January 2024

The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will welcome another prominent group of thinkers for its spring semester World Affairs Luncheon Seminars.

The series will feature six seminars in total. All take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and most are in Brennan Hall’s Rose Room, except for the Feb. 9 and April 5 events, which will take place in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. In addition, a Zoom link will be provided for those who wish to attend remotely.

“As always, our luncheon lecture series, proudly sponsored by Munley Law, will feature a diverse range of world-class scholars and experts,” said George J. Aulisio, dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library and director of the Schemel Forum.

The series begins Friday, Feb. 2, with “Religion, Democracy, and Election Cycles,” presented by Anthea Butler, Ph.D., Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought and chair of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. A sought-after commentator and op-ed contributor for MSNBC, Dr. Butler will discuss how religious beliefs have polarized and destabilized elections around the world, and how it could impact democratic elections in 2024.

Next, on Friday, Feb. 9, Jeff Jarvis, Tow Professor of Journalism Innovation and director of the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism at the City University of New York, will present “Rethinking Local Journalism in Scranton,” in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. Jarvis, the creator and founding editor of Entertainment Weekly magazine, will use the lecture to explore the current newspaper crisis in the United States and the Scranton area, with insights on how to increase local news consumption and civic engagement. His talk will include discussion of new models of journalism, as well as examples of what other cities are doing to address the issue.

On Friday, March 1, Loren Schoenberg, senior scholar at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem and faculty member at The Juilliard School, will present “The Lincoln/Armstrong Connection: From Gettysburg to New Orleans.” He’ll discuss the parallels between President Abraham Lincoln and jazz icon Louis Armstrong, arguing both made “profound statements while at the same time subtly redefining the basic principles of their mediums.”

Schoenberg will also perform with The University of Scranton Jazz Band on Saturday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit scranton.edu/music.

Then, on Wednesday, March 6, Richard Pildes, Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law, will present “Political Reforms to Combat Extremism.” Pildes, one of the nation's leading scholars of constitutional law and a specialist in legal issues concerning democracy, will discuss institutional and policy reforms that could improve the polarization and extremism now infecting American politics. He’ll also address threats to the integrity of the 2024 presidential election and steps being undertaken to address the issue.

Pildes will present the seminar on Zoom, but only in-person attendees will be able to participate in the question-and-answer portion of the seminar.

On Monday, March 25, Patrick Bringley, author and former New Yorker magazine staffer, will present “All the Beauty in the World: A Portrait of the Met Museum.” Bringley will discuss his decade working as a guard at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which became the inspiration for his critically acclaimed memoir, “All the Beauty in the World.” A collection of fascinating stories set against the backdrop of one of the world's most iconic museums, the book delves into the transformative power of art and its profound impact on both observers and caretakers alike.

“I’ll be talking about the relationship between a great museum and any solitary individual, be it you, me, or the guard who stands in a gallery’s corner,” Bringley said. “I’ll be covering my time as a guard at the Met; the museum’s extraordinary collections, diverse visitors and talented corps of guards; and various ways we might derive meaning from art spanning continents and millennia. I hope attendees will walk away inspired and emboldened, and race straight for the nearest museum.”

Finally, on Friday, April 5, the series concludes with area native, former CNN correspondent and Russia expert Jill Dougherty returning to the University to present “The World in Disarray,” in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. Dougherty, now an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies, a global fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., and a member of the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute Advisory Council, will discuss the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war and its global ramifications.

“Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine is transforming his own nation, as well as bringing death and destruction to Ukraine,” Dougherty said. “Russia now is a nation at war, its economy focused on building its war machine; mobilizing hundreds of thousands of Russians to fight in the military; weaponizing the media, as well as history and the educational system to propagandize citizens; destroying any opposition; and strengthening its ties with rogue regimes in North Korea and Iran. Putin faces re-election in March, but the Kremlin is closely watching the U.S. election too, intent on doing what it can to influence the outcome.”

Admission to the seminars is free for University of Scranton and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students, faculty, staff and Schemel Forum members. For non-members, the seminars are $30 in-person (buffet lunch included) and $10 for remote access.

To register for the seminars, call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Or, to pay online, visit: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum.

Dean Aulisio spoke about the spring Schemel Forum schedule of events with WVIA’s Erika Funke on ArtScene.

Additional Schemel Forum events can be found on the Schemel Forum’s webpage.

Lackawanna and Wayne County residents whose households earned $60,000 or less in 2023 can receive free assistance in completing and filing their federal, state and local tax returns from University of Scranton accounting students through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

University students have assisted residents with low and moderate incomes who need help with their basic tax returns for more than 30 years.

Walk-in service in Brennan Hall on the University’s campus begins on Monday, Feb. 5. The VITA service is offered on a first-come, first served basis during scheduled hours. Appointments are not available at the University.

Residents can schedule appointments at other locations by contacting the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties by visiting www.uwlc.net or calling 570-602-3133, or 1-866-662-8887, 211. 

Residents who qualify for the free VITA service are asked to bring the following items: a valid photo ID; Social Security cards for all taxpayers and dependents; all W2 forms; last year’s tax returns; all 1099 forms (interest, dividends, pensions); unemployment paperwork; Form 8332 for non-custodial parents; information related to income and expenses (business, rental properties, sale of stocks); a personal banking account check if direct deposit is desired; documentation related to health insurance for themselves and anyone on the tax return, such as Form 1095-A, -B or –C; and real estate tax receipts if you qualify for the rent/tax rebate.

Walk-in VITA service without an appointment is available in room 111 of Brennan Hall, Madison Avenue, on the University’s campus on Mondays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesdays, from noon to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Service begins on Monday, Feb. 5, and continues to Friday, April 5, except for the week of March 11 to 15, when the University is closed for Spring Break, and during Easter Break, March 29 and April 1. 

 The VITA office may also close due to inclement weather.

The University reserves the right to cap the number of walk-in residents they can serve within a single day.

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

Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, announced plans for a nearly 80,000 square-foot center for workforce development, applied research and outreach, to be built on University-owned property on the 300 block of Madison Avenue. Pending approvals by the city, construction will begin this spring and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.

“This new facility is designed to engage the community in ways not currently possible, including the potential for collaboration with manufacturing, health care, government, K-12, higher education, and various other economic sectors,” said Father Marina at the building announcement that took place on the University’s campus on Jan. 23. “It will be another further testament to the University’s pivotal role in workforce development as a Catholic and Jesuit institution that is steadfastly committed to serving our community and our region.”

The open design of the four-story building and its central location on campus near Mulberry Street is intended to facilitate and encourage interdisciplinary opportunities between departments from across the University’s three colleges, and to foster interaction and programs with and for members of the greater Scranton community. The facility will house the University of Success, which is a four-year college preparation initiative for area high school students, and The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center, which was established at the University in 1980 and serves an eight-county area that spans northern tier and northeastern Pennsylvania.

A key feature of the building will be a 10,000-square-foot maker/innovation space on first floor.

“Based on what we have seen at other colleges, we expect it to be a centerpiece for collaborations with faculty and students. We are also anticipating partnership with regional business, manufacturing and healthcare. We envision the maker/innovation space will be a dynamic resource for the campus and greater Scranton community,” said Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Scranton, who noted that University is “still building on the considerable consultation we have already done to determine how best to design, equip and structure this space.”

Thanks to the support of Congressman Matt Cartwright, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee, the University received $16.62 million for this building project as part of Cartwright’s FY2023 Community Project Funding requests.

“Bringing our fair share of federal tax dollars back to our region is the main reason I ran for Congress,” Rep. Cartwright said. “With this successful Community Project Funding request, I am encouraged that the University of Scranton will have the resources to ensure that our local workforce is properly trained and ready to lead the way in American innovation. The University will play an instrumental role in educating the next generation that will help our community meet the ever-growing demands in STEM related fields.”

The facility will also house laboratories, classrooms, offices and meeting spaces for the University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology and the Psychology Department. The building will provide space for the University’s Student Health Services and The Center for Health Education and Wellness, as well as allow room for growth to support academic programs that will emerge in the future.

In addition to Father Marina, Rep. Cartwright and Dr. Maldonado, also speaking at the announcement were Lisa Hall Zielinski, director of The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center, and Edward J. Steinmetz Jr., senior vice president for finance and administration at the University. Hemmler and Camayd (HC Architects) are the architects of the building, which incorporates glass walls, steel and stone into a modern design intended to meet silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification requirements. Quandel Construction will serve as the construction manager.

The University plans to begin use of the building for the fall 2025 semester.

The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum returns this spring with three nighttime courses focused on everything from prominent African American entertainers to contemporary culture war issues to one of the great comedic minds of the 20^th century.

Taught by three University faculty members, the courses begin Monday, Jan. 29, and will be presented in six weekly sessions in the Weinberg Memorial Library.

“These three topics are all very timely, and I expect rich discussions to accompany each session,” said George J. Aulisio, dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library and director of the Schemel Forum.

Melissa Anyiwo, Ph.D., associate professor in the University’s Department of History, will present “Hidden Figures of Black History” Mondays Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 and March 4 from 6 to 7:15 p.m.

During the course, Dr. Anyiwo will discuss the contributions of some of the most noteworthy Black entertainers in American history, with an emphasis on those who used their artistry to “shine a light that inspired change.” The list will include such luminaries as Sammy Davis Jr., Nina Simone, Beyonce and Lisa Bonet.

“My background is in American studies and visual media, so I have always wanted to teach a narrowly focused course on inspiring Black lives to celebrate rather than mourn the Black experience,” Dr. Anyiwo said. “I already teach a class called ‘Black Success on Screen’ that does a similar thing.  So that’s what I want to get out of it – that and teaching to an older, more willing and hopefully engaged audience.”

Dr. Anyiwo also wants those taking the course to appreciate that social activism is “as much about everyday acts of bravery and simply acting as if you are free and equal.”

“The people who effect the greatest change are not necessarily politicians but Black citizens with the same dreams as white Americans and the strength to refuse to give up in the face of seemingly insurmountable prejudice and racial violence,” she said.

Matthew Meyer, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Philosophy, will present “Identity Politics” Wednesdays Jan. 31 and Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 and March 6 from 6 to 7:15 p.m.

Dr. Meyer will use the seminar to examine contemporary identity politics, which have become an increasingly corrosive aspect of American political discourse and have even driven recent policies like Florida Governor – and Republican presidential candidate – Ron DeSantis’ controversial “Stop WOKE Act.”

Through looking closely at topics like critical race theory, wokeism, intersectionality, structural discrimination, systemic injustice and privilege, Dr. Meyer hopes students get a better sense of the ideas driving these debates.

“Questions about race, gender, sexual orientation and identity have taken center stage in our contemporary political landscape, even rivaling the importance of economic issues,” Dr. Meyer said. “Attacks on critical race theory, ‘wokeism’ and identity politics are frequent, but few understand what they are or what they mean. I felt that such a course would serve an important civic function with the hope that it will make a small contribution to having better informed and more engaged citizenry."

Charlie Cino, instructor in the Department of English and Theatre, will present “The Sitcoms of Norman Lear” Mondays March 25 and April 8, 15, 22, 29 and May 6 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cino will use the course to take an in-depth look at the career of the highly influential TV writer and producer, who recently passed away at age 101. Lear did nothing less but redefine American television during the 1970s with his hit sitcoms “All in the Family,” “Sanford and Son,” “The Jeffersons” and “Maude,” all of which challenged societal norms with their groundbreaking portrayal of contemporary issues.

In addition to Lear’s biggest hits, the class will delve into and review some of his lesser-known works via screenings and discussions. Meanwhile, actors and producers who worked with Lear will join the class via Zoom, providing a unique glimpse into the world of a man who continued to make an impact in television well into his final years.

To register for the courses, or for more information on the Schemel Forum, call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Registration is free for University of Scranton and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students, faculty, staff and Schemel Forum members; and $100 per person and $150 per couple for non-members. To pay for courses online, visit: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum.

Dean Aulisio spoke about the spring Schemel Forum schedule of events with WVIA’s Erika Funke on ArtScene.

On Sunday, Jan. 28, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will kick off their spring concert season with a performance by ELEW, master of the piano and creator of “Rockjazz” and “Counterbop.” The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

“I am very much looking forward to offering our students and audiences the opportunity to hear this creative genius in a live concert setting – few artists spin my head with their virtuosity and creativity as consistently as ELEW,” said Cheryl Y. Boga, conductor and director of Performance Music.

A native of Camden, New Jersey, Eric Lewis began his musical studies at 2 years old and received the Rodgers and Hammerstein full merit scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music. Upon graduation, he toured the world, recorded, and performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Elvin Jones, Cassandra Wilson, Roy Hargrove and John Hendricks, among others. In 1999, he won the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition, at the time the most coveted prize in jazz.

A decade into his career, Lewis reemerged as ELEW and began fusing his piano techniques with rock guitar-based ideas and experimental prepared piano methods, generating a powerful crossover brand he coined “Rockjazz.” Over the course of multiple award-winning, critically-acclaimed albums, ELEW has re-imagined songs by The Killers, Nirvana, Coldplay and Michael Jackson to name a few. Throughout his career he has built an elite fanbase of distinguished leaders and celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Gerard Butler, Barack and Michele Obama, Prince Albert II, Will Smith, Eli Roth, Al Pacino and many others.

Inspired by the European masters of Baroque counterpoint, ELEW has innovated the technique of simultaneously executing two independent melodies which precisely detail harmonic forms bursting with idiomatic verisimilitude and wide-ranging historical references, all while flawlessly maintaining the idiosyncratic Afrocentric timing at the core of jazz improvisation. He has named this technique “Counterbop.” His album Cubism - ELEW plays Rosenwinkel, a solo piano exploration of contemporary jazz legend Kurt Rosenwinkel, provides perspective an insight into the nature of what Counterbop is and how it may be implemented.

In addition to performing on piano and appearing in and scoring for films, ELEW is a prominent international DJ. He has created disco infernos for multiple events such as The World Economic Forum, TED, Art Basel, A-list Oscar parties, the Monte-Carlo Gala, the Cannes Film Festival and multiple celebrity birthdays and weddings. This has led to him creating yet another innovation he calls “Piano Turntablism,” literally playing two different yet recognizable songs simultaneously as a DJ would, but on the piano.

For further information about the January performance, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit the Performance Music website. For more info on ELEW, visit elewrockjazz.com.

The Greater Scranton Martin Luther King Commission will hold its annual Community Celebration and Awards Dinner Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at 2 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center at The University of Scranton. The event celebrates the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. This year’s theme, “Still I Rise,” is inspired by Dr. King’s quote, “we must walk on in the day ahead with an audacious faith in the future.”

The keynote speaker at the award dinner will be Sara Sofanelli, J.D., who serves at special counsel for Pro Bono Initiatives at the law firm Schulte, Roth and Zabel. In overseeing the pro bono program, Atty. Sofanelli leverages the firm’s resources to represent indigent individuals seeking justice, bring impact litigation for a more just and fair society, and develop strategic partnerships with international, national and local nonprofit organizations to enable them to better achieve their missions. Under her leadership, 70 percent of Schulte, Roth and Zabel’s lawyers, along with dozens of business staff, participated in pro bono service in 2022.

Atty. Sofanelli earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary, and her J.D. degree, with honors, from the George Washington University Law School.

A ‘Q and A’ will immediately follow Atty. Sofanelli’s presentation titled “Where do we go from here?”

Also at the event, The Greater Scranton MLK Commission will honor three members of the greater Scranton community. Melanie-Rose “Torshie” Wentum will receive the Youth Leader of the Year Award. A junior at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, Wentum serves as president of the school’s Christian Community Club, participates in Black Student Union, Speech and Debate, Chorale, Chamber Singers, Coda Red (an acapella group) and the varsity Lacrosse Team. Wentum is also a content creator for WoolStitch, a Christian clothing brand she co-founded with her father.

Rashida Lovely, Dunmore, will receive the Business Leader of the Year Award. She is the owner of Newave Studios, Northeast Pennsylvania's first black-owned multi-arts and science studio. She is also one of five co-founding members of the Northeast Pennsylvania Black Chamber of Commerce and a co-founding member of the Northeast Pennsylvania Pan African Coalition.

Norma Jeffries will receive the Community Leader of the Year Award. Jeffries grew-up in Scranton, then returned to the area after residing in New Jersey and retiring from Verizon Communications. She currently serves as board secretary for the Scranton Municipal Recreational Authority and is a member of the Scranton Shade Tree Commission and the Electric City Foundation. She volunteers with the Electric City Flower Show, the Lackawanna County Prison and the after-school program at Grace Bible Church in Dunmore. She is among the participants who shared their stories as part of The University of Scranton’s two-year “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” Project that was supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant.

Tickets for the Greater Scranton Martin Luther King Commission Community Celebration and Awards Dinner are $25 and can be ordered on the event webpage.

On Monday, Jan. 15, the Greater Scranton Martin Luther King Commission, in partnership with The Scranton Area Ministerium, will host an Interfaith Prayer Service at 7 p.m. the Shiloh Baptist Church on William St. in Scranton.

The University will light a tribute for MLK Day on its Class of 2020 Gateway sign from Friday evening, Jan. 12, through Monday evening, Jan. 15.

Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company contributed $5,000 through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program to support The University of Scranton’s University of Success, a four-year, pre-college mentoring program.

An academic and enrichment program, the ultimate goal of the University of Success is to assist participating students to successfully complete high school and gain entrance into a college or university. Students enter the program at the completion of the eighth grade and continue through their high school years. Enrichment courses offered through the University of Success include study skills, SAT prep, public speaking, math, science, art and cultural activities, as well as financial aid and wellness seminars.

The University of Success, offered free of charge to participants, is funded almost entirely by corporate and foundation grants. Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company has provided continuous support of this program since 2013.

For additional information, visit the University of Success web site.

The University of Scranton’s Office of Community-Based Learning was recently highlighted in Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal. The research titled: “Implication of a Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows Program to Facilitate Teaching and Learning in the Jesuit Tradition” focused on expanding the conversation around implementation of Ignatian pedagogy to engage faculty across Jesuit universities through a Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows Program.

Dr. Debra L. Fetherman, Associate Professor of Health and Human Services, Community-Based Learning Faculty Coordinator, was the lead author on this project while Julie Schumacher-Cohen, Vice President of Community and Government Relations along with the inaugural Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows co-authored the article: Dr. Ovidiu Cocieru, Dr. Gerard Dumancas, Dr. Brian Snee and Dr. Patricia Wisniewski.

The Office of Community-Based Learning, through recommendations by the Community-Based Learning Board, created and implemented the Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows Program in the 2022-2023 academic year.

The purpose of the program, as explained in the article is “to recognize, reward, and support faculty eager to fully integrate CBL; and to expand, strengthen and demonstrate the universities' commitment to the common good.” The research illustrated the transformational learning and teaching experience of Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows and the impact this experience has had on their connection to the University community and greater community of Scranton.

Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows indicated that, “they benefited both personally and professionally from participating in the program; while, also increasing their skills and capacities as Ignatian educators.” Fetherman and the other participants emphasize that faculty shared a common “desire to continue in this work for the benefit and positive impact it had on their teaching, their students and the community.”

The Office of Community-Based Learning was created in 2017 to strengthen and expand Community-Based Learning across the University, reflecting the commitment to reciprocal relationships that support both student learning and the greater Scranton community. For more information, please visit scranton.edu/CBL or contact cbl@scranton.edu.