Community News

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. 

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.

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.”

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“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.”

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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.

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 .

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.

 

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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.

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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.

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 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.

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 .  

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

By: Elizabeth Vander Neut, student correspondent

Students, faculty and staff are invited to reflect on the legacy of Saint Óscar Romero, whose martyrdom 45 years ago sparks inspiration in the name of faith and social justice today.

The University of Scranton's Jesuit Center and the Weinberg Memorial Library have partnered to host a special exhibit honoring Saint Romero's life, ministry and ultimate sacrifice. The exhibit will run until April 20 in the Heritage Room of the library, showcasing books, photographs and memorabilia that illuminate the profound impact of the Salvadoran archbishop.

To inaugurate the exhibit, a special reception took place on March 27, drawing attendees who engaged with the display.

"I was pleased to be able to speak with many of those in attendance, and they remarked on the great collection of Romero books from the library stacks," said Dan Cosacchi, the University’s vice president for Mission and Ministry,

"Also, they commented upon many of the Salvadoran memorabilia and images from our pilgrimage. A few attendees mentioned that they look forward to applying for the pilgrimage in the future after seeing such a lovely display," he added, referencing the University's El Salvador Educational Pilgrimage.

Bridget Conlogue, special collections and research services assistant at the University's Weinberg Memorial Library discussed the exhibit.

"We created this exhibit at the request of Dan Cosacchi to remember the life and martyrdom of St. Oscar Romero, who sacrificed his life for the Salvadoran people 45 years ago. He was a voice for the voiceless in his care for the poor and marginalized. Every year, the Jesuit Center sponsors a group of faculty, staff, and Administrators for a weeklong visit to El Salvador to learn more about the past and current struggles of the Salvadoran people. The exhibit highlights St. Oscar’s life among his people, with books from the library’s collection, photographs taken during the University pilgrimages, and small examples of beautiful Salvadoran handcrafts contributed by library staff and faculty who have gone on the pilgrimages," said Conlogue.

"The Jesuit Center sponsored the reception on March 27 in the library’s Heritage Room, which was attended by around 30-40 faculty, staff and administrators, many of whom have been to El Salvador with The Jesuit Center," she added.

The pilgrimage leads delegations of Scranton faculty and staff to learn from the people of El Salvador and to grow in faith and solidarity. The delegations visit historical sites from the Salvadoran Civil War, including the sacred sites where the church women, the Jesuit martyrs and Oscar Romero, the fourth archbishop of San Salvador, were killed in 1980. 

Cosacchi noted his eagerness to commemorate the 45^th anniversary of Saint Romero’s martyrdom after attending this year’s Jesuit Center Pilgrimage. Cosacchi played a key role in organizing the commemoration, alongside Professor Michael Knies, special collections librarian, Bridget Conlogue, special collections and research services assistant, Dr. David Dzurec, associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and Bryn Schofield, coordinator for academic affairs, CAS and the Jesuit Center.

Several members of the University community, shown, traveled to El Salvador with the Jesuit Center in January. At a March 24 Spirituality Luncheon they discussed their experience. This date is of particular significance, as it is the 45th anniversary of St. Oscar Romero’s martyrdom. 

 

Another key component of the anniversary events was the Jesuit Center Spirituality Luncheon, which featured a panel of pilgrims who had traveled to El Salvador.

"I, personally, was moved to be brought back to our shared time in El Salvador," said Cosacchi. "But for the attendees of the luncheon who have not been to that beautiful country, the most powerful insights were describing the large-heartedness of the people of El Salvador. In many cases, those people opened their homes to us, and shared their food, their homes and their very lives, with us." 

Cosacchi said he hopes that those who participated in these events left with a deeper appreciation for the impact and connections built through the pilgrimage experience.

"Here at The University of Scranton, we take great pride in our relationship with the people of El Salvador, especially CRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador). This is because our relationship exemplifies what it means to be in solidarity with a people who has suffered greatly. We do this because it is a core tenet of our Christian faith. The University looks forward to many more decades of these pilgrimages."

As a Jesuit institution, The University of Scranton is deeply committed to the values that Saint Romero embodied. His courage and compassion challenge all to live out their faith in service to others, advocate for the marginalized and foster a world rooted in peace and justice. These reflections on Saint Romero’s life provide an opportunity for University students to honor his legacy through action and continue his mission in  their daily lives.

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.

On Friday, April 4, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a recital entitled “Rhapsody in Blue at 100” featuring the acclaimed Frederick Hohman, D.M.A., premiering the first full organ transcription of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” 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. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

According to Cheryl Y. Boga, conductor and director of Performance Music, this will be Dr. Hohman’s 4^th visit to Houlihan McLean to perform on its fully restored and historic Austin Opus 301 Symphonic Organ. “Every visit by Fred is what I like to call an organ adventure – he doesn’t just perform a concert, he shares his passion and knowledge of the instrument at every opportunity during his visit.”

In addition to being a concert organist of stunning musicality and virtuosity, Dr. Hohman is an award-winning composer of organ and choral music, a creator of organ transcriptions, an online educator, a musical instrument designer and a classical music audio-video producer. Hohman earned his performer’s certificate, Mus.B., M.M. and D.M.A. in the organ studio of David Craighead at The Eastman School. In 1984, he won First Prize in both the prestigious Clarence Mader and Arthur Poister competitions. This was the first step leading to decades of organ concert tours, taking him throughout the world, appearing in concert and religious venues, including appearances before regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), The Organ Historical Society and The American Institute of Organbuilders.

Dr. Hohman founded the recording label Pro Organo in 1985 and has overseen the production and release of over 300 organ and choral music titles, including 16 releases, of which he is also the featured artist. Acclaimed by a critic with The Diapason magazine as “one of the symphonic organ's strongest exponents,” during the 1980s, Dr. Hohman championed a revival of the Symphonic School of organ-playing. His writings and recordings ignited a revival in symphonic organ literature and performance practices of the early 20th century, which led to his first organ transcription publications and several additional CD releases.

Dr. Hohman has served The American Guild of Organists (AGO) on its national committees focused upon education and was commissioned by them to appear as video instructor in a series of 30 AGO-produced videos entitled “Lessons for the New Organist,” which are free for all to view at AGO’s website. Hohman has also provided written guidance and encouragement to aspiring organists as an adjudicator in 20 national and international organ competitions.

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The University of Scranton’s Houlihan-McLean Center Austin Opus 301 symphonic organ was built in 1910 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford Connecticut for the Immanuel Baptist Church in Scranton and was restored and re-dedicated by the university in 2005 in a recital performed by Thomas Murray of Yale University. Since then, many renowned organists have performed on the instrument in solo-recitals, and it has accompanied the university’s student ensembles in the performance of many major works of the choral and instrumental repertoires. The instrument is one of the few rare surviving original examples of early 20th-century organ building, and the impressive instrument possesses a total of 3,178 pipes, 45 ranks and four manuals. The instrument is currently maintained by Clem, Cole, Dan, and Steve, technicians/artists from Emery Brothers/Dieffenbach organs.

For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on Dr. Hohman, visit frederickhohman.net.

History, physics, writing, mathematics, world languages and neuroscience are among topics covered in academic competitions for area middle school and high school students offered at The University of Scranton during the spring semester. Upcoming competitions set for April include a state history competition, an Earth Day Essay Contest, the Hayes Family Science Competition for physics and engineering and the Integration Bee for mathematics.

Earlier this semester, the University hosted a regional history competition, the 2^nd Annual World Language Day and the Brain Bee for neuroscience.

Area students in grades five to 12 can participate in the University’s Earth Day Essay Contest. This year’s essay theme is “Students for a Sustainable World.” Submissions are due electronically by April 3. Visit the University’s Facilities Management webpage for the 2025 Earth Day Essay Contest Guidelines. 

Earth Day Essay Contest winners will be announced at an Evening of Environmental Science, which will take place on Thursday, April 24, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Loyola Science Center. The event, which is open to contest participants, their families and the general public, will include University interactive science experiments and an exhibit of essay contest submissions. Tours of the University’s amateur radio station will also be conducted during the event as part of a day-long Amateur Radio Open House at W3USR. For additional information about the Earth Day Essay Contest, call 570-941-6267.

On Thursday, April 10, the University will host its annual Hayes Family Science Competition for high school physics and engineering students. The theme for this year’s contest is “Whatever Floats Your Boat: The Forces Edition.” The event will cover topics including kinematics, forces, torque/statics and rotational dynamics, gravitation, energy, rotational motion, sound, waves, Kepler’s Laws and momentum. The daylong contest tests high school students’ knowledge of physics through a series of hands-on games and challenges. Students compete individually and as part of a team. Pre-registration is required. For additional information, contact Salisa Brown, administrative assistant for the Physics Department, at salisa.brown@scranton.edu or 570-941-7509.

On Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, the University will host the National History Day competition for Pennsylvania. The competition allows students to compete in the categories of historical essays, performances, documentaries, websites and exhibits on a historical theme. Winners in the state contest have the potential to compete in the national championship in Maryland on June 8 to 12. Earlier in March, the University hosted the Region 2 of the National History Day competition on campus. For additional information the National History Day competition, contact Sean Brennan, Ph.D., associate professor of history, at sean.brennan@scranton.edu.

On Wednesday, April 23, the annual Math Integration Bee for high school students will take place at 4:30 p.m. in the DeNaples Center Ballroom. The competition, which is hosted by the Mathematics Department, can help high school students improve their skills for AP mathematics tests. The Bee is offered free of charge, registration is required. For more information, contact Stacey Muir, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics, at 570-941-6580 or stacey.muir@scranton.edu.

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Earlier this semester, the University’s Neuroscience Program hosted the 24th annual Northeast PA Brain Bee Competition for high school students in grades nine through 12. The competition encouraged the study of the brain and how it relates to intelligence, memory, emotions, movements, aging and other factors. In addition, the University hosted the 2^nd annual World Language Day event, which included rapid-fire lessons in Italian, Mandarin, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, German, French, Arabic and American Sign Language. Students learned about these languages and cultures through interactive activities and lessons from Fulbright visiting scholars and University of Scranton students and faculty.

Through April 11     Art Exhibit: “The Lackawanna River and Watershed: Art and Interpretation.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

Through April 20    Art Exhibit: “Gems of Flourishing from The Zaner-Bloser Penmanship Collection.” Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Free during library hours. Call 570-941-6341 or email michael.knies@scranton.edu.

April 3      5 p.m. 28^th Annual ACHE Healthcare Symposium: “Leading Through Mergers and Acquisitions.” McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Includes dinner, presentation and panel discussion. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4527 or email spencer.owens@scranton.edu. 

April 4      7:30 p.m. Performance Music: Rhapsody in Blue at 100 featuring Dr. Frederick Hohman premiering the first full organ transcription of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

April 5      9 a.m. Accepted Students Day for students and their families of The University of Scranton’s class of 2029. Meet representatives from academic departments, student activities/services, financial aid, athletics and tour campus. Various locations on campus. Call 570-941-7540 or email admissions@scranton.edu.

April 7-17   Environmental Art Show: “Engaging with the Natural World.” Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Free during library hours. Call 570-941-4740 or email marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu.

April 9     5:30 p.m. Graduate Open House. DeNaples Center, 4^th floor. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email gradadmissions@scranton.edu.

April 10    8:30 a.m. Hayes Family Competition in physics and engineering for high school students. Byron Complex. Registration required. Call 570-941-7509 or email salisa.brown@scranton.edu.

April 10    4 p.m. Spring Henry George Seminar "Platforms, Giants, and the Neo-Brandeisian Turn in Antitrust" presented by Michael C. Munger, Ph.D., Director, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program, Duke University.  McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu.

April 10    6 p.m. Schemel Forum with the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Collaborative Program: “Schumann: Music, Mood Swings and Madness” presented by Richard Kogan, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, and artistic director, Weill Cornell Music and Medicine Program. Performance, lecture and reception. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, 525 Pine Street, Scranton. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email rose.merritt@scranton.edu.

April 10-12     8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. Performance: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” presented by The University of Scranton Liva Arts Company. McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Ticket prices vary. Visit https://livaartscompany.ludus.com for tickets or email livartscompany@gmail.com.

April 12-13     8 a.m. National History Day State Competition for qualifying students from Pennsylvania. Pre-registration required. Call 570-941-4549 or email nhdparegion2@gmail.com.

April 12    7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “42^nd Annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Concert Band and Concert Choir premiering two new works by Dr. Wycliffe Gordon (H. ’06) and Jennifer Krupa, with the composers conducting. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

April 15    11 a.m. Earth Day Fair with interactive games, presentations and information related to the environment and sustainable practices. Atrium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-6267 or email mark.murphy@scranton.edu.

April 23     3:45 p.m. Math Integration Bee. Calculus-based high school math competition. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. See https://www.scranton.edu/academics/cas/math/bee.shtml for more details or email stacey.muir@scranton.edu.  

April 24            noon Talk: “Next Generation HamSCI Receive System – Advancing Space Weather Monitoring” by HamSCI collaborator Rob Robinett as part of The University of Scranton’s participation in the national Amateur Radio Open House day. Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-7509 or email w3usr@scranton.edu.

April 24            3 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Amateur Radio Open House at W3USR, The University of Scranton’s state-of-the-art student ham radio studio. Fifth Floor, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-7509 or email w3usr@scranton.edu.

April 24   5:30 p.m. Earth Day “Evening of Environmental Science” and Essay Award Presentation. University student-run interactive science experiments and exhibit of University of Scranton Earth Day Essay Contest submissions. Essay contest awards will be announced at the event. Atrium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-6267 or email susan.falbo@scranton.edu.

April 24    7:30 p.m. Judaic Studies Institute Lecture: “Jewish Ethical Perspectives on Civilian Casualties in War: A Tale of Two Sieges” presented by Rabbi Shlomo Brody, Ph.D., executive director of Ematai and columnist for the Jerusalem Post, with a response focusing on Catholic perspectives by Patrick Clark, Ph.D., professor of theology/religious studies at Scranton. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall.  Free. 570-941-7956 or marc.shapiro@scranton.edu.

April 24    5 p.m. Campus Take Back the Night. Dionne Green. Free. Call 570-941-6194 or email brandice.ricciardi@scranton.edu.

April 25    7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton String Orchestra and guest soloist TBA. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

April 26-27     9 a.m. Saturday; Noon Sunday. Friends of the Library Book Sale. Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Call 570-941-6195 or e-mail melisa.gallo@scranton.edu.

April 28 through May 9     Hope Horn Gallery Art Exhibit: “The University of Scranton Student Show Online.” Visit https://www.scranton.edu/academics/hope-horn-gallery/index.shtml or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. 

April 30     11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Allergic: Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World” presented by Theresa MacPhail, Ph.D., medical anthropologist, writer, and associate professor of science and technology studies at Steven Institute of Technology. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email rose.merritt@scranton.edu.

April 30     noon. Celebration of Student Scholars. Displays and presentations of undergraduate and graduate student research and scholarly projects. Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-7653 or email brooke.leonard@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton is offering a series of pysanka workshops in advance of the Easter holiday to teach the art of decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs with traditional folk designs using a wax-resist method. One hundred percent of the workshop fee will be donated to humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Participants will be taught how to write pysanky, or Ukrainian Easter eggs. All materials will be provided, and each participant will take home their own, blown-out pysanka. Anyone who attended a workshop last year is encouraged to return to develop their skills and learn more advanced folk designs.

This workshop series was first offered in spring 2022. This year, the University is  offering four workshops. Four pysanka workshops will be offered as follows: on Sunday, April 6 from 1-3 p.m.; on Sunday, April 6 from 3:30-5:30 p.m.; on Sunday, April 13 from 1-3 p.m.; and on Sunday, April 13 from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

All workshops will take place in the Smurfit Arts Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, on the corners of Vine St. and Madison Ave. Each workshop is limited to 12 people and children must be accompanied by an adult. The workshop cost is $30, payable by cash or check. Registration is required at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA5A822A3F5CE9-55597296-pysanka#/ 

The workshops will be led by Dr. Amelia Randich, assistant professor of Biology at The University of Scranton. Dr. Randich is a fourth-generation Ukrainian-American, and this art has been passed down through the women in her family. She has been writing pysanky for over 30 years and teaches pysankarstvo (the art of writing pysanky) at various retreats in the U.S.

“While we hope the Russian aggression on Ukraine will end soon, the country will be in turmoil for a long time yet. Please join us in writing pysanky and donating to humanitarian aid in Ukraine,” said Dr. Randich.

Dr. Randich has a dedicated website, “Saving the World One Egg at Time,” to illustrate her work in pysanka along with the meaning and importance of their creation.

To learn more about Dr. Randich and her work creating and teaching the art of pysanka, please visit https://pysankypower.wordpress.com/  or read this profile in The Scranton Journal. 

View Dr. Randich’s work and follow her on social media on Facebook: @pysankypower and Instagram: @AmeliaRandich.

These workshops are offered by The University of Scranton and are cosponsored by the Hope Horn Gallery and the Office of Community and Government Relations. For questions, please contact community@scranton.edu .

Those considering graduate school and current undergraduate students can learn about the career advancement opportunities offered through The University of Scranton’s 40-plus advanced-degree programs at its Graduate Open House on Wednesday, April 9. Participants will meet with Scranton alumni, faculty, admissions representatives and current graduate students and learn about flexible on-campus and online program formats offered by the nationally recognized Jesuit university.

Scranton provides the highest-quality graduate education, with programs meeting the most rigorous state or national accreditations available within their professional fields. Graduate programs include physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, health care management, clinical rehabilitation counseling, business analytics and MBAs in several concentrations and other business disciplines. In recent years, Scranton has added graduate programs in high in-demand fields, such as an online master’s degree program in cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity, and a synchronous remote master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Scranton also offers a synchronous and asynchronous graduate program in psychiatric mental health nursing. Scranton’s graduate programs are offered in formats that include on-campus and online options.

 

The Graduate Open House begins on April 9 with registration at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of the DeNaples Center, followed by an alumni panel presentation at 6 p.m. Program-specific information sessions will run from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Optional campus tours are available from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The event is offered free of charge.

For more information or to make reservations, visit the Graduate Open House webpage or email gradadmissions@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton Political Dialogue Initiative will be hosting a political dialogue on March 25 from 7-9 p.m. The topic will be recent Executive Orders. This event will be held in the Kane Forum in Edward Leahy Hall (Room 235). Students will have the opportunity to share their perspectives and listen to learn from others in small group facilitated dialogue sessions that are interactive.

Students from a range of perspectives and backgrounds are invited to attend. Pre-registration is required for the dialogues here (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/execorders)

This event is co-sponsored by the Political Dialogues Working Group together with Student Government, College Democrats, College Republicans, the Philosophy Society and the Political Science Club.

These dialogues are part of an ongoing “Bursting Our Political Bubbles” Dialogue Initiative, which blends the reflective, structured dialogue methods of national non-profit Essential Partners with St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings of discernment and reflection. During the session, students will have a chance to engage and encounter each other's experiences and views - not debate or persuade - through structured dialogue to build understanding.

The University has organized similar discussions on campus since 2017. For further background and tips on how to engage in constructive dialogue that involves both sharing your views and listening to others’, click here.

If you have questions about this dialogue or the political dialogues initiative, email community@scranton.edu.

 

 

Nearly 120 area students from Valley View, Riverside, Western Wayne, Wallenpaupack, West Scranton and Scranton high schools were introduced to eight languages and cultures in rapid-fire lessons at a World Languages Day event at The University of Scranton. Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, German, French, Arabic and American Sign Language were taught in 15-minute interactive lessons led by University faculty and Fulbright teaching assistants.

“If you thought high school students would never sit through 15-minute lessons of eight different languages, just check out our event. It’s absolutely amazing and that’s a testament to our instructors and our mission to bring the world to people,” said Amy Kuiken, The University of Scranton Language Learning Center coordinator in the World Languages and Culture Department.

View the Fox 56 news story about the World Languages Day event at The University of Scranton reported by Samantha Durante, a 2024 graduate of the University.

We have eight different languages going on in the background today, and we wanted people to come with a sense that all of those languages can be really powerful,” said Kuiken in a WBRE News story about the event. WVIA News also covered the event.

Language lessons were led by Marzia Caporale, Ph.D., chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures, for Italian; Professor Chih-Yi Wu, Taiwanese Government Chinese Language Instructor, for Mandarin Chinese; Professor Fabián Bizcocho, Spanish Language Fulbright Teaching Assistant from Spain, for Spanish; Professor Erii Unuma, ALLEX Foundation Japanese Language Instructor, for Japanese; Professor Oliwia Doroszko, German Language Fulbright Teaching Assistant from Germany, for German; Professor Emma Leclercq, French Language Fulbright Teaching Assistant from France, for French; Professor Rym Ben Rehouma, Arabic Language Fulbright Teaching Assistant from Tunisia, for Arabic; and Professor MaryAnn Stefko, University of Scranton ASL adjunct professor, for American Sign Language.

View Language Learning Center Coordinator Amy Kuiken, in a WBRE News story about the about the World Languages Day event at The University of Scranton

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The high school students also learned about these cultures through interactive activities.

The 2^nd Annual World Language Day at Scranton was hosted by the Department of World Languages and Cultures with assistance from the Office of Admissions. This event was on March 4 in the Rose Room in Brennan Hall.

View photos and read more about The University of Scranton World Languages Day event at WVIA News. (Photo courtesy Aimee Dilger/WVIA News) 

By: Elizabeth Vander Neut, student correspondent

The University of Scranton celebrates this Women's History Month by recognizing the achievements of women throughout the institution's history. Continuing to promote the advancement of future generations of Royals, the Cultural Centers will host a series of events under the theme “Moving Forward Together."
 

A History of Progress
 

The University of Scranton’s commitment to gender equality has been marked by decades of milestones:

• 1971: Women were formally admitted to full-time undergraduate programs, sparking a notable increase in applications. The class of 1976 became the first to include female graduates who entered as full-time students.

• 1970s-1980s: Women's athletics gained momentum, with University teams excelling in competition within just a decade.

• 1980: Karen Pennington '76 became the first woman appointed as associate dean, paving the way for female leaders on campus.

• 1985: Women comprised 48 percent of the University's graduating class, reflecting the impact of increased female enrollment. It was also the largest graduating class of its time.

• 1991: The University approved a concentration in women’s studies, strengthening its academic focus on gender issues.

• 2001: The Women’s Center was renamed in honor of its founder, Jane Kopas, Ph.D., to recognize her influential work in advancing women's advocacy on campus.
  
  View a pictorial timeline recognizing women's contributions to the life of the University.
  
  

Looking Ahead

The Cultural Centers will host a series of events under the theme “Moving Forward Together” to honor these contributions and engage the University community.

Highlighting this observance is the upcoming event, “Rooted & Rising – An Intersectional Celebration of the Feminine,” scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 at 6 p.m. in the DeNaples Center, Room 407. This event will provide uplifting performances, dialogue and activities to foster empowerment among women on campus.

For more information on upcoming events and how to participate, contact the Cultural Centers at jkwc@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton’s Weinberg Memorial Library is seeking donations and volunteers for its annual book sale. The library will accept donations of clean, properly stored books and unscratched CDs and DVDs. A library staff member can assist with donation drop-offs, by appointment. For details, contact Melisa Gallo at 570-941-6195. Donations will be accepted until Friday, April 18.

All proceeds from the book sale will benefit the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Endowment, which supports library collections and services. The event is organized by The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library, library staff and volunteers.

The book sale is scheduled for Saturday, April. 26, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 27, from noon to 4 p.m. for the general public. A special preview sale for current members of the Friends of the Library will be held on Friday, April 25, from 4 to 9 p.m. The sale will occur in the fifth-floor Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

For additional information or to volunteer, please contact Melisa Gallo, chair of the library book sale committee, at 570-941-6195. To check your Friends Membership status, please contact Kym Fetsko at 570-941-7816.

Jordan Levin, who attends Council Rock High School in Holland, came in first place in The University of Scranton’s 24th annual Northeast PA Brain Bee competition, held on campus in February. Rishi Shah, who attends Livingston High School in Livingston, New Jersey, came in second place, and Vaishnavi Kakani, who attends Chantilly High School in Herndon, Virginia, came in third place.

The academic competition for high school students in grades nine through 12 was offered free of charge. The event was sponsored by the Neuroscience Program at the University and the Scranton Neuroscience Society.

For more information about next year’s Northeast PA Brain Bee competition, contact Robert Waldeck, Ph.D., neuroscience program director and associate professor of biology, at 570-941-4324 or robert.waldeck@scranton.edu.

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