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The University of Scranton and Widener University Commonwealth Law School signed a new 3+3 dual admissions agreement, providing an expedited and cost-effective route for students to earn both their bachelor’s degree and juris doctor in just six years. This innovative program allows students to bypass the traditional seven-year timeline, cutting down on tuition expenses and speeding up their entry into the legal field.

The agreement will allow Scranton students who meet program requirements to be eligible for admission to the prestigious law school after three years. The accelerated academic program allows highly qualified and motivated students to earn both a bachelor’s degree from Scranton and juris doctor degree from Widener Law Commonwealth.

“The University of Scranton has long been a source of many of our most outstanding students – individuals who go on to lead impactful legal careers,” said andré douglas pond cummings, J.D., dean of Widener Law Commonwealth. “This 3+3 agreement formalizes that bond, allowing motivated Scranton students to begin their legal education in what would traditionally be their senior year of college. It saves time and resources while aligning beautifully with Scranton’s Jesuit mission of service – an ethos that mirrors our own commitment to access to justice and producing attorneys dedicated to serving the public good.”

“This 3+3 with Widener Commonwealth Law builds upon several existing such partnerships to provide our students with yet another excellent option. Our Scranton students can benefit from our strong liberal arts undergraduate education, which we know will serve them well to become ethical critical thinkers who can write and speak effectively. Then they take our transformative education as they study the law at Widener and in turn live out the Catholic, Jesuit mission in the promotion of social justice as an attorney,” said Carolyn McNamara Barry, Ph.D., dean of Scranton’s College of Arts and Sciences.

“The University of Scranton students are always impressive, and their contributions to the law school and the legal profession make a positive impact on their communities,” said Matthew Kerns, associate dean of admissions at Widener Law Commonwealth. “This agreement saves Scranton students valuable time and money when completing their degrees so that they can quickly progress into their professional careers.”

Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Widener Law Commonwealth offers a unique advantage through its proximity to state government agencies, courts and a robust network of legal professionals. A strong focus on mentorship and applied learning prepares students for the rigors of legal practice in a dynamic and supportive environment.

“I was particularly impressed by Widener Law Commonwealth’s noteworthy track record in providing access to a wide range of students to pursue law school, as well as sending so many of their graduates onto successful careers as public servants in the state of Pennsylvania,” said Dean Barry.

To be eligible for the program, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA while at Scranton and must have completed at least 90 credits overall (a minimum of 63 at Scranton) before enrolling at Widener. The program is open to all Scranton students considering attending law school. Additional information can be found on Scranton’s pre-law webpage.

The agreement is effective beginning with students whose anticipated matriculation date to Widener Commonwealth is August 2026.

Back when he was a graduate student at Boston College, Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, took a course, “Great Themes of the Bible,” instructed by Rev. Richard J. Clifford, S.J., and the late Rev. Thomas D. Stegman, S.J.

It was captivating, creative and so inspiring, Father Marina said, that he still has his notebook from the class and occasionally returns to it.

“Instead of studying sections, like wisdom literature and the prophets and the gospels, they looked at particular themes running through,” Father Marina recalled. “We studied, for example, creation through the lens of both testaments. We studied redemption. We studied mercy. It was a great way to become more familiar with the Bible.”

Father Marina, now the president of The University of Scranton, welcomed Father Clifford to campus on April 10. Father Clifford was the guest of honor, receiving the University’s Arrupe Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ignatian Mission and Ministry.

But for all the scholarly wisdom and critical thought Father Clifford instilled in Father Marina, the University president says his fondest memory happened outside the classroom.

“One day we were cooking and it was the middle of the afternoon,” Father Marina told the crowd assembled for a luncheon at Leahy Hall. “I said to you, ‘I still haven’t been to Mass yet.’ He said to me, ‘Would you like to celebrate together?’ And it was just the two of us in our house chapel; me on the one side, he on the other.

“Just a beautiful memory … so personal to me.”

Father Clifford was introduced at the Arrupe Award luncheon by Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., vice president for mission and ministry at Scranton, who touted him as someone who’s lived a life “with faith, intellectual rigor and genuine kindness toward all.”

Father Clifford presented a lecture, “Jews and Catholics: Building a Peaceful Future,” in which he emphasized the ongoing need for understanding and compassion between the two faiths.

Father Clifford’s prolific career, spanning five decades, includes a 38-year run of teaching biblical studies from 1970 to 2008 at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge. He joined the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry in 2008 and remains there. His past experience also includes serving as general editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly and being the former president of the Catholic Biblical Association.

The University of Scranton established the Arrupe Award in 1995 to recognize individuals who have furthered in a significant way the Ignatian mission. It is named for the late Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus and sometimes referred to as its “The Second Founder.”

The University of Scranton will celebrate its Class of 2025 with the awarding of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to nearly 1,300 graduates on Sunday, May 18.

Sunday’s commencement ceremonies conclude a busy, fun-filled weekend of events.

Here is a chronological rundown of key events happening this weekend:

FRIDAY, MAY 16

4 p.m. Leahy College of Health Sciences Outstanding Graduate Awards Ceremony at the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall.

5:30 p.m. Kania School of Management Reception on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall.

7:30 p.m. Class Night, recognizing undergraduates for academic achievement, leadership and service, in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

SATURDAY, MAY 17

9 a.m. Pinning Ceremony for nursing graduates in the Byron Recreation Complex.

11:30 a.m. Multicultural Graduation Celebration in the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall.

1 p.m. ROTC Commissioning in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

2:45 p.m. Class of 2025 Legacy Photo at the Loyola Science Center’s atrium.

4 p.m. Baccalaureate Mass in the Byron Recreation Complex.

• There will not be a procession of the graduates. Graduates will sit with and among their family and friends.

8 p.m. President’s Reception for graduates and parents in the Byron Recreation Complex.

SUNDAY, MAY 18

9:45 a.m. Doors open for Undergraduate Commencement at Mohegan Arena.

11 a.m. Undergraduate Commencement begins at Mohegan Arena.

12 p.m.: Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduation Awards Ceremony in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

3:45 p.m.: Doors open for Graduate Commencement at Mohegan Arena.

4:30 p.m.: Graduate Commencement begins at Mohegan Arena.

Refer to our campus maps webpage for precise locations of school buildings. Mohegan Arena, the home of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins’ top minor league affiliate, is located at 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Visit the arena’s website to review its clear bag policy and security procedures.

The principal speaker at the Undergraduate Commencement is Nicole Young ’00, H’20, a 16-time Emmy Award-winning senior producer for “60 Minutes.”

Several of the weekend’s events will be recorded on video and livestreamed. Links will become available on the University’s website at the date and time of each event.

A photographer from GradImages will be at both commencement ceremonies, capturing photos of each graduate during their moment of recognition. Scroll down to the Photographs and Flowers section of the commencement page for more information on how to pre-register and access your photos.

Join the fun on social media by using #Royals2025 for a chance to be featured on the University’s commencement page.

Richard Kogan, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and artistic director of Weill Cornell Music and Medicine, presented a concert lecture, “Schumann: Music, Mood Swings & Madness,” on April 10 at Geisinger School of Medicine (GSOM).

Dr. Kogan’s appearance in Scranton was a collaboration between the Schemel Forum, which is a community education and cultural enrichment program sponsored by The University of Scranton’s Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library, and GSOM. The Schemel Forum hosts numerous luncheon seminars, short academic courses and collaborative programs, such as this, during each semester.

Dr. Kogan discussed how creative artists are especially vulnerable to mental illness, highlighting German composer Robert Schumann, who blurred the lines between genius and insanity.

When Pope John Paul II died in April 2005, Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., was a curious college freshman. 

“I said to my friends, ‘What happens when a pope dies?’” Dr. Cosacchi recently recalled. “I went to the library, took out about 25 books …” 

And the rest was history. 

Dr. Cosacchi, The University of Scranton’s vice president of mission and ministry, has since become a scholar of the papacy and conclave. 

Since the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, Dr. Cosacchi has been in-demand, both on campus and in the public eye. 

Dr. Cosacchi’s work at the University in recent weeks has included a video presentation, open to the University community, about papal transition. 

Dr. Cosacchi also authored a University-wide email — a conclave primer — with numerous sources and links gathered to answer virtually any questions you may have about the conclave. 

Additionally, Dr. Cosacchi is contributing coverage for Spectrum News during the conclave and he was interviewed for the following articles in national media outlets: 

• “A Visual Guide on How the Next Pope Will Be Elected,” The Washington Post 

• “What’s at stake in conclave this week,” USA Today 

A graduate of Fordham University and Boston College, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, respectively, Dr. Cosacchi earned his doctorate from Loyola University of Chicago. Hired by Scranton in 2022, he previously held teaching positions at Marywood University and Fairfield University. 

Dr. Cosacchi is the author of “Great American Prophets: Pope Francis’s Models of Christian Life,” and the co-author of “The Berrigan Letters: Personal Correspondence Between Daniel and Philip Berrigan.” 

The University of Scranton Jazz Band will take the stage Friday, May 9, with renowned vibraphone player and percussionist, Joel Ross, joining them as the evening’s guest soloist. Presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton, the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Ross will also offer a free vibraphone masterclass for percussionists ranging from students (ages 16 and older) to professionals on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center. Percussionists wishing to attend should email music@scranton.edu or call (570) 941-7624 for more information. (Younger students may attend accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.)

At the concert, the University’s student jazz ensemble will perform a variety of works that prominently feature Ross on vibraphone/percussion. Performance Music Conductor and Co-Director Janelle Decker said, “I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Joel this past fall semester when he was a guest performer with Scranton Brass Orchestra. Joel is someone who has a really down-to-earth and cool ‘vibe,’ pun intended, and we are delighted to feature him on our program this spring.”

Chicago native Ross, a New York Coty-based Blue Note artist, has earned widespread renown as the most exciting new voice on his instrument, the vibraphone. More than a commanding improviser, he is a bracingly thoughtful composer and a bandleader. Ross auditioned for and won a spot in the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet where he studied under former SFJAZZ Collective vibraphonist, Stefon Harris, for two years. A graduate of Stockton’s University of the Pacific, Ross went on to study jazz at The New School where he formed his band Good Vibes. Ross has toured with the Marquis Hill Blacktet, in which his vibraphone was the primary comping instrument. Ross made his recording debut as a leader on his album “KingMaker” in December 2016 and it was released on Blue Note Records in 2019. That same year, Ross recorded his second album as a leader, “Who Are You?”

The University of Scranton Jazz Band is a 21-member ensemble of big band style instrumentation, made up of University student musicians from majors spanning the curriculum. They perform five or more times per year, and the majority of their performances are open to the public, free of admission charge, and often feature a nationally or internationally renowned guest soloist. The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. Because there is no music major at Scranton, all enrolled students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible for membership in the University bands, choirs, string ensembles, and steel drum band, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year.

For further information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on Ross, visit iplayvibes.com.

The University of Scranton recently hosted its Judaic Studies Institute Lecture, welcoming a guest speaker from Ematai and the Jerusalem Post.

Rabbi Shlomo Brody, Ph.D., presented, “Jewish Ethical Perspectives on Civilian Casualties in War: A Tale of Two Sieges,” on April 24 at the Pearn Auditorium inside Brennan Hall.

Rabbi Brody is the executive director of Ematai, where he leads a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people navigate ethical dilemmas relating to end-of-life care, and a columnist at the Jerusalem Post, the oldest and largest English language daily newspaper in Israel. He was previously the founding director of the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute, a senior instructor at Yeshivat Hakotel rabbinic seminary and a research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute.

The author of two books — A Guide to the Complex: Contemporary Halakhic Debates (which received a National Jewish Book Award) and Ethics of Our Fighters: A Jewish View on War and Morality — Shlomo Brody is a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard University. He received rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, a master’s degree in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University and a Ph.D. from Bar Ilan University Law School.

Additionally, Patrick Clark, Ph.D., professor of theology and religious studies at The University of Scranton, presented a Christian perspective at the event. Dr. Clark, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University, master’s degree from Boston College and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, has been at Scranton since 2010.

Founded in 1979 through an endowment funded by the local Jewish community, the Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute fosters appreciation and understanding of Judaism, Israel and their histories. It supports scholarly endeavors, as well as outside visits from Jewish scholars and writers, among other items. The Institute’s work was further enhanced in 1990 by a $1 million gift from Harry Weinberg.

The University of Scranton’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS) recently interviewed Scranton City Council candidates, furthering its mission of developing knowledgeable, responsible and engaged community members.

JoyAnna Hopper, Ph.D., director of CEEPS and political science professor, and Brian Snee, Ph.D., communication and media professor, conducted the interviews. Questions focused on candidate plans and priorities, housing, infrastructure, zoning, changes in federal support and the rising cost of utilities.

Democrats Tom Schuster, Todd Pousley, Patrick Flynn, Sean McAndrew and Frankie Malacaria participated in the interviews, as did Republican Marc Pane. Each video interview can be accessed by clicking the links attached to each candidate’s name.

Earlier this month, CEEPS also held mayoral candidate debates for the Democratic and Republican parties.

CEEPS encourages the public to register to vote and to learn about candidates’ positions prior to the upcoming municipal primary elections on Tuesday, May 20.

The interviews, which were recorded by Electric City Television, will be aired in the coming days on ECTV.

On Sunday, April 27 at the 11 a.m. Mass at Madonna della Strada Chapel, five University of Scranton students in the Order of Christian of Initiation of Adults, or OCIA, process completed their initiation into the sacramental life of the Catholic church. OCIA is the process through which adults become Catholic or complete their Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church. At this Mass, Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton was the principal celebrant and homilist, and Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton served as concelebrant. Bishop Bambera conferred the Sacraments of Initiation on the following students:

Cristiana M. Basile ‘27, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist

Sophia Carranza ‘28, Confirmation

Jackson Conti ’27, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist

Riley Nicole Struble ’28, Confirmation and Eucharist

Sara Tully ’27, Confirmation and Eucharist

Competition and hands-on experience are not always part of the academic curriculum in high school.

That is partly why The University of Scranton’s Hayes Family Science Competition is such a big hit with the dozen high schools and nearly 200 potential engineers and scientists who participated in this year’s event at the Byron Center.

“This is a super cool experience for prospective students because it allows them to get a taste of what engineering looks like and see if this is really what they want to do,” said Evan Hromisin, Dallas, who is majoring in electrical engineering at the University. “Especially when I was in high school, I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do. Having opportunities to get your hands on some real-world engineering principles and test out your knowledge is a good way to get excited about going into engineering once you graduate high school.”

Hromisin was one of 30-plus University of Scranton students who helped instruct parts of the April 10 event, which included challenges related to concepts including energy, gravitation, kinematics and momentum. Among the day’s highlights was a Jeopardy-style trivia game — won by North Pocono High School’s Christian Segiel, who edged second- and third-place Sean Rossi and Luke Joseph, both of Crestwood High School — and an exercise in which Majid Mokhtari, senior laboratory engineer, engineered a mechanical arm to shoot a basketball through a hoop; Mokhtari’s robotic arms made all three shots it attempted.

Results from the day included Honesdale High School team two winning the overall team competition, aided by a pair of second-place finishes in the induction and collision competitions. Members of the winning team were: Jesse Balsam, Jonathan Cooley, Vera Downey, Zach Meagher, Liam Miller, Rylan Montgomery and Christian Sandman. Rebecca Kretschmer was their coach.

Berwick Gold, which won the buoyancy and media events, finished second overall. Members of the team placing second were: Christopher Bowman, Makayla Brown, Jack Kendron, Derek Moss and Nicholas Uram. Matthew Shrader was their coach.

North Pocono Red, which won the induction competition, placed third overall. Members of the third-place team were: Dillon Brace, Joe DiMattio, Justin Fontanella, Daniel Guglielmo, Kyle Mizenko, Allison Rocco and Christian Segiel. John Croom was their coach.

Additional media coverage of this year's Hayes Family Science Competition can be found on FOX 56 and WNEP.

Michael C. Munger, Ph.D., recently joined a long list of celebrated economic experts who have shared their research and findings with The University of Scranton’s community.

Dr. Munger, a professor at Duke University since 1997, was the principal speaker at the spring Henry George Seminar. Dr. Munger presented “Platforms, Giants and the Neo-Brandeisian Turn in Antitrust,” on April 10 in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. The event was free and open to the public.

Neo-Brandeisianism, named after former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, is an approach that focuses less on consumer prices and more “on how large corporations can harm competition (particularly for small businesses) and stifle innovation,” according to The Lawverse.

Dr. Munger is the author of eight books, including “Tomorrow 3.0.,” “Choosing in Groups (coauthored with his son, Kevin)” and “The Thing Itself.” He has also published 200-plus articles and papers in professional journals and edited volumes. In addition to his work at Duke, where he’s won three university-wide teaching awards, Dr. Munger has held teaching positions at Dartmouth College, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Early in his career, he was a staff economist at the Federal Trade Commission.

The University’s Henry George Lecture Series holds events in the fall and spring and is named in honor of the 19th century American economist and social reformer. The 2024 fall speaker was Marc Melitz, Ph.D., of Harvard University. Past fall speakers include 12 winners of the Nobel Prize in economics. The series is supported financially by a grant from the Progress and Poverty Institute (formerly the Schalkenbach Foundation).

To better understand the ethical challenges of today, two University of Scranton professors turned to the ancient past. And, it served them well.

Douglas M. Boyle, D.B.A.'88, professor and chair of the Accounting Department and director of the University’s Ph.D. program, and Daniel P. Haggerty, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Philosophy Department and director of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, recently co-authored a paper on philosophy and professional ethics that earned the prestigious 2025 Curt Verschoor Ethics Feature of the Year. Selected by the Institute of Management Accountants’ Committee on Ethics and Strategic Finance, the article “Aristotle and Accounting: Building Virtue to Fight Fraud,” was written by Dr. Boyle, Dr. Haggerty, and Dana R. Hermanson, Ph.D., of Kennesaw State University.

This is the third time Dr. Boyle has won this prestigious national award, that annually recognizes one article “that focuses on the importance of ethics in business as a whole and finance and accounting in particular.” Dr. Boyle also won this coveted prize in 2020 and 2024.

The article draws “from the work of Aristotle and Plato, as well as research in psychology, to offer another approach to fighting fraud by developing employees and leaders with virtue,” seeking to “move anti-fraud tools beyond traditional approaches of punishment and internal controls.”

Referencing Aristotle, the article explains that “becoming virtuous requires practicing the virtues. … Practicing the virtue of courage, for example, is a matter of repeatedly aiming to hit the mark, … Such practices form character and consistent moral motivation. When you become proficient at hitting the bullseye, you can be counted on, and you can count on yourself to hit or come close to the mark reliably. Similarly, when you become habituated to the virtues, you can count on yourself and others can count on you to do the right thing, the honorable thing, consistently and reliably. Your moral motivation and discernment become habituated so that you do not even seriously entertain the idea of acting or living otherwise.”

The article includes comprehensive, practical guidance to promote virtue in organizations.

“Connecting philosophical reflection and insight, along with broader work in the humanities, to practical application and vocational purpose in service of the common good has been a hallmark of Jesuit education for nearly 500 years,” said Dr. Haggerty. He noted that the recognition this project received affirms that “the humanities are not removed from the practical interests and real-world concerns of business, individuals, and society today, but are, in fact, deeply relevant to them – as St. Ignatius said, to help souls and advance the greater glory of God.”

“Both in our undergraduate and graduate education at our Catholic, Jesuit institution, our faculty teach the importance of infusing our institutional values and commitment to the liberal arts into how our students are called to think, analyze, and conduct scholarship,” said Carolyn McNamara Barry, Ph.D., dean of the University’s College of Arts and Sciences. “ Drs. Haggerty’s and Boyle’s award-winning publication nicely illustrates their truly interdisciplinary and mission-filled commitment to the study of ethics, and in turn, practicing what they preach to our students.”

Dr. Haggerty has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, papers and book reviews. His research includes studies of classical theorists as well as contemporary thinkers in both the analytic and continental traditions. His publications in moral psychology, ethics and epistemology deal with such topics as emotions, affectivity, justification, virtue and reasons for acting. He has also received several grants to foster undergraduate research and publication in philosophy.

An award-winning teacher, Dr. Haggerty, Ph.D., was named Teacher of the Year by The University of Scranton’s Class of 2018. Dr. Haggerty received the University’s 2011 Alpha Sigma Nu Teacher of the Year Award (formally the Edward Gannon, S.J., Award for Teaching) and the Excellence in Adapting Classic Principles of Jesuit Pedagogy into the Curriculum: The Magis Award in 2016. Earlier in his teaching career, he received a Commendation for Outstanding Service and Dedication from St. Mary’s Seminary and University, among other awards and recognition.

Dr. Haggerty joined the faculty at Scranton in 2005 and has served as the director of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program since 2010. He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Saint Joseph’s University and his doctorate in philosophy from Syracuse University.

Dr. Boyle is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant with more than 30 years of industry executive experience. He has served in executive roles in startup, middle market, and Fortune 500 companies, where he has held the positions of board chair, chief executive officer, president, chief operations officer and chief financial officer. An award-winning teacher and prolific researcher, Dr. Boyle ranked No. 2 in the world for accounting education publication volume in the past six years, according to the 2024 Brigham Young University Accounting Rankings. He was selected as the IMA Research Foundation Distinguished Scholar in 2022, awarded the Outstanding Accounting Educator of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 2015, and an Outstanding Lecturer Award from the Cultural Mission of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in 2012. At Scranton, Dr. Boyle earned Provost Excellence Awards for University Service and Leadership in 2021, the Scholarship of Teaching in 2014 and Scholarly Publication in 2012, and the Faculty Senate’s Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award in 2019. He was named the Kania School of Management’s (KSOM) Alperin Teaching Fellow for 2015 to 2018 and received the KSOM Advisory Board’s Award for Curriculum Innovation for 2017-2018. He received the KSOM Faculty Research Award for 2019 – 2020 and was twice recognized as the KSOM Teacher of the Year. He is the founder and director of the University’s Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program and recently worked with a team of alumni, colleagues and family members to open the West Scranton Youth Center, which provides free athletic and art programs for area children and teens.

Dr. Boyle earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton, an MBA from Columbia University and a doctorate from Kennesaw State University.

“Aristotle and Accounting: Building Virtue to Fight Fraud” was published in Strategic Finance in March of 2025.

University of Scranton alumni Jacquelyn Dionne, R.N. ’89 and Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L. ’72 will receive honorary degrees from The University of Scranton at its undergraduate commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18.

A native of Scranton, Dionne became a registered nurse upon graduating from Community Medical Center in 1986 and received a bachelor’s degree in health administration from The University of Scranton in 1989. During her career as an intensive care nurse, she earned several certifications at Mount Auburn, a Harvard University teaching hospital, and later at the New Hampshire Heart Institute.

After staying at home for several years to raise a family, Dionne returned to the medical setting seven years ago and is currently the Health and Wellness Coordinator for Brookdale Senior Living in Wilton, Connecticut.

Dionne and her husband, John ’86, H’10, are co-chairs of the largest capital campaign in the University’s 137-year history, “A Fire That Kindles Other Fires: The Campaign To Advance Mission, Access & Excellence.” She has led and supported this and other significant campaigns to raise funds to advance the mission of the University.

Dionne and her husband were co-recipients of the 2013 University President’s Medal, which recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. They were the driving force behind creating the Kania School Business Leader Hall of Fame and have generously donated to two honors programs in the business school.

In 2008, the University named its newly-created green at the heart of its campus in honor of Dionne and her husband.

Dionne has served on the University’s Board of Trustees for 14 years. She has served as co-vice chair of the board, chaired its advancement committee, and has also served on the executive committee and presidential and provost search committees. She is active in numerous charitable organizations, having served as vice president for the National Charity League, Westport Chapter, as well as Horizons Organization, Bridgeport Connecticut.

The Dionnes reside in Westport, Connecticut. They are the parents of three children: current Scranton student Jonathan Dionne ’28, Scranton graduate Kristen Rajbanshi ’22 and Courtney Fodero, and the grandparents of Giancarlo Fodero.

Monsignor Quinn, a priest who has served the Diocese of Scranton for more than 40 years, was named pastor emeritus of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Clarks Summit upon his retirement in 2024.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University in 1972, he went on to earn a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from Seton Hall University School of Law. At the age of 25, he was appointed a Federal Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the youngest person in the country to serve in this position. 

After discerning his call to the priesthood, he entered the seminary in 1981, completing his studies at the North American College in Rome where he was awarded graduate degrees in theology from both the Gregorian University and the Angelicum University. Following his ordination, he was awarded dual degrees in canon law from the University of Ottawa and St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada.  

Monsignor Quinn has served in key pastoral and administrative roles and special assignments in the Diocese of Scranton, including 16 years as rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral. He was dean of the Scranton Central Deanery of the Diocese, moderator of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and chair of the Diocese’s 150^th Anniversary Committee. He served on the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, was a member of both the Diocesan College of Consultors and the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, and was chairman of the Diocesan Communications Commission.

For six years, he served as vice president for Mission and Ministry at Fordham University, New York, the first non-Jesuit to serve in this role.

Active in the life and mission of The University of Scranton, Monsignor Quinn was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees for 15 years, during which time he chaired the presidential search and enrollment management committees. He has been involved in numerous campus and alumni events and is the recipient of the Alumni Association’s Frank O’Hara Award. In 2020, Monsignor Quinn was awarded the University President’s Medal, which recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others.

Monsignor Quinn has served as a member of the Board of Advisors of the North American College in Rome, as the founding chairman of the Scranton Preparatory School Board of Trustees, founding chairman of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, and the first president of Scranton Tomorrow, in addition to service on numerous other boards.

His extensive work in the community has been acknowledged in many ways, including the Lackawanna Bar Association President’s Award, the B’nai B’rith Americanism Award, the Lackawanna Bar Association Chief Justice Michael J. Eagan Award and the Neighborhood Housing Services of Scranton Governor Robert P. Casey Medal for a Lifetime of Service Award. In 2018, he was awarded an honorary degree from Marywood University.

The University’s undergraduate commencement ceremony, including the awarding of the honorary degrees, will begin at 11 a.m. on May 18 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre.

On Friday, April 25, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a concert featuring the University’s String Orchestra. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

The concert will feature pieces by a variety of composers from different eras, according to Performance Music Conductor and Co-Director, Janelle Decker. Featured composers include J. S. Bach, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Vaclav Nelhybel, Soon Hee Newbold, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The University’s String Orchestra is a 40-plus member ensemble comprised of members of the university community from majors and departments spanning the curriculum – most of them undergraduate students – joined by a few graduate students, alumni and members of the faculty who are all brought together by their mutual love of music-making.

The primary focus of Performance Music at Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. There is no major in music at the University, and all enrolled Scranton students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible for membership in the University Bands, University String Orchestra and Ensembles, University Performance Choirs and Steel Drum Ensemble. A few members of the faculty and staff and alumni from the region also perform with the groups. Each year, hundreds of students participate in the ensembles.

Interested in Attending the Free Concert?

For additional information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music.

The University of Scranton and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) honored John R. Sinclair III '25 as part of the fourth annual ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. The 2025 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll recognizes college students at participating campuses who have gone above and beyond to advance nonpartisan student voter registration, education and turnout efforts in their communities. Sinclair, a senior political science and public policy and service major with a minor in philosophy from Scranton, is one of 232 students who mobilized their fellow students to make their voices heard in a historic election cycle. 

“As the Royals Vote liaison, I can attest to how Johnny worked to advanced voter and civic engagement efforts across The University of Scranton. From coordinating voter registration table-drives to driving students to the community polling place, Johnny was an integral part of the Royals Vote coalition and well deserving of this national recognition. We are grateful for his leadership and commitment to voter and civic engagement efforts,” said Daysi Carreto ‘14, assistant director for community and civic engagement.  

“Whether they hosted nonpartisan voter registration drives or early voting celebrations, the students honored today made sure their peers did not sleep in on Election Day,” said Jen Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “With 100,000 local elections happening across the country in 2025, ALL IN students continue to ensure that everyone on their campuses has the information they need to cast their ballot. The 232 Student Voting Honor Roll honorees lead by example, making nonpartisan voter participation a lifelong habit for themselves and their peers.”  

A recent survey from CIRCLE found that 48% of under-35 youth who did not vote in 2024 heard little or nothing at all about how to vote, compared to the 15% of under-35 youth who cast their ballots. By integrating nonpartisan voter registration and education into campus life, colleges and universities can have a measurable impact in encouraging students to become active and engaged citizens. 

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student civic engagement. With the support of the ALL IN staff, campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning, voter participation and ongoing engagement in our democracy on their campus. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge engages more than 1,000 institutions enrolling over 10 million students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Campuses can join ALL IN at this link. 

By Amelia Farry '25, and Meghan Caffrey '25, student correspondents

The Rev. Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. Athletics Campus at The University of Scranton provides a key location for extracurricular athletics. It hosts many games and allows for a practice space for The University of Scranton’s sports teams including Magis Field (softball), Volpe Field (baseball) and Weiss Field (soccer, lacrosse, field hockey.) Sustainability practices play a significant role at the campus.

Sustainable materials, including those from recycled sources, were used in the construction; the project emphasized waste reduction and recycling. The athletics campus is a focal point for the University's commitment to sustainability, which incorporates energy-efficient systems, eco-friendly building materials and sustainable practices.

The sustainability practices are primarily driven by collaborations between the Facilities Management Department, Office of Sustainability, Athletics Department, faculty, staff and students. Key sustainable features include, but are not limited to, LED lighting, artificial turf fields and rain gardens.

Upon entering the Rev. Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. Athletics Campus, five signs detailing sustainable features are displayed on the exterior of the main building. Students in the Office of Sustainability designed and created the environmental signs to raise awareness and highlight the sustainable features of the modern facility.

Sustainable features include smart-phone-controlled LED sports lighting, LED parking lot lights and LED lighting for the building’s interior and exterior. Artificial field turf is composed of 80,000 previously used tires. Turf fields help conserve 1.2 million gallons of water per year. The turf also eliminates the need for applying 8,000 pounds of fertilizer annually.

As part of the sustainable features, multiple rain gardens collect stormwater runoff from the buildings and use it to water the plants. The system collects and filters rainwater, while reducing runoff and pollution. Rain gardens also require low maintenance. Also, the athletics campus is home to many native and drought-resistant plants.

As construction progresses on Weiss Hall, local and school media were on site last week to preview one of The University of Scranton’s most significant expansions to date.

On track to open at the start of the 2025-26 academic year, the four-story Robert S. and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall, under construction on the 300 block of Madison Avenue, will support strategic efforts in education, workforce development, innovation and community engagement.

“I think it’s really exciting,” said Michael Jenkins, Ph.D. ’06, professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology, as well as the faculty liaison for Weiss Hall. “Having been here, associated with the University for 23 years, seeing the growth of our programs and the growth of the other programs that are included in the building; and being able to move physically into a new space that honors the work of the faculty and the students that are going to be able to use this space is really exciting.”

One of Weiss Hall’s central features is a 10,000 square foot innovation hub on the first floor. This space is designed to foster collaboration among students and faculty, but it is also meant to bring regional partners in business, healthcare and manufacturing to campus.

Weiss Hall’s second floor will be the home of the University of Success and the University’s Small Business Development Center, which supports small businesses in eight counties. Space for the Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology includes offices, classrooms and labs for crime analysis/research, cyber-attack simulation, cyber forensics and a mock crime scene for traditional investigations.

The third and fourth floors will feature additional classrooms, offices and laboratory spaces with scenic views of the city and campus. The building also includes a rooftop garden, an interfaith prayer room and rooftop prayer garden, among other multipurpose spaces.

Weiss Hall will also house the Psychology Department, the Center for Health, Education and Wellness and Student Health Services Departments.

Designed with large glass walls and windows, steel and stone, Weiss Hall blends historic features of Scranton’s campus into a modern design. It is designed to meet silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification requirements. Its architect is Hemmler and Camayd and the construction manager is Quandel Construction.

For additional coverage of Weiss Hall’s first look, visit WNEP and The Times-Tribune.

University of Scranton students majoring in criminal justice, cybercrime and homeland security or sociology will have the opportunity for internships at the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office through the new Crime Analysis and Investigation Program announced today. Guided by University faculty experts, the student interns will work alongside professionals in the District Attorney’s Office to investigate cybercrimes, analyze crime and related data, and offer evidence-based guidance for best practices.

“The broad scope of this program – providing students with experience in cybercrime investigation, crime analysis and evidence-based guidance – will give our students a unique learning experience that will set them apart,” said Michael Jenkins, Ph.D. '06, professor and chair of the University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology, at the announcement.

“The partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and The University of Scranton represents a significant step forward in our efforts to combat cybercrime,” said Brian Gallagher, J.D., Lackawanna County district attorney, who is a 2008 graduate of The University of Scranton. “By teaming up with the University, we’re not only strengthening our ability to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes, but we’re also creating a talent pipeline of highly-trained professionals ready to take on the digital threats of tomorrow.”

“This collaboration ensures that we remain proactive in addressing emerging digital threats and underscores our shared commitment to public safety and community resilience,” said District Attorney Gallagher. “It’s a win for public safety, education, innovation and Lackawanna County.”

District Attorney Gallagher noted that the interns would be considered volunteers and would not be considered employees of the county, nor would they be paid by the county.

“This partnership with the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office solidifies our already strong relationship with the DA’s office and utilizes our greatest strengths: faculty expertise; mentoring of our students; and our mission of service – by providing a helping hand for the District Attorney’s office to do their work more effectively and expeditiously,” said Carolyn McNamara Barry, Ph.D., dean of the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, at the announcement.

Dr. Jenkins said this new internship program builds on previous work done with the District Attorney’s office through the University’s Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Crime. Since 2017, University students and faculty have worked on a number of projects with the DA’s Office, the Scranton Police Department, and other local groups, which have provided “students with the valuable opportunity to put into practice concepts and theories learned in their coursework,” noted Dr. Jenkins.

University student Zoe Honney ’25, a cybercrime and homeland security major from Scranton, who will pursue a master’s degree in cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity at the University, will be among the first students to participate in the program.

“I am extremely excited to be given an opportunity to be a part of the first round of students to intern as part of the collaboration between The University of Scranton and Lackawanna County. As someone who came into college undecided on a major, one of the factors that solidified my decision to declare a Cybercrime and Homeland Security major was the professors,” said Honney at the announcement, who talked about the theoretical and practical skills learned through the program. “I am eager and looking forward to utilizing these skills, under the guidance of these same professors, while also working alongside experts from the DA's office to assist with the collection of digital evidence and the analysis of open-source data.”

The internship program will begin in the fall 2025 semester, with a planned capacity to serve up to 15 students at a time. Also, in the fall semester, the Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology will relocate to Weiss Hall, now under construction. The new building will include classrooms and labs for crime analysis/research, cyber-attack simulation, cyber forensics and a mock crime scene for traditional investigations. The space will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and can be used for additional training and workforce development of local practitioners.

Additional information about how students may apply for the internships will be provided later this semester by the Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology.

A pair of clubs at The University of Scranton are teaming up on Thursday, April 24, to celebrate two national initiatives: Citizen Science Month and World Amateur Radio Day.

The events begin with a look at the citizen science collaboration of a network of ham radio enthusiasts established by Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., associate professor physics and engineering at The University of Scranton.

A visionary collaborator in the HamSCI network, Rob Robinett, AI6VN, will present, “Next-Generation HamSCI Receive System – Advancing Space Weather Monitoring,” from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. Robinett is the founder of wsprdaemon.org, a powerful software application for ham radio enthusiasts.

Flying in from San Francisco for the occasion, Robinett’s lecture offers a rare chance to hear from a ham radio pioneer in revealing how radio enthusiasts are using advanced technology to track the atmosphere and space weather. Robinett was profiled with a Q&A in the first edition of the HamSCI newsletter, published in the fall of 2024. A graduate of Stanford University, Robinett detailed how he began using his software skills to develop the open-source Weak Signal Propagation Reporter system, which, he said, is “now used by most of the leading reporting WSPR stations in the world.”

Robinett’s lecture, offered free of charge, is jointly sponsored by the Amateur Radio Club W3USR and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) club.

From 4 to 9 p.m., the public is invited to a closer look at the University’s state-of-the-art Amateur Radio Club W3USR station on the fifth floor of the Loyola Science Center.

Clubs, including W3USR, will also be participating in the Evening of Environmental Science and Essay Awards, being held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Loyola Science Center Bell Lobby. The Evening of Environmental Science event is free to attend and for students in grades K-12. It will include hands-on educational environment displays and activities. The event will also include tours of the Loyola Science Center and the W3USR amateur radio station.

Last year, Dr. Frissell worked with Scranton students and an international network of ham radio operators to collect data and monitor changes in the ionosphere during the total solar eclipse on April 8. This project was one of just five Citizen Science Investigations selected by NASA for the study of the total solar eclipse.

Dr. Frissell recently appeared on the ARRL’s On the Air podcast to promote the push – by HamSCI, the National Association for Amateur Radio and SciStarter – to have amateur radio clubs nationwide hold amateur radio open houses.

The Leahy College of Health Sciences building was buzzing on April 14 with students from Wallenpaupack Area High School on campus for Biomechanics Day.

As return visitors to the event, which celebrates the scientific study of the mechanics of biological and muscular activity, Wallenpaupack students toured the building and its programs.

The day's activities included visits to Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, the latter of which featured a demonstration on a life-sized, lifelike medical manikin.

The students also practiced on various pieces of high-tech equipment in Leahy Hall's downstairs biomechanics laboratory, where their motion skills — such as jumping, lifting and stretching — were measured with motion cameras, muscle sensors, balance analyzers and strength testers.