January 2022

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical and health services managers in May 2017 was $98,350.

The University of Scranton’s Bachelor of Science degree in health administration affords students the opportunity to choose a concentration between a health administration generalist program or a long-term administration program. The former aims to provide students with a broad base knowledge of employment opportunities in various facilities, while the latter focuses on preparation for job opportunities within long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Scranton’s program holds full undergraduate membership in the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) and is one of just 11 programs nationwide to be approved for its long-term care administration curriculum by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).

Experiential learning is emphasized in the health administration program where students complete a three-credit, 120-hour internship and 80 hours of community-based learning in their four years. Past internship sites include AseraCare Hospice, Clarks Summit Senior Living, Jefferson Health System, Lebanon Valley Advanced Care Center and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Recent graduates have been employed by various health care providers in the eastern U.S. such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, Geisinger Health System, Lehigh Valley Health Care System and Allied Services.

Scranton graduates who choose to pursue graduate-level education in health administration-related programs have been accepted at schools such as Columbia University and New York University, as well as The University of Scranton, which also offers a master’s degree in health administration.

More than 1,650 students were named to The University of Scranton’s Dean’s List for the 2021 fall semester. The Dean’s List recognizes students for academic excellence. A student must have a grade point average of 3.5 or better with a minimum number of credit hours during the semester to make the Dean’s List. The list includes students from the Jesuit university’s College of Arts and Sciences, Kania School of Management and Panuska College of Professional Studies.

A list of students making the Dean’s List can be seen here.

The following students were added to The University of Scranton Dean’s List for the spring 2021 semester after publication of the list in June of 2021.

The Dean’s List recognizes students for academic excellence during the 2021 spring semester. A student must have a grade point average of 3.5 or better with a minimum number of credit hours to make the Dean’s List. The list includes students from the Jesuit university’s College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Panuska College of Professional Studies.

Students added to the spring 2021 Dean’s List are:

The University of Scranton recognized students and their elementary and high school teachers, who they credit for contributing to their success, with Rose Kelly Awards at a recent virtual ceremony.

The Rose Kelly Award was established by University of Scranton alumnus Joseph Wineburgh, Ph.D., to link the efforts of educators to the achievements of college students. The award is presented jointly to a student in each of the University’s colleges who has completed two years at Scranton and to the teacher whom he or she recognizes as having a great impact in his or her life. Students are selected based on exemplary achievement in both academics and general campus involvement.

Emma Boyle, Peckville, received the Rose Kelly Award for the Kania School of Management. She honored Dana Marion, her kindergarten teacher at Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center. Boyle is an accounting major at Scranton.

Alexander Luancing, Easton, received the Rose Kelly Award for the College of Arts and Sciences. He honored Gina Rakos, his AP biology teacher at Nazareth Area High School. Luancing is a biology major at Scranton.

Anne Murphy, Flemington, New Jersey, received the Rose Kelly Award for the Panuska College of Professional Studies. She honored Chelsea D’Antonio her teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Murphy is a counseling and human services major at Scranton.

Eight students and two professors recently traveled to Arizona for 25 days for the Extreme Physiology intersession course. Olivia Pisarski '22, a physiology major in the course, talks about her experience. The class visited Tucson, Sedona, Grand Canyon and Flagstaff.

Tell us a little about the trip, Olivia!

This unique course exposes the student to the stunning and diverse environments of Arizona while investigating human physiological adaptation to extreme environmental and aerobic challenges. It is a travel course created by University of Scranton Biology Professor Terrence Sweeney. The course is offered every other year by Dr. Sweeney and Scranton faculty member Tara Fay.

What did you learn in this intersession course?

This course taught me how to properly fuel/take care of my body when exercising in diverse environments. However, the most memorable part of the trip was the group. We were so lucky to have eight amazing students and two faculty members who made this trip a course I will never forget!

This was my last college class at The University of Scranton. Once intersession ends, I will be graduated, and I could not have imagined ending my academic career in a better way than studying in the Arizona desert.

See a "Day in the Life" from this trip, here.

For the third time, a University of Scranton accounting student was selected for the Institute of Management Accountants’ (IMA) “Jimmie Smith” Student Leadership Experience. This highly-selective program includes only five students from the around the world.

Emma Boyle of Peckville, will participate in a series of virtual meetings from January to May, 2022, focused on governance and volunteerism. The program will conclude in June with her attending the IMA’s Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas. Throughout the program, Boyle will be assigned a IMA’s Global Board of Director mentor to learn more about the IMA’s Global Board and explore future IMA volunteer leadership opportunities.

The other four students selected to participate are from Christ University in India, American University of Beirut in Lebanon, and Dixie State University in Nevada.

The IMA Selection Committee only chooses students from IMA Higher Education Endorsement Program member schools to attend this experience. The University of Scranton received its endorsement in November 2017. Just 62 colleges in the U.S. are currently endorsed by the IMA, and 40 colleges are endorsed internationally.

This is not the first year a University of Scranton student has attended the IMA Student Leadership Experience. Nicholas Varriano ’17, ‘G18, attended in 2018, and Nhu Nguyen ’19, attended in 2019. 

Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) program, continuing education, networking and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 140,000 members in 140 countries and over 300 professional and student chapters.

At Scranton Boyle is pursuing a major in accounting with a triple-minor in business analytics, business leadership and forensic accounting. On campus, she is a tour guide and Royal Ambassador. She currently serves as president for the University’s IMA Student Chapter, Beta Alpha Psi honor society, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Student Chapter.

Boyle previously interned with Neumentum, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and the University’s Career Development Office. She is currently completing an audit internship with Deloitte in the Philadelphia office. Upon graduation, Boyle plans to complete her Master of Accountancy at The University of Scranton with a concentration in accounting analytics.

Frank O’Hara medals were given to University of Scranton students with the highest grade-point averages in their first-, second- and third-year in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Panuska College of Professional Studies for the 2020-21 academic year. The awards, named in honor of the late Frank O’Hara who served the University for 53 years in various administrative positions, were presented at a ceremony held recently on campus.

College of Arts and Sciences

Thomas Elias, Tunkhannock, received a medal for academic achievement for his freshman year. A recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, he is currently a sophomore double majoring in philosophy and theology and participates in the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. On campus, he is a class of 2024 senator in Student Government, treasurer of the Astronomy Club, a tour guide, and has a radio show on 99.5 WUSR. He is also a member of Christians for the Common Good and the Philosophy Society. Elias is involved with the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice, Campus Ministries, and research in the Physics Department.

Emily Amershek, New Ringgold, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. A recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, she is currently a junior majoring in philosophy and participates in the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. On campus, she is a tour guide, an orientation assistant, a Campus Ministries lector, a tutor for logic courses, and a teaching mentor for INTD 290. She is also a member the University Review Board, and has studied abroad in Israel and Palestine. Amershek represented the University of Scranton with Philadelphia Insurance Companies in the summer of 2021.

Sarah White, Brooklyn, New York, received a medal for academic achievement for her junior year. A recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, she is currently a senior double majoring in biology and philosophy and participates in the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the Magis Honors Program in STEM. On campus, she is a production manager of Esprit, co-founder of the Royal-Ties Program, vice president of The Royal Signers, co-president of Random Acts of Kindness, president of Alpha Sigma Nu and vice president of Phi Sigma Tau honor societies. She is also a tutor with the University’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, a P.A.C.T. peer facilitator, chair of the Team Development Committee of Relay for Life, and a lector with Campus Ministries. While working with the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice, White participated in the Craft for a Cause Program, the We Care Program, cross-campus Racial Justice Dialogues and a domestic outreach service program to St. Michaels, Arizona. White also participated in Michigan University’s Great Lakes Research Experience for Undergraduates in summer 2021

Kania School of Management

John Sheehan, Dumont, New Jersey received a medal for academic achievement for his freshman year. He is currently a sophomore majoring in accounting and participates in the University’s Business Honors Program. On campus, he is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, Society of Accounting Students and helps with the Portfolio of Responsible Investments under Student Management, which is worth almost $1 million. He also served as an accounting tutor.

Alice Banks, Hazleton, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. She is currently a junior majoring in finance and participates in the University’s Business Honors program. On campus, she is a Royal Start Ambassador for first-year students and a resident assistant for junior and senior housing. She is a member of the Women’s Business Honor Society, the United Cultures Organization, Praise and Worship and the University of Scranton Black Student Union.

Marissa Angelo, Dickson City, received a medal for academic achievement for her junior year. She is currently a senior majoring in accounting and participates in the University’s Business Honors Program. On campus, she is co-vice president of the Kania School of Management’s Student Advisory Board and a junior officer for the Institute of Management Accountants Student Chapter. She is also a member of the Business Leadership Honors Program, Kania Women in Business Club, the University of Scranton Society of Accounting Students and Omega Beta Sigma honor society. Angelo received the 2021 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholarship and won the PricewaterhouseCoopers case challenge in 2019 and 2020.

Panuska College of Professional Studies

Kathryn Regan, West Chester, received a medal for academic achievement for her freshman year. She is currently a sophomore majoring in kinesiology and participates in the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the Magis Honors Program in STEM. She is a member of the University’s Women’s Swimming and Diving Team. While working with the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice, she has participated in the Clothesline for Men and We Care Programs.

Alexis Angstadt, Jamison, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. She is currently a junior and is majoring in occupational therapy. On campus, she is a tutor with the University’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, a teaching assistant for OT anatomy, and a junior representative in the Student Occupational Therapy Association. She is also a member of the Kindness for Chemo Club and participates in various intramural sports. Angstadt has volunteered with St. Clare’s Food Pantry and Rock Steady Boxing, a boxing gym to help those with Parkinson’s disease.

Cristina Rodier, Nutley, New Jersey, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. She is currently a junior majoring in occupational therapy. She is a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association and has participated in intramural soccer. She served at the University’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence as a note taker for the statistics in behavioral sciences course.

Kayla Maas, Barryville, New York, receives a medal for academic achievement for her junior year. She is currently a senior majoring in kinesiology. On campus, she is a member of the Kinesiology Club and volunteers with the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice. She serves as a teaching assistant for anatomy and physiology. Maas also works as a nursing assistant at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, New York.

Several groups across campus volunteered to give back to the community around Christmastime.

More Than 6,000 Donated Books Blessed at Scranton

The 15^th annual Panuska College of Professional Studies Blessing of the Books project collected more than 6,000 children’s books this year. The books were blessed at a ceremony in the lobby of The Kane Forum in the Edward Leahy, Jr. Hall on Dec. 2.

Read more, here.

Students Give at Annual Christmas Gift Drives

More than 200 students, in addition to faculty and staff, participated in The University of Scranton’s annual Christmas gift-giving programs. In addition, Scranton’s Kania School of Management raised funds for this year’s program and Performance Music provided gifts donated by area residents from its Empty Stocking Fund Concert. The gifts were given to Friends of the Poor/Catholic Social Services who will distribute the donated items to families in need.

In addition, the Center for Service and Social Justice organized the Adopt a Family program with the Catherine McAuley Center, which helped 40 family members through generous donations made by members of the University community.

Read more, here.

Pre-Law Society Gives Back

The University of Scranton’s Pre-Law Society had a large turnout on Dec. 6 for its Holiday Service Party. The Society’s officers set a goal of collecting 50 toys. Members rose to the challenge by donating a total of 114 toys for the Catherine McAuley Center’s visiting families. The Catherine McAuley Center assists women and children experiencing homelessness and provides them with temporary shelter and support systems to regain independence. They also signed over 140 handwritten Christmas cards for resident Veterans of the Gino Merli Center. Read more, here.

The University of Scranton’s Pre-Law Society had a large turnout on Dec. 6 for its Holiday Service Party. The Society’s officers set a goal of collecting 50 toys. Members rose to the challenge by donating a total of 114 toys for the Catherine McAuley Center’s visiting families. The Catherine McAuley Center assists women and children experiencing homelessness and provides them with temporary shelter and support systems to regain independence. This year’s donation drive was a great way to provide those in need with support during the holidays. 

The Society has done more this year to make it onto the "nice list." Members also signed over 140 handwritten Christmas cards for resident Veterans of the Gino Merli Center. Students wrote thoughtful messages thanking veterans and wishing them a wonderful holiday season. The University of Scranton recognizes all that veterans have sacrificed for this country. The Pre-Law Society thought this would be a great way to show their support and gratitude. Thanks to the efforts of the officers and advisor, Attorney Jason Shrive, the Society was able to complete their first community service project since COVID-19 affected our area.