York College Magazine 2021 Volume 1

COLLEGEMAGAZINE 202 1 VOL. 1

THE SPARTAN WAY MAKING A DIFFERENCE << Zac Clark ’06

Sisters Shelby Wormley ’13 (left) and Sharee McFadden ’08 (right) are using their voices to bring attention to racial injustice.

Making a difference in the community is not new to them as throughout their teen years, the sisters joined their mother in fighting for social justice and community improvement.

CO N T EN TS

4 Around Campus

Helping Others Chase Their Dream

STORY ON PAGE 20

5 Meet Mark Rigg 8 Overheard

YCCOSP student Jenifer Hernandez-Vargas ’23 plans to become an immigration lawyer.

10 Engaging York

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Photo by Our York Media

COMMUNITY

12 Spartan Sports

PURSUITS 14 Research

CBD’s Impact on Melanoma Cells

15 Hands-On

Hannah Yohe ’21 found that CBD was actually instrumental in treating the root of melanoma. < PAGE 14

FEATURES 16 The Spartan Way

The Spartan Way

26 In Focus: The Turning Point

Zac Clark ’06, known for his appearance on The Bachelorette, runs addiction recovery centers in New York and is one of many Spartans who make a difference.

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CONNECTIONS 28 Alumni News

Sophia Ticer ’98

31 Alumni Spotlight

Sophia (Hollis) Ticer ’98 was a single mother when she enrolled at York College. Today, she’s leading the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Services Division in Washington, D.C.

33 A Glimpse of Our Past

< PAGE 31

Cover photo: Zac Clark ’06, Cofounder of Release Recovery, won the heart of Tayshia Adams on the 16th season of The Bachelorette. Photo by Adam Lerner.

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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

York College’s calendar is reflected in seasons rather than months–fall, spring, summer. We are at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, which means it’s spring here on campus. Spring 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, was a season of great uncertainty. Students returned from Spring Break, packed a few bags, and returned home to learn virtually. Most had never taken an online course and many of our faculty had not taught virtually. Social aspects of life were put on hold, promoting a sense of isolation.

In early summer, we started planning for the Fall 2020 Semester. While many institutions decided to continue remotely, we developed and implemented a plan to return to campus. We defined the “new normal” required to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

Zoom took on an entirely different meaning, enabling all of us to stay connected interacting via “Brady Bunch” images on our monitors. Many of the things we took for granted, such as in-person performances, commencements, and athletic competitions with spectators, could not occur, but we preserved the essence of what makes York College special: a personalized student experience. With only a few weeks left in the Spring 2021 Semester, I am beginning to breathe a sigh of relief.

My special thanks to everyone who made our return possible and to our students who displayed patience, flexibility, and resilience.

So here we are now planning for next year and beyond. Responding to the pandemic has been the focus of much of our energy this past year. We now know that we can open and, importantly, remain open, under conditions requiring implementation of a “new normal.” But, there has been much more happening here at YCP other than responding to the pandemic. We have a new apartment-style residence hall under construction that will open for the Fall 2021 Semester; new majors related to the environment (environmental horticulture, and environmental science and studies), health professions, and online programs; our Knowledge Park (www.ycp.edu/knowledge-park) will soon be under construction with an anticipated opening in 2022; the College’s first comprehensive campaign is exceeding expectations; and the York College Promise Program (www.ycp.edu/york-college-promise), which will provide greater access to a YCP degree for lower-income students, was launched. We are now developing the next set of strategic initiatives that will guide the College’s future. Key elements will focus on distinctiveness and reputation, expansion of programs within and across disciplines, programs for post-traditional students, and career-readiness of our graduates.

Each of us has experienced some type of loss as a result of the pandemic, be it loved ones, plans, or livelihoods. I am optimistic that with the prevalence of vaccinations and continued adherence to actions that mitigate spread, we can look forward to the promise of a “more normal, normal.”

Vice President, Development Troy M. Miller Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Mary Dolheimer Vice President, Enrollment Management Daniel Green, DMA Vice President, Campus Operations Kenneth Martin, PhD Vice President, Business Affairs and CFO C. Matt Smith, CPA Dean, Center for Community Engagement Dominic DelliCarpini, PhD Head of School, York Country Day School Christine Heine, EdD YORK COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Director of Editorial Services Gail R. Huganir Director of Creative Services Lance A. Snyder ’05 Graphic Designer Ryan Kidd ’13 Design Consultant Skelton Sprouls Photographer Emily Rund Writer Colleen A. Karl Senior Administrative Assistant Colleen M. Adamy CHANGE OF ADDRESS 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. © 2021 York College of Pennsylvania. Printed in U.S.A. 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.

WHY DO WORDS MATTER IN A TIME OF CRISIS? Jeffrey Schiffman WVYC Radio Station Manager and Instructor in Radio & Audio Production First of all, I want to be clear I’m not an accomplished writer. My experience as a writer comes from a broadcasting background. For about 25 years, I was a Radio Newscaster and Sportscaster.

I had to write concisely and most of the time I had about a 2-3 minute window to convey a lot of information. Many times, I was the first source of information for listeners. One thing I learned from my first news director was to make sure you tell the story accurately without bias.

She always said the listeners could tell from your voice if the news you were sharing was grave. I was about to do a newscast in 1986 when the shuttle Challenger exploded and I was on the air when the first plane slammed into the World Trade Center in 2001. Those were both crisis moments, but in going back and listening to the broadcasts I was calm and stated the facts as we knew them at the time. I’ve always been proud of my on-air demeanor in those two crisis moments because I kept it professional.

Gabriel Cutrufello, PhD Associate Professor of Composition and Rhetoric, Department of Communication and Writing Clear and ongoing communication is always essential, but doubly so during times of crisis. When an emergency occurs, people start searching for trustworthy sources of information to help them navigate the situation.

A speaker’s credibility (or what rhetoricians call ethos) becomes even more important than it usually is during these periods of uncertainty. When crises are technical in nature (like the current pandemic), presenting one’s credibility is even more difficult. Crises require that leaders, officials, and scientists frequently communicate about an ever-evolving and changing issue. Communicating in such a situation requires that speakers pay attention to their perceived credibility by helping the audience understand decision-making processes as much as they need to share the results of those processes. In that way, communicators can demonstrate openness about how they arrive at conclusions and recommendations.

Michael J. Zerbe, PhD Professor of English, Department of Communication and Writing Words matter all the time. But, they especially matter during a crisis. Words matter every time someone writes or speaks: indeed, any use of language is an ethical act. During a crisis, though, the ethics of language use intensify exponentially. What kind of language do people need in a crisis? They need language that is accurate, clear, and timely and that considers all people affected by the crisis. At this point of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people want to know, as soon as possible, when and where they can obtain the vaccine or what they can and cannot do if they’ve already received it. Some people want to know if vaccines can be trusted. Tensions run high during a crisis, and communicating ethically can be a challenge. We must all strive to meet it.

“ What kind of language do people need in a crisis?

They need language that is accurate, clear, and timely and that considers all people affected by the crisis.”

— MICHAEL J. ZERBE, PhD

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

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COMMUNITY

M EE T M A RK RIGG Director of Alumni Relations

A RO U N D CA M P US

ON THE RIGHT PATH

2020 STUDY ABROAD PHOTO CONTEST With 54 entries, our annual Study Abroad Photo Contest was a window to the amazing global experiences our Spartans had before adjusting to this past year. Students and alumni shared memories and stories from Finland, Spain, Cuba, Italy, India, Costa Rica, and more. Not just a look at the challenges, but photos that capture the connections and inspirations that our Spartans experienced abroad. See all the winners and submit for next year at ycp.edu/photocontest.

The Challenges Student Winner was Kristin Peaks ’21 (shown above).

She said, “This is an image of me standing in an exhibition located in the Fondazione Prada museum in

“I had never seen anything quite like this museum, and it was an unexpected yet amazing experience.”

“There are a lot of things we take for granted in life,” says Nicole Wasserleben ’21. “Something as simple as recognizing money and knowing how to use it properly is one step closer to an independent life for someone with an intellectual disability.”

After taking Psychology 101, Wasserleben considered minoring in Psychology. When she later enrolled in Social Psychology to dive deeper into the subject, she realized this was where she wanted to be. “I knew I’d have a lot of opportunities when it came to a career,” Wasserleben says. “This is where I could have an impact.”

This past fall, she decided to take advantage of the Early Entrance Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis program, which will accelerate Wasserleben’s education. With just

one extra year of classes, she will receive her master’s degree in 2022.

After working in her high school’s Life Skills classes, coupled with her York College experience, Wasserleben decided she wanted to work with children on the autism spectrum or with other developmental disabilities.

“It just made sense for me to take the extra steps to equip myself with the proper education,” she says. “I know I’m on a good path with this.”

What plans do you have for strengthening Alumni Relations?

— KRISTIN PEAKS ’21

Milan, Italy. I did not expect to come across this museum, but many of my professors convinced me that it was an amazing place to spark my creativity while abroad. This specific exhibition that is shown is called the ‘Upside Down Mushroom Room’ by Carsten Holler. The room was filled with bright giant spinning mushrooms placed on the ceiling. I had never seen anything quite like this museum, and it was an unexpected yet amazing experience.”

LGBTQ ADVOCATE Biology major Calvin Stein ’23 is involved with the Chemistry Society as the current Treasurer, LAMBDA: LGBT Alliance, Spartans for Sustainability, and the President’s Task Force on Campus Sustainability.

Continued on page 6

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WITH OPEN HEART AND OPEN ARMS LGBTQ CUBAN REFUGEES AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO THE MARIEL BOATLIFT

June 2–30, 2021 Center for Community Engagement Call 717-815-1354 for information.

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ANDI SIMPSON: LOAD BEARING

June 11–July 10, 2021 Marketview Arts New work by the York-based abstract painter/muralist.

Call 717-815-2216 for information.

All of our plans for strengthening this office are really plans for deepening the connection between York College alumni and their alma mater. We take seriously the word “Relations” in our name. So, for example, we are working on alumni groups based not simply on geographical location, but on shared interests. We are “upping our game” when it comes to connecting alumni with ongoing YCP programs. We want them to know that the College provides resources that help alumni with their careers, their lifelong learning, and their personal development. Finally, we are finding ways to increase the number of short-term volunteer programs— chances for alumni to participate in the life of the College and its students for an hour or even a half hour.

In your experience, what ways have been most successful in serving alumni and why?

Alumni Relations has been most successful when we have found ways to meet alumni where they are. Sometimes we mean that literally: we go to the towns and communities where they work and live. Especially in the days of pandemic, we go to them by offering them a meaningful virtual connection with their college—a webinar that

“We are ‘upping our game’ when it comes to connecting alumni with ongoing YCP programs.”

— MARK RIGG

connects them with faculty and old friends, for example. Whenever we give alumni a chance to engage with York, we feel we have succeeded.

With the pandemic, how has Alumni Relations pivoted to connect with alumni?

Alumni Relations has responded to the pandemic in a host of ways. Here are just three. First, whenever possible, we have adapted traditional events and programs instead of canceling them. Fall Fest and SpartaNation are two good examples of that. Second, we have found ways to make a virtue of the virtual. We have added alumni webinars, Coffee & Conversation with faculty, a book club, and much more. Now more than ever, alumni who live far from campus can participate in events on an equal footing with those who still live in York County.

Finally, we have embraced this difficult time as an opportunity to plan. We won’t be the same office we were back in 2019. We will be more responsive to the needs of York alumni. — C.K. YO R K C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • 2 0 2 1 V O L .1

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His involvement is what led him to create a button that incorporates two areas of interest for him. The button is colorful with the periodic element abbreviation for Bismuth or “Bi.” The colors represent the same colors on the flag representing bisexuality awareness and the abbreviation of “Bi” incorporates part of his identity and the inclusion of bisexuality as well as his interest in chemistry. “I thought this would be a great way to have something that relates to chemistry, but also represent inclusion,” says Stein.

“I thought this would be a great way to have something that relates to chemistry, but also represent inclusion.”

HELPING OTHERS CHASE THEIR DREAM Jenifer Hernandez-Vargas and her mother came to the United States from Mexico, without documentation, to join her father who had obtained citizenship. Their journey to citizenship would inspire the young girl’s future career goals. Now a sophomore at York College, she’s set her heart on becoming an immigration lawyer to help others pursue their American dream.

Growing up in York, HernandezVargas benefited from the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program, better known as YCCOSP. The program provides accepted students in the York City School District the opportunity to pursue a college

— CALVIN STEIN ’23

Stein advocates for social justice issues and especially those surrounding LGBTQ rights. “I think people should be informed,” he says. “It’s estimated around 1% of the population is asexual.

It’s important because a lot of people don’t realize that they might be because they aren’t aware of the term,” says Stein. “Bringing awareness of that is important because [some individuals] don’t experience sexual attraction or experience romantic interactions in the same way as a lot of other individuals do and they may feel like there’s something wrong with them.” — C.K.

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COLTON BOYLES ’19: EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE

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July 16–August 18, 2021 Marketview Arts The exhibition is the culmination of an 11-month Appell Fellowship.

Call 717-815-1354 for information.

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“York College made it possible for me to do things that may not have been available to me otherwise.”

“Doing this doesn’t just help me be a better provider, it helps me be a better leader.”

— BRODY CAIN ’23

— JENIFER HERNANDEZ-VARGAS ’24

education with room and board at no cost. It also allowed her to dual enroll as a high school senior, giving her a jump-start on her college education.

She says, “The program provides a network of people who are cheering for you. They want to see you succeed.

They’ve been where you are.” Now, she has the opportunity to pursue her own American dream, without worry of limitations or burden to her family who worked so hard to give her a chance to succeed.

Although early in her college experience, she has already met professionals and local leaders who have strengthened her network. And she has leaned on faculty to guide her in the right steps to take so she can reach her goals.

“I don’t think I’d have these opportunities if I were living anywhere else,” she says. “York College made it possible for me to do things that may not have been available to me otherwise. I won’t let that opportunity go to waste.”

York College supports students as they work to turn career dreams into reality. Some 99% of new, full-time students receive financial assistance or scholarships. A variety of scholarships and grants are available, based on both merit and financial need.

THE GLASS CEILING

August 20, 2021– May 31, 2022 Center for Community Engagement Call 717-815-1354 for information.

LEFT TO RIGHT:

Ed Bruder, Director of Campus Safety, Brody Cain ’23, Brandon Cain ’23, and Timothy Langletz, Lieutenant, Campus Safety, stand in front of the new EMS vehicle on campus.

STUDENT-RUN EMS Brandon Cain ’23 remembers the night a girl in a first-year dorm injured her knee. From the time the ambulance was called until it arrived, she waited 22 minutes. Fortunately, she wasn’t alone.

A state-certified EMT, Brandon checked her injury, provided her comfort, and tried to keep her calm until help arrived.

He saw an opportunity for the College to have its own EMS program. He and his twin brother, Brody Cain ’23, were among a group of students who decided it was a cause worth pursuing.

“The delay for ambulance service isn’t necessarily the agency’s fault,” Brandon says. “It has a lot to do with resources being spread too thin. And while we may not be able to do a lot about that aspect of things, we can have the same level of care directly on campus.”

Both Biology majors, Brandon and Brody want to pursue medical school after graduation. For Brandon, that means a career in pediatric surgery.

For Brody, it’s cardiothoracic surgery.

With 10 students already certified in state EMS training, and several more ready to embark on the training, the Student EMS program has four faculty advisors who help guide the students while giving them the freedom to manage it.

The student-run EMS program can’t transport someone to the hospital, but the EMTs who staff it can provide the same care. Student EMTs can arrive much faster than an outside ambulance service. It’s free for students who would otherwise have to pay a charge for a traditional ambulance company to be dispatched, even if they don’t go to the hospital.

GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL

BY SCOTT BROWN AND ANTHONY KING

September 16–18, 2021 Willman Business Center, Amphitheater Call 717-815-1354 for information.

“Doing this doesn’t just help me be a better provider, it helps me be a better leader,” Brody says. “I have much more respect for people in positions of leadership. They have to put everything together, make decisions, and facilitate expectations.”

For Brandon, it helps confirm his hopes to be a surgeon. Just as each call is different, he knows each challenge he’ll face in the operating room will be different. “It’s a great training course for seeing the magnitude of the impact you can have in someone’s life,” he says.

HOW TO HELP Those interested in learning more about the student-run EMS program can email emsinfo@ycp.edu or stop by the Campus Safety Office in the Manor Northeast Lobby.

CONCRETE COWBOY WITH DIRECTOR RICKY STAUB

September 17, 2021, 7 p.m.

Humanities 218, Film Viewing Room Call 717-815-1354 for information.

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OV ERH E A RD

“The United States prides itself on being a technological leader. That said, an overreliance on information technology can be an ‘Achilles’ Heel’ if the country does not employ proper CND and put into practice procedures to mitigate cyber intrusions.”

John Weaver, Associate Professor, Intelligence Analysis, in “Hackers are a major threat to national security, and it will only get worse,” Opinion, PennLive, January 25, 2021.

“The insurance companies have started to provide refunds for consumers, but the amount has not reached the level of ‘big enough.’ As consumers expect larger and more refunds, it is reasonable to compare the profit from the insurance companies before vs during pandemics.”

Minghui Ma, Assistant Professor, Marketing and Management, quoted in “Cheap Car Insurance in Pennsylvania,” by Candace Baker, WalletHub, March 15, 2021.

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“The first amendment covers government.

Government can’t come after you for what you say, so you can say all kinds of crazy things, the government is not going to prosecute you for it, but the first amendment doesn’t cover private individuals or private companies punishing you for bad speech.”

Nicolas Anspach, Professor of Political Science, quoted in “The ‘cancel culture’ trend has locals questioning their freedom of speech,”

by Victoria Lucas, FOX43, February 13, 2021.

“TikTok is much more addicting than other platforms because of this AI algorithm, which understands what you like, how you learn, and how you choose information.

We know this because the average time users spend on TikTok is 52 minutes.”

Tamara Schwartz, Assistant Professor, Cybersecurity and Business Administration, quoted in “How AI Can Manipulate Your Choices,” Lifewire, by Sascha Brodsky, February 18, 2021.

“So, having the Eagles in Philadelphia does not necessarily boost the Philadelphia economy if a resident chose to go to an Eagles game over going to the movies in the city because the money is being spent in the city regardless. But, if you can draw outsiders to come in and spend their money in your city, then it truly becomes a benefit.”

Michael Mudrick, Assistant Professor, Sport Management, quoted in “WalletHub–2021’s Best & Worst Cities for Football Fans,”

by Deb Nicolson, February 1, 2021.

EDUCATION BUILT FOR IMPACT CONNECT YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS WITH REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES. ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH A YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA GRADUATE DEGREE. 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 ’20 Lancaster, Pennsylvania

EN G AGIN G YO RK

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SCHOLARS HELP TRANSFORM YORK Growing up in Milwaukee, Cherish Christopher ’21 remembers none of her teachers looking like her, a person of color. They hadn’t experienced homelessness like her or felt pitied like her. So, her young brain drew the only logical conclusion: teaching was a white person’s job.

As she got older, though, she challenged that assumption, along with many others. She organized and protested injustice in her community.

She later decided to pursue a career in teaching—to show future students that teachers could look like them.

Today, she’s at York College in her senior year studying Middle Level Education, Social Studies. And, she’s doing her part to affect change in the community in a different way, as one of the inaugural class of Community Impact Scholars.

The Public Affairs Scholars programs are grounded in policy research to create sustainable, feasible change in the community. The program brings together faculty and students to tackle data and research projects that can impact York in real, meaningful ways.

“They’re working on some big projects and some big issues that can really transform our community and the way things are done,” says Vinny Cannizzaro, Director of the Arthur J. Glatfelter Institute for Public Policy and Director of the Public Policy and Administration master’s program.

The Public Affairs Scholars program comes out of the YCP Center for Community Engagement, expanding on the practical and community-based work already coming from the Glatfelter Institute. “There are a lot of projects and needs within our community in the greater York region,” Cannizzaro says.

Often, government and nonprofit agencies are in crisis mode, just trying to put out immediate fires, he says.

With the help of the Public Affairs Scholars, they may be able to prevent some of those fires altogether. Future 10

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project ideas will come directly from the community, he says. “It’s a good thing for the College and it’s a good thing for the community.”

While Christopher is no stranger to pushing for change, the data-driven approach as a scholar is new for her. It’s also exciting. “The data collection part is more geared toward affecting change on a higher level,” she says. “We can do a lot as far as serving communities that otherwise wouldn’t be paid attention to.”

Like the project they’re working on now. It’s a collective impact evaluation with Family First Health to understand the impact of organizational effort in the Hannah Penn neighborhood.

They’re using survey research, focus groups, and interviews to evaluate the resources available and how they impact the neighborhood.

The work they do will expose Christopher and her fellow scholars to different levels of government affairs and political officials. It also brings together people from varying departments within the College, providing new perspectives. “We’re hoping to create a community of like-minded students who really want to work toward these ideas of socio-economic mobility and systemic change,” Cannizzaro says.

The Glatfelter Institute’s mission is to improve socio-economic mobility in the area. The Community Impact programs increase their capacity to see that through. “We can have a much broader and bigger impact than we were able to have before,” Cannizzaro says.

The impact on the scholars themselves is great, too. “It is a very high-level scholars’ program,” he says. “They’re able to deep dive into these issues and get a hands-on approach to the policy process and research methods.”

Cannizzaro sees it as a steppingstone for whatever comes next for them, giving them a leg up on graduate school or pursuing a doctorate. It’s solidified Christopher’s decision to go to graduate school, shifting her to think more policy-minded when it comes to education reform and impact.

She’s already surpassed every goal she’s set for herself: the first person in her family to graduate high school and go to college. “To know that the work that I’m doing could potentially help someone who grew up like me is just unimaginable,” she says. “It just makes me so happy.”

“We can do a lot as far as serving communities that otherwise wouldn’t be paid attention to.”

— CHERISH CHRISTOPHER ’21

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SPA RTA N SP O RTS

SPA RTA N SH O RTS

“My time as a Spartan player has helped me become the type of head coach who could bring out the best in each and every one of my players. I believe in the ability of our program to develop our golfers as both students and athletes.”

— DAVID BOSLOUGH ’15

Sophomore Taylor Devine recorded the women’s golf program’s first-ever hole in one on March 23 as she aced the second hole at LedgeRock Golf Club in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. Devine used a pitching wedge on the 120-yard hole for the hole in one.

The Spartan men’s and women’s soccer teams, the field hockey program, and the volleyball squad were all granted the ability to schedule four scrimmages during the Spring Semester. Each team will play four other MAC teams and get two home games and two road games. The Spartans used those scrimmages to prepare for the upcoming fall 2021 season.

Coach Boslough (right) is shown with Joel Marshall ’21 (left).

HEAD GOLF COACH DAVID BOSLOUGH David Boslough ’15 became York College Head Golf Coach in September 2016 when the job was elevated to a full-time position with the addition of a varsity women’s program. He was intrigued when he heard about the job at his alma mater.

Having the opportunity to maintain and elevate an already successful men’s program and also having the ability to build a women’s program from scratch held great appeal for the former Spartan standout.

Boslough went through the interview process and was a big hit with the search committee. He has rewarded the faith of the committee with a pair of outstanding programs that are primed to compete at high levels in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) and the Mid-Atlantic region.

“When the job became available, I was interested immediately,” he says. “I had a great experience as a player and I knew that the men’s

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program had the ability to be a player on the national stage. Combine that with the ability to grow a women’s program from the ground up, and it was a pretty easy decision for me.”

Both Spartan programs earned the final Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championships that were held in 2019. The men’s team earned a bid to the NCAA Division III National Championships, the fifth berth in school history.

Boslough’s Spartan career was one that was full of individual and team success. He owns the sixth best scoring average in school history at 78.25 in 53 career rounds. He was part of York’s 2013 CAC Championship squad and he was a three-time AllCAC finisher in his four years as a Spartan. That experience helped shape his philosophy as a head coach.

“My time as a Spartan player has helped me become the type of head coach who could bring out the best in each and every one of my players,” says Boslough. “I believe in the ability of our program to develop our golfers as both students and athletes.”

The women’s program is getting ready to start its fourth season this spring and its success is undeniable. The Spartans have won eight tournaments in just two and a half seasons of competition, including the 2019 CAC title.

“I am proud of what we have been able to build and the success we have achieved on the women’s side in a relatively short period of time,” Boslough says. “Our goals are lofty and our players are excited to see what we can do this spring.”

Boslough and the Spartans kicked off the spring campaign on March 20 when they hosted the Spartan Spring Opener at Royal Manchester. The Spartans will play in eight tournaments culminating in the MAC championships. ► YCPSPARTANS.COM

COVID-19 has changed a number of different things in our daily lives. One area of the Spartan Athletic Department that has seen significant changes is the Spartan athletic training room. Head Athletic Trainer Nate Cooke has been on the forefront of COVID-19 safety procedures as the Athletic Department has returned to action.

“We have changed almost every aspect of our daily operation,” says Cooke. “Our most important job is to keep our athletes and ourselves safe. We have worked very hard to establish protocols that enable us to keep our athletes healthy while we treat them and keep them on the field.”

Cooke and his team have also been responsible for leading the COVID-19 testing program that sees Spartan student-athletes getting tested up to three times a week. The testing enabled the Spartan varsity teams to participate safely during the 2021 spring season.

MAC CHAMPIONS The York College men’s golf squad made history on April 25 as they won the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth title at Iron Valley Country Club.

They became the first York College program to earn a Commonwealth crown as the Spartans are in their first year in the league. Not only did the Spartans win the team title, but sophomore Riley Rohlfs captured the individual title, and along with that, the Player of the Year award in addition to the MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year honor. Head Coach David Boslough earned the league’s Coach of the Year award, his second conference men’s golf Coach of the Year honoree.

The Spartans will now participate in the NCAA Division III Men’s National Championship tournament in Wheeling, West Virginia, May 1114. It’s the sixth NCAA tournament appearance for the Spartans.

TOP: (L to R) Asst. Coach Eric Stauffer,

Head Coach David Boslough, Luke Fayocavitz ’21, Joel Marshall ’21, Matthew Chalupa ’21, Nick Fioravante ’23, Riley Rohlfs ’23

BOTTOM: (L to R) Asst. Coach Eric Stauffer,

Jordan Koller ’22, Anna Moore ’22, Emma Harding ’21, Natalie Robson ’23, Shelby Tapman ’22, Head Coach David Boslough

The York College women’s golf squad also made history when they captured their first MAC Championship tournament as they came back to beat Stevenson in an exciting final round at Golden Oaks Country Club on May 2.

The Spartans finished the tournament with a two-day total of 647, beating Stevenson by eight shots as the Mustangs finished the tournament with a score of 655. The championship and the NCAA tournament automatic bid that goes along with it comes in the Spartans’ fourth year as a varsity program.

Not only did the Green and White capture the team championship, but sophomore Natalie Robson won the individual title as she was named the MAC Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year. Robson finished with a twoday total of 153 and is the first Spartan in school history to earn the conference Player of the Year honor while she is the second Spartan to earn Rookie of the Year. Robson’s teammate Anna Moore was the CAC Rookie of the Year in 2019 for the champion Spartans.

Head Coach David Boslough earned the MAC Coach of the Year as he is now a two-time women’s golf conference Coach of the Year.

The Spartans will head to Lansing, Michigan to play in their first NCAA tournament, May 11-14.

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PURSUITS

CBD’S IMPACT ON MELANOMA CELLS Hannah Yohe ’21 has read the news articles and seen the new businesses popping up touting the benefits of medical marijuana and cannabidiol, or CBD. She’s watched as friends and family purchase CBD products that offer promises of helping with joint inflammation or anxiety. While the York College Biology major is a believer in the health benefits of medical marijuana, she knew there was a lot of research ahead.

“I wanted to find the gaps in what still needed to be studied,” she says. “I’m really interested in this topic and thought I had an opportunity to dive into research while it’s still early in the process.”

Yohe found that melanoma, a form of skin cancer that can easily spread to other organs, was an area that had a lot of research gaps.

York College had melanoma cells available in the lab, so Yohe just had to work to get access to CBD for her independent research project.

“You can’t just go out and buy CBD, despite what you see on the shelves of health stores or even at the gas station,” she says. “There are often other additives in it, and you need a pure form to be able to conduct research. Sigma-Aldrich biotechnology provided lab quality CBD for Yohe’s research. Finally, she could get to work.

A lot of people still have uncertainty about the health benefits of medical marijuana because they don’t understand it, Yohe says. While there are more than 100 chemicals in cannabis, the two most common are THC (short for tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD. Both can be found in marijuana and hemp, although marijuana has more THC, which produces the high, and hemp has more CBD, which has other medicinal properties without the high.

The FDA has approved one CBDbased drug. Epidiolex is a treatment for several severe forms of rare childhood epilepsy. The National Institutes of Health clinical trials database shows 14

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more than 160 trials involving CBD that are either active or recruiting.

“It’s a subject that has a lot of opportunity for understanding,” Yohe says. “Getting into the research now is a great foundation for the work I could be doing in my career.”

While many people think of medical marijuana as a treatment for symptoms, such as anxiety or inflammation, Yohe found that CBD was actually instrumental in treating the root of melanoma. Other medical research shows CBD reduces the size of brain tumors, decreases growth in colon cancer and pancreatic cancer, and slows down blood vessel formation.

While many people think of medical marijuana as a treatment for symptoms, such as anxiety or inflammation, Yohe found that CBD was actually instrumental in treating the root of melanoma.

Yohe’s research backed up her theory that CBD could reduce the melanoma, but some of her experiments were cut short because of COVID-19. Despite not getting to all of her proposed experiments, she was able to use lab equipment specific to her research and learn some fascinating things about CBD. “A lot of things we learn in the classroom can be theoretical, so you don’t see them in real life,” she says. “It’s cool when you can do the experiment yourself and get actual data and see that this stuff is real. We can test our theories and learn by doing.”

that could protect people’s privacy and respect their civil rights and liberties.”

ETHICAL AI PRACTICES RELATED TO COVID-19 Purchase patterns. Facial recognition.

Nationwide surveillance. When Tamara Schwartz learned some of the practices that China had adopted to conduct contact tracing for COVID-19, she was both amazed and concerned.

The Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Cybersecurity at York College watched how China used artificial intelligence as a tool, but she worried about the loss of privacy and protection for those it exposed. “The ethical implications of that kind of surveillance really struck me,” she says.

As an Air Force veteran, Schwartz has studied artificial intelligence capabilities for global situational awareness since 2007. She reconnected with some of her colleagues—technologists from the Mass High Tech community in Boston—to share what she’d learned about China’s practices, and thanks to an idea, they’re taking a closer look at how AI can be used more ethically to track the coronavirus.

Schwartz was walking out of her dentist’s office in Gettysburg when she wondered if entrepreneurs like the dentist would benefit from technology that looked at how to manage business operations in a pandemic.

She reached out to her former active-duty colleagues and started building the framework for a study.

She wanted to look at the technology capabilities of companies such as Facebook and Amazon, that have the ability to track many of the things that China was doing related to COVID-19. She wondered if that data could be collected in an ethical way.

“It was trouble because I saw the potential for people signing away their privacy out of fear and frustration with the pandemic, but once you sign away that privacy you can’t ever get it back,” she says. “I wondered if it was possible to build the kind of capability

It led Schwartz to ask: how can we do virus tracing rather than contact tracing?

Contact is about tracing people, Schwartz says. Instead, she wanted to create case-based risk maps that show where the virus accumulates in the community based on following patterns of life and other tools that can predict symptoms. All of it could be tracked using tools on a phone, but she wanted to find a way to do it ethically.

She decided to break the study into two parts. The first part would include interviewing area businesses, schools, and churches to determine information that would be helpful to navigate the pandemic, especially as potential case spikes could come in the future, she says.

The second part of the study plans to take that information and build an app that is based on ethical privacy practices while still helping to navigate outbreaks.

There are two main things that Schwartz considers elements of ethical AI. The first is making sure the user always has a chance to opt in. In most cases, apps require the user to opt out of tracking. Another piece of ethical AI is not to exploit that data for purposes that the user doesn’t know about, she says. Users often don’t know how technology companies track and then sell their data to third parties.

The application her team hopes to build later this year would look at using GPS tracking purely for location purposes, without any personal information from the user.

This gives researchers the ability to change their thinking from tracking people to tracking the virus.

“The culture of Silicon Valley is to move fast and fail fast, and you cannot make ethical decisions and go as fast as possible,” Schwartz says. “This whole ethical piece is where we’re trying to focus our learning. I’ve told my tech team even if we built nothing, we’ve already learned a lot about what it takes to build ethically.”

Ritamarie Trippett Director of YCCOSP For Ritamarie Trippett, being hands-on means so much more than a title or job description. She draws on her own personal experience and background to make a genuine connection with each scholar in the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program (YCCOSP).

Having experienced a similar situation to those faced by YCCOSP students, growing up in Brooklyn, NY, and navigating college as a first-generation student, Trippett understands what it’s like to overcome obstacles.

“I wish I had someone like me for me growing up,” said Trippett. Her passion stems from her own experience and wanting to be that support for students.

“I take it personally because I know what that’s like.” With the pandemic, she’s seen YCCOSP students affected even harder, but that didn’t stop them from continuing their work.

When classes went online and many community services had to revamp how they serve, scholars found other ways to make a difference.

They kept pushing forward with their service to the community while also continuing to work toward their own academic and professional goals.

When classes went online and many community services had to revamp how they serve, scholars found other ways to make a difference. They stepped up to help clean local schools, handcrafted cards for senior living centers, and so much more while also continuing to mentor younger scholars and work with YCCOSP alumni.

Trippett sees success in the scholars.

They work hard and correct past mistakes. “We all make mistakes, but mistakes are different from habits,” she said. “That’s why there are erasers on pencils. It’s what we do with it after that makes a difference.” — C.K.

ABOVE: YCCOSP scholars perform community service at Ferguson Elementary School. Left to right, Joanis MaricheHabana ’23, Michelle Ildefonso-Ruelas ’24, and Nitzi Salinas-Gaitan ’22

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COVER STORY

The Spartan Way Making a Difference Spartans have offered assistance to families in need, advanced the cause of racial justice, cared for COVID-19 patients, supported those struggling with addiction or poverty, sought to protect the environment, given back to their College, and helped youngsters trying to learn during a pandemic. Spartans care about their communities and the welfare of others.

It is a pleasure to highlight the efforts of alumni who took our motto to heart: “Servire Est Vivere”— to serve is to live.

Photo by Adam Lerner

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Advocate for Recovery

Z

ac Clark ’06 didn’t see his use of drugs and alcohol as addiction. “It was part of my identity,” he says. “I was a young guy. I liked to go to sporting events. I liked to have a good time. No one knew it was a problem until it was a problem.”

Though he majored in Sport Management at York College, Clark, now 36, runs addiction recovery centers in New York. He returned to his home in Manhattan recently with a whirlwind of newfound celebrity. On the 16th season of The Bachelorette, Clark fell for 30-year-old Tayshia Adams, and the two are now engaged.

While he’s lost track of the number of interviews and photo opportunities his appearance on the show has led to, Clark finds himself most impressed with the amount of people who have reached out to his organization. Release Recovery, which he cofounded with Justin Gurland, became a place where Clark could combine his personal experience with his passion for helping others find sobriety.

“This platform that I had on the show is going to end up helping people,” he says.

“On a micro level, we’ll be able to really help people recover. On a macro level, my hope is people will see me and hear my story and understand that recovery and sobriety is not a punishment… we get to live a beautiful existence.”

Clark started drinking, smoking marijuana, and experimenting with prescription drugs in high school. He often bought Adderall from girls who he knew had a prescription. He played several sports in high school and continued playing baseball when he came

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“My hope is people will see me and hear my story and understand that recovery and sobriety is not a punishment…we get to live a beautiful existence.”

— ZAC CLARK ’06

to York College. Even then, he says, he continued abusing alcohol and drugs.

“The way I was using alcohol then was not healthy or normal even though I thought it was,” he says. “It was starting to seep into other areas of my life—my performance on the field, my relationships, my ability to show up for class and whatever else was required of me.”

In Clark’s early twenties, doctors found a brain tumor that they worked to quickly remove. Now, he says, he had a reason

2021 COMMENCEMENT York College is excited to announce that Zac Clark has kindly agreed to speak virtually to graduates during their May 2021 Commencement.

He will participate in a hybrid version of the Commencement Ceremony.

The virtual components that have been part of our celebration will continue on the microsite commencement.ycp.edu. Students have been asked to submit a spirit photo to be included on this site under their student spotlight.

Family and friends may post congratulatory notes to individual students on this site as well.

The College has added an in-person component to May’s celebration. Students will be invited to walk across the stage and announce their name on May 15. They will be grouped by school in order to accommodate social distancing, and they will be required to wear a face mask, which the College will provide.

Professional photographers will take photos that may be purchased, and students will receive special congratulatory gifts from the College. Unfortunately, due to space restrictions mandated by the Governor of Pennsylvania, no one other than graduates will be permitted to attend.

We will film the Walk of Pride, as it is being called, and it will be broadcast, along with speeches, including Zac’s and other elements of the YCP commencement ceremony, at 3 p.m. on May 22 at commencement.ycp.edu.

Additional information is available on the College’s Commencement webpage.

TOP: Tayshia Adams and

Zac Clark ’06 met on The Bachelorette and became engaged.

Photo courtesy of ABC.

LEFT: Wearing a Release

to go to doctors and get prescription painkillers. He didn’t have to hide it.

When he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, following a short stint in recovery, his marriage to a college sweetheart came to an end.

“She set a firm boundary,” Clark says.

“It was hard for her, I can’t imagine, but it saved my life. She was the first person who told me, ‘the party is over.’ ” In 2011, Clark went to a recovery facility called Caron in Wernersville, Pennsylvania. It was the toughest four months of his life, he says, but it changed his trajectory. It led him to starting Release Recovery several years later.

“There’s a lot of heartbreak and heartache in this life,” he says. “People you love who don’t get sober end up drunk, high or dead. We’ve seen too much of that over the years. But the greatest joy in my life is seeing someone early on in their journey and sticking with it. I get to see them get the new job, develop their relationship and get married, have children, and build their family.”

Clark remembers choosing to study Sport Management because he wanted to be a coach. Paul Saikia, the York College baseball coach who led the Spartans to three Capital Athletic Conference championships, and who is now Assistant Dean for Athletics and Recreation, instilled a sense of discipline in his players.

Clark still remembers having to head into Saikia’s office to write his name on the whiteboard to show that he was up early and starting his day with a workout. “His rules were: no excuses and be aggressive.

Those are things I use in my life today,” Clark says. “I wish I recognized then the things he was trying to instill in us.”

Today, Clark sees himself as a coach for the people he helps through recovery.

He believes his television fame will help him continue that mission, and he hopes his vulnerability helps them embark on their own road to sobriety.

Recovery T-shirt, Zac Clark sits in one of his organization’s addiction recovery centers.

Photo by Adam Lerner.

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Advocates for Racial Justice

S

isters Sharee McFadden ’08 and Shelby Wormley ’13 use their voices and passion to bring focus to the human issue of racial injustice and misrepresentation of people of color within their communities.

McFadden remembers the late-night conversation with York City’s Mayor Michael Helfrich. The two returned from a protest on June 1, 2020 that led demonstrators past the York City Police Department on their way to the steps of the York County Judicial Center.

Mayor Helfrich wondered, what could the city do to make a statement? Together, Helfrich and McFadden landed on the words “Racism is Not Tolerated Here.”

In the following days, the city hoisted a banner over the square as a declaration of support and solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

McFadden’s social justice work isn’t new. In fact, the York College Public Relations alumna comes from a family that has been persistent in working to change perceptions. Her mother served as Executive Director of the York City Human Relations Commission and organized unity marches which gathered thousands in the name of unity, justice, peace, and equality. Throughout their teen years and into college, McFadden and her siblings advocated alongside their mother to fight for social justice and community improvement.

Her younger sister, Shelby Wormley, a Mass Communication alumna, is also an activist who uplifts the Black community. Together, they’re pushing the conversation on racial justice in Central Pennsylvania and beyond.

As the Economic Development Specialist with the city of York, McFadden has an

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“Having racial injustice in those systems affects the overall goals of my position and the economic advancement of our city. It’s all connected.”

— SHAREE McFADDEN ’08

Sharee McFadden ’08 holds up a sign in front of the York County Judicial Center.

Photo by Our York Media.

inside perspective on issues that impact the community. Racism and inequality play a role in housing, healthcare, workforce, and business. “Having racial injustice in those systems affects the overall goals of my position and the economic advancement of our city,” she says. “It’s all connected.”

McFadden’s role in addressing social justice goes far beyond her job with the city of York. As CEO of a coaching and lifestyle empowerment company, InJOYourLife, LLC, she works on various community projects and initiatives aimed at improving the community and the lives of those in it through coaching, consulting, and events.

Currently, she is working with a grassroots group of community leaders to educate and confront organizations and businesses that perpetuate inequality and racism. She’s also on the YWCA Racial Justice Committee and chaired the 2019 and 2020 Race Against Racism Committee, and most recently was a guest panelist with WITF as a part of its Racial Justice PA campaign.

“We can say racism isn’t tolerated and shout ‘Black Lives Matter’ all day, but if the systems in place don’t commit to intentional and concrete actions that support those statements, then this all would be in vain,”

“The BLM movement is just a part of our experience—we are so much more.”

— SHELBY WORMLEY ’13

TOP: Sisters Shelby Wormley ’13 (left) and Sharee McFadden ’08 (right) in Penn Park.

Photo by Our York Media.

BOTTOM: Reflections, one of the images from the Assemblage series, by Shelby Wormley.

Sharee McFadden helped provide creative direction for the series.

McFadden says. “We don’t want to be in the same place in two or three years.”

When the Black Lives Matter protests first broke out in Lancaster City, after the death of George Floyd sparked protest throughout the country, Wormley grabbed her camera. As a photojournalist for ABC27’s Lancaster bureau, documenting the protests was part of her job.

In 2020, Wormley produced a Town Hall Series called Finding Hope Together to discuss race relations in America, including the Black Lives Matter Movement. In the fall 2020, Wormley left her broadcast career to run WE&Company full-time with her husband, Jordan Wormley. They use their platform to share stories of the disenfranchised, unseen, unheard, and misunderstood. They are passionate about telling the real stories.

Like her sister, Wormley has found ways to use her abilities to amplify the voices and highlight the real experiences of Black men and women. In 2017, Richard Craighead of Inclusive Arts Movement York asked Wormley to be the photographer on a project and capture his vision. Craighead’s idea was to create “positive propaganda” that would uplift members of the Black community, portraying them in ways they often aren’t shown. Their first photoshoot in 2018 was called Men in Black, followed by Women in Black and Families in Black, thus, leading to the series called Assemblage.

The title came from Ophelia Chambliss, who worked closely with Craighead and Wormley on the project. Chambliss is an artist-in-residence at York College and an esteemed artist with gallery space at Marketview Arts. “We had no idea what the end result would be other than we just wanted the images to be seen and to spark open conversation,” Wormley says.

For the past three years, the photos were displayed at local galleries, including Marketview Arts, online, and entered in different photo competitions. Reflections, one of the images in a gallery exhibit from September 2020–January 2021, (detail above) which shows a father looking up at

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his young son, sitting on his shoulders, was selected to be included in the State Museum of Pennsylvania as part of the 2020 Art of the State exhibition. The entire Assemblage gallery has been displayed in York City’s Penn Park as part of an outdoor walking gallery. The series has also been in residency at York College’s Center for Community Engagement since October 2019.

“When people look at these photos, we hope they see the joy of a father, the strength of a daughter, the love of a family, and we start to change perspectives,” Wormley says.

The Black Lives Matter movement is often seen as a political statement. “The BLM movement is just a part of our experience—we are so much more. We need to be seen in all our brilliance. We want our humanity to be felt,” McFadden and Wormley say. They want people of all ethnicities to push themselves to have the uncomfortable, yet open and empathetic, conversations around race.

Together, they hope to challenge people to make small changes that leave lasting impacts. For example, that could include taking time to examine and change their biases and behaviors toward people of color. It could also be supporting specific programs that serve the underserved and underrepresented, or bringing attention and focus on injustices within their communities, workplace, schools, or places of worship. For some, it could simply mean being more intentional about purchasing from Black-owned businesses.

McFadden and Wormley also want to see organizations, businesses, and institutions, including their alma mater York College, begin to internally and externally address and create realistic solutions to change the injustices and inequalities they themselves are facing. They believe this will be a big driver of change, especially in Central Pennsylvania.

“I’m very passionate about creating a legacy of change and a legacy of justice,” McFadden says. “At the end of the day, everything that affects me as a Black woman, a Black person, a mother, a woman—if I can influence those issues, I want to do that.”

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Advocate for Student Well-Being

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ocial-emotional needs are something Ronnie Mitchell ’16, who graduated from York College with a BS in Psychology, and is school psychologist at York’s Hannah Penn K-8 school, knows all too well. He often leads a large team of educators and clinicians (behavioral specialists, speech and occupational therapists, special educators, etc.) to determine the best interventions and strategies for a student.

“We show every child how he or she can succeed to let them know they have strengths and to focus on that. We see how they are doing behaviorally, and it’s really helping.”

— RONNIE MITCHELL ’16

Just like other educators, the work of Ronnie Mitchell ’16 shifted during the pandemic.

“We show every child how he or she can succeed to let them know they have strengths and to focus on that,” he says.

In 2019 he helped lead a pilot program for 40 students at Hannah Penn with frequent check-ins throughout the school day. “We see how they are doing behaviorally, and it’s really helping,” explains Mitchell of the program that he hopes to expand across the district.

Working in York was the dream, says the Baltimore-born-and-raised first-generation college graduate. “YCP gave me skills for any career, but [during my school psychology internship] at York County School of Technology, I saw a lot of kids from similar backgrounds. There’s a lot of need in these settings with me being a person of color, my students can relate to me.”

Mitchell says students’ increasingly complex mental health issues aren’t

“As educators, we have to show love.

Schools need to be a safe haven. A lot of students come with emotional baggage.”

— RONNIE MITCHELL ’16

exclusive to the urban classroom. “As educators, we have to show love,” he says.

“Schools need to be a safe haven. A lot of students come with emotional baggage.”

Just like every other educator, his work during the pandemic has shifted. He has found a lot of students and their families initially struggling to adapt to the virtual learning environment. Some may have not had the technical ability to know how to access everything virtually while other students initially found difficulty adjusting to virtual learning—it requires more accountability and dedication on the student’s end that they are logging on and communicating regularly to ensure they are learning efficiently. Other families simply did not have adequate technology to access the virtual learning environment. “Thankfully,” he says, “Our district’s leadership worked hard to guarantee we would have a one-to-one student to technology ratio (meaning each student would have their own device from the district), providing equitable opportunities for their education.”

Mitchell states that growing mental health needs across the district for students persists. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” he says, “I have had to change my approach to how I am working with students. For example, in our Therapeutic Emotional Support classroom, our team (which includes a special education teacher, a behavioral analysist, paraprofessionals, a social worker, and myself) has emphasized the development of social skills within our students.

We are currently using a curriculum that focuses on skills including self-regulation, conflict management, communication, and so forth. Occasionally, I also make fun and interactive presentations to students.

The best part is that we are reaching a wide range of students as young as second grade, up to seventh, demonstrating how transferable many of the skills are to different age groups. While needs continue to persist with our students, we as educators must continue to love and care for our students as well.” — Sarah Achenbach

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Advocate for Pennsylvanians

J

ennifer Berrier ’02 says the most important thing she does is help other people. As the recently appointed Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Berrier oversees a department that has grown—and become a lifeline to many Pennsylvanians—in a trying year.

The department oversees unemployment compensation, workers compensation, minimum wage, and the inspections of elevators, boilers, and stuffed toys. It’s a large department with nearly 5,000 employees. With its responsibilities comes the opportunity to impact 14 million Pennsylvanians across the state.

“It can be easy to look at what we do and see it just as a job duty,” Berrier says. “To others, it’s life-changing. It feels pretty great when you can make a positive impact in someone’s life.”

Berrier has been with the department since 2006, but her journey to reach her most recent promotion started when she was a student at York College, she says.

From a flexible schedule to professors who pushed her to reach her goals, Berrier found a support system that elevated her.

Berrier is the oldest of five children.

When it was time for her to pursue college, she needed to find something that was flexible. Her mother, who raised her children as a single parent, worked several jobs to support her family, so Berrier was needed at home to help watch her siblings.

York College provided the quality education that was important to Berrier, but it also gave her the flexibility to go to classes and stay home when her mom needed her help. Without that flexibility, college may not have been an option.

“It can be easy to look at what we do and see it just as a job duty. To others, it’s life-changing. It feels pretty great when you can make a positive impact in someone’s life.”

— JENNIFER BERRIER ’02

Jennifer Berrier ’02, shown in Harrisburg, was recently appointed Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

Photo by Chris Myers.

We are proud to recognize the efforts of those who have stepped up to help others. If you would like to recommend Spartans who are making a difference, please send details to Gail Huganir, Director of Editorial Services at ghuganir@ycp.edu.

We look forward to highlighting their stories.

While she didn’t have a vision for where she wanted her career to go, she did have a strong interest in American history and the evolution of modern politics.

She decided to pursue a Political Science degree. After graduation, she set out on a path to pursue law school and attended Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, which allowed her to commute and work part-time.

Her first job after passing the Bar was with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. She started working in employment law, which she found interesting, but after a while, she felt she could make a bigger impact in government administration. She worked for the Executive Offices at Labor and Industry and became a Bureau Director.

Gov. Tom Wolf later appointed her to be the Deputy Secretary for Safety and Labor-Management Relations, and she became Acting Secretary of Labor and Industry in December 2020.

“I didn’t realize it at the time, but Gov. Wolf was on the Board of Directors at York College when I graduated,” Berrier says.

“His signature is on my degree. In a lot of ways, it feels like things came full circle.”

Leading the Department of Labor and Industry during a pandemic has come with knowing many people need the support that Berrier and her team can provide.

She sees her role as supporting her staff with the tools they need to impact the most people. When she thinks about how far she’s come in her career, she’s proud of the work she put in to get here.

“Multitasking is a skill that has transitioned into my professional life, and my college experience helped prepare me for where I am now,” she says. “It was a great start to a career I’m really proud of.”

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IN FO CUS

THE TURNING POINT Is spring 2021 our turning point?

Dare we plan for a brighter future?

The brilliant red cardinal framed among budding branches on York College’s campus, soaking up the sun’s warmth before launching into flight, is a symbol of hope.

Just over a year ago, COVID-19 surged around the world. We scrambled to make adjustments and learn about the disease. We tried to show compassion and acknowledge bravery, while keeping ourselves and others safe. Working together, following strict rules, and making hard decisions helped our community stay strong and enabled students to safely continue their education, albeit not in a typical fashion. After all this incredible effort, is there hope on the horizon?

Dr. Gunter-Smith is optimistic: “With the increasing availability of vaccinations, resulting in an anticipated decline in COVID-19 transmission and infectivity, fall 2021 will mark a return to a more typical semester for York College. As a result, students can expect to again enjoy many of the experiences—inside and out of the classroom—that make a York College education so distinct.”

It is a time for renewal; we look forward to seeing students return to a more typical semester soon!

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CONNECTIONS

A LU M NI N E WS

“York College’s program will allow students to understand and influence the production of food and ornamental plants with a global perspective of their use and how they impact global environmental phenomena.”

During his junior year, he decided to enroll in the Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) program, which provided Claghorn with an opportunity to take graduate courses as an undergraduate student. “I took all the classes I could as an undergrad, and next year I will take graduate classes and earn my master’s in five years.”

— CHARLES “CHUCK” MACVEAN

POWDER MILL FOUNDATION:

APPELL ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURAL PROGRAM

York College of Pennsylvania will create a major in Environmental Horticulture with a multimilliondollar commitment from the Powder Mill Foundation, established by the late Louis J. Appell Jr. With a focus on environmental sustainability, the Appell Environmental Horticulture Program will include hands-on learning opportunities at Millbourne, Appell’s 50-acre private estate in York. Students may choose the Environmental Horticulture major beginning in Fall 2021.

“This gift represents Louis Appell’s love of gardening as well as his commitment to York College,” said Michael H. Hady III, President and CEO of the Powder Mill Foundation. “A key asset to the Appell Environmental Horticulture Program at York College is the Millbourne estate, where ornamental horticulture is showcased, and where important components of the new major will be taught.”

The gift will fund construction of new laboratory and greenhouse facilities on the York College campus, 28

Taslim Hossain ’23, a recipient of the Milne Scholarship.

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the hiring of faculty with expertise needed to teach in the program, and new equipment and supplies.

Students will choose from two areas of concentration: one oriented to ornamental plants and landscaping, the other centered on food plants and their use around the globe. Food production in urban environments will be an important component, linking the major to York City endeavors for food security.

York College’s core curriculum will allow students to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to manage fruit, vegetable, nursery and/ or greenhouse production systems.

Students will acquire knowledge and experience in the key areas of ecology, economic botany and taxonomy, soil science and plant nutrition, plant propagation, pest management, landscaping, economics, and business.

Students will graduate with a strong scientific base linked to marketing and business-management skills that they can apply to niche markets, as York College’s location is a prime area for horticultural production and agribusiness of many types.

“The Environmental Horticulture major is rooted in plant science and growing plants for food and landscaping purposes,” said Charles “Chuck” MacVean, Dean of the Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology,

which will host the program. “York College’s program will allow students to understand and influence the production of food and ornamental plants with a global perspective of their use and how they impact global environmental phenomena.”

“York College has been the recipient of Louis Appell’s generosity for years,” said President Pamela GunterSmith. “Thanks to his commitment to education and passion for horticulture and the stewardship of land and natural resources, York College students in the Appell Environmental Horticulture Program will have hands-on learning opportunities that other programs simply cannot offer.” — M.D.

ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL Eric Milne ’93 is no ordinary donor, according to students who have benefited from his generosity, which supports the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program (YCCOSP).

Then again, the students selected to benefit from his gifts to York College are by no means typical students.

“Eric Milne is an amazing person,” said Taslim Hossain ’23. “He’s not just a donor who puts in money and supports you financially. He wants to get to know and understand you, to have a personal connection. He wants to know about my successes as well as my struggles, and how he can help.”

Hossain is a senior Civil Engineering and Chemistry major. Through dual enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) courses at William Penn Senior High School in York, he arrived at York College with 46 credits, enough to classify him as a sophomore. His first intended major was Civil Engineering, but he was also very passionate about Chemistry. Hossain

More About Milne and His Gifts

Milne wants “to train the next generation to carry on the important work of encouraging students to explore and understand our government through critical thinking.” worked with his advisor and faculty in Chemistry to come up with a course chart and a plan that will allow him to major in both and graduate in the summer of 2023.

“Eric Milne is very genuine, and not what I was expecting,” said Zachary Claghorn ’21. “He turned out to be someone I could sit down and chat with, an everyday man who wanted to do something good for people.”

Claghorn came to York College to major in Music Education. At William Penn, he was a percussionist, pianist, vocalist, songwriter, and rapper. He participated in orchestra, jazz band, and musical theatre. “I was practicing music anywhere from three to five hours a day at York College,” Claghorn said. “I realized that’s what it took to be a professional musician, and I did not like that.” He switched his major to Political Science, because he wanted to study something that would “enable me to help people and solve problems.”

Milne established The Eric David Milne ’93 Scholarship Endowment Fund in March 2004. His scholarship supports YCCOSP, which provides William Penn graduates with a full-tuition scholarship as well as room and board to York College.

In addition, Milne has established a fund to cover the cost of books for students participating in YCCOSP. To be considered for the Milne Scholars Program, they must write the best essay on a topic addressing a societal issue, using the U.S. Constitution in a reasoned defense of their argument. Past recipients then gather to select the best essay.

A lifelong resident of York and a graduate of William Penn and York College, Milne’s goal is to continue to support YCCOSP students indefinitely through his endowment. His parents were also active in the community.

His mother was in real estate and his father taught at Central York School District for 35 years and was president of the York City Council.

It is important to Milne that his essay requirement continues. By engaging his recipients, Milne plans to create a solid group of former students who are able to serve on the selection committee and choose recipients who embody his ideals after he is no longer able to do so. He wants “to train the next generation to carry on the important work of encouraging students to explore and understand our government through critical thinking.”

Hossain wrote about freedom of the press in his essay. “I went in deep and got very invested in the topic,” he said.

“I shared my paper with many editors, including those at the Writing Center and even my middle school teacher.

I wanted to write the best essay, and it wasn’t just about the competition.

Eric saw the passion and work that I put into it, and I was selected.”

“Past recipients read and score the essays,” said Claghorn. “Authors remain anonymous, so there’s no bias involved. It’s fairly easy for the group to reach a consensus, because the students who end up winning are ones that give it a real good effort.”

Not having to pay for books is a huge benefit for Hossain. “As a double major, I have to purchase both Engineering and Chemistry books. YCCOSP covers so much—tuition, room and board—but not books, which can be expensive,” he said.

Thankful Both Hossain and Claghorn speak highly of Milne and his generosity to YCCOSP students like them, who often grow up without the resources to even consider college.

“The Milne Scholarship and YCCOSP provided me with an opportunity to focus on my education,” said Hossain.

“Coming from the city, you may not know what you are capable of. If someone asked me as an elementary student, I’d never have believed I’d be a double major at York College. This financial support has allowed me to live on campus and get more involved in the community and make connections to students, organizations, and faculty.”

“My family provided me with the things I needed to survive, but I never had the guidance necessary to get to the next level,” said Claghorn. “All of that guidance came from my teachers at William Penn, the YCCOSP program, and Eric Milne. If it weren’t for these people who came into my life and invested in me, I’d still be at square one. I am very proud of where I am, and I don’t take any of it for granted.”

As Milne says, “To borrow from JFK, don’t ask what you can do for yourself, ask what you can do for your community.

You might be surprised to find that doing something nice for your community gives you a better feeling than doing something nice for yourself.” — M.D.

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EVOLVE:

THE CAMPAIGN FOR YORK COLLEGE The Center for Collaborative Innovation (CCI) is not a new concept to be implemented at York College of Pennsylvania (YCP).

It is a strategic organization that has evolved naturally from key elements that make YCP a distinctive institution of higher learning.

Collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship are our basic tenets.

The three main components of the CCI, the Center for Academic Innovation (CAI), the Engaged Scholars, and the Knowledge Park are already effective processes working every day at YCP. The CAI houses pedagogical highimpact practices. The Engaged Scholar program supports hands-on community-based and project-based applications of learning. The Knowledge Park is the learning laboratory where both of these programs are applied through an intersection with industry and our faculty and students.

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Centered at the intersection of the five schools, the CCI pulls these parts together in a collaborative model that knocks down silo walls and permits true interactivity.

Center for Academic Innovation The CAI provides resources for innovative teaching and research practices that are interdisciplinary and cross both disciplinary and pedagogical boundaries. As such, the CAI will create collaborations across the five schools and connect with student life, the Engaged Scholars programs, and the partnerships available through the Knowledge Park. The CAI will also provide resources for the incubation of new ideas by students and faculty.

By focusing on innovative programs and student experiences, the CAI will connect with the other areas of the CCI to provide a distinctive educational experience for students that is engaging, innovative, and global.

Engaged Scholars The York Engaged Scholars program is “an Honors program with a difference.”

Its programming is designed to fit our own unique mission, supporting hands-on community- and project-

based applications of learning. The York Engaged Scholars program reflects our already-tested experiences with York College’s Scholars programs—and particularly with the first of those programs, the Graham Innovation Scholars. This approach has demonstrated strong outcomes for students, and has already situated the College within the York business, governmental, and nonprofit sectors.

Through interdisciplinary, actionbased undergraduate research and project-based curricula/co-curricula, the York Engaged Scholars share an entrepreneurial mindset—the ability to take on problems and creatively solve them, whether in their own business or within an existing one.

Knowledge Park The Knowledge Park provides an additional site on York College’s campus where high-impact pedagogies can be activated, and where The Engaged Scholars (and the general student body) can learn by doing, while also supporting the region’s economic development. In today’s highly competitive knowledge economy, institutions that understand the importance of nurturing partnerships between higher education, industry, and community partners are at the leading edge of problem-solving and innovation.

As the central physical location that allows York College to form key partnerships, the Knowledge Park acts as a learning lab for our students and faculty as well as a source of innovative human and intellectual capital for industries. Embedded industry and community partners will work with our Engaged Scholars and faculty to give students experiential learning opportunities and chances to use the pedagogies developed within the CAI. The CCI is something the College has been investing in for years, with your support, during the EVOLVE campaign, we can take this unique and distinctive process to the next level in a way that not only supports current students, but all future students, and the region as well.

— Troy Miller, Vice President, Development

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Sophia Ticer ’98 Director, D.C. Office of the Attorney General Child Support Services Division Sophia (Hollis) Ticer ’98 remembers returning home to Dover, Pennsylvania, and wondering if she’d ever have the chance to finish her education. It would have been easy to feel defeat, to choose a different path. However, after dropping out of college and becoming a single parent, Ticer decided she wanted more for herself and her child.

She enrolled as an English major at York College. It was the first step in a long journey to pursuing a career that would elevate her as well as her family.

Today, she looks back on that decision to return to college with gratitude.

Recently appointed to lead the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Services Division in Washington, D.C., she’s now helping others access the programs that were helpful in her own life.

“I didn’t want to settle in life,” she says. “I had the will to fight and the desire to exercise my faith to pursue the destiny that God had for me.”

Ticer always wanted to be an attorney.

While she started her undergraduate education at Morgan State University in Political Science, she came to York College in pursuit of her English degree so she would be prepared for a career that required a lot of writing and research.

Her Philosophy minor helped her analyze literature and not take things at face value.

“York College gave me a solid foundation to think outside the box,” she says. “I needed that to get through the next phases of my education and later in my career.”

Following graduation, she received her paralegal certificate from Penn State York campus. Still a single parent, she worked at various law firms in York City, starting as a receptionist and legal secretary.

All that time, she knew she wanted more. Ticer applied and was accepted to Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan, where she graduated in 2004.

Ticer would work in general practice for several years before heading to the State’s Attorney Office in Prince George’s County, Photo by Howard Korn Photography

Maryland, and then the State’s Attorney Office in Charles County, Maryland. It was while working for the Maryland Office of the Attorney General litigating child support matters as Special Counsel that she was approached with a job opening.

“I like stability, and I’m not one to jump from one job to another,” she says. “So, I prayed about it. I felt like I was doing the work like it was the back of my hand. I was good at it, but I had become complacent.

It was time for a new challenge.”

In January 2019, she became the Assistant Deputy for the D.C. Office of the Attorney General Child Support Services Division and subsequently Director of the Division in September 2020. “It’s been a whirlwind,” she says, thinking back on the events that occurred.

“I have to think a lot of it has to do with the foundation I received at York College.”

Ticer’s division collects and disperses child support payments, with many recipients in the lower income ward of Washington, D.C. She also manages about 180 employees, is responsible for implementing government regulations, creates the division budget, and represents the division on various committees and boards.

“I know the impact this office can have on a family because I was once a recipient of child support.”

“We’re here to support both parents, both the custodial and non-custodial parent, so they can be the parents they need to be for their children,” Ticer says. “I know the impact this office can have on a family because I was once a recipient of child support. I get a lot of satisfaction in being able to help others.”

Not only child support, but several other programs played a role in helping Ticer reach her goals. She notes that she had to live in Section 8 housing for a time and that she received assistance to cover the cost of her paralegal certificate.

“Those things helped me do more for my children,” she says. “Despite the struggles, there were programs there to serve as stepping stones. By the grace of God, I’m where I am today.”

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A G L IM PSE O F O U R PAST Results

2021 #YCPGIVES TRIBUTE:

DEAN CHEESEBROUGH

Dr. Dean Cheesebrough came to York College in 1971 and remained an active member of the College family until 2016. During his tenure, he served as the Coordinator of Elementary Education, Chair of the Education Department, President of Academic Senate (two terms), Interim Academic Dean, Head Master of York Country Day School, and Special Assistant to Presidents George Waldner and Pamela Gunter-Smith.

“We created a sense of family…and that was a benefit to faculty and to our students.”

This tribute to Dr. Cheesebrough, who passed away in November 2020, is offered largely in his own words.

If you knew Dean, it will come as no surprise that his words are not about himself, but are instead about the two great loves in his life.

Dean learned about an opening at York College shortly after finishing his doctoral program at Miami of Ohio in 1971. The position would be in the newly created Education Department.

He said, “The first year was very difficult. We were not only building a department, but we were also working diligently to establish the reputation of the College as a new player in the field of teacher education and certification.

Our first real test came when the first 32

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class of student teachers was put in the field. They had to prove that York College had a viable program. They did that, and they did it very well.

Because of the diligent work of our early student teachers, and our professors, the College’s reputation for its Education Department and programs grew rapidly and grew strong.”

In tracing the development of the College, Dean recalled a wide range of resources, but to him people and relationships were the most valuable.

He stated, “We built and maintained… working relationship[s] through mutual collaboration, which established reciprocal trust and a shared respect.

We were a solid team both in our relationships within the College and outside of the College. We always hired good people, we created a sense of family, and that sense of family held us together; and that was a benefit to faculty and to our students. My most cherished memories of my time at York have always been and will always be the people I worked with!”

According to Dean, he “had the opportunity to work with a number of wonderful people.” He gave credit to his wife and said, “During that same tenure, I lived with the love of my life. Jan, my wife of 61 years, was a significant source of support.

As a kindergarten teacher, she provided a very close and personal connection to contemporary education at the classroom level. She helped to strengthen my awareness of what was going on in public education.

She was always a solid sounding board and always my most cherished connection to public education.”

At the York College graduation commencement ceremony on May 19, 2014, Dr. Cheesebrough was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters. He formally retired from the College in 2016.

Institutions that endure and prosper are generally blessed with individuals who have, are currently, and will continue to make a difference.

Dean Cheesebrough certainly made a difference at York College!

— Mike McGrath, Retired Professor of Education

1,683 donors gave $176,225

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challenges unlocked $40,750

688

333

alumni made a gift

young alumni (2010–2020) made a gift

54

alumni classes were represented

2020

was the youngest class

1954

was the oldest class

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“WITH SINCERIT Y WE PLEDGE”:

states and the District of Columbia were represented

4,153

miles traveled by the furthest gift

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advocates inspired 100 gifts

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.

THE NURSING PROGRAM CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF GRADUATES With those first words of the Nursing Pledge, 54 students became York College’s first Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates on May 16, 1981.

The program was nearly 10 years in the making (over 30, if you count the Pre-Nursing course of study offered by York Junior College in 1942). By late 1969, feasibility studies were undertaken and brainstorming about a collaborative program with York Hospital began. Throughout the early and mid-1970s, efforts continued to establish the BSN at York College. Archival records show the extent of this undertaking—securing grants through agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, recruiting qualified staff, and developing a curriculum.

In the fall of 1978, the first students were accepted into the new four-year Nursing major. During those first four years of the program, the Student Nurses Association of York College of Pennsylvania (then S.N.A.Y.C.P., now S.N.A.P.) was formed, and student Dana (Brubaker) Cotton ’81 designed the official YCP nursing pin.

Since that first graduating class of 55 students in 1981 (54 in May, 1 in December), 3,753 have earned their BSNs from York College and over 90% have gone on to pass the National Council of Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). This year, the Nursing Department celebrates 40 years of graduates and 40 years of excellence. ­— Karen Rice-Young ’92

TOP TO BOTTOM:

Class of 1981

Student Nurse Orientation, The York Dispatch, Sept. 15, 1978 Dana (Brubaker) Cotton ’81 designed the YCP nursing pin that has been given to all graduates since 1981 during a special pinning ceremony.

Ed Bukowski ’81 started the Student Nurses Association of York College of Pennsylvania.

Patty (Quakenbush) Myers ’81 is currently Lab Coordinator for YCP’s Nursing Program.

Tamera (Baker) Swink ’81 served on the first pinning ceremony committee.

York College’s Archives welcomes donations of college-related materials.

Contact Karen Rice-Young ’92 at kriceyou@ycp.edu, 717-815-1439 for more information.

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