The family constantly talked about the business, often singing the praises of “The Cadillac” of the plant, Machine #5—its delivery required a trip through the Panama Canal followed by a train pulling 90 cars before it reached York.

When Schmidt left the mill in 1972, it was the last time he’d walk inside for nearly 50 years. The site later became Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. In 2000, the company closed the mill citing market conditions.

For Schmidt, who admits to being sentimental about the site’s past, a completely revitalized area is a sight he’s eager to see along his regular drives into the City. “Life moves on,” he says. “You have to look forward, not backward.”

Looking ahead, Gunter-Smith says, “The concept of Knowledge Park is something typically found at institutions much larger than York College, which is what makes the endeavor so unique. It’s truly a win-win for everyone. It’s really special that this is going to be transformed in a way that serves both the College and the community. That’s why this works well. That’s why it will be so successful here.”

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CONNECTIONS

A LU M NI SP OT L IGH T

A LU M NI N E WS

CONNECTIONS SHARE YOUR UPDATE AND SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE Throughout the year, York College graduates share milestones and successes from around the world.

From wedding, engagement, and birth announcements to job promotions, creative projects, travel, and fun, Class Notes show what’s happening in the professional and personal lives of alumni.

Class notes are published three times per year in an electronic format. Submissions are subject to edits and space restrictions. To view Class Notes or to submit your news, please visit www.ycp.edu/alumni. Any questions? Email alumni@ycp.edu.

FBI FORENSIC CHEMIST Monique Brillhart ’00 does intriguing work as a Forensic Chemist for the FBI. She once fingerprinted over 1,000 detached fingers to determine which belonged to body donors. Normally, she examines nonhuman items for fingerprints and looks them up in the FBI’s database. Brillhart describes her job as exciting, and says, “From developing latent prints on items of evidence, to comparing those prints and making identifications, testifying in court, as well as providing training to our domestic and international law enforcement partners in the development of latent prints,” it’s engaging.

Brillhart’s love of science started before she studied Biology and 30

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Criminology at York College. She believes that her education at YCP helped her prepare for her career by giving her the necessary background information about human development and forensic science. As a child, she took apart and reconstructed electronics to discover how they worked. She has overcome many obstacles in life to accomplish her goals and get where she is today, including growing up in a lower-income area and losing her father to suicide when she was in high school.

She describes the extensive hiring process and two-year training program she went through at the FBI as “a great accomplishment for anyone.”

Now, she works as the Hazardous Evidence Analysis Team (HEAT) Coordinator, conducting examinations on evidence contaminated with hazardous materials. She also trains new examiners, and watches them develop into experienced professionals.

“I am so proud to see their talent and to think I had something to do with their continued success,” she says.

Brillhart has worked for the FBI for 15 years and she’s ready to take on any challenges that may pop up. Her balance of work and personal life is what keeps her going. “Playing with my two shelties, Harper and Kimpton, each day after work is a natural stress relief and one of the best parts of my day,” she says. When asked about future plans, she responded, “As far as the future and what it holds for me — I guess we will see!” — B.L.

Results

2020 YCP Day of Giving

1,119

86,125

9

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total donors

challenges unlocked

dollars raised

states with donor gifts

1st gift Lauren Henry ’89 reclaimed her Midnight Madness title with the first gift of YCP Day of Giving 2020.

STORYTELLER AT HARVARD Adam Zewe ’07 has always been a storyteller.

When his elementary school didn’t have a school newspaper, he started his own — printing copies from his parents’ computer to hand out in class. So, it was no surprise when he joined The Spartan, York College’s student newspaper, as a first-year student. By the time he was a junior, he was Editor-in-Chief of the paper. Zewe majored in Economics and Finance, but continued to pursue journalism outside the classroom.

Competing in a writing and speaking competition had won him a full-tuition scholarship. Attending YCP was a no-brainer. “I graduated from college debt-free,” he says. Unlike many of his friends, he didn’t have to move back in with his parents or compromise on his dream. “I feel so fortunate I didn’t have to deal with any of that,” he says. “I got started on my career right away.”

After graduating, he worked as a reporter at Hockessin Community News in Delaware for five years.

Unfortunately, the family paper was bought out, and Zewe decided to leave journalism behind — but he didn’t abandon storytelling. He moved into communication, and then worked at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

His passion for storytelling had led him into what he calls his “dream job.”

He’s still telling the stories he thinks are important, still digging deep into topics and exploring new ideas. And because there’s so much going on at Harvard, he never gets bored. “I learn something new every day, whether I want to or not,” he says. He’s worked at Harvard for four years now, and he’s never been happier. “Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has something interesting to tell and teach you,” he says. “I’m living the dream.”

Debabrata Mukherjee, PhD, MBA ’00 President and CEO of Finch Paper

“The principles of making the softer side of business work can be very powerful.”

For the past seven years, Debabrata “Deba” Mukherjee has been the President and CEO of Finch Paper in Glens Falls, New York. But, his path to business leadership did not travel through the traditional sales or administrative routes.

Rather, Mukherjee forged an impressive research career before entering the paper business. He took an MS and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and published widely in scientific journals.

Mukherjee also jointly holds three patents in inkjet printer technology that helped pioneer an activity we take for granted in 2020: the printing of photographs on personal-use printers. “I’m very proud of that,” he says. “That [technology] changed the way the world prints today.”

Pursuing an advanced business degree was not simply another diploma for the wall, but a pathway for Mukherjee to bring research strengths into corporate decision-making. “Once I entered into the business world,” he says, “I realized that [what] I wanted was not to be part of the decision-making process, but to have a lead role. Not just to have input in decisions, but to be responsible and accountable for them.”

Mukherjee enrolled at York College after moving to Pennsylvania to take a position at nearby paper company, P.H. Glatfelter. He says his MBA courses — and specifically those with Professor of Management Mary Meisenhelter — helped to meld the analytical strengths of his research career “with what a liberal education brings to a business curriculum.”

York College’s curriculum “provided me with a very different set of perspectives that a very strong technical education or technical MBA would never provide,” he recalls. “That was very critical to me.”

Mukherjee says a key lesson was his discovery that “the principles of making the softer side of business work can be

very powerful…It has played a big role in what I was able to accomplish over the next 20 years, and in the business environment in which I find myself today.”

Specializing in production of uncoated papers for a wide range of technical and publishing uses, Finch Paper is a venerable — and stable — company that has been continuously in business since 1865. Indeed, Mukherjee is only the seventh chief officer in Finch’s 155-year history. And the blend of experiences that he assembled in both his research and at York College has been essential in guiding Finch Paper.

“What a research background provided me is bringing some structure to unknowns,” observes Mukherjee. Yet finding structure and clarity in corporate leadership is not an end to itself. “Part of my success,” he says, “has been not only having clarity as to how to make things happen, but bringing along larger and larger groups of people who deliver on that vision.” — Richard Byrne

The main building of Finch Pruyn & Company, Inc., the former name of Finch Paper.

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WILLMAN FAMILY GIFTS A York family that has generously supported York College is continuing its legacy of giving by making the largest gift ever toward a graduate scholarship at the College and a gift to build a green roof at York Country Day School.

Karen and Dennis Willman, who served as a trustee of the College for 15 years and earned a Distinguished Alumni Award, previously made a significant gift to name York College’s Willman Business Center. Dennis passed away in 2016, and Karen has continued to maintain a strong relationship with York College, currently serving in a campaign leadership position. To honor her late husband, she pledged nearly half a million dollars in 2018 to create

A G L IM PSE O F O U R PAST

The Dennis Willman Endowed MBA Fellowship. Fellows will be selected jointly by the Dean of the Graham School of Business and the Vice President of Enrollment Management.

To be eligible, applicants must possess a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate career and maintain at least that GPA in graduate studies in pursuit of the MBA. Preference will be given to graduate students from York County. The first recipient of the Fellowship will be named during the 2020-2021 academic year.

“Dennis loved York College and worked tirelessly over the years to help in any way he could to make the school what it is today,” said Karen.

“Along the way it became a family affair. Coming from a family business of entrepreneurs, I thought the best way to continue his work would be to offer a Fellowship in his name so others would have an opportunity to achieve their success in the field of business. My hope is that the end result will be to keep the York business community flourishing.”

WHAT YEAR IS THIS? Take a look at this photo from the YCP Archives. Can you guess the year it was taken? If yes, email the year along with your name and address to Gail Huganir, Director of Editorial Services, at ghuganir@ycp.edu.

The first correct guess received before June 30, 2020, will win a YCP mug.

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“The Dennis Willman Endowed MBA Fellowship presents a tremendous opportunity for both the College and our students,” said Nicole Sadowski, PhD, Director of Graduate Studies for the Graham School of Business. “The Fellowship will allow the College to recognize highly qualified graduate students for their accomplishments to date and their ability to contribute to the business community in the future. The Fellowship will make it possible for MBA students to fund their graduate studies, as well as strengthen their professional credentials.”

In addition, Karen partnered with York Country Day School’s Class of 2019 to build a green roof, or Legacy Garden, at the School. The Willman family’s gift of $50,000 allowed the graduating students to construct the space that contains flowers, vegetables, and other items for the community to enjoy. Two of Karen’s grandchildren are students at York Country Day School, and the family has been consistent and generous supporters of the School.

“Our grandchildren attend York Country Day, and when I would visit the school I would pass by the barren space and think this needs a garden to give it life,” Karen said. “When I heard the Class of 2019 had that same vision and were working hard to make that happen, I wanted to partner with them to make it a reality.

Something barren was transformed into a garden of life. Now that is a true legacy for the school to enjoy.”

“Karen Willman and the Willman family’s gift of the Legacy Garden demonstrates the timelessness and positive influence of nature on the mental and physical wellness of people,” said Christine Heine, Head of School. “YCDS is grateful for this gift of beauty and generosity.” — M.D.

Keep in Touch.

Q: What breaks when you say it?

A: Silence!

We’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch soon! Visit ycp.edu/alumni, email alumni@ycp.edu or call 717-815-6642.

Top to bottom: student newspaper, November 7, 1929; first joint graduation program, June 1930; from a student’s notebook, ca. 1930; license plate topper, ca. 1930

TURNING POINTS:

THE YORK COUNTY ACADEMY AND YORK COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE MERGE, 1929 The York County Academy (YCA), the oldest school in York College’s lineage, had been instructing students for more than 50 years by the time the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania established the free public school system in 1834.

It served as a high school, a normal (teacher’s) school, a classical, and college preparatory school throughout the 19th century. However, the competition from the establishment of York High in 1870 and the passing of the compulsory attendance law in 1895 greatly reduced the number of students whose families were willing to pay tuition for a private school; there was little revenue and its 1799 building on North Beaver Street had fallen into disrepair.

Across town from the Academy, the York Collegiate Institute (YCI) on College Avenue and Duke Street opened in 1873; it offered a Christian-based curriculum, an alternative to what was being taught in the public, coed schools. By the early 20th century, however, YCI was also coping with low enrollment.

At the end of the term in the spring of 1929, the Trustees of the Academy decided to close down the school on Beaver Street. YCA President, Dr. George Washington Gross, contacted the Board of YCI to propose the schools enter into a “Reciprocal Teaching Agreement:” i.e., the Academy and the Institute would maintain separate Boards and identities, but classes for both would be held in the Duke Street building.

The offer was accepted. The “Reciprocal Teaching Agreement” was a solution to the difficulties of a smaller enrollment pool and the changing role of private schools in York. The arrangement proved to be successful and eventually led to the creation of York Junior College (YJC) in 1941.

In 1948, all YCA and YCI classes were discontinued, allowing YJC to meet the demands of its growing enrollment. A newspaper article from that year celebrates the last class of YCI, and refers to the arrangement between the two schools as an “association” honoring alumni of both York County Academy and York Collegiate Institute jointly. ­— Karen Rice-Young ’92

York College’s Archives welcomes donations of college-related materials. Contact Karen Rice-Young at kriceyou@ycp.edu, 717-815-1439 for more information.

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