May 2020

University of Scranton President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., announced at its virtual celebration for its undergraduate class of 2020 that the recently renovated façade of St. Thomas Hall will be named the Class of 2020 Gateway in honor of the character shown by members of the class throughout the pandemic.

“I can’t say how much my heart goes out to you, to miss your last months of college is heart wrenching and I am saddened by this state of affairs, as I know we all are,” said Father Pilarz in his remarks at the virtual ceremony. “(A)dversity does not build character. Adversity reveals character, and you have revealed your character in all of the things that have marred your college experience. … Because of your diligence and perseverance and special, very special character and devotion to one another and to The University of Scranton, I am pleased to announce that what we have previously called St. Thomas Gateway, will now be the Class of 2020 Gateway. It’s a fitting way to remember always, what you’ve revealed about yourself in these difficult times.”

At the virtual undergraduate celebration, which aired on May 31, the University conferred Bachelor’s degrees to more than 875 graduates as a group. The University plans to announce the graduates individually at a formal Oct. 25 commencement ceremony.

The Class of 2020 Gateway features include: a lit glass wall etched with the seal of The University of Scranton that spans the center of the four-story west façade of St. Thomas Hall; layers the region’s distinctive West Mountain stone with granite quarried from the same site as the stone used in 1867 to construct the Scranton Estate on campus; a wood trellis; a wall carved with The University of Scranton’s name; a stone bench for seating; and an iconic cross that rises above the left side of the building. The renovation of the façade was completed in Feb. 2020 and originally called the St. Thomas Gateway.

The University illuminated special tribute to its Class of 2020 on the gateway evenings from May 26 through May 31.

An archived recording of the ceremony can be seen here.

The University of Scranton conferred more than 875 bachelor’s degrees at its virtual undergraduate celebration ceremony on May 31. Degrees were conferred to graduates in a group who had completed their academic degree requirements in August and December of 2019, as well as January and May of 2020. A formal commencement ceremony, at which graduates will be individually recognized, will take place on Oct. 25 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre.

Members of the University’s undergraduate class of 2020 represent 14 states including California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Undergraduate majors with the most graduates are nursing, exercise science, biology, accounting, occupational therapy and marketing.

“Our Class is unlike any other. We experienced a rude awakening to the words carved into the DeNaples Center: ‘not where I breathe, but where I love, I live,”’ said Hailey Marie Kindt, Easton, a neuroscience and philosophy double major and member of the University’s undergraduate Honors Program and its Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, who was among the members of the class of 2020 who spoke at the virtual ceremony. “When we left campus mid-March, uncertain of our return, for long awaited lasts, one word brought me solace: gratitude. I was grateful to have something that made leaving abruptly so heartbreaking. There’s something very special about Scranton that I always struggled to put into words, but it’s simple: it’s the people, the community that has transformed each of us in some way since move-in day. Today and every day, let us be grateful for those people.”

Other members of the class of 2020 speaking at the ceremony were Colleen C. Rohr, Norristown, a marketing, operations management and philosophy triple major and member of the University’s Business Leadership Honors Program and its Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; and Fahad Ashraf, Clarks Summit, a biology and philosophy double major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of the University, addressed the graduates at the virtual ceremony, and conferred degrees on candidates presented by Brian P. Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Sam Beldona, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management; and Debra A. Pellegrino, Ed.D., dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies.

In his remarks, Father Pilarz told graduates “adversity does not build character. Adversity reveals character, and you have revealed your character in all of the things that have marred your college experience. … Because of your diligence and perseverance and special, very special character and devotion to one another and to The University of Scranton I am pleased to announce that what we have previously called St. Thomas Gateway, will now be the Class of 2020 Gateway. It’s a fitting way to remember always, what you’ve revealed about yourself in these difficult times.”

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, provided the Invocation. Also speaking at the ceremony were Lauren Rivera, J.D., assistant vice president for student life and dean of students; Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry; and Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Congratulatory remarks to the class of 2020 were also given by Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti; U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey; and former cast members of NBC’s The Office Leslie David Baker (Stanley), Kate Flannery (Meredith) and Oscar Nunez (Oscar).

An archived recording of the ceremony can be seen here.

The University of Scranton conferred more than 600 master’s and doctoral degrees at a virtual celebration ceremony on May 30. Degrees were conferred to graduates in a group who had completed their academic degree requirements in August and December of 2019, as well as January and May of 2020. A formal commencement ceremony, at which graduates will be individually recognized, will take place on Oct. 25 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre.

The University conferred five doctor of nursing practice degrees, 40 doctor of physical therapy degrees and more than 570 master’s degrees in various disciplines. Graduates represented several foreign countries and 31 states, including California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, among others. The programs with the most graduates at Scranton were the master of business administration, master of accountancy, master of health administration, occupational therapy and educational administration.

The virtual celebration included remarks by University of Scranton President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J. Degrees were conferred by Father Pilarz upon candidates presented by Debra A. Pellegrino, Ed.D., dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies; Sam Beldona, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management; and Brian P. Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Also speaking at the virtual ceremony were graduate students Matthew H. Aitken, Edison, New Jersey, and Emily Mary Pavlick Okrepkie, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry; and Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Congratulatory remarks were also given by Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey.

An archived recording of the ceremony can be seen here. 

The University of Scranton honored 58 members of its undergraduate class of 2020 for academic excellence, service or both. The awards were presented at a virtual Class Night program on May 29.

Students with the highest GPA in each of the University’s three undergraduate colleges were presented Frank J. O’Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence, a memorial to the late administrator who served the University for 53 years.

This year’s O’Hara Award recipients were: Anna Maria Gerarda Giblin, Berwyn, and Charles Kulick, Pittston, for the College of Arts and Sciences; Ryan J. Haley, Olean, New York, Tarquin Lenahan McGurrin, Clarks Summit, and Abbey A. Murphy, Mountain Top, for the Kania School of Management; and Amanda Therese Horner, Buffalo, New York, for the Panuska College of Professional Studies.

In addition, students were honored for outstanding academic achievement in their fields of study and leadership and service.

The students honored, and the awards received are as follows:

Nicole Isabella Antonelli, Washington, New Jersey, Excellence in Physiology;

Tyler L. Atcavage, Forest City, Excellence in Forensic Chemistry;

Jack Charles Aversa III, Gouldsboro, Kathryn and Bernard Hyland Memorial Award for Excellence in Biology;

Patrick J. Barney, Peckville, Excellence in Exercise Science and Sport;

Garrett M. Boyd, Sugarloaf, Excellence in Criminal Justice;

Nadine Marie Brosnan, Goshen, New York, Excellence in Early and Primary Education;

Sarah M. Brown, Dunmore, Jesuit Community Award for Community Service;

Patrick J. Budicini, Ridgefield, Connecticut, Excellence in Finance;

Erin A. Carlin, Scranton, Excellence in Environmental Science;

Reilly A. Charles, Rockaway Park, New York, Excellence in Theatre;

Grace E. Cieri, Collegeville, Excellence in Chemistry;

Julia M. DalCeredo, Yorktown Heights, New York, Prof. Bernard J. McGurl Award for Excellence in Communication;

Michael Joseph Delevan, Kingston, Excellence in Computer Science;

Danielle R. Desseyn, Mechanicsburg, Prof. Joseph G. Brunner Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages;

Michael P. Diana, Somerset, New Jersey, Lawrence Lennon Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement in Psychology;

Amanda C. Fatovic, Oradell, New Jersey, Excellence in International Business;

Anna Maria Gerarda Giblin, Berwyn, Prof. Frank C. Brown Award for Excellence in History;

Zoe Rose Haggerty, South Abington Township, Lawrence A. Mann Award;

Ryan J. Haley, Olean, New York, Excellence in Business Administration and Military Science Leadership;

Courtney Jade Hayashi, Lake Elmo, Minnesota, Excellence in Occupational Therapy;

Amanda Therese Horner, Buffalo, New York, Excellence in Community Health Education;

Grace Ann Hudock, Bethlehem, Excellence in Women’s Studies;

Catherine Gabriella Johnson, Scranton, Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English (ex-aequo);

Amy P. Kaiser, Downingtown, Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing;

Cooper Carlson Knipmeyer, Southampton, Excellence in Entrepreneurship;

Nathan Koziol, Farmington, Connecticut, Excellence in Marketing;

Charles Kulick, Pittston, Excellence in Mathematics;

Kevin Michael Latz, Ramsey, New Jersey, Excellence in Human Resources;

Marissa Faithe Lembo, Plainview, New York, Excellence in Health Administration;

Emma M. Long, Honesdale, Excellence in Psychology;

Brian Anthony Martin, Scranton, Lawrence A. Mann Award;

Claire Margaret McAllister, Plymouth Meeting, Mary E. Quinn Award for Excellence in Secondary Education;

Bridget Ann McGuire, Towson, Maryland, Excellence in International Studies;

Tarquin Lenahan McGurrin, Clarks Summit, PA Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA);

Julia Anne McKinney, Perkasie, Excellence in Neuroscience;

Eileen McNulty, Cape May Court House, New Jersey, Dr. A.J. Cawley Award for Excellence in Electrical Engineering;

Germaine Laira Mendonca, Middletown, New Jersey, Excellence in Theology and Religious Studies;

Abbey A. Murphy, Mountain Top, Excellence in Accounting and Excellence in Philosophy;

Liam Michael O'Hare, Branchburg, New Jersey, Excellence in Information Technology;

Stefan Henry Olsen, Luzerne, The J.J. Quinn, S.J., Achievement Award for Demonstration of Excellence in English Studies, Excellence in Biochemistry and Excellence in Biomathematics and American Chemical Society Award;

Victoria Maria Pardi, Clifton Park, New York, Excellence in Chemistry-Business;

Andrew B. Patterson, Hillsborough, New Jersey, Student Life Award;

John James Peccerillo, Derby, Connecticut, Excellence in Electronic Commerce;

Nicholas Pepen, Orefield, Prof. Timothy H. Scully Award for Excellence in Political Science;

Meghan Elizabeth Pratt, Dudley, Massachusetts, Excellence in Counseling and Human Services;

Jamie Lynn Rizzotti, Yardley, Excellence in Health Advocacy;

Daniela Salcedo, Bronx, New York, Excellence in Management;

Minahil Sami, Jessup, Excellence in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB);

Artem Barysavich Samiahulin, Cheshire, Connecticut, Excellence in Economics;

Meagan Riley Scheider, Parlin, New Jersey, Excellence in Applied Mathematics;

Anthony Spoto, Lake Ariel, Excellence in Business Analytics;

Brianna E. Stein, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Excellence in Operations Management;

Deniya H. Thompson, Brooklyn, New York, Student Life Award;

Johanna Torre, Lynbrook, New York, Academic Excellence in Nursing;

Joshua Matthew Toth, Jefferson Township, Prof. Joseph P. Harper Award for Excellence in Physics;

Brianna Marie Tucciarone, Warren, New Jersey, Alumni Award;

Emily Rose Turano, Clifton, New Jersey, Edward J. Spitzer Scholarship Award;

Alexis I. Ward, Wysox, Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English (ex-aequo).

By Ann Slock ’21, written for a media writing course, spring semester 2020

“I can’t remember the last person I’ve had a non-digital encounter with outside my family. ” said Kevin Bowery, a junior theology and information technology double major at The University of Scranton said.

Bowery, like many others, has begun to grow restless in the wake of social distancing because of COVID-19.

Andrew Faulkner, a first-year accounting major at the University responded similarly.

“For me, it’s a tie between having the opportunity for some pre-class socialization with my friends and having actual lectures. It just isn’t the same online,” Faulkner said.

While an official end to social distancing policies across the country is still in question, The University of Scranton’s clubs decided to bring the community to the students through various online events and social media campaigns to keep students engaged in the campus community while at home.

Alana Siock, a junior French and Francophone cultural studies and political science double major, president of the Commuter Student Association (CSA), and director of operations for the club council board of directors said that while entering social distancing was difficult for the CSA board, they have committed to producing virtual events for members to attend.

“We had to cancel one of the biggest events this semester,” Siock said, “We didn’t let it stop us.”

Scranton’s CSA has since been reworking their spring programming, reconfiguring older events and starting to brainstorm new activities that could keep their club members and others in the University community engaged with the school outside of class.

This has taken the form of weekly trivia nights with prizes being given to the winners, as well as social media campaigns geared toward keeping students creative even as they are stuck inside. For these campaigns club members submit everything from favorite homemade foods to songs that can be added to a special quarantine soundtrack, lovingly dubbed ‘Quarantunes,’ on the club’s Spotify account.

The CSA has even created a virtual forum on Discord to simulate the student forum on campus to allow students to interact throughout the day.

While students are grateful for the attempts being made to try to bring their Scranton experience online, the separation has taught them valuable lessons about the University community.

“The Scranton community thrives on face-to-face communications. Scranton students never fail to greet each other enthusiastically, with a hug, high five or a fist bump,” Bowery said. “I never took the time for granted, but I wish I had appreciated each moment even more than I did.”

By Nicholas Yanni ’21, written for a media writing course, spring semester 2020

When The University of Scranton closed its doors in March because of COVID-19, Ian MacDonald was immediately faced with a challenge.

“It’s just a terrible situation. My mom works at Tobyhanna Army Depot and is considered essential personnel so she is at risk every day of contracting COVID-19 and bringing it home,” said MacDonald, a senior allowed to stay on the University’s campus during this time, along with a few others.

MacDonald has been on the University’s campus since March. Although his hometown of Albrightsville is not too far away, MacDonald is still struggling with trying to adapt to a vastly different campus life.

“It’s like a ghost town,” MacDonald said. “I spend most of the day in my room. Meals are served at lunch and dinner for about 90 minutes in the dining hall. I will see people there and that’s most of my in-person interaction these days. The few people I do see are in decent spirits.”

Dan Shuck, a junior at the University, is trying to adapt as well.

“I try to call people to socialize but it’s nothing like talking in person,” Shuck said. “Everyone on campus has to stay far away from each other.”

 “I am doing okay now because this is bigger than me,” MacDonald said. He is hopeful that his world will return to normal soon.

“I accepted a job offer with Pepsi at the beginning of the fall, and my tentative start-date has been June 15,” MacDonald said. “They have reassured me that they are still preparing to welcome me on June 15 and that I should look for apartments. The thought of something changing is stressful but I should be good to go.”

Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., provost and senior vice-president of Academic Affairs and the Weinberg Memorial Library are excited to announce the winners of the 2020 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize competition. 

This year’s winners in the three prize categories are: 

Undergraduate Foundational Winner: Eryn Boken, for the project, Coronavirus Concerns for the U.S. Economy, completed in WRTG 107: Composition for Prof. Dawn D’Aries Zera

Undergraduate Upper-level Winner: Katherine R. Burke, for the project, Towards an Ethics of Gendered Difference, completed in PHIL 382: Care Ethics in Japanese Film for Prof. George Aulisio

Graduate Winner: Liam Mulvaney, for the project, Historical Analysis: A Century of Progress in Adaptive Equipment, completed in OT 501: Leadership in Occupational Therapy for Dr. Marlene Morgan

Undergraduate Foundational Honorable Mentions:

Brayden Druger, for the project, Preliminary Military Health Screenings: Are They Worth It?, completed in WRTG 107: Composition for Prof. Dawn D’Aries Zera 

Sydney Youngblood, for the project, To Heal or To Kill, completed in WRTG 107: Composition for Prof. Dawn D’Aries Zera

Undergraduate Upper-level Honorable Mention: 

 Sarah White, for the project, Constrained Women, Authoritarian Men, and Gender-Based Medical Treatments: Unequal Gender Roles and a Tragic Descent into Madness in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wall-paper”, completed in ENLT 265J: The American Literary Experience for Dr. Leonard Gougeon 

Graduate Honorable Mentions:

Melissa Busch, for the project, Occupational Therapy in the Hospital, completed in OT 501: Leadership in Occupational Therapy for Dr. Marlene Morgan  

Emily Gilinger, Tyler Huggins, Brian Gargiulo, and Joshua Taylor, for the project, Recreational Activities Impact on Activity and Participation in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review, complete in PT 772/773: Scientific Inquiry II/III in Physical Therapy for Dr. Renée Hakim

The University of Scranton will display a tribute on the St. Thomas Gateway and hold virtual celebrations this week to celebrate the graduates of its class of 2020.

A light show honoring the class of 2020 will run each evening on the St. Thomas Gateway from Tuesday, May 26, through Sunday, May 31.

Virtual events for the Class of 2020 will begin with a toast, “Raise a Glass for Your Class,” set for 5 p.m. on May 26. A “Senior Night Trivia” virtual event is planned for the class on Wednesday, May 27, at 7 p.m.

On Friday evening, May 29, undergraduates of the class of 2020 will be recognized for academic achievement, leadership and service at a virtual Class Night, which will begin at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, May 30, at 9:30 a.m., the University will conduct a virtual, live Nurse Blessing of the Hands Award Ceremony.

At noon on Sunday, May 31, the University will celebrate members of its undergraduate class of 2020 at a special ceremony. The virtual event will include congratulatory messages from faculty, staff and members of the graduating class; remarks by students and guest speakers, including Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, as well as remarks from deans, Dr. Gingerich and Father Pilarz. Degrees will be conferred to graduates as a group during this virtual event. The University plans to announce the graduates individually at its October commencement.

At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, ROTC Army cadets will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army at a virtual, live ceremony.

At 4 p.m., the University will air a Mass for the Class of 2020, which was recorded in in Madonna della Strada Chapel on campus. Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, will preside, and Father Pilarz will offer a special homily. The Mass will feature virtual participation from members of the class of 2020.

At noon on Sunday, May 31, the University will celebrate members of its undergraduate class of 2020 at a special ceremony. The virtual event will include congratulatory messages from faculty, staff and members of the graduating class; remarks by students and guest speakers, including Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and U.S. Senator Bob Casey, as well as remarks from deans, Dr. Gingerich and Father Pilarz. Degrees will be conferred to graduates as a group during this virtual event. The University plans to announce the graduates individually at its October commencement.

The 2020 commencement celebrations can be viewed at scranton.edu/commencement.

The University of Scranton’s 2020 commencement ceremony and other events will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25.

Joined by almost 300 spectators live on Zoom, The University of Scranton Department of Athletics honored the Class of 2020 (and all student-athletes) with their first-ever Virtual Senior Student-Athlete Celebration on Thursday evening. 

For those who could not watch the show live, it has been posted in its entirety on YouTube. Watch it here or below. 

Get more information here.

The University of Scranton will bestow honorary degrees upon: Rev. Otto Hentz, S.J., associate professor of theology, Georgetown University; Lawrence R. Lynch '81, assurance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP; Susan M. St. Ledger ’86, president of worldwide field operations for Splunk; and Nicole Young ’00, Emmy Award-winning producer for 60 Minutes. The University will confer the honorary degrees at a virtual ceremony on May 31 with other members of the class of 2020. The formal presentation of the honorary degree citations will occur at the October ceremony. St. Ledger will also serve as the principal speaker at the 2020 commencement on Sunday, Oct. 25.

“We are proud to be able to honor such an accomplished group of individuals who have exemplified Jesuit values throughout their careers. They are remarkable role models for – and will make fine additions to – our Class of 2020,” said Rev. Scott. R. Pilarz, S.J., president.

Fr. Hentz has been a professor at Georgetown University for more than 50 years. A gifted and dedicated teacher, Georgetown University named him a Wall Street Alliance Honoree in 2015.

In 1955, Fr. Hentz entered the Society of Jesus, and later taught philosophy at Georgetown from 1962-1965. He was ordained as a priest in 1968. He earned a doctoral degree in theology from the University of Chicago. He returned to Georgetown in 1972 as a member of the Department of Theology and has served as an associate professor at Georgetown since 1978, teaching courses on the Catholic Church in the modern world, Christianity and Jesus Christ, and systematic theology.

Fr. Hentz has served two terms as a member of The University of Scranton’s board of trustees.

A certified public accountant, Lynch served as a member of the University’s board of trustees for three consecutive terms (2009-2018) and as board chair from 2014 to 2018. He serves as president of the Scranton Club of Philadelphia and as a member of the Kania School of Management’s Accounting Department Professional Council and the President’s Business Council. Previously, he was a member of the Alumni Society’s Board of Governors.

Lynch has supported many University initiatives, which include fundraisers as well as the recruitment of students. His guidance, care and love for the University was evident as he led the Board of Trustees through the 2016-2017 presidential search and transition. With his wife, Keli, they established the Joseph F. Lynch Memorial Scholarship in honor of his father, to provide need-based aid to students at Scranton.

Lynch previously has served as a trustee of Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, chairman of the board of trustees for the Marymount International School in Paris, as a board member of the French American Chamber of Commerce’s Philadelphia Chapter, the International Insurance Foundation, Friends of Saint Joseph’s Passionist Church of Paris, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic Social Services.

St. Ledger oversees global sales, customer success and marketing at Splunk. She has more than 25 years of senior leadership in high-growth technology companies, including more than 11 years at Salesforce and more than 12 years at Sun Microsystems. She is a passionate learner and anchors her leadership principles in what she calls a high-growth mindset, which is required to transform and accelerate business. She has demonstrated expertise in identifying market opportunity and business transformation needs for SaaS environments.

St. Ledger started her career in several technical jobs, including her first role out of college as a software engineer at the National Security Agency. In November 2019, St. Ledger became the first independent board member of HashiCorp, the leader in multi-cloud infrastructure automation software.

St. Ledger earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science, magna cum laude, from the University in 1986.

During her distinguished career, Young has been honored with 16 News and Documentary Emmy Awards, three Alfred I. DuPont- Columbia Awards, four Writer’s Guild Awards, two Gerald Loeb Awards, two Sigma Delta Chi Awards, four National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, a George Polk Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a Wilbur Award to name a few.

Young’s most recent 60 Minutes assignments include breaking news coverage on the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump; reporting on Syria from the front lines on the refugee crisis, the use of chemical weapons and The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as “The White Helmets” and Ethiopia’s Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela. Some of Young’s most critical stories, however, are those focusing on job loss, poverty, homelessness and especially child hunger in the United States.

In addition to producing pieces for 60 Minutes, Young played an essential role as a senior producer at the CBS Evening News for six years where she broke major stories for the nightly broadcast.

Young arrived at CBS News as an intern at the age of 19 and has worked for CBS in Washington, DC, London and New York. She joined 60 Minutes in 2004 as Scott Pelley’s assistant and became his producer a few years later. She earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton and her master’s degree from City, University of London.

The University’s commencement ceremony will be held at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at noon.

The University of Scranton announced that Susan M. St. Ledger ’86, president of worldwide field operations for Splunk, will be the principal speaker at its 2020 commencement on Sunday, Oct. 25. The University will confer an honorary degree upon St. Ledger and will confer degrees to members of the class of 2020 as well at a virtual ceremony on May 31. The formal presentation of the honorary degree citation and her commencement address will occur at the October ceremony.

“Susan St. Ledger will bring to our graduates a dynamic perspective from an uncommon career path that has led her to achieve incredible success in the high-growth technology field, while remaining firmly grounded in gratitude for the education, opportunity and guidance she received throughout her career. She is an advocate for the need for diversity and inclusion in the workforce and especially for the need to provide mentors to women in technology fields,” said Rev. Scott. R. Pilarz, S.J., president.

At Splunk, St. Ledger oversees global sales, customer success and marketing. She has more than 25 years of senior leadership in high-growth technology companies, including more than 11 years at Salesforce and more than 12 years at Sun Microsystems. She is a passionate learner and anchors her leadership principles in what she calls a high-growth mindset, which is required to transform and accelerate business. She has demonstrated expertise in identifying market opportunity and business transformation needs for SaaS environments.

In a 2008 Wall Street Journal article, St. Ledger credited her career success to “cross-functional experience, taking risks and consistently hiring great people.” Her rise up the corporate ladder was through what she calls a series of pivots and changes of direction, rather than a straight climb to the top. The diverse experience she gained along the way helped to broaden her perspective and success as a leader. In a 2009 Scranton Journal article, she credited her Jesuit liberal arts education for providing her “an incredibly competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

St. Ledger started her career in several technical jobs, including her first role out of college as a software engineer at the National Security Agency. In November 2019, St. Ledger became the first independent board member of HashiCorp, the leader in multi-cloud infrastructure automation software.

The St. Ledger family established the David F. St. Ledger ’56 Scholarship at the University to honor her late father, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Scranton and spent his career as a teacher at Forest City Regional High School and Carbondale Area High School. 

St. Ledger earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science, magna cum laude, from the University in 1986.

The University of Scranton’s 2020 commencement ceremony will be held at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at noon.

Student Life shared a new #RemoteRoyals Newsletter to highlight opportunities for students to connect with others. Find the May 12 issue here.

Students are encouraged to check out Community Connections for more information.

Have something you would like to see added to your Remote Royals newsletter? Contact cse@scranton.edu with your ideas!

Have questions related to the University’s response to COVID-19? Check out the FAQs, which continue to be updated. 

Meet Chris Baldwin, a member of the Class of 2020.

Hometown: Queens, New York

Major: International Relations 

Extracurricular activities: Cross Country, Track and Field 

Plan After Scranton: Going to Shezhen, China for a year to teach English in an international school to teach children and adults. 

One word to describe the University: Ethical 

Food on campus you’ll miss the most: Chicken Fried Steak & Break Bar (every Friday) 

Most important thing you’ve learned at Scranton: My cross-country coach, Bill Burke has really taught many things regarding running, life and being a good student. But what he has taught me most importantly is fighting off and resisting the inner voice of weakening preventing me from reaching my fullest potential.

The end of the semester is quickly approaching, and it seems more difficult than ever to find the motivation to get through the last few weeks. The usual signs of summer are missing, as we study alone from our bedrooms instead of sitting in the library alongside our classmates. We can't get that last Starbucks fix with the rest of our flex money, and we can't congregate under the purple umbrellas on campus.

But, that shouldn’t stop us from taking the time to connect with classmates and making the most out of at-home study sessions. You should make it a point to get mentally prepped, rid yourself of distractions, and make sure that troublesome WiFi connection won’t fail you. Sure, there's a little bit of extra stress during finals than we're used to, but there are some easy adjustments we can make to be sure we are ready to ace our virtual exams. I’ve found, through my experience with the past several weeks of virtual classes, a few best practices that can certainly carry through to final exams: 

1. Carry out your normal routine We've all heard this numerous times during the work-from-home transition, but it's harder than expected. That said, you should try it. If you were someone who normally went for breakfast before your morning class, take some time to enjoy a morning meal before you log on to class. I'm someone who needs a few extra minutes to wake myself up and get going, so getting up early to have a couple of extra minutes to myself really helps me be fully alert when class starts.
   
   
2. Practice your normal sleeping routine It's easy to stay up and talk with friends over Zoom, but be sure to set downtime from your electronic devices to relax before heading to sleep. Not only will this help you fall asleep more quickly, but it will also help you get more quality sleep as well. I use the “Downtime” setting on my phone, so all of my unnecessary apps shut off at a certain time, which also helps me not check my phone as soon as I wake up, either!
   
   
3. Take breaks It might seem like we still have just as much work to do during our virtual semester, but we save some time when we’re not walking to Leahy or stopping to chat with friends. It’s important to notice how much time we spend staring at screens all day, and make it a point to take a break from the screen time and do something else. You can close your laptop, get outside for a walk or a run for even 30 minutes to an hour to “disconnect” and give your mind a break from the screen.
   
   
4. Clear the room, and your tabs! I find that the more clutter around, the more likely my mind is to shift away from what I am working on. That clutter could range from all of the laundry I have yet to put away to the word documents, tabs, excel sheets, and emails I have opened on my laptop. When preparing for an exam, make sure you clear all distractions just as you would on your desk, the fewer items (virtual or otherwise) in front of you, the better!

These simple tips, and the mantra that seems to be a theme during this unusual time, “stay calm,” can help you get you from finals week into summer break!

The University of Scranton department of athletics is pleased to announce that they will honor and recognize all graduating senior student-athletes on Thursday, May 14 in a virtual awards presentation that will be broadcast live on Zoom beginning at 7 PM.

Along with the 2020 senior class, all student-athletes are encouraged to attend and take part in the show.

To RSVP for the show, click here: https://scranton.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7Sy6hurvSsi0vJs4mi0Auw. Once you register for the show, you will be sent an automated e-mail with both the link to access the show on Thursday night and the password needed to watch the telecast.

Due to COVID-19, the event (which traditionally is held on campus) will be presented live via  Zoom teleconference on the 14th. Here are some highlights to look forward to during the show.

• The athletics department will announce the four main senior awards during the show: the O'Hara, Carlesimo, Fitzpatrick, and Willensky awards. For more on the annual awards and past winners, click here: https://athletics.scranton.edu/Awards_-_Honors/Senior_Athlete_Awards/Senior_awards.pdf
• A new award, "The Ocorr Student-Athlete Service Award" will also be presented for the first time during the presentation. The award will be given to a graduating senior student-athlete who has "royally" served the campus and/or the Greater Scranton Community during his/her tenure.
• Each senior, along with their teams, will be recognized throughout the program, as well as the programs' highest-earning GPA award recipients.
• The show will also include some of the best (and funniest) moments throughout the year, as viewers will be able to participate in live polling for three superlative awards -  best dance move, best game face, and best collision.

More information will be posted on the 2019-20 University of Scranton Senior Student-Athlete Celebration over the week as we countdown to May 14, so stay tuned to athletics.scranton.edu for more information as it becomes available! 

Fans are reminded that you can also follow University of Scranton Athletics all year on both Instagram and Twitter @RoyalAthletics.

Students have been inducted into national honor societies represented at The University of Scranton throughout the 2020 spring semester. Lists of students inducted into some of the University’s honor societies can be seen below.

Fifty-two University of Scranton students were inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for students in Jesuit colleges and universities for 2020. The Scranton chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu was founded in 1943 and is the oldest honor society at the University. Juniors, seniors and graduate students, including students in doctoral level degree programs, who have distinguished themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service are eligible for membership.

The following undergraduate and graduate students at Scranton were inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu:

Congratulations on your graduation from The University of Scranton!

While we can’t be together in person to celebrate until October, we’re sharing in your celebration from home with a yard sign of congratulations. Yard signs are being offered to graduating students free of charge, one per student. Additional signs can be purchased for $25 per sign.

The signs are 18” x 24”, printed two sides, and come with a lawn stake; free shipping is included, too! 

Claim your free sign and order additional signs by May 17; orders will not be accepted after that date.

Don't forget to snap photos with your sign and post using #USGRAD20 to share your Scranton pride!

Click here to place your order.

Students can pursue paid experiential learning opportunities that can be completed remotely through a new partnership between the University’s Gerard R. Roche Center for Career Development and Parker Dewey, the largest freelance platform for college students and recent graduates.

Parker Dewey Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional, work assignments available at companies across the country that can be completed remotely. The projects allow students the chance to demonstrate skills and abilities, explore career paths, and build networks. Micro-Internships take place year-round and typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work with assignments due between one week and one month after the start date. Micro-Internships are offered in numerous fields, including communication, marketing, technology, finance and human resources.

Firms that use Micro-Internships range from Fortune 100 companies to emerging start-up businesses.

Students interested in pursuing Parker Dewey Micro-Internships can create an account at http://info.parkerdewey.com/scranton and complete as much profile information as possible. The form does allow students to download their resumes. Students can then review current Micro-Internship projects available and apply to projects of interest.

For more information, contact the Center for Career Development at careers@scranton.edu or 570-941-7640.

Student Life shared a new #RemoteRoyals Newsletter to highlight opportunities for students to connect with others. Find the May 5 issue here.

Students are encouraged to check out Community Connections for more information.

Have something you would like to see added to your Remote Royals newsletter? Contact cse@scranton.edu with your ideas!

Have questions related to the University’s response to COVID-19? Check out the FAQs, which continue to be updated. 

Meet Kim Baxter, a member of the Class of 2020.

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Major(s)/Minor(s): Double major in Political Science and Criminal Justice on Pre-law track

Extracurricular Activities: Residence Life, Student Government, Orientation Assistant, Admissions Tour Guide, ISP & DO

Plan After Scranton: I will be attending Villanova's Charles Widger School of Law in the fall.

One word to describe the University: Home

Food on campus you'll miss the most: Raspberry chicken with extra raspberry sauce and a twice-baked potato on the side.

Most important thing you've learned at the University: There are a lot of people here on campus who are truly dedicated to supporting students and helping them succeed. Students themselves just have to be willing to speak up and let someone know when they need help.