April 2022

Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a recital by the father-son duo of organist John A. Romeri and flautist John Romeri on Saturday, May 7.

The recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

A church musician for nearly 50 years, John A. Romeri has served in Catholic churches and cathedrals across the country. Most recently, he served as the first director of music for the newest American cathedral, Christ Cathedral in Orange County, California. While there, he established the Cathedral choirs, Diocesan Choir and Diocesan Children’s Choir. In addition, he served as the host of “Music from the Tower,” a weekly radio program focused on sacred and classical music.

 “We are very excited to welcome this dynamic father-son duo, and to introduce them for the first time to our concert hall and its mighty Austin,” said Cheryl Y. Boga, director of Performance Music at The University of Scranton.

John A. Romeri’s choirs have toured the United States, Europe and Canada, and he has served in leadership positions with the American Guild of Organists, the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and Pueri Cantores.  Through the years, he has received a number of awards, including the Westminster Choir College Alumni Merit Award and the Paul Creston Award from St. Malachy, the Actor’s Chapel in New York City.

Meanwhile, his son, John Romeri, is the co-founder and artistic director of the Broadway Chamber Players, a group of Broadway pit musicians who play chamber music concerts in New York’s Theater District. In addition, he maintains an active teaching and performance schedule throughout the Northeast, often performing with the Stamford, Delaware, Harrisburg and Lancaster symphonies, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and Philadelphia Virtuosi and Black Pearl Chamber orchestras, as well as at St. Paul's Chapel of Trinity Wall Street and Central Park’s Shakespeare in the Park.

For many years, the younger Romeri has been a sought-after musician for numerous Broadway shows, among them “Carousel,” “Wicked,” “Miss Saigon,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “My Fair Lady,” “The King and I,” “She Loves Me,” “An American in Paris,” “On the Town,” “Les Misérables” and “Beauty and the Beast.” He has also performed music for such television shows as “Mildred Pierce,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “The Sound of Music Live!” and “Peter Pan Live!”

The Houlihan-McLean Center’s Austin Opus 301 symphonic organ was built in 1910 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut, for Scranton’s Immanuel Baptist Church. Restored and re-dedicated by the University in 2005, the organ is one of the few rare surviving original examples of early 20th-century organ building, possessing a total of 3,178 pipes, 45 ranks and four manuals. The instrument is maintained by artist/technicians from Emery Brothers/Dieffenbach organs.

For the performance, audience members are required to wear a higher-grade mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or double masking) at all times. Please check Performance Music’s website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the concert for the most current information on additional required audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.).

For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on John A. Romeri, visit johnromeri.com. For more on John Romeri, visit www.broadwaychamberplayers.org/about.

More than 100 area students participated in The University of Scranton’s annual Hayes Family Science Competition for High School Physics and Engineering Students. The academic competition tested the high school students’ knowledge of physics and engineering through a series of quizzes and hands-on challenges. Students competed individually and in teams.

Noah Beckish from North Pocono High School came in first place in the individual competition, based on a quiz given to all participants and placement in a Jeopardy game of those with highest quiz scores. Matthew Pelleschi, from Wyoming Area High School, came in second place. Anderson Zou from West Scranton High School came in third place.

In the team competition, Berwick High School team one placed first. Members of that team were: John Ebert, Jaida Geiser, Sophia Guerriero, Gabe Hook, Jeff Lin, Brendan Torowski, and Sadie Zehner. Matt Shrader was their coach. Wallenpaupack Area High School came in second. Members of the Wallenpaupack team were: Adam Basile, Andrew Bromberger, Xin Chen, Alec Crouthamel, Lucas Macdonough, Lucas Ryan, Jack Smith and Matt Tavalsky. Ryan Neenan was their coach. Wyoming Area team one placed third. Members of the third-place finishing team were: Sean Burke,  Richard Kashuba, Zachary Kostik, Hunter Lawall, Hailey Patts and Matthew Pelleschi (who came in second place in the individual competition). coach David Pizano was their coach.

For each game, prizes were also awarded. In the game titled “Chopped,” North Pocono team four won the Ingenuity Award. In the game titled “The Chase,” Scranton High won the Ingenuity Award. Forest City Regional’s team received the Ingenuity Award for the game titled “The Price is Right.” And West Scranton’s team took home the Ingenuity Award for the “American Ninja Warrior Media Event.”

The competition was organized by the University’s Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering to encourage more students to pursue careers in physics and engineering.

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This Saturday, April 30 from 12-4 p.m., United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA (UNC) and Lackawanna County Department of Arts & Culture will present the 1st Pine Brook Arts Festival in the neighborhood, taking place at John Adams Elementary School playground on Saturday, April 30 from 12-4 p.m. The festival will feature local artists and organizations providing family-friendly art projects along with art and cultural experience.   

This event is part of UNC’s Pine Brook Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. Art activities include canvas painting projects, jewelry and button making, balloon animal sculptures, music, and dance performances. Organizations are providing photo booths, jumbo table games, a sensory tent, and more. Food vendors include Antonio’s Pizza, El Buen Amigo, Northern Light Espresso Bar, and more. The University of Scranton is sponsoring a kid’s painting project and free ice cream for children (while supplies last). Other participating businesses and community partners include Scranton Preparatory School, Scranton Fringe, Center for Independent Living, Lettieri Auction, Black Scranton Project, Electric City Axe Throwing, On and On, Johnson College and many more!   

Pine Brook Project Manager, Holly Yorkonis says, “This event was a joy to put together for the neighborhood, the support from local artists and businesses has been astonishing! Being able to bring diverse art to the neighborhood, giving local residents access to art and education will make a collective positive impact on the community as a whole!”  

In addition to serving as an event sponsor, 25 University of Scranton students from Dr. Chandra Nealon’s OT 231 Neuroanatomy of Function course developed art projects to share with the children and community members of Pine Brook.  Using concepts learned in their course, future OT practitioners developed meaningful activities including homemade stress balls (connecting tactile stimulation to reticular formation for calming), sensory bags (tactile & visual stimulation including object identification), homemade memory matching game (connecting construction motor skills with the visual & limbic systems), and homemade beaded bracelets including "finding" beads in rice (connecting tactile stimulation with stereognosis while incorporating fractionated movement of hands/fingers).    

The University will also host a pop-up oral history collection booth as a part of the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project. Started in the fall of 2021, this project is an effort led by The University of Scranton with multiple community-partners and supported by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to explore Scranton’s history, culture, and role in the nation at large. This project aims to tell the story of our nation through the lens of Scranton, PA by amplifying the voices, experiences, and ideas of the people of Scranton, both those that live here today and those that have important connections to our city. Through the collection of Scranton stories at various community events, the project team hopes to capture the myriad stories of love, hope, challenges, traditions, frustrations, and community that interconnect to form the fabric of the Scranton.   

Admission for the Pine Brook Arts Festival is free and open to the public with free parking available in the Junior Lot at Scranton Preparatory School on Ash Street.   

Members of the University and greater Scranton area communities are invited for a fun-filled day of art, theater, and education at John Adams School playground at 927 Capouse Ave, Scranton PA 18509.  

Interested volunteers can contact Holly at hyorkonis@uncnepa.org.  

For more information, please contact Holly Yorkonis by email at hyorkonis@uncnepa.org or call (272) 228-1366  

A record number of middle and high school students participated in The University of Scranton’s Earth Day Essay Contest, which was one of several Earth Day events hosted in April.

Inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical titled “On Care for Our Common Home,” The University of Scranton’s Sustainability Office selected the theme “We Are All Connected” for their 2022 Spring Earth Day sustainability initiative.

Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, referenced a Universal Apostolic Preference of the Society of Jesus in his Earth Day message to the campus community.

“As you know, the fourth Universal Apostolic Preference (UAP) of the Society of Jesus, prescribed to all Jesuit institutions around the world by Superior General Fr. Arturo Sosa in 2019, addresses the problem of ecological degradation and destruction. As Fr. Sosa has said, ‘creation today is crying out as never before, labouring to be set free (Romans 8). Today’s environmental crisis is impacting in a particular way on the poor and vulnerable. Action is needed urgently by Christians and by all people of good will. Whole nations and peoples need an ecological conversion if we are to be honest custodians of this wonderful planet,’” wrote Father Marina in the message sent April 1.

More than 350 students in grades 5-12 participates in the University’s Earth Day Essay Contest. Most participants were from NEPA, but students in New York and Texas also submitted essays. The winners of the essay contest were announced at the Evening of Environmental event that took place in the Atrium of the Loyola Science Center on April 20. The event featured interactive science experiments run by University students and included a display of the essays submitted.

On April 21, the University hosted a lecture by renowned American climatologist and geophysicist Michael Mann, Ph.D., author of “The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet.” Dr. Mann is the author of five books on climate change, as well as more than 200 peer-reviewed and edited publications, numerous op-eds and commentaries. is the Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Pennsylvania State University, with joint appointments in the Department of Geosciences and the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. He is also director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center.

Other Earth Day events included an Environmental Art Show, an Earth Day Fair, an Environmentally-Friendly Tie-Dye event, and a screening of “The Human Element,” a film in which photographer James Balog uses his camera to document and uncover how environmental change affects the lives of Americans each day.

The final Earth Day event for the month of April will be an art show address on April 25 by Laura Kern, an artist from rural Pennsylvania who uses her sculptures to emphasize the connection between humans and the environment, as well as to highlight prominent environmental and societal issues. Kern will present her address in the lobby of the Loyola Science Center.

The events were sponsored by the University’s Sustainability Office with the support of the Jesuit Center, the Kania School of Management, the Multicultural Center, the environmental studies concentration and major, the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Society for Sustainability and Conservation student organization.

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the importance of working together to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect, a critical issue affecting children and families across the globe and from all walks of life. In the United States alone, a report of child abuse is made once every 10 seconds. To help raise awareness by sharing critical child abuse and neglect prevention and reporting information, two sections of Dr. Ovidiu Cocieru’s MGT 352: Management, Marketing & Entrepreneurship courses partnered with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania (CAC NEPA) on a community-based learning (CBL) project to organize and implement a QR code prevention and awareness campaign.   

During the month of April, over 40 businesses in the greater Scranton area are participating in this QR code prevention and awareness campaign. For this CBL project, the CAC NEPA created stickers with a QR Code that, when scanned, links to the CAC NEPA prevention informational pamphlet that contains general information about the CAC NEPA and its services, as well as information on child abuse prevention, signs and symptoms of abuse, and how to report abuse. University of Scranton students from Dr. Cocieru's MGT 352 courses worked with the CAC and the Office of Community-Based Learning to recruit businesses that would place the CAC stickers on their products.  

“April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and a time to celebrate the critical role that communities play in protecting children. This month and throughout the year, the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA (CAC NEPA) encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Lackawanna County a better place for children and families. Educating communities on child abuse prevention and building awareness of the extent of the problem is a big part of what we hope to accomplish through the Community Based Learning project,” said Marsha Pigga, executive director, CAC NEPA.   

Education is the first step in preventing child abuse and neglect. The greater Scranton business partners were a key part of getting this important information into the hands of their patrons via the QR code stickers on their products. All involved in this project are grateful for the outpouring of support from the local business community.   

“I was a bit nervous about approaching businesses, but they were more receptive to our community-based [learning] project than I anticipated. I learned that Scranton has a strong community on and off-campus that are willing to help students make a difference. … I appreciate being able to take a class that allows me to interact with the off-campus community,” said Kayla Alvero ‘22 strategic communications major.  

In addition to addressing this important community issue, students in Dr. Cocieru’s courses are also finding a new way to bring their coursework to life outside of the classroom.  

From a learning perspective, our collaboration with the Children’s Advocacy Center is invaluable because it gives students a context in which they can experience working with others towards a common, meaningful goal. They can use the project to reflect on the way motivation, leadership, interpersonal relationships and communication evolve over time in a real-world setting. I was extremely impressed with the students’ commitment to the community and the openness with which businesses in Scranton have responded,” said Dr. Cocieru.  

As a part of the CBL partnership and project, students are able to apply key themes and course concepts from Dr. Cocieru’s courses through working on this project, which in turn helps students reflect on both their own learning and also to gain experience.   

“Within the Management 352 class, we have spent most of our class time learning how to adapt and become effective members of a company," said Justin Galli ’22 accounting major. "The topics we have covered include being an effective leader, motivating yourself and a group, how to be an effective member of a group and team, how to communicate effectively (in a work environment), and how to manage conflicts that arise between colleagues and yourself. All these skills are important to have, but without applying them you are not able to see what truly is effective and what is not. The CBL project was a collaborative task that allowed us to implement what we learned and use it in a positive way to help the community of Scranton. All these components matter because in the accounting/business field we will need to communicate with more than just our colleagues and we will need to be able to problem-solve when our original plan is not as attainable as we thought."

Students appreciate the opportunity to both address a community-defined need and also to have the opportunity to take what they learn in the classroom out to the real world.  

“Almost every lesson, that we have covered thus far, can offer insight as to how we should approach the assignment or can strengthen our understanding of how course material is prevalent in the real world...This course and experience can shape the way students network with companies, encourage them to reflect on what type of management style suits them, and evaluate what underlying social causes are they willing to support in a business setting,” said Jordyn Lieber ’23, business administration major, counseling and human services and leadership minors. 

Through the process of planning and implementing this project, Dr. Cocieru’s students learned that the greater Scranton business community has done just this type of reflection on the importance of community connections and collaboration.  

“I have learned that many of these small businesses have been more than willing to take on the extra work to help us raise awareness of the great work that the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northern Pennsylvania does for children who have been abused. This project has helped me realize the impact that we as college students can have on the community and how powerful our voice can be if we work together and use what we have learned to bring the Scranton community together for a great cause,” continued Lieber. 

The CAC NEPA QR code awareness campaign will continue throughout the month of April, but it is important to remember this important issue all year long. For more information about the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, please visit cacnepa.org. For more information and questions on The University of Scranton’s Office of Community-Based Learning, please email community@scranton.edu.  

Business and Community-Partners:  

Abe's Kosher Deli 

Adezzo 

Ale Mary's 

Alfredo's 

Applebees 

Backyard Alehouse 

Bar Pazzo 

Buffalo Wild Wings 

Café Classico 

Carmella's Italian Deli 

CK's Pizza 

Commonwealth Coffeehouse 

Convenient Food Mart 

Cooper's Seafood House 

Cuppa Cake 

Da' Market on Jackson 

Downtown Deli 

Dunkin' Donuts 

Dunmore Appliances 

Ermie's Cakepops 

Frutas Locas 

Granteed's Pizza 

Holy Rosary 

Lackawanna Printing Company 

Little Pizza Heaven 

Local Juice Co. 

Lynn Sandy's Bakery 

Mansour's Market 

Matarazzo's Pizza & Subs 

Nina's Wings & Bites 

Northern Lights 

Pizza Avenue

Pizza By Pappas 

Purple Pepper Deli 

Sacco's Pizzeria 

Scranton Pizzeria 

The Releafery 

Tuxedo by Sarno 

Wendy's 

West Side Flava's 

Vince the Pizza Prince 

Vincenzo's Pizzeria  

Additional businesses and community-partner organizations may be added as the project progresses.  

During the spring semester, the Schemel Forum at The University of Scranton will explore the extraordinary life and influence of Rev. George Schemel, S.J., who served on Scranton’s faculty and inspired his friends and colleagues to found the Schemel Forum 16 years ago.

On Monday, April 25, in collaboration with Scranton’s Jesuit Center, the University will present “A Schemel Legacy: The Engineer and the Monk.” The program will be conducted by Fr. Schemel’s two nephews, whom he most profoundly inspired: Christopher F. Schemel, Ph.D., president of Delta Q Consultants, Inc., and courtesy professor of chemical engineering at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa; and Brother Mario Joseph Schemel, a Trappist monk at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit near Conyers, Georgia.

Dr. Schemel is a leading expert in fire and explosion dynamics and chemical process safety. Before joining the monastery in 2010, Br. Mario, spent 15 years in industry and 15 years in academia. The brothers will describe the influence that Father George had on them in their respective callings.

The Schemel Forum was founded at the University in July 2006 through generous gifts to the Rev. George Schemel, S.J., Fund, created by friends of the beloved campus Jesuit. The program aims to provide people of all ages with the opportunity to explore the intellectual and cultural wonders of the world via a range of lectures and courses.

“A Schemel Legacy: The Engineer and the Monk” will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Pearn Auditorium of Brennan Hall, followed by a reception. Admission is free for University students, faculty and staff and Schemel Forum members. For non-members, the fee is $25.

To register, contact Alicen Morrison, Schemel Forum assistant, at 570-941-6206 or alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. To pay by credit card over the phone, contact Kym Fetsko at 570-941-7816, or to pay online, visit: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum.

For more information on Schemel Forum programs and memberships, contact Sondra Myers, Schemel Forum director, at 570-941-4089 or sondra.myers@scranton.edu.

During the week of April 4-8 seven University of Scranton students met with local legislators as a part of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) Advocacy Week 2022. This annual event offers students from Pennsylvania’s over 90 AICUP schools an opportunity to meet face to face with PA state legislators, engage in advocacy work, and to share their own stories and experiences of the impact that PA state funding has made on their educational journeys.

This annual event typically takes place in the Capitol building in Harrisburg, PA, however this year the event shifted to a hybrid format. The University of Scranton elected to hold this year’s legislative meetings in-person in the legislator’s district offices and on campus. This new format offered students a chance to go to see the various district offices of legislators, meet with the legislators and their staff, and to learn more about the local greater Scranton area.

“Having the opportunity to engage with our local state legislators was a great experience. They truly care for the students of PA and are working to ensure our continued success by keeping higher education affordable,” said Kiera Flannery ‘24.

Legislators and their staff generously gave their time and attention to the important issues that the University students raised regarding the impact PA state funding makes for students at independent nonprofit colleges and universities.

“Getting to meet with local officials as a representative for AICUP was a great experience! I got to advocate for funding for higher education all while making personal connections with members of the political sphere. I learned a lot about the field and developed an even deeper passion for entering advocacy and government work,” said Ana Postowski ‘24.

In addition to offering University of Scranton students the opportunity to advocate for a cause that directly impacts them, students also were able to engage with legislators in a personal way.

"As a native of Scranton, meeting with local legislators was a new and exciting experience. The legislators were welcoming and engaged in our lives at the University of Scranton. Advocacy week presented us with advice for the future and a genuine view of the officials we are voting for," said Olivia Hudak ‘24.

For students attending colleges and universities issues of scholarships and funding are critical to making attending these institutions possible.

"I was raised in a family that values education so meeting with my state representative was a priority. To me it was about advocating for many other young people to be able to get into institutions of higher learning with help from state funding; it was very important to me as a beneficiary of a University scholarship because without external support it is financially difficult to go to college. It was also an opportunity for me to share with the legislator some of my story of coming to this country as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the value of a college education,” said Ushu Mukelo ’22.

In addition to being able to directly share the difference that Pennsylvania state funding makes on the ability to access higher education, students also witness the impact of civic engagement.

“My participation in AICUP Advocacy week has given me first-hand experience with lobbying for a cause I feel passionate about. Meeting with local state representatives has made me realize how easily I can make a difference in my community,” said Elizabeth Wescoe ’23.

It was a powerful experience for students to engage directly with legislators in conversations about the issues that are a part of their everyday lives.

“This experience was extremely insightful in realizing the importance of political engagement in your local community. From bonding over our shared experience of being a student at ‘the U’ to discussing favorite local spots, local legislators can better understand your personal story. Being a first-year political science major, this was my first experience with meeting legislators. Not only did this ‘humanize’ the people behind politics and policy, but also, I believe that, for them, putting a face to the constituent makes advocating for issues more impactful than simply advocating for a statistic or a number,” said Karla Shaffer ’24.

Carolyn M. Bonacci, community and civic engagement coordinator, served as this year’s campus coordinator in the Office of Community & Government Relations and collaborated with Crystal Ondrick, assistant director of financial aid, to help prepare students in advance of their legislative meetings. Students also joined a pre-meeting hosted by AICUP to learn more about advocacy work.

“It is my hope that participating in events like AICUP Advocacy Week will empower University of Scranton students to see the impact that their voices can make not only within the local community but also more broadly on the causes and issues that students care about most. I believe that having the opportunity to speak directly with our local legislators truly was an invaluable experience for the students, with many noting that this experience reinforced their passion for political science and civic engagement,” said Bonacci.

The University of Scranton is grateful to Rep. Mike Carroll, Rep. Kyle Mullins, Rep. Bridget Koseiroski, Rep. Thom Welby, and Nolan Trently, Scranton office director for Sen. Marty Flynn, for their participation in this year’s event.

AICUP Advocacy Week 2022 University of Scranton student participants:

Kiera Flannery, class of 2024, political science major, legal studies concentration

Olivia Hudak, class of 2024, English major, philosophy minor, legal studies concentration 

Ushu Mukelo, class of 2022, political science major

Conor Nealon, class of 2022, political science and strategic communications double major

Ana Postowski, class of 2024, political science major, philosophy and public policy and service minors

Karla Shaffer, class of 2024, political science major, environmental studies concentration  

Elizabeth Wescoe, class of 2023, political science major, history minor, environmental studies concentration

Scranton freshman Katie Egan, Long Island, recognizes there are many perspectives of the world and freedom.

“There’s a lot to be done to create a society where there’s freedom and people have the ability to exist,” Egan said. 

The University of Scranton welcomed about 50 students and community members to a political dialogue on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.  The event, "Freedom and the Founding: What Do They Mean For Us Today," tied into the National Endowment for the Humanities funded project, “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story.”  

The two-year project highlights the people of Scranton, particularly those in underrepresented communities.  It draws in methods of the university’s Dialogue Across Differences initiative that began in 2017 and is based on the idea that while each human identity is rich and complicated, common ideas of values and democracy can be uncovered through discussion. 

Julie Schumacher Cohen, assistant vice president of community engagement and government affairs, said they are looking to explore the story of the founding of the country in the context of Scranton.

“We think we have a great story to tell here in Scranton,” Cohen said. 

Event coordinators gave an overview of the concept of “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story,” inquiring about what we can do to make freedom more real for more people.  They described the purpose of the discussion and applauded the participants for making the active choice to engage in dialogue with others who may not share the same views.

Each group was led by facilitators who began by reviewing a confidentiality agreement that allows people to speak freely on their values without the threat of repetition outside of the space.

Guiding the dialogue process, facilitators posed pre-written questions meant to allow participants to reflect on their own experiences with freedom.  Questions, building upon one another to connect freedom to concepts such as the common good and the nation, were asked with time for the group to think about their ideas.  Then participants shared their thoughts within 1-2 minute timeframes, as well as open discussion.

At the end, students and community members were asked to reflect on what they heard.  The closing section called on participants to think about what they will take from the discussion, and how it will impact their actions moving forward.

Scranton sophomore Emma Warras, New Jersey, said how she will be expanding her education in the future.

“Already knew that coming into this, but I need to do that even more,” Warras said.

This article was written by Corinne Berger as part of a Media Writing course with photos by Bryson Eldridge.

Continuing its commitment to presenting world class musical talent, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will spotlight the work of guest composer/conductor Javier Nero at its 39th annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert on Saturday, April 30. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

At the concert, The University of Scranton Concert Band and Concert Choir will premiere two brand-new commissioned works by Nero written specifically for the University’s student ensembles, entitled The Return (for concert band) and One Day (for six part choir), according to Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga.

An internationally award-winning jazz trombonist, composer, arranger and educator, Nero recently won the position of lead trombone in the prestigious U. S. Army Blues, the big band jazz element of The U. S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C. His compositions have been described by Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Brian Lynch as “modern, sophisticated yet accessible, pleasing the player and listener alike.”

In addition to his career with the Army Blues, Nero also performs in the D.C. and N.Y.C. areas with two of his ensembles, the Javier Nero Septet and the Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra. With the Septet, he released his first album, “Freedom” and his big band album will be released later this year.  He has also been a member of the award-winning Haitian band Klass, which has toured the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, South America and France.

Nero’s compositions and arrangements have earned him awards from Downbeat magazine, as well as participation in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program and the Banff Centre’s international workshop in jazz and creative music, and his works have been performed by the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Frost Symphony Orchestra, Studio Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Vocal 1, Extensions, the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra and the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra.

As a trombonist, Nero has won first place in four international jazz solo competitions, including the 2011 International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Competition, the ITA’s 2013 JJ Johnson Competition, the 2014 American Trombone Workshop National Jazz Solo Competition and the 2015 Texas State Trombone Symposium Jazz Trombone Competition. He was also a finalist in the Detroit Jazz Festival’s Curtis Fuller National Solo Competition, and he recently won and placed as finalist for two consecutive years in the Ithaca College Jazz Composer Contest.

Nero received his Bachelor of Music from the Juilliard School, a Master of Music in studio/jazz writing from the University of Miami, and a Doctor of Musical Arts with a minor in classical trombone performance from Miami’s Frost School of Music.

All audience members are required to wear a higher-grade mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or double masking) at all times. Please check Performance Music’s website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the concert for the most current information on additional required audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.).

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

The Office of Community-Based Learning is pleased to announce its inaugural “CBL Walk: West Scranton” for Friday, Apr. 22 at 3 p.m. This CBL Walk will offer University of Scranton students an opportunity to explore the West Scranton neighborhood. During this event students will hear from community-partners, meet local business owners and gain first-hand experience in the Scranton community.  

Students will be transported by bus to West Scranton, driving past the University’s Quinn Athletics Campus. Upon arrival students will set out in small groups led by members from community-partner NeighborWorks NEPA to explore the Main Ave. business corridor. Highlights of the walk will include opportunities for students to greet and hear from business owners and to learn about organizations working in this area such as the Community Justice Project, NeighborWorks NEPA, and United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC). After walking the 100 block of South Main Ave., students will then meet in UNC’s Oppenheim Center to hear more from community-partner organizations and business owners from various areas of West Scranton while enjoying delicious snacks and treats from some of the neighborhood’s many restaurants.  

Space for this event is limited and registration is required at: surveymonkey.com/r/WalkWestSide 

Students can register directly and faculty members are encouraged to share this opportunity as part of CBL or other courses. Post-walk reflection questions will be provided.

Scranton’s West Side neighborhood has a rich history that connects to the larger Scranton story. In the late 1800’s, the Hyde Park section of West Scranton was the location of one of the city’s coal crackers, and with this industry came waves of people immigrating to Scranton. Welsh, Irish, Italian, Lebanese , and Polish are just a few of the ethnicities with long-standing ties to the West Scranton neighborhood. These cultural and ethnic influences are still a vibrant part of the community and are enriched by the continuous growth of the neighborhood, with additional communities, including those from the Dominican Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond, moving to this area of Scranton.  

This CBL Walk will offer University of Scranton students a chance to explore one of the many great neighborhoods in the City of Scranton, learn about places and businesses they may otherwise not learn about, and to see how they can become involved in the Scranton community. 

“West Side will always be my home. I grew up in this neighborhood, my parents and family members still live and work in West Side, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to share my love for this area with University of Scranton students as a way for them to learn about and engage with our Scranton community,” said Carolyn M. Bonacci, community and civic engagement coordinator.  

For more information about The Office of Community-Based Learning, please visit www.scranton.edu/cbl. For questions, please contact cbl@scranton.edu.  

For the seventh annual presentation in the Jay Nathan, Ph.D. Visiting Scholar Lecture Series, The University of Scranton hosted Her Excellency, Ambassador Bergdís Ellertsdóttir of Iceland. She presented a lecture titled, “Iceland: History, Culture, Environment.” After the presentation and panel discussion, Eva Ingolfsdóttir, a classical Icelandic violinist, gave a performance to demonstrate Icelandic culture through music. From left: Eva Ingolfsdottir, classical violinist; Jay Nathan, Ph.D.; Iceland Ambassador Bergdis Ellertsdottir; Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton; Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., dean of the University's College of Arts and Sciences; and George J. Aulisio, dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library at the University.

The lecture was sponsored by the Weinberg Memorial Library.

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Recognized globally as a leading expert on climate change, climatologist and geophysicist Michael E. Mann, Ph.D., will discuss his new book “The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet” at The University of Scranton on April 21. The lecture, offered free of charge, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

The author of five books on climate change, Dr. Mann’s research has been published in more than 200 peer-reviewed and edited publications. He was a lead author on the Observed Climate Variability and Change chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Scientific Assessment Report in 2001 and was organizing committee chair for the National Academy of Sciences Frontiers of Science in 2003. He contributed, with other IPCC authors, to the award of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He was named to the Bloomberg News list of 50 Most Influential People in 2013, Academic’s Ten Most Influential Earth Scientists list in 2020, and, in 2002, was named by Scientific American as one of 50 leading visionaries in science and technology, among dozens of other honors and awards.

Dr. Mann is the Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Pennsylvania State University, with joint appointments in the Department of Geosciences and the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. He is also director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center. He is the co-founder of the award-winning website RealClimate.org.

Dr. Mann’s latest book, “The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet,” was nominated among the 15 Best Science and Environment Books of 2021 by The Times (UK) and nominated for the Business Book of the Year 2021 by Financial Times (runner-up). His book explores the intricacies of the struggle to conquer the disinformation campaigns of the fossil fuel industry and their intentional division of modern climate advocates. Dr. Mann demonstrates that these tactical efforts by fossil fuel producers currently render the work of climate advocates ineffective and divert attention from necessary sweeping environmental policy actions. Along with these topics, Dr. Mann will discuss inadequate solutions as well as the responses to the climate crisis he deems best.

Dr. Mann earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and applied mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley; and his master’s degree in physics and Ph.D. in geology and geophysics from Yale University.

Dr. Mann’s research and presentation echo the Jesuit teaching and commitment to care for our common home. Pope Francis broadcasts the same message, highlighting in his encyclical that “the Creator does not abandon us” and that, as humans, we have a duty to protect the planet because “humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home” (Laudato Si’ 13).

Presented as part of The University of Scranton’s Earth Day events this year, the lecture and other related events focus on the theme “we are all connected,” inspired by Pope Francis’ famous encyclical On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si’).

The lecture is presented by the University’s Jesuit Center and Office of Sustainability. Health and safety protocols that are in effect on April 21 as outlined in the Royals Back Together plan must be followed by those in attendance.

For more information about the lecture, email mark.murphy@scranton.edu or call call 570-941-6267.

 Andrew Schotter, professor of economics at New York University and the director of the Center for Experimental Social Science, will be the speaker at the 2022 Spring Henry George Seminar on April 20 from 4 to 5:15 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. Schotter, whose areas of research interests include economic theory, game theory, and especially experimental economics, will give a talk entitled, “Social Learning and the Evolution of Conventions of Behavior.” The lecture is free of charge to University students, faculty and staff and members of the greater Scranton community.

Dr. Schotter has published four books: “The Foundations of Positive and Normative Economics: A Handbook,” “Microeconomics: A Modern Approach,” “The Economic Theory of Social Institutions” and “Free Market Economics: A Critical Appraisal,” and more than 90 articles in leading economics journals including the European Economic Review, Economic Inquiry, Games and Economic Behavior, the Journal of Public Economic, and the American Economic Review.

He has been a consultant for the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), AT&T and the New York Stock Exchange, an economic theory fellow with the Society for Advancement of Economic Theory and a visiting scholar at the Russell Sage Foundation. He received the Kenan Enterprise Award from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Considered the preeminent public lecture series on economics in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Henry George Lecture Series is presented by the University’s Economics and Finance Department and the campus chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an international honor society for economics. The lecture series is named in honor of the 19^th-century American economist and social reformer and is supported financially by a grant from the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation.

The University of Scranton health and safety protocols in place on April 20 outlined in the Royals Back Together plan must be followed by conference attendees.

For more information about the Henry George Spring Seminar, call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu.