General News

The University of Scranton hosted Rabbi Abraham Skorka, Ph.D., a globally recognized scholar, author and longtime collaborator of Pope Francis, at its recent Judaic Studies Institute Lecture.

Dr. Skorka’s lecture, titled “The Pope and the Rabbi: My Story of Friendship and Dialogue with Pope Francis,” took place Tuesday, May 12, at the Pearn Auditorium inside Brennan Hall. It was free and open to the public.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dr. Skorka highlighted his decades-long relationship with Pope Francis, a fellow Argentine. Dr. Skorka and Pope Francis’ friendship began in the second half of the 1990s and evolved through ongoing dialogue grounded in mutual respect and intellectual exchange. They collaborated on the 2013 book “On Heaven and Earth,” which explored topics including faith, family and the role of the Church in the modern world.

The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute was created at Scranton in 1979 through an endowment funded by the local Jewish community. The lecture is one of the program’s annual highlights. Marc B. Shapiro, Ph.D., professor and chair of theology and religious studies at The University of Scranton, serves as its chair.

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From Friday, May 22, through Sunday, May 24, The University of Scranton welcomed thousands of guests who arrived with the shared motive of celebrating Scranton's newest graduates.

Karen L. Pennington, Ph.D. '76, G'83, H'15, was among commencement's most active participants. Dr. Pennington, a longtime higher education administrator, was in town to celebrate her 50-year class reunion and to also serve as the principal speaker who imparted wisdom upon the 900-plus undergraduate and 450-plus graduate members of the Class of 2026.

"Some of us old-timers are back here today because there's something about this University that not only lives in your memory, but that gets in your bones and never goes away," Dr. Pennington said at the undergraduate commencement ceremony. "It's not just the cura personalis that was part of your Ignatian experience; it's the community of which you have been and will always be a part. There are faculty members whose words will come to you at the strangest times. There are lessons you learned that you won't even realize you learned until you need them. And those people sitting beside you, those classmates who were there — they're so much a part of your Scranton days and will continue to be so important to you at your best and your worst times."

In case you missed it, here are a few stories covering one of the best times of year at The University of Scranton:

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Scranton Holds 2026 Undergraduate Commencement (Full Story + Photos)

Curious about this year's most common majors? The most populous states? The distinguished individuals who received honorary degrees?

We've got you covered. Click here to read more about the undergraduate commencement ceremony. Follow this link to watch it.

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Graduate Commencement Held at Mohegan Arena (Full Story + Photos)

For master's and doctoral graduates at The University of Scranton, commencement offered an opportunity for class speaker Harshil Nariya G'26, of Enola, to reflect on the empathy, resilience and sense of responsibility he and his classmates developed at Scranton.

Click here to read the full story from graduate commencement. An archived video recording is available at this link.

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Class of 2026 Selects Teachers of the Year

The University’s graduating senior Class of 2026 awarded this year’s Teacher of the Year to Sinchul Back, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the cybercrime and homeland security program; and Andrew Venezia, Ph.D., associate professor of health and human performance.

Click here to read more about the faculty members and their meaningful award.

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Outstanding Graduates Recognized at Class Night

The University of Scranton honored 65 members of its undergraduate Class of 2026 for academic excellence, leadership and service at a Class Night ceremony.

Click here for a list of all the award winners and their awards.

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Top Master's, Doctoral Graduates Awarded

The University of Scranton recognized 34 outstanding master’s and doctoral degree graduates at its graduate commencement events.

Click here to read more about the graduate honorees.

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Scranton Graduates Commissioned as Second Lieutenants

Five members of The University of Scranton's Class of 2026, along with three additional members from other regional colleges, were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

Click here to read more about the Royal Warrior Battalion.

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Additionally, the University was featured in a handful of news articles and videos about topics unrelated to graduation:

• WBRE visited the IDEA Center at Weiss Hall
• The Hope Horn Gallery's anthracite art was featured on WVIA
• WNEP spoke with a faculty member about bird migration

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Continue reading Royal News all year round to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings at Scranton.

The Scranton Brass Orchestra will perform a “pops” concert on Sunday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center at The University of Scranton. Admission is free. The performance is open to the public with doors opening at 6:50 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

The program for the concert features compositions, arrangements and transcriptions for brass band/brass orchestra, including pops hits, Disney favorites and music for film. The evening’s fare will include Malcolm Arnold’s "Four Scottish Dances," Turrin’s "Overture for Brass," a number of Disney favorites, the theme from "Bridge Over The River Kwai" and more.

The Scranton Brass Orchestra is under the direction of Cheryl Y. Boga and is presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton. Co-founded by Dr. Hal Baillie and Mark Gould, the fully professional 26-member ensemble comprised of brass and percussion players/teachers from the region is entering its 14th season. The group's performances are free of charge, open to the public and have often featured nationally and internationally acclaimed guests, including many of the most respected brass players of our time. The group made its debut before hundreds of appreciative audience members in June 2011 and has since garnered acclaim from both audiences and musicians alike.

For additional information, visit scranton.edu/music or email music@scranton.edu.

George Aulisio, Ph.D., dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize competition.

This year’s winning projects in the three prize categories are:

Undergraduate Foundational Winner: Lucas Camacho, for the project, Building Habits that Last a Lifetime, completed in WRTG 107: Composition taught by Prof. Dawn D'Aries Zera, adjunct faculty member, English and theatre.

Undergraduate Upper-level Winner: Hannah Horn, for the project, Money Laundering through Online Gambling, completed in CJ 231: Environmental Criminology taught by Ismail Onat, Ph.D., associate professor; criminal justice, cybersecurity and sociology.

Graduate Winner: Aaron T. Redis, for the project, Seeing Trauma Differently: Evaluating the Efficacy of EMDR Across Varying Abilities and Contexts, completed in COUN 521: Physical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability taught by Samantha Herrick, Ph.D., associate professor, counseling and human services.

Currently celebrating its 16th year, the Weinberg Memorial Library inaugurated the prize in 2011 to recognize excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge of the methods of research and the information gathering process and use of library resources, tools and services. In 2017, the prize was named for Professor Emerita Bonnie W. Oldham, who founded the prize at the University in 2011.

The Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize was fully endowed in 2019 and consists of a prize of $500 awarded to winning projects in each of the three categories: Undergraduate Foundational (100-level projects), Undergraduate Upper-level (200- to 400-level projects) and Graduate. Winning projects and descriptions of the research process submitted by the student winners will be deposited into the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Collection this summer.

The following projects were selected by the judges as Honorable Mentions:

Undergraduate Foundational Honorable Mention: Emma McMahon, for the project, Prioritizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Over Pharmacotherapy, completed in WRTG 107: Composition taught by Prof. D'Aries Zera.

Undergraduate Foundational Honorable Mention: Abigail Wall, for the project, Does Telehealth Improve Access to Healthcare or Compromise the Quality of it?, completed in WRTG 107: Composition taught by Prof. D'Aries Zera.

Undergraduate Upper-level Honorable Mention: Corinne R. Langowski, for the project, Predicting Developmental Outcomes in Toddlers with Early Language Delay Using the Preschool Language Scale — Fifth Edition, completed in CSD 412: Introduction to Research Methods taught by Joseph Motzko, Au.D., adjunct faculty member, health and human performance.

Undergraduate Upper-level Honorable Mention: Faith E. Montagnino, for the project, The Wound as Method: Pain, Language, and Feminist Knowledge in Confessional and Post-Confessional Poetry, completed in WRTG 489H: Honors Project II mentored by Billie Tadros, Ph.D., associate professor of English and theatre.

Prize winners were honored at an awards ceremony on Friday, May 22, in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

A special thank you to the judges of this year’s competition: Kate Cummings, Colleen Farry, Corinne Flynn, Margaret Lakomy, Michael Landram, Bonnie Markowski, Bill Miller, Linda Mlodzienski, Ian O’Hara, Ashley Stampone, Ben Willis and Xinyu Zhou.

Eighteen local high school students graduated this spring from The University of Scranton's University of Success, a four-year program designed to provide academic, social and cultural enrichment to high school students.

Continuing a tradition that spans decades, the Class of 2026 successfully completed its journey and helped the program achieve its goal of assisting first-generation, college-bound students in completing high school and gaining entrance into a college or university or confidently pursuing the next steps that best fit their personal goals.

The University of Scranton will enroll five of the 18 graduates whose intended majors include accounting, chemistry, cybercrime and homeland security, business and early childhood education and special education. Students will also matriculate to Harrisburg University, Howard University, Lehigh University, Liberty University, Loyola University, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh.

Below are this year’s University of Success graduates, listed alongside their high schools and colleges and intended majors or career paths:

Royli Jesus Ayala, West Scranton — Loyola University, Biology Pre-Med

Sophia Chen, Delaware Valley — Penn State, International Relations

Trent Coffield, Commonwealth Cyber School — Harrisburg University, Cybersecurity

Corey Condon, Dunmore — Marywood University, Communications

Luis Angel Espino, West Scranton — Misericordia University, Neuroscience Pre-Med

Vishwa Gandhi, Riverside — The University of Scranton, Accounting

Lucianna Gonzales, Abington Heights — Liberty University, Biomedical Science

Emily McDonald, Wyoming Valley West — Luzerne County Community College, Nursing

Joshua Miranda, Cyber School Scranton — Art Pursuits

Elany Nunez, West Scranton — Lehigh University, International Relations

Engel Ovalles, West Scranton — Marywood University, Architecture

Yadhira Paromo, West Scranton — The University of Scranton, Chemistry

Juan Ramos, West Scranton — The University of Scranton, Cybercrime and Homeland Security

Elias Rios, West Scranton — The University of Scranton, Business

Brandon Sanchez, West Scranton — Gap Year, Business Owner

K’lea Palukonis, Abington Heights — University of Pittsburgh, Early Childhood Education and Special Education

Nmesoma Clare Udoye, Scranton — Howard University, Public Health

Layla Weeks, Abington Heights — The University of Scranton, Early Childhood Education and Special Education

The University of Success is funded entirely by corporate and foundation grants, ensuring there is no charge to students and their families. The program was created in 1996 and graduated its first full class in 2001. Applications are accepted and new students are admitted each year. The deadline for applications for the Class of 2030 closed earlier this spring.

Members of The University of Scranton community gathered in Leahy Hall’s Kane Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 17, for the annual presentation of the Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Award as part of the monthly Jesuit Spirituality Luncheon. 

This year, the University presented the Arrupe Award to M. Shawn Copeland, Ph.D., professor emerita of systematic theology in the Department of Theology at Boston College.

At the ceremony, Dr. Copeland presented a lecture called "Healing and Creating in History: The Redemptive Praxis of Christian Community,” providing members of the Scranton community an opportunity to hear her discuss her work and philosophy.

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Born in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Copeland received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1969 from Madonna College and became a Felician religious sister.

For four decades, Copeland taught courses in theology at institutions across the United States and conducted field-defining research at the intersection of the Catholic, Black and Feminist traditions. Her books include "Enfleshing Freedom: Body, Race, and Being (2010)" and "Knowing Christ Crucified: The Witness of African American Religious Experience (2018)." In addition to her work in the academy, she has also lectured at parishes across the country.

The University of Scranton established the Arrupe Award in 1995 to recognize individuals who have furthered in a significant way the Ignatian mission. It is named for the late Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus and sometimes referred to as its “second founder.”

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Philip E. Auerswald, Ph.D., professor of public policy at George Mason University, recently presented “How We Got to Now,” the keynote lecture at The University of Scranton's Spring Henry George Seminar.

Over 300 students, faculty, alumni and community members attended the lecture on Wednesday, April 15, at the McIlhenny Ballroom inside the DeNaples Center. The lecture reflected Dr. Auerswald's extensive research on technology-driven growth, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development. 

Dr. Auerswald currently serves as co-chair and executive director of the Global Entrepreneurship Research Network, an initiative of the Kauffman Foundation; is a Senior Fellow at George Mason's Mercatus Center; and is the cofounder and editor of "Innovations," a quarterly journal about entrepreneurial solutions to global challenges published by MIT Press.

A distinguished author, Dr. Auerswald's most recent book, "The Code Economy: A Forty-Thousand Year History," was released in 2017. The book discusses the ways in which code has driven human development throughout history.

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Dr. Auerswald received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale University. From 2010 to 2013, he was an advisor to the Clinton Global Initiative.

Financial support for the Henry George Seminar is provided by a grant from the Progress and Poverty Institute. The lecture series is organized and presented by the Kania School of Management's Department of Economics, Finance and International Business and the XI chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon. The series is named in honor of the 19th-century American economist and social reformer and has hosted many of the world's leading economists.

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

The University of Scranton from Friday, May 22, through Sunday, May 24, will celebrate its undergraduate and graduate Class of 2026.

Thousands of guests are expected for a wide range of on- and off-campus events, making this — combined with Memorial Day weekend — one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the Greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area.

Many of the University's colleges and programs host their own celebrations throughout the weekend, leading up to Sunday's commencement ceremonies.

More than 900 bachelor's degrees will be awarded at the undergraduate commencement ceremony. The degree recipients span 14 states, as well as Ireland and Ukraine. Additionally, 450-plus master's and doctoral degrees will be awarded at the graduate commencement ceremony.

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🗓️ KEY EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAY 22

4 p.m. Leahy College of Health Sciences Outstanding Graduate Awards Ceremony at the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall.

5:30 p.m. Kania School of Management Reception at the fifth floor of Brennan Hall.

7:30 p.m. Class Night, recognizing undergraduates for academic achievement, leadership and service, at the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

SATURDAY, MAY 23

9 a.m. Pinning Ceremony for nursing graduates at the Byron Recreation Complex.

11:30 a.m. Multicultural Graduation Celebration at the Byron Recreation Complex.

1 p.m. ROTC Commissioning at the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

2:45 p.m. Class of 2026 Legacy Photo at the Loyola Science Center.

4 p.m. Baccalaureate Mass at the Byron Recreation Complex.

5:30 p.m. A Royal Toast to the Class of 2026 at the Dionne Campus Green.

SUNDAY, MAY 24

9:45 a.m. Doors open for the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. Tickets are not required.

11 a.m. Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony begins.

12 p.m. Doctor of Physical Therapy Awards Ceremony at the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

3:45 p.m. Doors open for the Graduate Commencement Ceremony at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. Tickets are not required.

4:30 p.m. Graduate Commencement Ceremony begins.

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📍 LOCATIONS

Please refer to the University’s campus maps webpage for precise locations of school buildings.

Mohegan Arena, home of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins’ top minor league affiliate, is located at 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township, PA 18702, about 20 miles south of campus. Visit the arena’s website to review its clear bag policy and security procedures.

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🎥 LIVESTREAMS

Class Night (7:30 p.m. Friday)

Pinning Ceremony (9 a.m. Saturday)

Baccalaureate Mass (4 p.m. Saturday)

Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony (11 a.m. Sunday)

Graduate Commencement Ceremony (4:30 p.m. Sunday)

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ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Further details, including commencement photography and programs, could be found on the University's website.

Join the fun by following @UniversityofScranton on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn.

Former Dominican University president Donna M. Carroll, Ed.D., University of Scranton alumnus and attorney Vincent F. Reilly, Esq. ’80, and longtime educator Jack Raslowsky will receive honorary degrees from The University of Scranton at its undergraduate commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 24.

A fourth honorary degree will be conferred to legendary college and professional basketball coach P.J. Carlesimo. His degree will be awarded at a later date.

Dr. Carroll is a lifelong leader in Catholic, Jesuit higher education who served from 1994 to 2021 as president of Dominican University in Illinois. She was the first lay president of Dominican. Using a mission-centered, student-focused approach, she guided the institution through major transformations while advancing equity, supporting students on the margins and raising the university’s national profile.

Dr. Carroll is a former member of the Board of Trustees at The University of Scranton. She has served since 2024 as president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, which serves as the collective voice of Catholic higher education in the U.S.

Reilly is a lawyer, philanthropist and alumnus whose life reflects cura personalis and service to those in need. He was the law partner of fellow Royal Kevin O’Brien, Esq. ’80, for 17 years before founding Reilly, McDevitt and Henrich, where he is the firm’s co-managing partner and has emphasized service to clients of modest means.

Reilly’s generosity extends to community service, parish life and education. Deeply connected to his alma mater, Reilly served multiple terms on The University of Scranton’s Board of Trustees, including as chair from 2022-2025. In 2015, he was awarded the University’s prestigious Frank J. O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award.

Raslowsky is a veteran Jesuit secondary education leader whose career spans 35-plus years as a teacher, administrator and president. In 2009, he became the first lay president of Xavier High School (New York City), where he has since championed human dignity, inclusion and spiritual formation.

A strong advocate for social justice, Raslowsky has integrated Ignatian values into leadership and service in and out of the classroom, serving on numerous faith-based boards. He will retire from Xavier following the 2026-2027 academic year.

Deeply connected to Jesuit values and The University of Scranton, Carlesimo is a major supporter of Scranton athletics and the annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament and Award Dinner held in memory of his late father, Peter A. Carlesimo, a historic University coach and athletic director.

Carlesimo has coached major college programs and NBA teams and was an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s “Dream Team.” He won three NBA titles as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs and won 212 games as an NBA head coach. He is currently a prominent basketball broadcaster.

Douglas Brinkley, Ph.D., a New York Times best-selling author, was previously announced as this year’s undergraduate principal speaker. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Dr. Brinkley will not be able to attend commencement. Karen L. Pennington, Ph.D. ’76, G’83, H’15, will serve as the principal speaker for the undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies. 

The University’s undergraduate commencement ceremony, including the awarding of the honorary degrees, will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 24, at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township. Doors open at 9:45 a.m.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was updated on Wednesday, May 20, to reflect a change in the undergraduate commencement speaker.

The University of Scranton’s Mathematics Department hosted the annual Math Integration Bee on Tuesday, April 29, in the DeNaples Center's McIlhenny Ballroom.

Around 90 competitors from 16 high schools throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania competed in the Bee, which ran all evening.

Elijah Serota, of Wyoming Valley West High School, won the competition with four other finalists being selected. Those finalists were Natalie Barry, Martin Chen and John Masteller, all of Central Columbia High School; and Cayden Liu, of Southern Lehigh High School.

 

Students partaking in the Bee competed to solve definite and indefinite integral problems, a type of calculus problem, in order to win points to advance to the next round of the competition.

The Math Integration Bee helps high school students improve their skills for Advanced Placement mathematics tests and was open to the public.

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Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania’s 22nd Senatorial District Marty Flynn, the incumbent, and Jeffrey Lake participated in a primary debate on Thursday, May 7, at The University of Scranton.

Voters filled the Pearn Auditorium at Brennan Hall, where the debate was hosted by the University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS).

The hourlong debate was moderated by Brian Snee, CEEPS director; livestreamed and broadcasted by ECTV; and covered by virtually all media in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Among the media members in attendance were three local journalists — Donnie Collins of the Times-Tribune, Jake Higgins of the Times Leader and Borys Krawczeniuk of WVIA — who served as panelists and asked the candidates questions.

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More than 100 people attended the debate, filling most seats inside the Pearn Auditorium.

In the fall, CEEPS also organized and executed debates featuring Lackawanna County Commissioner candidates and Scranton Mayoral candidates.

The primary election is May 19.

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The University of Scranton is accepting applications for Cohort 6 of its Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program (NLCP), which will run from January 2027 through January 2028. The deadline to apply is June 12, 2026.

Applications can be submitted by following this link to the Nonprofit and Community Assistance Center (NCAC) website.

The NLCP, housed in the Kania School of Management, is designed to be broad-based, hands-on and practitioner-focused to help high-potential nonprofit leaders tackle the pressing leadership challenges in organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Since the program’s inception in 2016, 87 nonprofit professionals from 65 regional organizations have graduated from the program. Cohort 5 included 19 community leaders who completed the program. The NLCP has created a network of high-performing individuals serving at nonprofit institutions, in addition to building an informal regional network of mentors and coaches for emerging nonprofit leaders.

Douglas Boyle, DBA'88, CPA, CMA, Accounting Department chair and founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program, noted the program fulfills a critical need in the region.

“The NLCP creates an ecosystem for new and emerging leaders to collaborate on solving an organizational challenge and strengthening their leadership skills," Dr. Boyle said. "The cohort-based approach assures that by building strong relationships, each participant gains a network of peers with specialized skills that they can gain insights from long after graduation. The program assists the organizations with succession planning, nurtures future collaborations with the nonprofit sector and most importantly yields strong and resilient leaders.”

Sessions are led in-person by Kania School of Management faculty and peer group coaches with deep expertise in nonprofit management and practical leadership tools. The program includes work towards specific organizational and personal goals, peer group work, mentorship, and academic leadership components.

For additional information, visit the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program webpage or contact one of the NLCP co-directors: Kurt Bauman at kbauman@nepa-alliance.org; Jesse Ergott at jesse.ergott@scranton.edu.

A trailblazing member of a landmark graduating class in The University of Scranton’s history, Karen L. Pennington, Ph.D. ’76, G’83, H’15, will return to deliver remarks as the keynote speaker at this year’s graduate commencement ceremony.

Dr. Pennington, who led strategic initiatives and managed complex departments through periods of growth and transition as a senior director in higher education, holds three degrees from Scranton and also worked for five years at her alma mater. Notably, her undergraduate class, the Class of 1976, was the University’s first undergraduate, full-time student class to include women.

“As one of the first women to graduate from The University of Scranton, Dr. Pennington’s role in the history of our institution cannot be understated. It is through such moments that values take root and communities learn how to grow toward greater justice and belonging,” said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president. “Dr. Pennington has a keen understanding of this concept, as it has informed her own leadership in higher education, marked by inclusion and a steady commitment to the well-being and dignity of students and communities alike.”

This year’s graduate commencement will begin at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township. Doors open at 3:45 p.m. The undergraduate commencement will be held earlier in the day, beginning at 11 a.m.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in history from Scranton, Dr. Pennington worked at Gannon University and Ohio University before returning to her alma mater in 1980. Over the next five years at Scranton, she was an associate dean of students and director of student activities whose duties included managing the production of all activities for 50 co-curricular student organizations and overseeing the functions of elected student government and class officers.

From Scranton, Dr. Pennington held positions at the State University of New York at New Paltz and State University of New York at Geneseo until landing in January 1998 at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

Dr. Pennington worked at Montclair State for 22-plus years as vice president for student development and campus life. As its chief student affairs officer, Dr. Pennington was one of seven vice presidents who, with the president, set the University’s general policy and direction. She was responsible for hiring and developing staff; supervising and coordinating 23 departments and 300-plus employees; and serving as a media spokesperson for all activities involving students. Shortly before retiring in 2021, Dr. Pennington was awarded Montclair State’s Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Dr. Pennington credits The University of Scranton as being a formative and deeply influential part of her life. In particular, she says John R. Gavigan ’42, former vice president of student affairs and namesake of the University’s Gavigan Hall, instilled in her an appreciation for the purpose of serving and helping college students.

Dr. Pennington received an honorary degree in 2015 from The University of Scranton.

EDITOR'S NOTE (Wednesday, May 20, 2026): Due to unforeseen circumstances, Douglas Brinkley, Ph.D., will not be able to attend commencement. He will accept an honorary degree at a future date. Karen L. Pennington, Ph.D. ’76, G’83, H’15, who was previously announced as the graduate commencement speaker, will address the undergraduates, as well. Read more about Dr. Pennington at this link.

The information below reflects the original announcement at the time of publication.

 

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Douglas Brinkley, Ph.D., a best-selling author, award-winning producer and nationally celebrated historian and scholar, will serve as the principal speaker at The University of Scranton’s 2026 undergraduate commencement ceremony. Dr. Brinkley will address Scranton’s Class of 2026 on Sunday, May 24, at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township.

Dr. Brinkley’s prolific career has included authoring, editing and contributing to dozens of books and hundreds of essays. He has covered topics including American foreign policy, the presidency and the environment, as well as the lives of transformative figures such as Jack Kerouac, Rosa Parks and Hunter S. Thompson.

Among Dr. Brinkley’s New York Times bestselling books are his biography of Walter Cronkite, which won Fordham University’s Ann M. Sperber Prize, and “The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” which earned the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book Award. He also won a pair of Grammy Awards as a co-producer of the albums “Presidential Suite” and “Fandango at the Wall in New York.”

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Brinkley to Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he will address our graduating students at an important moment in their lives,” said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president. “Dr. Brinkley has demonstrated that history, when researched with care and written with authority, can inform, inspire and endure.”

Additionally, Dr. Brinkley is a leading voice in the environmental conservation and historic preservation community with service that has included board membership and advisory leadership in support of organizations at the forefront of protecting America’s natural beauty.

“Dr. Brinkley’s writing invites readers to see history not as possession, but as gift, entrusted to each generation anew,” Father Marina said. “In that spirit, he has taken his words and thoughts and put them into action, advocating for the preservation of our nation’s natural and historic treasures. He reminds us that the finest form of scholarship comes when intellect and action align in service of the common good.”

Dr. Brinkley was born in Atlanta, Georgia, before moving as a child to Perrysburg, Ohio. He pursued the study of U.S. history at Ohio State University and was awarded a fellowship to Georgetown University, where he immersed himself in the study of U.S. diplomatic history, and received master’s and doctorate degrees.

Dr. Brinkley’s early career included faculty positions at the U.S. Naval Academy, Princeton University and Hofstra University. As part of his “American Odyssey” course at Hofstra, he traveled across the country with students to historic landmarks that shaped America. The ambitious nature of his course drew national attention with write-ups in publications like The New York Times and SPIN magazine. Dr. Brinkley has since taught at the University of New Orleans and Tulane University.

He is currently the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities at Rice University. He is also CNN’s presidential historian and a Vanity Fair contributor.

Dr. Brinkley will receive an honorary degree at the undergraduate commencement ceremony, which will be followed by the graduate commencement ceremony, also held at Mohegan Arena. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. Undergraduate commencement activities are set to begin at 11 a.m. and graduate activities at 4:30 p.m.

The countdown to commencement is on.

The University of Scranton's 2025-26 academic year is winding down, as the last day of class is Friday, May 15, with undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies to follow on Sunday, May 24.

In case you missed it, here are some of the many University students, employees and groups putting in hard work to finish the year strong.

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Scranton FBLA Students Win 4 State Championships, Place in 16 Events

The University of Scranton’s rise to the top as a premier institution for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) continued with its most recent performance. Scranton students combined to place in 16 events, winning four state championships with five runner-up finishes, at the recent FBLA State Leadership Conference.

Click here to read more about this year's champions and the categories they won.

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Restored 500-Year-Old Painting With Hidden Figure Unveiled at University of Scranton

The University held a public unveiling of "Madonna and Child with the Young St. John the Baptist," a 16th-century painting, which, during restoration, revealed an original background that was long covered.

For additional coverage, visit the Times-Tribune, Fox56 and WNEP.

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Scranton Professors Win Coveted National Ethics Award a Third Consecutive Time

University of Scranton professors are influencing financial professionals worldwide, while their work earns top national honors. The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) recently recognized the distinguished contributions of Douglas M. Boyle, DBA ’88, professor and chair of accounting, and Daniel P. Haggerty, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, two of three authors of the article that earned the 2026 Curt Verschoor Ethics Feature of the Year Award. 

Click here to read more about Dr. Boyle, Dr. Haggerty and their award-winning research.

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Alpha Sigma Nu Selects Top Teacher of 2026

Student members of the University’s chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for students in Jesuit colleges and universities, selected Kim Pavlick, Ph.D., assistant communication and media professor, as their Teacher of the Year.

Click here to read more about Dr. Pavlick's selection.

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‘Go Baby Go’ a Meaningful, Practical Application of Students’ Skills (VIDEO)

The University’s Go Baby Go chapter had 70 students from 11 majors volunteer for this year’s program, working together to modify 10 custom, ride-on, toys cars that were adapted to meet childrens' unique needs.

Click here to read more about the third annual Go Baby Go event and follow this link for WBRE's coverage.

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Scranton Teams Win Multiple Top Honors at IEEE Conference

More than 300 students and faculty/staff members from 35 colleges and universities participated at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Region 1 and 2 Student Activities Conference (SAC) in New Jersey. Only six events were held — and Scranton’s IEEE branch won two of them, placing first in the Mini Pupper and MicroMouse competitions.

Click here to read more about the regional competition that tested students' engineering, programming and problem-solving skills through robotics.

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University of Scranton 10-Year Employees Honored at Pro Deo Event

The University of Scranton’s Order of Pro Deo honored its newest group of silver medallion awardees — denoting 10 years of employment at Scranton — at a recent induction ceremony.

Click here to read more about who was honored by the organization that was established at Scranton in 1961.

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Additional Headlines:

More Than a Dozen University of Scranton Grad Programs Ranked by U.S. News | Click to Read More

Hayes Family Science Competition Brings ‘Waves’ of Innovation to Scranton | Click to Read More

Organizers Share Takeaways from AI Conference | Click to Read More

Associate Provost Earns Selection to Leadership Institute | Click to Read More

ALL In Student Voting Honor Roll Recognizes Grace Lennox '26 | Click to Read More

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Through May 8     Art Exhibit: “Art Educators Make Art: Pennsylvania Art Educators Association Northeast Juried Exhibition.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

May 1-3     8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Performance: “The Apiary” presented by The University of Scranton Players. Studio Theatre, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu.

May 1     9 a.m. Applied Ethics in an Era of Globalization: Perspectives from East and West. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center on April 30 and Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall on May 1. Free. Conference Program https://tinyurl.com/GlobalEthics2026Scranton. Email asianstudies@scranton.edu for questions.

May     Online 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. 

May 2     9:30 a.m. NOYCE Science Camp.  Sponsored by The University of Scranton NSF Noyce Program. Registration is free. Kane Forum, Leahy Hall.  Call 570-941-7491 or email jason.graham@scranton.edu.

May 2     7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “43^rd Annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Concert Band and Concert Choir performance of two new works by guest composer/conductor Ahmed Alom. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

May 5    11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Wise Words: Ancient Egypt’s Wisdom Tradition” presented by Jennifer Houser Wegner, Ph.D., curator, Egyptian section, Penn Museum, and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of Pennsylvania. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu.

May 6     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.

May 8    7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton String Orchestra. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

May 12     7:30 p.m. Judaic Studies Institute Lecture: “The Pope and the Rabbi: My Story of Friendship and Dialogue with Pope Francis” by Abraham (Armando) Skorka, Ph.D., author and Senior Research Fellow for Jewish Studies and Jewish-Catholic Relations, Georgetown University. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall.  Free. 570-941-7956 or marc.shapiro@scranton.edu.

May 16    7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital” featuring John Wilson, piano. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. 

May 23    4 p.m. Commencement Baccalaureate Mass. Byron Recreation Complex. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu.

May 24    11 a.m. Undergraduate Commencement. Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Wilkes-Barre. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu.

May 24    4:30 p.m. Graduate Commencement. Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Wilkes-Barre. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu.

May 29    5:30 p.m. Schemel Forum Collaborative Program: “Vin et Vues: Loire Valley and its Wines” presented by David Falchek, CAE, IOM, CMP, wine writer and critic, including for Wine and Spirits Magazine and The Scranton Times-Tribune, and former executive director of the American Wine Society. Wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, lecture, and discussion. Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Registration required. Fee $60. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu.

When a new extracurricular program is introduced, there’s no telling how long it may take to build name recognition and widespread participation.

The University of Scranton’s chapter of Go Baby Go, however, proved to be an instant success that continues growing as its third annual event approaches on Sunday, May 3.

“Nobody gets paid for this, it’s not a requirement for any classes,” said Kaitlyn Gelman, an occupational therapy graduate student from Hackensack, New Jersey. “Everyone just does it because they love it. They love what they do.”

And what they do is take miniature toy cars and implement modifications — such as replacing the foot pedal with a push button or switch, relocating the steering wheel or adding padded crossbars, among other measures — and then donating those cars to local children with disabilities. The process began months ago, when the University’s Go Baby Go volunteers met with the children and their families to best inform the type of modifications that were needed.

“The feeling at the end is so rewarding when you see the kids drive out from behind the curtain for the first time,” Gelman said.

The unveiling and first drive will happen at Sunday’s event, which will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Byron Recreation Complex. It is open to the public and will feature food, games, a photo booth and more.

“Go Baby Go has been very special to me,” said Kathleen Egan, an occupational therapy graduate student from Rockville Centre, New York. “I’ve been a part of it for all three years of its chapter here at Scranton. I just think it’s such an exciting way to use the skills we learn in class for real-life application.

“A lot of times, you can sit in class and learn things. But to see them come to life — and see how mobility and independence can change a child’s life, through play — is so exciting.”

In total, the University’s Go Baby Go chapter had 70 students from 11 majors volunteer for this year’s program. Together, they worked as 10 teams to create 10 cars.

Go Baby Go is a national, community-based research, design and outreach program, which, at Scranton, is supported by the Edward R. Leahy Jr. Endowment.

“We really believe in mobility as a human right. Kids don’t just need medically assisted mobility; they need to have fun and they need to play,” said Stephanie DeNaples, occupational therapy faculty specialist. “This program really exemplifies the idea of working with each family and child and supplying their unique needs.”

For more information, visit the organization on Instagram and Facebook.

The University of Scranton Players will soon present "The Apiary," written by Kate Douglas and directed by University of Scranton alum Sam Morales '11. "The Apiary" will feature original music by University of Scranton alum Kiley Lotz '13 and choreography by Kirsten Kaschock.

The production will run from Wednesday, April 29, to Sunday, May 3. All performances will be at 8 p.m. except for a Sunday show at 2 p.m. The performances will be in the Studio Theater in the McDade Center for the Literary and Performing Arts on The University of Scranton campus.

"The Apiary" takes place in a synthetic honeybee laboratory 20 years into the future. Three women working in the laboratory are tasked with trying to keep the last few bee colonies alive in a world where they are rapidly dying off. When an unfortunate incident leads to a shocking discovery and a sudden increase in the bee population, the women must decide how far they are willing to go to keep the population growing. "The Apiary" warns us that the key to protecting ourselves and the planet is right in front of us, if only we would listen.

The company of "The Apiary" features: Myracle Brunette of Rockaway Beach, New York; Cassidy Lowman of Harrisburg; Gabriella Palmer of Phoenixville; Arion Solomon of Queens, New York; Lauren Spratt of Philadelphia; Nicole Tonny of Scranton; and Ava Wheeler of Scranton.

Reservations can be made by following this link.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $7 for senior citizens, students and University of Scranton faculty and staff. First-year students at the University can see the show for free on the first weekend.

For more information, contact the University Players box office at 570-941-4318 or visit the Players on  Facebook and Instagram.

Get a preview of the 2026 spring issue of The Scranton Journal!

The cover story of the University alumni magazine's spring issue focuses on Scranton’s alumni mentoring culture and the moments that spark it. Across disciplines, Royal alumni support career growth through guidance, hiring and networking. Find out more about how these relationships foster connection and shape students’ paths long after graduation.

• [Video interview] At a Royals 2 Royals networking reception, students connect with alumni across generations for honest, unscripted career advice.
  
  
• Kania School of Management makes mentorship a priority.
  
  

What else is inside this issue?

Time capsule: Take a walk through history, with highlights on Royal classes celebrating their milestone years in 2026. From fitness to fit checks, musical theater to campus transformations, the photos and details bring to life events that occurred during those anniversary years.

Also, features, alumni profiles, photo collections from signature events, and campus news On the Panuska Commons, including:

• Lady Royals team makes history with stunning win over Pitt 
  
  [Video] Scranton Community Celebrates Lady Royals at John Long Center

• Former U.S. Senator Bob Casey discusses his enduring bond with Scranton and his new role engaging Royals to service as the University's Leahy Distinguished Fellow
  

• Alumnus charts a global path to public service in Washington, D.C.
  
  
• CAS Dean Carolyn McNamara Barry, Ph.D. speaks One-on-One with The Scranton Journal.
  
  
• The University unveils a new strategic plan rooted in Jesuit values and a renewed vision
  
  

And, don't forget about Class Notes and online exclusives, including Alumni Photo Central.

Read all this and more in the fall issue of The Scranton Journal online at scranton.edu/journal.

Six student musicians from Performance Music at The University of Scranton performed in the annual Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival. Accompanied by their directors Cheryl Y. Boga and Janelle Decker, the six students participated in the event Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12, at the oldest continuously running intercollegiate band festival in the nation. It is run by the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmasters Association.

This year's festival was hosted by Bucknell University and its director of bands, William Kenny and led by acclaimed composer/conductor Frank Ticheli. A number of Ticheli's compositions were featured on the program.

The Scranton students who were selected and participated:

• Joseph Dolan '26, a computer science major from Conshohocken – Tenor Saxophone

• Michael Duarte '29, a computer science major from Ambler – Percussion

• Danielle Fernandez '26, an occupational therapy major from, Chatham, New Jersey – Flute

• Liam Gronwall '26, a finance major from Sidney, New York – Tenor Saxophone

• Thomas Marine '26, a biochemistry major from Cockeysville, Maryland – Trumpet

• Caitlin Wilson '27, a biology major from Harrisburg – French Horn

The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. There is no music major at the University, and all enrolled Scranton students (undergraduate and graduate) from every major are eligible for membership in the University Bands, Performance Choir, String Orchestra and Ensembles, and Steel Pans, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year. Other programs within the department, including guest artist concerts, World Premiere Composition Series, Nelhybel Collection, and Scranton Brass Orchestra, closely coordinate programming with the student ensembles and offer unique opportunities for student musicians in the ensembles to hear, observe interact and perform with numerous world-class musicians and artist-teachers.

High school juniors and seniors who are considering applying to Scranton are encouraged to contact Performance Music to arrange to sit in on a rehearsal, meet the staff, attend a concert or tour the building.   

For further information on the Performance Music, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit the Performance Music website.

By Marcus Smith '27, Student Correspondent

It’s not every day that students get to work on prominent scientific research, but several graduate and undergraduate students from The University of Scranton had that opportunity last year at the helm of Riddhiman Medhi, Ph.D., from the University’s Chemistry Department.

The group of seven students worked closely with Dr. Medhi to figure out a solution to a problem that has plagued chemists for years.

“Metal nanoparticles in our field of research so far have been mostly made in water, and the moment you try to put them into any other liquid, they aggregate. These particles have optical properties, but when they aggregate, they lose their optical properties,” Dr. Medhi explained.

Over the course of three years and with the help of his student researchers, Dr. Medhi succeeded in stabilizing various metal particles, especially gold and silver, to a point where they could resist solvents that are used in chemistry research.

The ways metal nanoparticles can be studied have expanded dramatically because of the group’s research.

“Reactions that cannot be done in water can now be done, because now we're able to transfer them into other solvents and liquids where different kinds of chemistry are possible,” he said.

Madison Waltz ʼ27, a chemistry and history double-major from Dunmore, was one of the undergraduate students who took part in the lab research.

Working with Dr. Medhi was her first experience doing lab work when she joined the project in her freshman year at Scranton.

“Dr. Medhi was my general chemistry professor and I saw that he put some of his work with the nanoparticles on his lecture slides. I thought it was really cool, so I went to his office hours and the rest is history,” Waltz said.

She said that working on such groundbreaking scientific research was surprising, and not something she expected to be able to do as an undergraduate student.

Not only that, helping Dr. Medhi write the research paper proved to be helpful in her other classes, as well.

“Writing up certain sections, doing the background research for some of the work has been foundational to my abilities that I use now in my classes because it's just a different type of writing, very different to traditional stuff,” she explained.

In addition to working with students from Scranton, Dr. Medhi also collaborated with John C. Deàk, Ph.D., from Scranton’s Department of Chemistry, and T. Randall Lee, Ph.D., from the University of Houston in Houston, Texas, to conduct imaging of the nanoparticles being studied. 

“We need to look at the properties of the particles we made, so we measured their size using dynamic light scattering and high-resolution electron microscopy, and they helped with that,” Dr. Medhi said.

 Given the significance of the work Medhi and his team carried out, their paper was chosen as the cover article for the Nov. 2 issue of the scientific journal “Materials.”

“The main kind of advantage of our work is that it's a problem that a lot of researchers face,” Dr. Medhi said. “So I think when we published this work as a solution to this common problem, I think that's what kind of caught their attention and they made it a cover story because of the wide application…our work showed a broad scope of our methods being applicable and consistent across different types of particles.”

Waltz advised anybody considering conducting scientific research at an undergraduate level to just go out and communicate with their professors.

“Be upfront, talk to professors if you're interested in getting into research, send an email, go to their office hours. That’s what I did,” she said. “And over time, you learn, especially here at Scranton, that you have plenty of people around you to help you get better at research.”

One person's dedication can have a profound positive impact on the lives of many. 

On Nov. 5 in Manhattan, Regis High School recognized Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., H'04, as an individual of that caliber.

Fr. McShane, the Superior of the Scranton Jesuit Community, received the Regis 2025 Deo et Patriae Award at a reception held on Nov. 5 at the tuition-free and merit-based Jesuit High School in New York. Fr. McShane led The University of Scranton as president from 1998 to 2003. 

The award is given annually by Regis, to "a person who has served Regis and the community in a distinguished capacity during the course of his or her life," as described in an article on the school's website. 


(Photo Courtesy Regis High School / Regis.org)
Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., Superior of the Scranton Jesuit Community, received the Regis 2025 Deo et Patriae Award at a reception on Nov. 5 at Regis High School in New York. Shown are, from left, Russell Quiñones, Regis REACH program director; Maureen Barry, Regis vice president for advancement; Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., and Rev. Christopher J. Devron, S.J., Regis president. 

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Fr. McShane, a member of the Regis Class of 1967 and the former President of Fordham University, is quoted in that same article:

"My debt to Regis is enormous," said Fr. McShane.  "In fact, it is not wide of the mark to say that after my parents, Regis was the most formative influence in my life. And so the truth of the matter is I owe just about everything — everything I have and everything I have become — to Regis. Everything."

Learn more about Fr. McShane's outstanding dedication to Jesuit education and his instrumental work in establishing the residential component for Regis’s REACH Program at both Regis and The University of Scranton. REACH, through a transformative middle school program, empowers high-achieving young men from underserved communities as Catholic leaders committed to faith, scholarship, and service.

View a video of the award presentation.

Nearly 100 students bagged, loaded and delivered food to local families as part of The University of Scranton’s Thanksgiving Feed-a-Family Project.

This annual initiative, organized by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ), featured significant involvement from nearly 100 students including several dozen members of the men’s lacrosse team who worked alongside CSSJ staff members to bring holiday cheer to families in need.

Food was purchased with contributions from the University’s annual drive and supplemented by donations from Wegmans and the Weinberg Food Bank. Volunteers began packing bags on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 23, and within hours, had delivered 150 Thanksgiving meals to residents of Valley View Housing and Hilltop Apartments in Scranton.

For additional coverage, please visit WNEP and The Times-Tribune.

Continuing a beloved holiday season tradition, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present its 58th annual Noel Night concert on Saturday, Dec. 6. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton. Doors open at 7 p.m. and prelude begins at 7:05 p.m. Admission is free with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Considered the University’s Christmas gift to the community, Noel Night has been a must-attend event for many Scranton-area residents since its founding almost 60 years ago by the Rev. Edward Gannon, S.J.

Noel Night features The University of Scranton Singers with preludes this year performed by the String Orchestra and Flute Ensemble. Outdoor instrumental caroling by members of the University Bands will greet audience members as they arrive. The concert will also feature guest harpist Marg Davis and pianist Ron Stabinsky.

Davis is a multi-genre harpist based in Houston, Texas. She performs regularly with professional orchestras such as the Houston, Kansas City and St. Louis Symphonies, as well as in solo, choral and chamber music performances throughout North America. She has collaborated with jazz guitarist and vocalist Vilray on his debut single, “Even in the Evening.” Davis graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Harp from The Juilliard School and earned her Master of Music degree from Yale School of Music.

Stabinsky is probably best known nationally as a member of the notorious band “Mostly Other People Do The Killing,” the reunited rock band “Meat Puppets,” Relache Ensemble and The Peter Evans Ensemble. A classical solo and orchestral pianist, a straight-ahead jazz musician, occasionally a rock musician and an accomplished free improviser, he enjoys making music in stylistically diverse situations throughout the United States and Europe with a wide variety of musicians and ensembles.

According to Performance Music conductor and artistic director Cheryl Y. Boga, the program will continue its tradition of performances of a variety of sacred selections interspersed with readings of Nativity texts. Included in the program are musical works by J.S. Bach, Judith Clurman, Dan Forrest, Noël Goemanne, Stephen Paulus, Saint Saëns, Mark Sirett and André Thomas.

The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. There is no music major at the University and all enrolled University of Scranton students are eligible for membership in the bands, choirs and string ensembles, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year.

For more information on Noel Night, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit the Performance Music website.

 

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IF YOU GO:

What: 58th annual Noel Night concert, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton

When: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7, prelude begins at 7:05)

Where: Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton

Admission: Free

The University of Scranton's graduate program in clinical rehabilitation counseling recently marked a milestone with the help of its alumni.

The program hosted a 60-year anniversary celebration on Oct. 30, when numerous alumni and community members attended the event at the Kane Forum inside Weiss Hall.

Two distinguished program alumni — Rob Froehlich, an associate professor of counseling at George Washington University and staff member at George Washington’s Center for Rehabilitation Counseling, Research and Education, and Helen Froehlich, senior vice president of Utilization Management at Genex — presented, “AI – Where Do We Draw the Line? Ethics and Boundaries.”

The program is now accepting applications for the fall of 2026. Visit the graduate admissions webpage for more information.

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The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will offer Collaborative Programs exploring medieval books and Finland’s history, culture and economy.

On Thursday, Nov. 13, the Schemel Forum will partner with Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library for the lecture, “From Manuscript to Print: The Journey of Medieval Books,” presented by Professor Michael Knies, special collections librarian and university archivist.

This fall, the McHugh Family Special Collections at the Weinberg Library unveiled its earliest printed book — a circa-1470 editio princeps of De Dignitate Sacerdocii (Dialogue on the Dignity of the Priesthood) by St. Johannes Chrysostomus, as part of an exhibit of the Library’s medieval collections. Donated by University benefactor Edward R. Leahy ’68, H’01, this rare incunabulum, printed by Ulrich Zell, links directly to the legacy of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of printing.  It is one of about 10 known copies of this book worldwide and is the earliest printed book in the Weinberg Library’s collections.

According to Knies, the book was produced by the first printer in cologne, Germany, Ulrich Zell, who learned the craft from Gutenberg’s partners. An especially interesting feature is the inclusion of a hand-painted initial, something not found in all early printed books.

“The main text of the book was printed and space was left for painted initials added later by a specialized scribe called a rubricator,” said Knies.

Along with the recent donation, the exhibit will include other early printed books, three complete medieval manuscripts and many individual pages from other manuscripts. The manuscripts are unique by definition as they were written by hand and many have decorated initials and decorative borders. Additionally, less than 5% of manuscripts created from this period are still in existence. What remains are “the survivors,” said Knies. These books offer a rare window into a 1,000-year period of Western history, both secular and religious.

“Each piece embodies the preservation and transfer of information and knowledge, as well as artistry and craftsmanship that went into making the book,” said Knies.

During his presentation, Knies will trace the transition from handcrafted medieval manuscripts to the mechanical press, featuring the Library’s complete manuscripts, manuscript leaves and incunabula (early printed books) from before 1500.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The lecture, exhibit and light refreshments are complimentary and open to the community, courtesy of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The accompanying exhibit will be on display in the Weinberg Library’s Heritage Room through December 12.

“Finland: History, Culture, Economy,” a collaborative program with the Jay Nathan, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar Lecture Series, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in the PNC Auditorium and Atrium of the Loyola Science Center.

The ninth presentation in the Jay Nathan, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar Lecture Series will welcome the distinguished Ambassador, Her Excellency Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, of Finland, to The University of Scranton. The evening will offer the campus and broader community an enriching exploration of Finland’s fascinating history, vibrant culture and dynamic economy through the ambassador’s presentation. Following the lecture, attendees will be treated to an authentic cultural performance that will showcase the rich artistic traditions of this Nordic nation. The program will conclude with a reception, providing an opportunity for informal conversation and cultural exchange between the ambassador, performers, students, faculty and community members.

This event continues the lecture series’ mission of bringing international perspectives to Scranton while fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation for Finland's unique contributions to world history, arts, and global commerce.

The lecture, cultural performance and reception will be complimentary and open to the community, courtesy of the Jay Nathan, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar Endowment.

For additional information or registration information, contact Rose Merritt at 570-941-4740 or rose.merritt@scranton.edu.

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

The University of Scranton’s positive momentum, as it sustains and improves upon its status among the nation’s top universities, is reflected across multiple categories examined by The Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal’s list, “2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.,” released Sept. 27, features Scranton ranking No. 112 in the all-encompassing “Best Colleges” category. Two years ago, Scranton ranked 148th and one year ago it was 125th in the category, which considers graduate salaries, graduation rates, diversity and the results of a survey about institutions’ learning environments.

“Unlike other school rankings, this list emphasizes one point: How well did the college prepare students for financial success?” The Wall Street Journal said. “More than any other factor, it rewards the boost an institution provides to its graduates’ salaries, beyond an estimate of what they could have expected from attending any college.”

Factoring heavily into Scranton’s success in the overall category is a strong performance in “Best Salaries,” where Scranton ranks No. 124 nationally and No. 10 in Pennsylvania. Once again, Scranton is moving closer to the top, as it ranked No. 152 last year and No. 170 two years ago. The methodology is based on a college’s impact on graduate salaries and how it relates to the cost of attending the colleges.

Taking into consideration a range of criteria related to cost and returns — namely the average net price and value added to a graduate’s salary — The Wall Street Journal theorizes Scranton graduates need only a short time (two years, six months) to "pay off" the net price of their college degree.

Additionally, Scranton ranks No. 140 overall and No. 5 in Pennsylvania in “Social Mobility.” After ranking No. 282 last year, Scranton climbed 142 spots year-over-year. This category reflects several factors, including a college’s ability to maintain high graduation rates and have a positive impact on graduate salaries while minimizing the cost of attending the college.

The Wall Street Journal’s “2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.” list, is one of numerous publications to recently tout the value of a University of Scranton degree. Forbes and the Princeton Review also rated Scranton among the best colleges in the nation and U.S. News and World Report ranked it for the 32nd consecutive year as a top-10 college in its region.

In the next few weeks, voters will have an opportunity to visit The University of Scranton and hear directly from candidates in two important and high-profile elections on the ballot in the Nov. 4 general election.

The Scranton Mayoral Debate will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the PNC Auditorium inside the Loyola Science Center. The Lackawanna County Commissioner Debate will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Pearn Auditorium inside Brennan Hall.

Both debates are being organized by the University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service. The center’s director, Brian Snee, Ph.D., will be the debate moderator. Journalists from several local news organizations, including the Times-Tribune, Fox 56, WBRE, WNEP and WVIA, will serve on the panels.

The debates, which are expected to last about 60 minutes, are open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served and subject to capacity limits. The debates will be shown on ECTV.

The University of Scranton — recently selected by multiple publications as one of the best colleges in the nation — will welcome hundreds of prospective students and their families to campus later this fall for a pair of Open House events.

The University will host its first Open House at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. A second Open House is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. The events conclude at about 1 p.m.

Both Open Houses will start at the John J. Long, S.J., Center before embarking on student-led tours across campus. There will be ample opportunities to interact with students, faculty, staff and administrators. Representatives of student organizations, athletic programs, arts groups and the University’s Honors Programs will be available to answer questions and provide a firsthand account of the Scranton experience.

Attendees, who will be treated to a brunch and lunch, will learn more about the unique paths available to each student in the form of 70 majors and 47 minors, as well 100-plus clubs, hundreds of service opportunities, 24 NCAA programs, intramural sports leagues and a vibrant array of creative and cultural experiences.

The University of Scranton has recently received national recognition in several publications, including the Princeton Review, which ranked it as a top-25 college in the nation in the Most Engaged in Community Service and Best Science Lab Facilities categories. The Princeton Review also selected Scranton as one of the nation’s 391 Best Colleges and featured its Kania School of Management (KSOM) on its Best On-Campus MBA Program list.

Forbes designated Scranton as one of America’s Top 500 Colleges, a ranking based on factors including outcomes for graduates. Scranton has been a top-10 Best Regional University in the North, per U.S. News, for 32 consecutive years.

The Roche Family Center for Career Development’s First Destination Survey for the Class of 2024 reported a 99% success for bachelor’s degree and 100% for graduate degree recipients. Additionally, Niche recognized Scranton as one of 50 schools with the Best College Food in America.

For more information and to register for the Open House, please visit the admissions webpage.

The University of Scranton is a top 10 college in its region with nationally ranked academic programs and distinction for innovation and support for veterans, according to U.S. News and World Report.

The publication’s 2026 Best Colleges report, published Tuesday, ranked The University of Scranton No. 8 in the Regional Universities (North) category. U.S. News has ranked Scranton in the top 10 in its category for an astounding 32 consecutive years.

Two of Scranton’s academic programs ranked among the top 40 in the nation. Scranton placed No. 38 in “Best Undergraduate Programs in Analytics” and No. 40 in “Best Undergraduate Programs in Accounting.” The University also tied for 135th in “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs,” tied for 162nd in “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” and tied for 254th in “Best Undergraduate Business Programs.” Scranton also tied for 410th in “Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs.” National rankings reflect the results of peer surveys used to identify programs of high academic quality.

The University achieved high marks in several regional categories, including No. 3 in “Best Colleges for Veterans,” a selection of schools recognized for making higher education more accessible and affordable for veterans and active-duty service members. Scranton ranks No. 9 in “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” which recognizes schools’ strong commitment to teaching undergraduates rather than conducting graduate-level research. Scranton tied for 13th in “Most Innovative Schools,” which identifies institutions making innovative improvements in curriculum, personnel, campus life, technology or facilities.

The University placed 55th on U.S. News’ “Best Value Regional Universities (North).” Scranton also tied for 106th in “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” which examines the success of schools that enroll and graduate students who were awarded Pell Grants.

U.S. News uses numerous data points to rank bachelor’s degree colleges in America, including graduation rate and graduation rate performance; retention rates; borrower debt; peer assessments; faculty salaries; student-faculty ratio; financial resources; standardized test performance; and Pell Grant student graduation rates and performance.

U.S. News categorizes colleges for their rankings based on the official Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification of universities.

Earlier this year, U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings placed five University programs in the top 50 in the nation, and several programs ranked in the top 150 in the country, including business analytics, tied for 28th; finance, tied for 31st; accounting, tied for 39th; healthcare management, tied for 46th; rehabilitation counseling, tied for 49th; occupational therapy, tied for 79th; part-time MBA, tied for 80th; physical therapy tied for 105th; nursing-anesthesia, tied for 111th; doctor of nursing practice, tied for 127th.

Scranton has recently appeared in other national rankings, as well, including being designated as one of the nation’s best colleges by Forbes and the Princeton Review.