April 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interested in Attending the Free Concert?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The current Scranton Mayor and multiple challengers will be on The University of Scranton campus later this month for a pair of mayoral candidate debates.

Mayor Paige Cognetti will debate former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan in the Democratic primary candidate debate from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the PNC Auditorium. The Republican primary candidate debate between accounting executive Patricia Beynon and business owner Lynn Labrosky will follow from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.

The debates are open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served and subject to capacity limits. The PNC Auditorium is located inside the Loyola Science Center on the University’s Campus.

Both debates will be recorded by ECTV to be shown at a later date. The University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service website will also post video of the debates.

Pennsylvania primary elections will occur Tuesday, May 20. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

All are invited for a program on “U.S. Policy toward the Middle East: Lebanon, Palestine, and Beyond” on Thursday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. The event will feature Dr. Jim Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute.

To commemorate Arab American Heritage Month, Dr. Zogby’s talk will cover a range of issues, from his own Jesuit education at Le Moyne College, advocacy on behalf of Arab Americans, to U.S. policy toward the Middle East.

Dr. Jim Zogby is president and co-founder of the Arab American Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based organization which serves as the political and policy research arm of the Arab American community. He is also the director of Zogby Research Services, a firm that has conducted groundbreaking surveys across the Middle East and is featured frequently on national and international media as an expert on Middle East affairs.

Dr. Zogby was appointed by President Barack Obama to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, serving from 2013-2017. He received his doctorate from Temple University’s Department of Religion and his undergraduate degree from Le Moyne College. To register for this event, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Zogby2025 

This event is co-sponsored by The University of Scranton’s Office of Community Relations, Ellacuria Initiative, Political Science Department, Peace and Justice Studies Program, and Theology and Religious Studies.

If you have any questions about this event, please do not hesitate to contact Julie Schumacher Cohen at julie.cohen@scranton.edu .

Several of The University of Scranton’s graduate programs are prominently featured in new rankings by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to a part-time MBA program that is one of the nation’s fastest-rising offerings of its kind, the University has five graduate programs ranked in the nation’s top 50 and a handful of others ranked among the best in the country. 

According to the U.S. News “Best Graduate Schools” rankings, released April 8, the University’s part-time MBA program is tied for 80th nationally. Having jumped 30 spots from last year’s rankings, the University made the third-largest improvement among schools in the top 100. 

U.S. News placed five of Scranton’s graduate programs among the top 50 in the nation, ranking above such prestigious universities as Harvard, UCLA and Emory in some categories. In the rankings, Scranton’s programs in business analytics tied for 28th; finance, tied for 31st; and accounting, tied for 39th. Scranton is one of just 25 colleges and universities to have each of those three business graduate programs ranked in the top 40. The University’s graduate program in healthcare management tied for 46th and has remained in the top 50 for multiple years. The rehabilitation counseling graduate program tied for 49th.

Additionally, the University’s graduate program in occupational therapy tied for 79th, physical therapy tied for 105th and nursing-anesthesia tied for 111th. The University is also tied for No. 127 in Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice. All rankings are national. 

For the graduate school rankings, U.S. News uses data gathered by surveys of college faculty and administrators, and for nursing programs, from professionals working in health care, to assess the quality of programs. U.S. News also uses statistical data such as faculty student ratios and student test scores. The U.S. News ranking of the Best Graduate Schools Ranking by MBA Specialties is based solely on ratings by business school deans and directors of AACSB-accredited MBA programs.

The University offers more than 40 graduate programs across the Kania School of Management, the Leahy College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences.

The University’s graduate business programs include a Ph.D. in Accounting, Master of Accountancy (MAcc), Master of Science in Finance (MSF), Master of Science in Business Analytics (MS) and an MBA with specializations in accounting, business analytics, enterprise resource planning, finance, healthcare management, human resource management, international business, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management. The University also offers combined/accelerated bachelor’s and master’s level programs.

The University’s graduate programs include Healthcare Management, Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy; and in nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN, and post-master’s certificate; Executive Nursing Leadership, MSN; and Nurse Anesthesia, DNP, and an accelerated MSN degree program. Beginning in the fall 2025 semester, the University will offer a new graduate degree program in Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner, DNP, MSN, and post-master’s certificate. The University also awards graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, clinical mental health counseling and school counseling, along with clinical rehabilitation counseling.

In recent U.S. News rankings, The University of Scranton for the 31st consecutive year placed as one of its top 10 regional universities in the north. Scranton was ranked sixth. Scranton also earned a “Best Value” label for the 11th straight year by U.S. News, which ranked it 53rd on its list, “Best Value Universities in the North.”

The University’s first destination survey for the graduate Class of 2023 found a 100% success rate for advanced degree recipients with a mean salary of nearly $90,000. 

Visit The University of Scranton’s graduate admissions website for more information.

Nicole Young ’00, H’20, 16-time Emmy Award-winning senior producer for “60 Minutes,” will be the principal speaker at The University of Scranton’s 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 18.

“We are honored to have the senior producer of America’s most-watched news program return to her alma matter to share her vast knowledge and insights with our graduating class,” said Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton. “Few television producers have achieved as much as Nicole Young. She has channeled her innate interest and skill of storytelling into compelling and acclaimed journalism with humanitarianism at its heart. Her concern for justice and passion for Jesuit education shine through in all that she does.”

Growing up in Hopatcong, New Jersey, Young was impacted by news stories of famine in Ethiopia. News from across the globe, combined with an interest in international events gleaned from summers spent in Jamaica with family, led Young to pursue a career in journalism as a way to effect positive change by creating awareness of the wrongs in the world.

After graduating from The University of Scranton in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in communication, Young earned a master’s degree in international journalism from City University of London.

She began her career at CBS News as an intern at 19, working in Washington, D.C., London and New York. She joined “60 Minutes” in 2004 as an assistant to correspondent Scott Pelley and became his producer a few years later. Over the years, Young has been the producer behind many of the major segments of the broadcast, which is now in its 57^th season. She has earned 16 News and Documentary Emmy Awards, three Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Awards, eight Writers Guild Awards, five Edward R. Murrow Awards, two Gerald Loeb Awards, two Sigma Delta Chi Awards, six National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, a George Polk Award, an Investigative Reporters & Editors Award, a Gracie Award, a Media for Liberty Award, and a Wilbur Award.

Young’s most recent “60 Minutes” assignments have taken her to cover critical global events, such as the war in Ukraine, the fall of Syria’s dictator, the devastating earthquakes in Turkey, the deadly tornadoes in Kentucky, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also covered social injustice, President Donald Trump and high-profile interviews with celebrities, including Cillian Murphy. She has produced in-depth stories on Syria's front lines, the famines in South Sudan and Yemen, and toxic electronic waste in China.

Her fearless reporting includes investigations on civilian deaths due to air strikes in Afghanistan, the gold mining conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and being on the ground after the tsunami in Japan. However, some of her most pivotal stories have focused on issues closer to home, such as job loss, poverty, homelessness and child hunger in the United States.

In addition to producing stories for “60 Minutes,” Young leads special projects for the newsmagazine, including the development of the broadcast’s first free streaming channel. She also held a senior producer position at CBS Evening News, covering such major events as the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and the historic election choice of Pope Francis in Rome.

Young is a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and was awarded an honorary degree from Scranton in 2020. She resides in the New York area with her family.

The University’s 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on May 18 at the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre.

The University of Scranton will welcome two guest composers/conductors – trombone legends and internationally acclaimed musicians, composers and educators Wycliffe Gordon (H ’06) and Jennifer Krupa – at its 42nd annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert on Saturday, April 12. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis at the Houlihan-McLean Center on campus.

The concert will feature the University’s Concert Band and Concert Choir performing the world premieres of commissioned works by Gordon and Krupa, written specifically for the student ensembles. Gordon will compose and conduct compositions for the SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass) mixed choir and trombone soloist Krupa. Gordon and Krupa will reverse roles with Gordon as the soloist for the band piece she composed and will conduct.

“Wycliffe Gordon has been an inspiration to me for decades – not just as a mentor, but as a dear friend,” Krupa said. “He introduced me to so many styles of music and pushed me to go beyond studying jazz history to develop my own voice. This concert band piece reflects just a few of the many ways he has influenced me, from introducing me to the worlds of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton and gospel music, to encouraging me to write my own. The themes in this piece blend his influence with elements from my earliest compositions. I can’t wait to share the stage with Wycliffe and The University of Scranton Concert Band and Choir.”

Krupa’s “Cone Themes” for concert band and virtuosic trombonist will be premiered by the University’s Concert Band and soloist Gordon.

“There is no musician alive I am more in awe and amazement of than Wycliffe,” said Cheryl Y. Boga, conductor and director of Performance Music at the University.

Gordon’s three-piece choral cycle – “Blues Hymn,” “It is Spring” and “Ballad for Lena Mae” – will be premiered by the University’s Concert Choir, piano/bass/drums and soloist Krupa.

“Wycliffe and his music hold a very special place in the heart of the university and its students and alumni,” said Boga, who founded the World Premiere Composition Series in 1984. “Wycliffe’s impact musically and spiritually on every heart, ear and mind he touches is immeasurable. We are unbelievably fortunate to regularly benefit from his generosity and open-hearted and expressive musicality.”

Gordon is a regular guest at the University, where he was honored in 2006 with an honorary doctorate. An award-winning trombonist, composer, conductor, arranger and educator, Gordon has been a regular guest performer and teacher at the University for nearly 30 years. He has composed and premiered numerous compositions at Scranton through the University’s World Premiere Composition Series, as well as a piece composed and premiered for the celebration of the inauguration of University President Kevin Quinn, S.J. in 2016, and has performed as soloist with various student ensembles at Scranton.

Named the Jazz Journalists Association “Trombonist of the Year” for a record-breaking 15 times, Gordon has topped Downbeat Critics Poll for “Best Trombone” for an unprecedented six times (2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 and 2012). Recent awards include the “Louie Award,” the International Trombone Award and the Satchmo Award, among others. A prolific recording artist, Gordon can be heard on hundreds of recordings, soundtracks, live DVD’s and documentaries, and has an extensive catalog of original compositions that span the various timbres of jazz and chamber music.  His arrangement of the theme song to NPR’s “All Things Considered” is heard daily across the globe.  

Krupa is also a returning guest to the World Premiere and a regular guest artist at the University with student ensembles and her own quintet. An accomplished performer and educator, as well as a prolific arranger and composer who has contributed original works and arrangements to a wide variety of ensembles, Krupa’s extensive discography spans nearly 30 recordings with artists including Gordon. Renowned for her exceptional musicianship, transformative teaching, and dedicated service to the jazz community, her influence extends across generations of musicians and audiences worldwide.

Recently retired from a two-decade career with the United States Navy Jazz Commodores, where she served in a variety of roles, including lead trombonist and Music Director, Krupa is currently lead trombonist with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Krupa is also a faculty member at The Juilliard School. She has led guest clinics, masterclasses and adjudications nationwide, guest-conducted the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, and presented at the Jazz Educators Network, Midwest Clinic and the International Trombone Festival.

“I am enjoying preparing the band for Jen’s arrival and am very much looking forward to meeting her, working with her, and hearing the piece come together with the band and Wycliffe under Jen’s direction,” said Janelle Decker, conductor and co-director of Performance Music.

Performance Music at The University of Scranton has now commissioned 100-plus musical works in the 42 years since the series was created. The primary focus of Performance Music at the University is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles.

All University students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible for membership in the University bands, choirs, string ensembles and steel drum band. Hundreds of students, spanning the curriculum and bonded by a love of music, participate each year in the ensembles.

For more information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. Visit wycliffegordon.com for more information on Gordon and jenkrupa.com for more information on Krupa.

Rabbi Shlomo Brody, Ph.D., executive director of Ematai and columnist for the Jerusalem Post, will present “Jewish Ethical Perspectives on Civilian Casualties in War: A Tale of Two Sieges” at The University of Scranton’s Judaic Studies Institute lecture on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pearn Auditorium of Brennan Hall. The lecture is free of charge and open to the public. It will be followed by comments by Patrick Clark, Ph.D., professor of theology and religious studies at Scranton, who will be presenting a Christian perspective.

As executive director of Ematai, Rabbi Brody leads an organization dedicated to helping people navigate ethical dilemmas relating to end-of-life care. He previously served as the founding director of the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute, a senior instructor at Yeshivat Hakotel rabbinic seminary, and as research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. 

Rabbi Brody’s career has focused on making Jewish texts accessible to broader audiences while applying them to contemporary social and ethical dilemmas. His writings have been cited in Israeli Supreme Court decisions and have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Public Discourse, City Journal, First Things and a range of popular and scholarly journals. His first book, A Guide to the Complex: Contemporary Halakhic Debates, received a National Jewish Book Award. His second book, Ethics of Our Fighters: A Jewish View on War and Morality, was published in 2024. 

A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard College, he received rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, a master’s degree in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University, and Ph.D. from Bar Ilan University Law School. 

Dr. Clark joined the faculty at Scranton in 2010. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University, a master’s degree from Boston College and a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame.

The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute was created in 1979 through an endowment funded by the local Jewish community. The Institute fosters a better understanding and appreciation of Judaism, Israel and their histories. It supports visits to the University by Jewish scholars and writers and supports library acquisitions, publications, faculty research, travel and other scholarly endeavors. The work of the Institute was further enhanced by a $1 million gift from Harry Weinberg in 1990.

For further information, contact Marc Shapiro, Ph.D., professor of theology/religious studies and the Weinberg Chair of Judaic Studies at The University of Scranton, at 570-941-7956 or marc.shapiro@scranton.edu.

Throughout the month of April, The University of Scranton will host multiple events focused on how students and community members can help the environment. From lectures to art shows to interactive events, there are many opportunities to learn about and celebrate Earth Day.

From Friday, April 4 to Wednesday, April 16, the Environmental Art Show themed “Engaging with the Natural World” will be displayed in the Weinberg Memorial Library’s Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room.

On Tuesday, April 15, the University will host an Earth Day Fair with interactive and research presentations by students, faculty and staff. The event, presented by the Office of Sustainability and open to the public free of charge, will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Atrium of the Loyola Science Center.

On Thursday, April 24, the Earth Day Essay Contest winners will be announced at an Evening of Environment Science. Participants, families, teachers and community members are invited to the event, which includes a display of essays submitted in addition to engaging hands-on experiments and games related to the environment and sustainability. Also, there will be tours of the University’s nationally recognized Loyola Science Center. The Princeton Review has named the University among the 25 “Best Science Lab Facilities” in the nation for eight years. This year’s tour will include an open house for the W3USR ham radio studio.

For faculty and staff at Scranton, the University’s Laudato Si’ Community Engagement Subcommittee and the University’s Staff Senate will host a Lunch and Learn lecture titled “Using Tax Credits for Sustainable Home Improvements” on April 11. Featured speakers for the discussion include Blair Buselli, business owner at Buselli Solutions; Thomas Spall, president at T. E. Spall and Son, LLC, and Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology. In answer to the call by Pope Francis to “Care for Our Common Home,” the University has begun an intensive seven-year journey to become designated as a Laudato Si’ University and is continuing to incorporate sustainability initiatives inspired by this call.

Earlier this semester, the University hosted several environmentally related events, such as collection exhibits at the Hope Horn Gallery, plant-based food events, World Water Day events and a Sustaining Democracy Teach-In.

The University of Scranton men's basketball team raised $630 for The Boy's and Girl's Club of Scranton with a three-point challenge during the 2024-25 season.

The challenge was sponsored by Catch 21, Sambuca's Italian Restaurant and Tequila Mexican Bar and Grill. Each three-point shot made during the season raised $5 for The Boy's and Girl's Club. The Royals hit 126 three-point field goals on the season.

The men's basketball program is looking forward to partnering with local organizations to continue to give back to the community for the 2025-26 season. If interested, please contact the men's basketball office.

The Commuter Student Association (CSA) is sponsoring their annual "CSA Restaurant Fest" on May 1 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. For the event, the CSA is sponsoring meals for 100 University of Scranton students. Meals will include an appetizer, entrée and dessert, each from a different downtown Scranton restaurant.  

The goal of this event is to promote downtown restaurant businesses and encourage University students to explore the many diverse food options in downtown Scranton. The event includes six meal routes. Each route will offer University students a different appetizer, entrée and dessert from three different downtown Scranton restaurants. The routes will be assigned at random to participating University students, mindful of any dietary needs, and will offer students the chance to both try new  restaurant businesses while enjoying a walk around downtown Scranton.  

"For the past four years, Restaurant Fest has been a major event for CSA, giving students the opportunity to explore downtown Scranton, discover local restaurants and support small businesses. It’s, by far, my favorite event of the year," says Vito Rotell '26, CSA President and a business analytics and operations management double major.  

"Restaurant Fest is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore and support local small businesses while enjoying a full-course meal—appetizer, entrée and dessert—completely free. With options for vegan and vegetarian students, it’s an inclusive way to experience the best of our community’s food scene," said Olivia Lewis '25, CSA Vice President and neuroscience major.  

For more information about the CSA Restaurant Fest, please contact commuter@scranton.edu. To register for the event, visit Royal Sync at https://cglink.me/2rM/r382558 .  

Michael C. Munger, Ph.D., professor of economics, political science and public policy at Duke University, will be the principal speaker at the spring Henry George Seminar at The University of Scranton. Dr. Munger will present “Platforms, Giants and the Neo-Brandeisian Turn in Antitrust,” on Thursday, April 10, in the McIlhenny Ballroom of Scranton’s DeNaples Center. The event begins at 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

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

A professor at Duke since 1997, Dr. Munger has won three university-wide teaching awards, the Howard Johnson Award, an NAACP Image Award for teaching about race and admission to the Bass Society of Teaching Fellows. He has also held teaching positions at Dartmouth College, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Early in his career, Dr. Munger was a staff economist at the Federal Trade Commission.

Much of Dr. Munger’s recent work has been in philosophy, examining the concept of truly voluntary exchange, a concept for which he coined the term “euvoluntary.”

Dr. Munger has written eight books, including “Tomorrow 3.0,” “Choosing in Groups” (coauthored with his son, Kevin) and “The Thing Itself.” He has also published more than 200 articles and papers in professional journals and edited volumes. He has been a member of the editorial boards of several professional journals, including the American Journal of Political Science (1998-2000), Constitutional Political Economy (2001-2003, 2005-present) and Public Choice (1994-1998, 1999-present).

Dr. Munger, who received his Ph.D. in economics at Washington University in St. Louis, is also a regular guest on the popular EconTalk podcast. Two of his episodes – “The Sharing Economy” in 2016 and “Slavery and the Origins of Racism” in 2018 – were the highest reader-rated EconTalk podcasts of their respective years.

The Henry George Lecture Series at Scranton is named in honor of the 19th century American economist and social reformer and is supported financially by a grant from the Progress and Poverty Institute (formerly the Schalkenbach Foundation). 

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