February 2021

The University of Scranton will offer a new undergraduate major in communication sciences and disorders, which will prepare students to pursue graduate studies in the much-in-demand fields of speech-language pathology, audiology or a related discipline. The new major, housed in the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies, is currently enrolling students for the fall 2021 semester.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for speech-language pathologists and audiologists is stronger than average for growth and has high earnings potential. For speech-language pathologists, which requires a master’s degree, the job growth projected for 2019-2029 is 25 percent. The median pay for 2019 was $79,120. For audiologists, which requires a doctoral degree, the job growth projected for 2019-2029 is 13 percent. The median pay for 2019 was $77,600.

The new major will focus on the basic science of human communication, including biological, physical, social, and linguistic aspects. Students will develop an understanding of what happens when communication is impaired, and how to treat those impairments. Infused within the program, students will complete the prerequisite coursework required to apply for graduate studies in speech-language pathology and/or audiology. However, if the student chooses an alternate path, the completion of the degree program will prepare the student  for the advanced study in a related discipline such as education, counseling and human services, gerontology, public health, or neuroscience.

Students pursing a major in communication sciences and disorders will complete coursework in statistics, social/behavioral science, biological science, and chemistry or physics. They will develop enhanced critical thinking skills, professional and technical oral and writing skills, and problem-solving skills as they engage in projects that examine and analyze current research, participate in clinical case study reviews, and develop empirical studies that focus on communication disorders. In addition, ethics of clinical research practices and evidence-based practice will be emphasized. Clinical intervention techniques and empirical studies for the assessment and treatment of various communication disorders will be introduced. Students will also be required to orally present a detailed case study and analysis of a specific treatment approach within an evidence-based practice framework.

For additional information, contact the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 888-727-2686 or email admissions@scranton.edu, or Hope E. Baylow, D.A., assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, at hope.baylow@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton’s Political Dialogues Working Group will offer two virtual student political dialogues for the spring 2021 semester. These dialogue events will offer University of Scranton students the opportunity to engage in nonpartisan open discussion about two current issues: what it takes to sustain democracy and exploring “cancel culture.”

The first political dialogue, Democracy: Are We “Brave Enough to Be It”?, will take place on Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. This dialogue will focus on the shared value of democracy and is inspired by National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem “The Hill We Climb”. This dialogue will offer students the opportunity to consider the ideas Gorman puts forth in her poem about what it takes to come together as a nation and to reengage with what it means to live out our democratic promise. Register for March 3 Dialogue here. 

The second political dialogue, Exploring “Cancel Culture”, will take place on Tuesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. This dialogue will offer an opportunity for students to discuss the phenomenon of cancel culture. Register for April 20 Dialogue here. 

In both dialogue events, students will have a chance to engage and encounter each other's experiences and views - not debate or persuade - through structured dialogue to build understanding. Registration is required for the dialogue events and interested students can learn more by visiting the Bursting Our Political Bubbles Civic Dialogue website.  

The University has organized similar discussions on campus since 2017 as part of an ongoing “Bursting Our Political Bubbles” Dialogue Initiative, which blends the reflective, structured dialogue methods of national non-profit Essential Partners with St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings of discernment and reflection. For tips on how to have your own constructive dialogue that involves both listening to and learning from others, click here. 

Questions about the virtual political dialogues can be directed to community@scranton.edu.

University of Scranton students will work with the City of Scranton and area civic organizations to conduct a business inventory survey during the spring semester. This community-based learning project is part of the Principles of Management and Entrepreneurship II (Mgt 352) courses taught by Ovidiu Cocieru, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing, management and entrepreneurship.

Through the courses, students will create an up-to-date business inventory to capture the current climate of business in Scranton. During the semester, students will phone Scranton businesses to update their information and learn about their needs, challenges and experiences. The information gathered will be shared with community partners to provide them with a better understanding of how they can best work to support businesses in the City of Scranton.

The partners for the project are: the City of Scranton (Office of Economic Development); Scranton Tomorrow; NeighborWorks Northeastern PA; and the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern PA.

Students have already begun to contact Scranton businesses. Surveys will continue throughout the spring semester, which ends May 21. Participation in the survey is optional for Scranton businesses.

For more information, contact any of the business partners or The University of Scranton’s Community Relations Office at community@scranton.edu.

Through community-based learning projects offered in academic courses, University of Scranton students partner with area organizations to bring their class work to life with real-world initiatives and activities. Because of current health and safety restrictions caused by the pandemic, community-based learning project for the spring semester are being conducted in remote formats.

The University of Scranton was awarded a $1.5 million Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant to support renovations of Hyland Hall to create new laboratory and classroom space for the new mechanical engineering program. The facility renovations are necessary to support the multidisciplinary, high-impact learning design of the undergraduate engineering program that will prepare students to meet the modern-day workforce needs of the field. The renovated space in Hyland Hall will include four engineering laboratories; a student classroom; a garage; staff offices and equipment to allow students to learn using the latest simulation and modeling techniques.

Students graduating in mechanical engineering will have the ability to use the techniques and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice; design a system or process within budgetary, environmental, safety and other constraints; and understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context. Scranton graduates will be able to communicate effectively, function on multidisciplinary teams and understand the professional and ethical responsibility inherent in the field. They will be well prepared to enter the workforce in such industries as automotive, HVAC, aerospace, biotechnology, computers/ electronics, and manufacturing.

The University will use the RACP grant to fund a portion of the costs associated with the Hyland Hall renovation project, which will be undertaken in two phases. The first phase will be completed by the start of the 2021-2022 academic year to allow students to begin to use the space in the fall semester. The full project will be completed in the spring of 2022.

The University’s Mechanical Engineering program addresses a local need for a much-in-demand field. Few mechanical engineering programs exist in the northeast states, and only seven Jesuit universities in the nation offer this major. Scranton’s 131-credit program will draw students to Northeastern Pennsylvania and also help retain those students who might otherwise leave to study elsewhere. The program will also improve regional workforce development by being responsive to industry needs through the program’s Industrial Advisory Board.

“Our mechanical engineering program was conceived and became a reality due to advice and help of our Industrial Advisory Board,” said W. Andrew Berger, Ph.D., professor and chair of the University’s Physics and Engineering Department.

The University of Scranton, and the physics and electrical engineering programs in particular, have a long and successful record of placing its students in many science and engineering related careers.

“The University of Scranton is one of the finest institutions of higher learning in the country and this grant will allow the University to expand its course offerings and add a cutting edge mechanical engineering program,” said then Pennsylvania Senator John Blake in a press release in January 2021.

In addition to mechanical engineering, other majors offered at Scranton offered by the University’s Physics and Engineering Department include computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering management, biophysics and physics.

For additional information, contact the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 888-727-2686 or email admissions@scranton.edu.

Organizers of the Electric City Connection project are pleased to announce the addition of a new partner to the charitable group: Rally for Restaurants, hosted by Lackawanna College. “The partnership is a natural fit for all organizations involved,” said Leslie Collins, President/CEO, Scranton Tomorrow. “It strengthens an already successful project assisting those who are facing food insecurity in Scranton, while also supporting local restaurants facing economic challenges during COVID-19.”

The Electric City Connection is a collaborative effort between The University of Scranton, Scranton Tomorrow, and Friends of the Poor. Developed by The University of Scranton, the project was first launched at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Members of the community contribute $15 donations to fund the purchase of gift cards and meals from local restaurants. Friends of the Poor distributes the gift cards to Scranton families in need, and participating restaurants provide meals to facilities that are home to senior citizens and members of underserved communities in Scranton. Donations are accepted through Scranton Tomorrow at scrantontomorrow.org. 

To date, the project has raised more than $55,000, including $20,000 from a Scranton Area Community Foundation grant. These funds have been directed to 22 participating restaurants to provide more than 4,000 meals to individuals facing food insecurity in Scranton. "The individuals and families who are receiving meals are so extremely grateful that someone cares about them, and that they are getting the food they need,” said Sr. Ann Walsh, Assistant Director, Friends of the Poor. “It makes them feel special that their fellow community members are reaching out and want to help." 

Julie Schumacher Cohen, Assistant Vice President for Community Engagement and Government Affairs at The University of Scranton, echoed those sentiments. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause economic hardship, made even more difficult in these winter months. Having the Electric City Connection project and Lackawanna College’s Rally for Restaurants team up is a creative way to leverage partnerships and address community needs at a critical time,” she said. 

Rally for Restaurants is a partnership between Lackawanna College, the City of Scranton, and Scranton Tomorrow that launched in September of 2020. The program invites local chefs to work with culinary arts students and use the facilities at Lackawanna College’s student-operated restaurant, 409 on Adams, on select dates. All proceeds benefit participating restaurants. Rally for Restaurants generated significant revenue for local restaurants in the fall, and reservations are now available for select dates, now through May 6. During this semester, guests will have the opportunity to make a contribution to the Electric City Connection at the end of their dining experience. The Electric City Connection contributions will be directed to participating restaurants to provide fresh meals for individuals and families facing food insecurity, seniors, and other community members in need. 

“Lackawanna College and our culinary students are excited to expand Rally for Restaurants by joining the Electric City Connection to help our food insecure neighbors, and to continue helping our local restaurants during COVID-19,” said Stephanie Decker, associate vice president of Social and Economic Impact, Lackawanna College.

To learn more about Rally for Restaurants, and to make reservations, visit lackawanna.edu/rally-for-restaurants. To learn more about the Electric City Connection or to donate to the Electric City Connection project, visit scrantontomorrow.org.

The Scranton Public Library System is hosting a series of events this February for its annual Scranton Reads event. This year’s selected title, Never Caught: The Story of the Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge, is written by Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar and was a finalist of the National Book award. In her work, Dunbar provides historical insights into lives of the Washingtons during the founding of our nation and the concurrent lived reality of those that they enslaved, one of whom was Ona Judge. Never Caught is Ona’s story of freedom and survival.

The Scranton Public Library will host author Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 6-7 p.m. The author will give a presentation on the research and writing process she conducted during the writing of her book. This will be a 30-minute presentation with time at the end for questions from the audience. To register, visit www.albright.org, email jserrenti@albright.org, or call (570) 348-3000 ext. 3023. All registered attendees will receive the Zoom invitation link.

As a part of the Scranton Reads 2021 events, The University of Scranton will host a virtual youth dialogue for Scranton area middle and high school students on Thursday, February 25 at 3 PM.  This dialogue will offer students an opportunity to come together to discuss Dunbar’s book and to reflect on our nation’s founding ideals and the lived reality of slavery and racism. Parents and guardians can register their students here. 

Scranton Reads is a joint venture between the Scranton Public Library and the City of Scranton to host an annual event which seeks to encourage reading among people of all ages and to unite the community by means of discussions and activities featuring a specific book.

A complete list of Scranton Reads 2021 events and information on this year’s book “Never Caught” by Erica Armstrong Dunbar can be found on the Scranton Reads website: scrantonreads.org. Those interested in participating in any of these events can register on the Albright Memorial Library’s website, albright.org. Interested participants can obtain a free copy of this year’s Scranton Reads book by visiting any Scranton Public Library location. For questions on the Scranton Reads program, contact Jessica Serrenti at jserrenti@albright.org or (570) 795-4315. For information on the youth dialogue, contact the Office of Community Relations at community@scranton.edu.

Quotes about Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., the 29th president of The University of Scranton.

“Father Marina brings a vast array of experience that will affirm the Catholic and Jesuit values upon which The University of Scranton has already been built. We are blessed that he has chosen to share his unique gifts and experiences with the students, faculty and staff of The University of Scranton. With a proven track record of being a knowledgeable and respected voice in higher education, Father Marina’s presence will serve The University of Scranton well as it continues to distinguish itself as an academically rigorous, socially responsible learning community where students become men and women for others.” The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton.

“Father Marina belongs at Scranton. He understands well what makes Scranton special, and he believes deeply that Catholic and Jesuit education can have a profound influence on a person’s life. He has experienced it himself. He is committed to justice and realizes the important role colleges – especially Jesuit colleges – play in leading this effort for their immediate communities and for the world.” Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., ’H15, President, The University of Scranton.

“Having had many conversations with Father Marina over the last several months, I will share just one exchange that speaks volumes about who he is, and about how much he already loves the University he will soon lead. At the end of a preliminary interview with a small group of my fellow trustees, I invited Father Marina to offer closing remarks. After reiterating his enthusiasm for the presidency of Scranton, and humbly outlining his own experience and credentials, he had this to say: ‘I would like to speak to you now not as a candidate, but as a Jesuit. For the future of The University of Scranton, and of Jesuit higher education in America, what’s most important to me is not whether you choose me, but that you choose the most qualified candidate. I’ll pray for your discernment.’” Kathleen Sprows Cummings, Ph.D. ‘93, G’93, University of Scranton Trustee, Chair, Search Committee.

“Father Marina will bring his unique experience – as teacher, pastor, scholar and school administrator with more than 20 years of experience in higher education – to Scranton. We are pleased to have him lead our Scranton community.” James M. Slattery ’86, Chair, Board of Trustees, The University of Scranton.

“In both words and actions, throughout his career Father Marina has demonstrated a deep devotion to the mission of Jesuit higher education. He is particularly committed to the mission of educating the whole person and developing ethical leaders and critical thinkers. I’m pleased The University of Scranton has selected Joe as its next president.” Sharon Kinsman Salmon, former Chair Le Moyne College Board of Trustees.

“Joe has been a vital part of Le Moyne's success over the past five years. Among his accomplishment as provost are the continued growth of graduate programs, including the launch of our first doctoral program in Educational Leadership, his work on our strategic plan Sempre Avanti, and the establishment of the Quantitative Reasoning Center and the Writing Center. On a personal level, he has been a confidant, friend and wonderful colleague.” Linda M. LeMura, Ph.D., President, Le Moyne College.

“In addition to his accomplishments as provost, Father Marina has been a great sacramental presence to the entire Le Moyne College community. We are proud of and celebrate Joe’s selection, which once again confirms the College’s historic role in cultivating and exporting great talent that other institutions want and need. It is an honor to know that, in terms of mission and the entrepreneurial spirit, Le Moyne College develops leaders for the greater good of the Jesuit education network.” Robert Reklaitis, Chair, Le Moyne College Board of Trustees.

“I will be delighted to mission Fr. Marina to Scranton. He will bring a wealth of experience as an academic administrator and a pastor. He has a tremendous ability to articulate the Jesuit education vision, and he has the requisite management skills to make that vision a reality.” Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, S.J., Provincial of the East Coast Province of the Society of Jesus.

Update, March 2021: In February 2021, Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., was named the University’s 28th president. After the passing of Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., in March, Jeffrey Gingerich, Ph.D. became acting president and, therefore, the University’s 28th president. 

Father Marina will now become the 29th president of the University when he takes office in summer 2021. Where possible, we have updated references to reflect this change.

Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., provost and vice president for academic affairs at Le Moyne College, Syracuse, N.Y., will serve as the 29th president of The University of Scranton. James M. Slattery ’86, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, made the announcement to the University community today. Father Marina, who will take office in the summer, will succeed Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., ’H15, whose second term as president ends at the close of the 2020-2021 academic year.

“Father Marina brings to Scranton his unique experience as teacher, pastor, scholar and school administrator with more than 20 years of experience in higher education,” said Slattery. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank the members of the presidential search committee for their careful work in leading us through the search process to its successful conclusion.”

“Father Marina has a special dedication to Catholic and Jesuit higher education, and a pastoral approach to leadership that is grounded in his faith, in Ignatian spirituality and in a call for justice. He will further Scranton’s commitment to provide a transformative education, rooted in the liberal arts, and will guide our students to become ‘men and women for and with others,’” said Father Pilarz.

“I am humbled and honored to be chosen as The University of Scranton’s next president and to succeed Father Pilarz who has with his colleagues on campus fostered such a strong foundation on which to build Scranton’s future success,” said Father Marina. “From day one as a Jesuit I have heard time and again how seriously Scranton takes its mission and identity. What strikes me most is how students excel with the help of the authentic commitment of faculty and staff. As we take this journey together beginning this summer, the wonderful truth remains that anything and everything we do at Scranton should be and will be done for our students first. Our shared focus is precisely where it belongs, on our students and their success.”

Father Marina was selected following a national search, which began in August with the appointment of a broadly representative search committee that included trustees and representatives from the faculty, staff, student body, alumni and administration. University Trustee Kathleen Sprows Cummings, Ph.D. ‘93, G’93, H'19, served as chair of the search committee.

“On behalf of the search committee, I want to say how pleased and excited we are that Father Marina has agreed to lead our beloved University,” said Dr. Sprows Cummings. “I am so very grateful to my colleagues on the committee for their thoughtfulness and dedication throughout the search process. Father Marina has our full and enthusiastic support as he prepares to begin his service this summer.”

Since 2016, Father Marina has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of education at Le Moyne College, where he oversees the Jesuit college’s three academic schools, honors program, library, campus life, student housing, conduct and Title IX compliance, diversity and inclusion programming, global education, student success and support services, disability services, and several other areas. Previously at Le Moyne, he held positions as associate provost, interim chair of the education department and special assistant to the president.

On Feb. 12, he will conclude just over two months serving as acting president at Le Moyne while Linda M. LeMura, Ph.D., president, is a Chancellor’s Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Syracuse University.

“I commend The University of Scranton for selecting Father Marina as its next president,” said Dr. LeMura. “Joe has been a vital part of Le Moyne's success over the past five years. Among his accomplishments as provost are the continued growth of graduate programs, including the launch of our first doctoral program in Educational Leadership, his work on our strategic plan Sempre Avanti, and the establishment of the Quantitative Reasoning Center and the Writing Center. On a personal level, he has been a confidant, friend and wonderful colleague. I wish him nothing but the best in his new role.”

His prior experience includes serving as the dean of the School of Continuing Education at Providence College, assistant dean for the College of Science and Mathematics at Montclair State University, and assistant dean for Metropolitan College at St. John’s University. In addition, he taught religious studies at Providence College and mathematics at St. John’s University. He served as pastor of the Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York City and as associate pastor of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, also in New York City.

Father Marina is currently a trustee at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, New York, and Canisius High School in Buffalo, New York, where he is chair of the board’s governance committee. He previously served on the boards of St. Thomas Aquinas College, Regis University, Canisius College, Xavier High School and Le Moyne College.

His research interests include leadership and organizational change, and, in the area of theology, scripture and the question of non-belief. His presentations include “Inner-city Healthcare and Higher Education: A Partnership in Catholic Social Teaching,” “Graduate and Continuing Education in the Jesuit Tradition” and “Educational Delivery System Options: Programs to Attract and Retain and Educate Adult Students.” 

Father Marina holds a Doctor of Philosophy in administration and supervision from Fordham University, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from Boston College and a Master of Science in Secondary Education from St. John’s University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Sciences, with a theology minor, from St. John’s University.

Father Marina entered the Society of Jesus in 2004 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2012.

Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, S.J., Provincial of the East Coast Province of the Society of Jesus remarked, “I will be delighted to mission Fr. Marina to Scranton. He will bring a wealth of experience as an academic administrator and a pastor. He has a tremendous ability to articulate the Jesuit education vision, and he has the requisite management skills to make that vision a reality.”

Founded in 1888, The University of Scranton is a Catholic and Jesuit institution located in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Northeast with an enrollment of nearly 5,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Scranton consistently ranks among the nation’s best colleges and universities in publications such as U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, The Princeton Review and others. Scranton is known for the outstanding success of its graduates.

Update, March 2021: In February 2021, Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., was named the University’s 28th president. After the passing of Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., in March, Jeffrey Gingerich, Ph.D. became acting president and, therefore, the University’s 28th president. 

Father Marina will now become the 29th president of the University when he takes office in summer 2021. Where possible, we have updated references to reflect this change.

Accounting students from The University of Scranton will follow an adjusted contactless process to assist local residents with filing their federal, state and local tax returns as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The process for this year has been adjusted to because of COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

The free service is available to residents of Lackawanna and Wayne counties with household incomes of $57,000 or less for 2020.

Qualified clients can provide the information needed to complete tax forms (see below) in a secure “drop-off box” located in the University Police Department, 820 Mulberry Street. Forms will be processed remotely by University student volunteers. Clients will be contacted by phone or email with any questions and when their tax forms have been filed electronically. The documents provided, or copies of documents if originals were needed for filing, will be then returned to participants.

Documents need for filing tax forms include:

• name, email and phone number;
• a copy of the taxpayer’s driver’s license (and spouse’s if applicable);
• a copy of Social Security cards for the taxpayer, the spouse, and any dependents;
• all Wage and earning statements, including, but not limited to:
  • Form W-2 (employees);
  • W-2G (gambling winnings);
  • 1099-R (retirement withdrawals);
  • 1099-Misc, 1099-NEC(miscellaneous income) and any related expenses;
  • 1099-G (unemployment income);
  • 1099-SA (Social Security statement);
  • 1099-B (sales of stock);

• interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099-INT and 1099-DIV);
• a copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available;
• a voided check for proof of bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit;
• forms 1095-A, B and C, health coverage statements;
• any information pertinent to deductions and credits the taxpayer may be eligible for, such as:
  • 1098-T for anyone on the tax return who attended a higher education institution during 2020;
  • totals paid to daycare providers and the daycare provider's tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number, name, and address;

• for those who qualify for a property tax or rent rebate (age 65 and older, a widow/widower, disabled, and within certain income limits), copies of property tax receipts for any property taxes paid during the 2020 tax year;
• list of charitable donations;
• note if you received the first stimulus payment? (spring of 2020) $1,200/taxpayer-spouse and $500 for each qualifying child;
• also note if you received the economic impact payment? (late 2020 or early 2021) $600/ taxpayer-spouse and each qualifying child.

Residents can include information above in an envelope and place it in the “drop-off box” in the University Police Department, 820 Mulberry Street, Mondays through Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The VITA Program began on Monday, Feb. 8. The program will end when the capacity to process tax forms received has been met.

Residents with questions may call the University at 570-941-4045.

University students have participated in the VITA program for more than 30 years.

During the spring semester, University of Scranton professors will share their expertise on contemporary love poems, new perspectives on addiction and treatment, and pioneering women philosophers. Schemel Forum evening courses will meet in six weekly virtual sessions from 6 to 7:15 p.m. A zoom link will be emailed to participants.

Billie R. Tadros, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of English and Theatre, will teach “Eros and Metaphor: Contemporary Love Poems.” Dr. Tadros said, “In this seminar, which borrows its title from a talk given by poet Alicia Suskin Ostriker at Rutgers University in 2005, we will develop a vocabulary for the shared practice of close-reading poems, and we’ll analyze and engage twenty-first century love poems. Class discussions will concern the formal and structural aspects of poems, as well as the broader questions of what constitutes a ‘love poem’ – or, even, what constitutes a ‘poem’.” Participants will read poems by a diverse group of contemporary poets including award-winning writers Jericho Brown, Meg Day, Natalie Diaz, Jack Gilbert, Louise Gluck, Terrance Hayes, Maggie Nelson and Carl Phillips. Virtual classes will meet on the following Mondays: Feb. 8, 15 and 22; and Mar. 1, 8 and 15.

“Addiction, Attachment, Trauma, and Recovery: The Power of Connection” will be taught by Oliver J. Morgan, Ph.D., professor of counseling and human services. The Independent Press Award recognized Dr. Morgan’s book “Addiction, Attachment, Trauma, and Recovery: The Power of Connection” as a winner in the category of Addiction and Recovery. Dr. Morgan will provide a fresh take on addiction and recovery through cutting-edge work in attachment, interpersonal neurobiology and trauma, integrated with ecological-systems thinking to provide a consilient and comprehensive picture of addiction. His work reorients understanding and clinical practice for mental health and addiction counselors, psychologists, and social workers, as well as for addicts and those who love them. Virtual classes will meet on the following Thursdays: Feb. 11, 18 and 25; and Mar. 4, 11 and 18.

Andrew LaZella, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, will teach “Women Philosophers of the Middle Ages and Early Modernity.” This course will study the ideas of six women philosophers of the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period, along with their place in the larger philosophical and historical landscape. The philosophers include Heloise, Julian of Norwich, Christine de Pizan, Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia, Anne Conway and Margaret Cavendish. “Participants will analyze how we construct the narrative of the history of philosophy, what philosophers are included and who is overlooked,” said Dr. LaZella. “The philosophers treated in this course are most often overlooked in canonical tellings of the history of philosophy, yet their voices provide an important perspective in expanding the narrative.” Virtual classes will meet on the following Tuesdays; March 16, 23 and 30; and April 6, 13 and 20.

Participants can enroll in any course for $60; Schemel Forum members and University staff, students and faculty can enroll free of charge. During the spring semester, the Schemel Forum is also offering eight virtual World Affairs Seminars to area residents.

To register for the seminars, contact Alicen Morrison, Schemel Forum assistant, at 570-941-6206 or alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. And, for more information on Schemel Forum programs and memberships, contact Sondra Myers, Schemel Forum director, at 570-941-4089 or sondra.myers@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton’s University of Success, a four-year pre-college mentorship program, is now accepting applications for the upcoming 2021 academic year that begins this summer.

The University of Success is an academic and enrichment program funded entirely by corporate and foundations grants, so there is no charge to students and their families. The program's goal is to assist first generation bound students to successfully complete high school and gain entrance into a college or university.

Students who are currently in the eighth grade are eligible to apply.

Accepted students will begin the program with a two-week residential summer academy which will be held on the campus of The University of Scranton from July 11, to July 23. Upon completion of the summer program, the students will continue to meet for enrichment sessions during their high school career.

The deadline for submission of applications is Thursday, April 1, 2021.

Applications may be obtained by emailing Margaret Loughney, University of Success program director, at margaret.loughney@scranton.edu. Applications may also be obtained online the University of Success web site.

On Monday, Feb. 8, The University of Scranton SBDC, Office of Community Relations, the Black Scranton Project, and Women in Philanthropy, a Project of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, will offer a lunchtime roundtable event “Black Women in Business.” During this special lunchtime event, The Black Scranton Project founder and CEO, Glynis Johns, M.A., will provide an overview of the Project’s NEPA Black-Owned Businesses Directory and its significance to the region. The event will spotlight three women, all local business owners, who will share their stories of entrepreneurship in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Nationally, Black women are the fastest-growing demographic of business owners and represent 42 percent of new women-owned businesses. During this event, three regional business owners will share their own experiences as business owners: Asia Miller, owner, Paradise Soulfood & Sweets LLC; Koni Bennett, owner & stylist, Vanity Boutique Salon; and Juanita Harris, owner, Grooming by Juanita. Participants are invited to join this free virtual event to hear the stories from local women in business, to learn from their experiences, and to gain insights on how to support Black business in our region.

This lunchtime event is open to members of both the University of Scranton and the broader Scranton area communities. Registration for this free event is required at: https://tinyurl.com/y4vyfmfc. A Zoom link will be e-mailed to registrants on the morning of Monday, Feb. 8. Please contact elizabeth.geeza@scranton.edu for assistance.

The event is a collaboration of the Black Scranton Project, Women in Philanthropy, a Project of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, The University of Scranton Office of Community and Government Relations, and The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which provides educational programs and no cost, confidential consulting services to entrepreneurs looking to start a small business or grow an existing small business in Bradford, Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties in Pennsylvania. For additional information, visit the SBDC Web Site or email sbdc@scranton.edu.