October 2025

The University of Scranton named four new members to its Board of Trustees: Jacqueline A. Cleary ’87, Elizabeth A. Madden ’96, Francis J. Pearn, CPA ’83 and Mark W. Santarsiero, CPA ’80.

Jacqueline A. Cleary ’87 

Jacqueline A. Cleary serves as founder, president and CEO of Atlas, a fully woman-owned global consulting firm that tackles intricate business hurdles for Fortune 100 giants and rising startups alike. With a sharp focus on life sciences, her guidance has elevated Atlas to a top-tier provider of program management services across the U.S. and Europe, with offices in the United States and the Czech Republic.

A passionate champion for women leaders, Cleary engages deeply with the Women Presidents’ Organization and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, where she participates as a forum member. In 2014, her efforts in nurturing fellow women entrepreneurs earned her the WBENC Star Award, the highest national honor for excellence in women-owned businesses.

Cleary channels much of her energy into philanthropy, volunteering and donating generously as an Advisory Board member for NPower — a nationwide nonprofit offering tech education and job training to underserved youth and veterans.

An avid golfer, she held board positions at the Garden State Women’s Golf Association and Canoe Brook Country Club.

Cleary holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from The University of Scranton and is an alumna of Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program (OPM 48), an elite training for visionary entrepreneurs. She completed the acclaimed Tuck-WBENC Executive Program and KPMG's renowned QuantumShift program at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Through the President’s Business Council, she stays connected to her alma mater, mentoring aspiring female students along the way.

Based in Westfield, New Jersey, Cleary is the proud mother to her number one joy: Grace, Brian and Gabby.

Elizabeth A. Madden ’96 

Elizabeth Madden is the founder and managing member of Compass Advisors & Coaching, where she combines executive coaching and human resources advisory services to support senior leaders and high-impact organizations. With more than 25 years of experience spanning Goldman Sachs, Davidson Kempner and her own consultancy, she brings deep expertise in leadership development, talent strategy, organizational transformation and employee engagement. During her 18 years at Goldman Sachs in New York and Hong Kong, she led the company’s Prime Brokerage HR Consulting Practice for almost a decade.

As a dedicated alumna, Madden has been engaged with The University of Scranton for over two decades. She is a founding member of the President’s Business Council (PBC), previously serving as vice chair, and currently serving as chair of the PBC. In these roles, she has helped shape the Council’s mission and programming, including renewed emphasis on mentorship, internships and philanthropy to open doors for Scranton students. While a student at Scranton, Madden was a Student Government officer during her senior year.

Madden earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication from The University of Scranton and a Master of Arts in higher education administration from New York University. She is a Certified Executive Coach through Columbia University’s Teachers College and holds additional certifications in several coaching assessment tools.

She resides in New Jersey with her husband, Michael Madden ’95, and their two children. Beyond her professional work and service to the University, she remains committed to helping aspiring Royals grow and succeed.

Francis J. Pearn ’83 

Frank Pearn is a corporate board director and the former global chief compliance officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co, where he was responsible for the end-to-end risk management oversight of the financial institution’s compliance, conduct and operational risk management activities globally. He oversaw the company’s anti-money laundering, technology and cybersecurity risk management and market conduct programs.

After graduating from the University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Pearn began his career at Price Waterhouse as a certified public accountant. He joined J.P. Morgan in 1990, holding a number of financial and operational management positions in New York, Milan and London before retiring in 2024.

Pearn is former vice chair of the Board of Trustees, former chair and founding member of the President’s Business Council (PBC) and a member of the Pride, Passion Promise Campaign Executive Committee. He was awarded the President’s Medal at the PBC Award Dinner.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

He and his wife, Suzanne, reside in Garden City, New York. They have four children: Matthew, Stephen, Brian ’16 and Jordan.

Mark W. Santarsiero, CPA ’80  

Mark Santarsiero serves as president and chief executive officer of Marshall & Stevens, and executive managing director for MS Capital Investment Banking. Founded in 1932, Marshall & Stevens, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is a recognized leader in valuation services and is one of the oldest and most respected independent multi-disciplinary valuation firms in the U.S. 

Santarsiero began his 39-year career with Marshall & Stevens as a corporate controller of the public company that originally owned it. He was a member of the team that led the employee buyout of Marshall & Stevens from its corporate parent in 1985, which transformed the business. He later served as chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and as national practice leader for the financial valuation and consulting practice. He was appointed to his current position at Marshall & Stevens in 2000. Santarsiero also serves on Marshall & Steven’s internal fairness opinion and solvency opinion committees and has led multiple buy/sell and recapitalization transactions for MS Capital, the investment banking’s sister company.

Marshall & Stevens recently took on a financial partner and through multiple acquisitions have grown the company substantially.

Santarsiero began his career as an accountant for two CPA firms where he worked in the area of audit, tax and management advisory services. 

He earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from The University of Scranton and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. He is a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania and California and is an active member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and the New Jersey and California CPA societies. 

Santarsiero is a former member of the University’s Accounting Department Professional Council and has served as executive-in-residence for the Kania School of Management. 

He lives in Huntington Beach, California, and is the father of three sons: Jordan, Eric and Marcus.

Once upon a time, anthracite coal was the foundation of Scranton’s economy.

It spurred rapid economic and population growth. It transformed the city into a bustling industrial center. It gave rise to a powerful labor movement.

And, it served as inspiration for artwork that is still being shown and displayed today.

The region’s anthracite coal legacy will be presented this fall at The University of Scranton’s Hope Horn Gallery, where “The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania: Selected Paintings, Sculptures and Works on Paper from Public and Private Collections, 1829-1959” will be displayed Oct. 20 through Dec. 12. The exhibition will showcase the work of painters, illustrators, photographers, sculptors and printmakers who, over the course of 130 years, represented the anthracite industry as a subject that was scientific, mysterious, heroic, tragic and picturesque.

The first of two special events will be held Oct. 24 with a gallery lecture by Richard Stanislaus G’98, guest curator and former curator of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Anthracite Heritage Museum, followed by a public reception. Stanislaus will speak from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Pearn Auditorium inside Brennan Hall. The reception at the Hope Horn Gallery inside Hyland Hall will follow from 6 to 8 p.m.

A second event will follow on Nov. 7, when independent scholar David Lembeck presents, “New Deal Post Office Murals in the Anthracite Regions of Northeastern Pennsylvania.” Lembeck’s lecture from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Pearn Auditorium will also be followed by a public reception at the gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. Tony Kearney, folksinger for the Folklore Society of NEPA, will perform music at both receptions.

“The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania: Selected Paintings, Sculptures and Works on Paper from Public and Private Collections, 1829-1959” exhibition provides a broad overview of private and public art in both the gallery and community. Examples include 19th-century landscape paintings and periodic illustrations, as well as 20th-century memorial sculptures and public murals. These works of art cover union labor activities, anthracite culture, tragic events, landscapes and more.

A second exhibition, “The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania: Selected Prints, Drawings and Watercolors from the Stanislaus Collection: 1933-1946,” will open Feb. 2, 2026, and remain on display through March 13, 2026.

The second show will also feature a special event with a panel discussion at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. Stanislaus will be on the “Depictions of the Anthracite Coal Industry in Prints of the 1930s” panel with Chester Kulesa, former director of the Anthracite Heritage Museum, and Peter Hoffer, printmaker and professor emeritus at Marywood University. A public reception will follow at Hyland Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. The second show examines a focused collection of works produced during the 1930s by artists associated with the Works Progress Administration.

For more information, visit the Hope Horn Gallery online.

The University of Scranton recently hosted a successful 24th Annual U.S. Conference on Disability at the DeNaples Center.

Registration for the event had filled up with a week to spare, and every seat inside the McIlhenny Ballroom was filled for the event whose mission is to positively influence the quality of life and wellness of individuals and families living with disabilities.

This year’s conference focused on the theme of “Access, Advocacy and Employment in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”

“AI is taking charge, which is positive and negative. It’s a little dangerous. But, I think, with regard to people with disabilities, AI has a magnificent future,” Edward Leahy ’68 H’01, co-founder and organizer of the conference along with his wife, Patricia Leahy, told Fox 56. “There’s a new phenomenon called neuro-tech that can actually detect someone’s brain waves … if they think about something, someone can do something for them because it can detect what they’re thinking. Imagine the potential for that.”

The day’s highlights included the presentation of the Edward R. Leahy, Jr., Award for Excellence in Leadership and Advocacy to Keith Williams G’09. Williams has worked for more than 35 years in advocacy and outreach for people with disabilities. He is currently the manager of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Grant and Advocacy at My Center for Independent Living (MyCIL) in Scranton.

The Dr. Ralph N. Pacinelli Leadership Award was presented to Kathy West-Evans and John Evans. West-Evans for the past 20 years has served as director of business relations for the National Employment Team at the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. Evans recently retired as program administrator for employee relations for the State of Washington Department Social Health Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Additionally, speakers and their topics included:

• Former U.S. Sen. and Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service Bob Casey, “Disability Policy in 2025-26: Major Challenges and Opportunities”

• Co-CEO of Cleanlogic Isaac Shapiro, “Three Entities, One Mission”

• University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Distinguished Professor Rory Cooper, “Creating Transformative Technology for and With People With Disabilities”

• Microsoft accessibility technology evangelist Lauren Allen, Sr., “AI for All: Advancing Disability Inclusion Through Technology”

• Author and creator Tiffany Yu, “AI Empowerment for People With Disabilities”

On Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m., The University of Scranton will host an event titled “Jewish-Christian Relations in the Wake of Oct. 7 and the War in Gaza” in the Pearn Auditorium in Brennan Hall. This event features Hana Bendcowsky, Program Director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, and John Munayer, Director of International Engagement at Jerusalem’s Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue. Munayer, a Palestinian-Christian, and Bendcowsky, an Israeli Jew, have worked together for many years engaging Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and elsewhere in dialogue and peace efforts.

More about the speakers:

Munayer, Director of International Engagement at the Rossing Center, was born and raised in Jerusalem and has been involved in peace-building and dialogue initiatives from a young age. He is completing an MSc in international relations of the Middle East from the University of Edinburgh and holds a Master of Arts in theology and religious studies from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and a Bachelor of Arts in religion, politics and society from King’s College London. Munayer also researches, writes and lectures on Palestinian Christian identity, Palestinian theology and interreligious dialogue.

Bendcowsky, Program Director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations (JCJCR), holds a Master of Arts degree in comparative religion from the Hebrew University and has 27 years of practical experience in interfaith activities in Israel and abroad. She teaches in various institutions, colleges, academic programs and more. She is involved in many of the Center’s activities, including its dialogue programs, producing educational materials, consulting and advocacy work. Bendcowsky is a professional tour educator in Jerusalem, leading study tours in the Christian Quarter. She has particular expertise in the Christian Communities in Israel and Jewish-Christian relations in the Israeli context.

“I have worked with John and Hana during my many previous visits to the Holy Land with students from the University. They are both incredibly gracious people whose backgrounds and on-the-ground experiences allow them to offer perspectives that are as necessary as they are uncommon for audiences in the United States. We are truly thankful that they are able to visit us in Scranton,” Fr. Michael G. Azar, Ph.D., theology professor and event co-organizer, said about the featured speakers. Registration is available at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Jewish-Christian-Relations 

This event is co-sponsored by The University of Scranton’s Slattery Center, Office of Community Relations, Ellacuria Initiative, Judaic Studies and the Theology and Religious Studies Department together.

The University of Scranton had a rare and incredible honor earlier this semester, when Gregory Boyle, S.J., spoke to students and University community members at the annual Ignatian Values in Action Lecture.

Father Boyle, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient who founded the largest gang rehabilitation program in the world, spoke to a crowd of 1,000-plus attendees on Sept. 29 inside the Byron Recreation Complex.

In his address, titled, “Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times,” Father Boyle spoke about his experiences working with former gang members in Los Angeles. He helped them turn their lives around through his organization, Homeboy Industries, which assists those in a vicious cycle of violence escape that pattern.

Two members of the Homeboy community, Gerardo Ochoa and Jorge Baltazar, also addressed the crowd. Ochoa and Baltazar spoke about their life before Homeboy Industries and how the program has turned their lives around from a world of crime and despair to acceptance, hope and love.

Father Boyle’s decades of hard work in his native Los Angeles are a model of the values that Scranton strives to embody and instill in its students. Many professors incorporate the annual Ignatian Values lecture into their curricula.

Father Boyle and Homeboy Industries are no stranger to Scranton. He has previously appeared at the University and students have participated in service trips at the organization's headquarters in Los Angeles. Earlier this year during spring break, a group of students traveled to Homeboy Industries and one of the volunteers reflected on her experience in a Royal News article.

William Easterly, Ph.D., professor of economics and co-director of the Development Research Institute at New York University, will take his place later this month among the great speakers to present at the Fall Henry George Lecture.

Dr. Easterly will deliver his lecture, “Violent Saviors: Development Lessons from the History of Colonialism,” at the 39th Fall Henry George Lecture. Dr. Easterly’s presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, in the McIlhenny Ballroom at The University of Scranton’s DeNaples Center. It is free and open to the public.

The Henry George Lecture Series, which hosts an event in the fall and another in the spring, is the premier series of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania. All speakers are decorated authorities in the field of economics and 13 of the speakers — 12 fall lecturers and one spring seminar speaker — have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

Dr. Easterly is the author of three books and his fourth book, “Violent Saviors: The West’s Conquest of the Rest,” will be released on Nov. 4.

Early reviews have called Dr. Easterly’s forthcoming book a “masterpiece,” in which he explores nearly 400 years of world history. He argues that global trade has given agency to billions of people and presents a new and urgent perspective on global economics that he says must lead the way in the fight against poverty.

Dr. Easterly, who received a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985, worked from 1985 to 2001 at the World Bank as an economist and senior adviser in the Macroeconomics and Growth Division. He then worked at the Institute for International Economics and the Center for Global Development until 2003, at which time he began teaching at NYU.

Dr. Easterly’s first book, “The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill,” won the FA Hayek Award from the Manhattan Institute. He’s also the author of “The Elusive Quest for Growth: Economists’ Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics,” and “The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor.” He has also published more than 70 peer-reviewed academic articles and has written columns and reviews for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Review of Books and the Washington Post.

He has served as co-editor of the Journal of Development Economics and as director of the Aid Watch blog. He is a research associate of National Bureau of Economic Research and was named by research.com as one of the Best Scientists of 2023. He won the Julian L. Simon Memorial Award from the Competitive Enterprise Institute in 2021 and the Adam Smith Award from the Association of Private Enterprise Education in 2013.

Financial support for the Henry George Lecture Series is provided by a grant from the Progress and Poverty Institute (formerly the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation).

For more information about the Fall Henry George Lecture, which is organized and presented by the Economics, Finance and International Business Department of The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management, call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu.

The office of Community-Based Learning (CBL) announces the third cohort of its CBL Faculty Fellows Program. This program is aimed at recognizing, rewarding and supporting exemplary faculty who are eager to fully integrate CBL as an intentional pedagogical strategy into their courses and/or curricular-based projects. CBL is an immersive academic experience which invites students to work with individuals, groups, or local organizations to meet community-defined needs.

The Faculty Fellows program seeks to expand, strengthen, and institutionalize CBL at the University as a demonstration of its commitment to Jesuit values and the common good.

“The CBL program at the University of Scranton has 20-30 faculty engaged in CBL partnerships throughout the community each academic year.  This faculty cohort is focused on developing new or enhanced curricular opportunities that meet community needs in the areas of health and business. Engaging with community is central to the Jesuit mission at The University of Scranton. Engagement ensures students put into action their learning in meaningful ways,” said Debra Fetherman, Ph.D., CBL Faculty Coordinator, Professor and Department Chair of the Health and Human Performance Department.

The 2025-2026 academic year CBL faculty fellows are listed below, including their department, course, and/or their project of focus. 

Dr. Kristina Dorkoski, Physical Therapy

Kristina Dorkoski, PT, DPT, NCS, CEEAA, is a faculty specialist in the University’s Physical Therapy Department. Her project aims to expand her student’s community-based learning opportunities in order to better prepare them to effectively educate members of our Scranton community. Students will observe clinicians teaching community members in support groups and wellness programs to expand upon their knowledge to guide their instruction of patients, caregivers and colleagues.

Community collaborators will work with students who are completing a needs assessment to gauge a comprehensive understanding of each institution’s goals. Through this partnership, students and community partnership organizations will fulfill unmet needs while students achieve their course objectives. This collaboration cultivates future healthcare professionals who are both skilled and compassionate while strengthening ties between the university and broader Scranton community. By engaging in meaningful practice related to their fields of interest, students are empowered to make a lasting impact beyond the classroom.
 

Dr. Katherine Stefanelli, Counseling and Human Services

Katherine Stefanelli, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the University’s counseling and human services department. Her project, Where We Live: Supporting the Royal Campus Community Through Advocacy and Facilitation, aims to train students to act as facilitators in the Royal P.A.C.T. program on campus. P.A.C.T. (Promoting Awareness of the College Transition) is a required for all first-year students to attend and addresses issues such as healthy relationships, relationship violence, stalking, sexual assault, consent and the plethora of available campus resources.

It operates as a peer-to-peer program that encourages conversations between incoming students and upper-class students. Dr. Stefanelli is teaming with the Jane Kopas Women’s Center for this training. The specific students chosen to complete this training are undergraduate students, in her case management and interviewing course, who are solidifying their basic skills for counseling which enforce active listening, advocacy and action. By connecting skills learned in the classroom and meaningful campus involvement, the project allows students to create awareness in the environments in which they reside and interact. This collaboration will strengthen peer support networks and reinforce the university’s commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment.

Dr. Mehmet Yetim, Management and Marketing

Mehmet Yetim, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the University’s management and marketing department. Through his project, Aiding the Development and Competitiveness of Small Businesses in Scranton, students will contribute their foundational knowledge of management to the greater Scranton community. The project aims to foster growth and resilience in Scranton’s small business scene by enhancing their marketing presence.

Students will collaborate with community partners to create detailed business profiles that highlight each company’s history and mission. Students are also offered the opportunity to conduct market analyses to recommend actionable strategies for success with their partner organization. Through this project, classroom theory will intersect with real-world practice while supporting the economic ecosystem in our community. The goal is to promote sustainable and community-focused collaborations. By engaging directly with local entrepreneurs, students will gain hands-on experiential learning. This collaborative approach within our community reinforces the university’s commitment to community partnership while promoting student growth and professional development.

Dr. Aaron Ziegler, Communication Sciences and Disorders and Speech-Language Pathology

Aaron Ziegler, Ph.D. CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor in the University’s health and human performance department. His project, Service, Advocacy, and Impact: Enhancing Community-Based Learning in SLP Distance Education, encourages master’s students to implement CBL projects in their own communities. The Master of Science (MS) in Speech-Language Pathology program is an online program with students from coast to coast. They will be encouraged to engage in their own communities by partnering with an organization to address a community-defined need.

Dr. Ziegler aims to analyze three years of their programs' CBL data, father stakeholder feedback, and refine the programs' summative assessment to enhance its impact on the students and community collaborators. By strengthening community partnerships across the various locations in which the students, the project highlights the manner in which distance education can foster real-world change. This initiative supports the students’ professional development while simultaneously amplifying the voices of community organizations they partner with. Ultimately, the project demonstrates the lasting impact of connecting higher education with meaningful community engagement.

By Elizabeth Vander Neut, Student Correspondent

The University of Scranton will welcome prospective students and their families to campus for its annual Open House events on Sunday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the John Long, S.J., Center.

The day's schedule includes campus tours, academic program showcases, and sessions on student services, athletics and residence life. Guests can enjoy complimentary brunch and lunch with opportunities to connect with members of the University community.

Hugh Doyle '17, G'20, director of undergraduate admissions, and Antonelle Kern '14, G'19, assistant director of admissions events, say Open House offers a more immersive experience than a standard campus tour. They describe these events as a “one-stop shop” for families navigating the college search. In addition to meeting admissions and financial aid staff, visitors can engage directly with faculty, staff and students across the University.

“They’ll also have the chance to see both academic and extracurricular spaces firsthand,” said Doyle. “Whether it’s their first visit or a return trip, families will leave with their questions answered — and ideally, with a deeper understanding of what makes a Scranton education distinctive and meaningful.”

The event reflects the University’s mission to deliver a transformational learning experience in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition. For many prospective students, Open House serves as a first introduction to the University’s values of excellence, purpose, faith and service.

“Open House is a campus-wide tradition that embodies who we are as a community,” said Kern. “It’s not just about what we teach, but how we welcome, support and inspire students.”

Organizers hope visitors leave campus feeling both excited about their future and supported in their college search process.

“While we certainly hope students fall in love with Scranton, more importantly, we want them to know they are not alone in this journey,” said Doyle. “If Scranton is the right fit, they will be joining a community deeply invested in their success, both inside and outside the classroom.”

This year’s Open House schedule remains consistent with previous years, which organizers say is a testament to the strength of the program.

“Open House continues to be a comprehensive, community-supported event designed to give visitors a full picture of life at Scranton,” said Kern. “We’re proud of the collaborative effort that makes this day so meaningful for everyone involved.”

For more information or to register for Open House, visit scranton.edu/openhouse.

The University of Scranton’s Edward R. Leahy Clinic for the Uninsured recently launched a vital initiative to provide patients with access to life-saving and sight-saving health screening at significantly reduced costs.

A new Early Detection and Screening program will allow the clinic to provide necessary health tests and screenings for uninsured patients at reduced and negotiated prices. Patients will receive services, such as life-saving colonoscopies, mammograms and sight-saving retinal eye exams for patients with diabetes, at testing centers where decreased prices were negotiated, ensuring patients will comply with physician-recommended tests and follow-up exams.

The program was made possible through a grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Community Needs Grant Cycle.

The Leahy Clinic on Kressler Court provides high-quality, non-emergency health care to uninsured Lackawanna County residents who may otherwise forego health care due to cost. The clinic also provides teaching, learning, researching and service opportunities to University and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine faculty, students and volunteers.