The ninth presentation in the Jay Nathan, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar Lecture Series featured remarks by a career diplomat and additional programming that celebrated her native country.

Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Ambassador of Finland to the U.S., participated in the program, titled, “Finland: History. Culture. Economy,” on Thursday, Jan. 15, at the PNC Auditorium inside The University of Scranton’s Loyola Science Center.

Mikkola, who previously served as Ambassador to China (2021-2024) and Israel (2011-2016) and as Director General for Africa and the Middle East (2017-2021), has been in her current role since September 2024. She spoke alongside Petri Koikkalainen, senior specialist for science and higher education.

In addition to the lecture, the evening’s events included live performances by Finnish singer Josefin Silén and Finnish classical pianist Markus Kaitila, as well as a reception.

Previous Nathan lecturers have included representatives from Denmark, Iceland, Lithuania, Romania, India, Thailand, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

For more information, please see the series’ webpage on The University of Scranton’s website.

The University of Scranton will host the 25th annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Brain Bee, an event that offers high school students a chance to test their neuroscience knowledge in an academic competition. 

There is no cost to enter the Brain Bee, which will begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at room 133 inside the Loyola Science Center. Registration is currently open and will close after Feb. 20. The registration form can be found on the event’s website. The event is open to high school students currently enrolled in Grades 9-12 and between the ages of 13-19. 

Sponsored by the University’s neuroscience program in the Department of Biology, the Brain Bee covers topics including emotions, intelligence, memory, sleep and stress. 

The winner of this regional bee — dedicated to the memory of J. Timothy Cannon, Ph.D., founder of the University’s neuroscience program and a longtime Brain Bee coordinator and judge — receives a $400 prize, a $1,000 scholarship to The University of Scranton and also advances to the National Brain Bee, held Saturday, April 25, at the University of California, Irvine. 

Three University of Scranton biology professors will serve as NEPA Brain Bee Judges: Gary Kwiecinski, Ph.D.; Marc Seid, Ph.D.; and Robert F. Waldeck, Ph.D., director of the neuroscience program and NEPA Brain Bee coordinator. 

Previous top-three finishers have attended local schools such as Wyoming Area, Wallenpaupack, Abington Heights and Scranton Prep, as well as schools from other parts of Pennsylvania and other East Coast states. 

For more information or to register online, visit the NEPA Brain Bee’s website or contact Dr. Waldeck at 570-941-4324 or email robert.waldeck@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will offer two evening courses this spring, each furthering the program’s mission of sharing ideas and lessons that illuminate culture, ethics and the human experience. Both courses will be taught inside room 305 at the Weinberg Memorial Library.

The first course, titled, “Food, Climate Change and Justice,” is instructed by Sarah Kenehan ’02, Ph.D., executive director of the University’s Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities. Meeting from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on Mondays — Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 2 and 9 — the course examines how global food systems intersects with climate change. Participants will explore scientific data and philosophical literature to better understand how justice intersects with food systems and individual food choices in the context of a warming world.

Dr. Kenehan earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and philosophy from The University of Scranton, where she was also a member of the women’s cross country team. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee and her Ph.D. from the University of Graz in Australia. Dr. Kenehan, who previously worked at Marywood University, began working in her current position in 2022.

The second course, titled “Appreciating Art Through the Ages,” is instructed by Darlene Miller-Lanning, Ph.D., director of the Hope Horn Gallery at The University of Scranton. Dr. Miller-Lanning’s course will meet from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on Wednesdays — March 25 and April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 — and covers major art developments and significant artworks from the Ancient, Classic, Medieval, Renaissance, Modern and Contemporary eras, as described in Helen Gardner’s century-old text.

Dr. Miller Lanning earned a bachelor’s degree from Wilkes University, a master’s from Marywood University and a Ph.D. from Binghamton University. She has worked at the University since 1991.

Registration starts at $100 per course for non-members of the Schemel Forum.

To register for the evening courses or to request more information, please call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu.

For more information about upcoming events, visit the Schemel Forum’s website. The Schemel Forum’s spring brochure is now available.

Lackawanna and Wayne County residents, whose households earned $67,000 or less in 2025, can receive free assistance in completing and filing their federal, state and local tax returns from University of Scranton accounting students through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

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

Walk-in service at Brennan Hall on the University’s campus begins Monday, Feb. 4, and will end on Wednesday, April 8. The VITA service is offered on a first-come, first-served basis during scheduled hours. Appointments are not available at the University.

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

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

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

Service begins on Monday, Feb. 4, and continues to Wednesday, April 8, except for the week of March 16-20, when the University is closed for Spring Break.

The VITA office may also close due to inclement weather.

The University reserves the right to cap the number of walk-in residents they can serve within a single day. Residents with questions may call the University at 570-941-4045.

A group of seventh-grade students from Wyoming Seminary visited The University of Scranton on Thursday, Jan. 22, for a hands-on field trip focused on creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurship.

Much of the day’s programming occurred inside the IDEA Center at Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall, where Sem students participated in interactive activities that challenged them to think like entrepreneurs and designers. Working in small teams, the students developed business ideas, identified real-world problems and pitched solutions in areas such as gaming, entertainment, sustainability and school improvements. The students also engaged with the IDEA Center’s laser engravers and 3-D printers to create advertisement products and investigate protoyping.

“Students embraced this experience completely,” said Tom Bryan, director of the IDEA Center, who was featured earlier this month in a video walkthrough of the new facility. “They collaborated, solved problems and gained real insight into entrepreneurship and design. They stepped into the role of University students for the day, rose to the occasion and had a lot of fun in the process.”

Working alongside Bryan as volunteers were University of Scranton students Allison Kipp, a business analytics major from Pittston; Cameron Moczulski, a journalism/electronic media and advertising/public relations major from Carbondale; Damien Bryla, an accounting major from Canadensis; Daniel Juchnicki, a mechanical engineering major from Tobyhanna; and Vincenzo Angeloni, a journalism/electronic media major from Jessup.

The goal of the IDEA Center, which opened at the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year, is to empower students, faculty and community partners to turn concepts into reality with cutting-edge resources and instructors.

For additional coverage, please see the following links from WNEP-TV and the Scranton Times-Tribune.

On Saturday, Jan. 31, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will host the Anderson Twins Sextet performing their acclaimed program, “The Fabulous Dorseys,” to open Performance Music’s spring 2026 season. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

“Will and Pete are no strangers to Scranton, and on every occasion they visit, their approachable virtuosity draws in our students," said Performance Music Executive Director Janelle Decker.

“The twins first performed here with Loren Schoenberg and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem All-Stars in 2008 and have returned to the University as guest artists and clinicians so many times that they feel like sons of Scranton," added Cheryl Y. Boga, Artistic Director of Performance Music.

The Anderson brothers’ program brings the remarkable story of the Dorsey brothers, Jimmy and Tommy, to life. Performed by a sextet of New York’s finest musicians, the show traces the Dorseys’ journey from their start in the coal regions of Northeastern Pennsylvania as teenage professionals on trombone and saxophone through their rise as national stars with the Dorsey Brothers Band, to the dramatic 1935 sibling split that sent them on separate paths, followed by their long-awaited reunion a decade later.

Identical twins Peter and Will Anderson are two of the most extraordinary jazz woodwind players today. Hailed by The New York Times as “virtuosos on clarinet and saxophone," they were born and raised in Washington, D.C., and moved to New York City to attend The Juilliard School. They’ve performed with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Paquito D’Rivera, Wynton Marsalis, and can be heard on the 2014 Grammy-winning soundtrack of HBO’s "Boardwalk Empire" with Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks. They’ve headlined at Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Blues Alley, Birdland and performed live on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie "Home Companion" Radio Program. The Andersons have performed in over 40 U.S. states, throughout Brazil, Japan, the U.K., and six times in New York City's famed "Highlights in Jazz" series, alongside Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Heath, Ken Peplowski, Steve Turre, Warren Vache, Frank Vignola and Jimmy Cobb.

The Andersons' film credits include "Revolutionary Road," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Boardwalk Empire" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." They performed with the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars in "After Midnight," which ran on Broadway from 2013-2014, and featured Vanessa Williams, k.d. lang, Fantasia Barrino and Patti LaBelle. In 2017, the Andersons directed “The Fabulous Dorsey Brothers” in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room, narrated by "The Wire" and "Treme" actor Clarke Peters.

The legendary Dorsey Brothers began their professional careers performing with the popular local band, the Scranton Sirens, at venues such as Scranton’s historic Hotel Casey in the early 1920s before relocating to New York and rising to fame as big band leaders. A mural of the brothers, completed in 2024 to honor their connection to the area, can be seen at 217 Wyoming Ave. in Scranton.

For further information on the performance, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on the Andersons, visit peterandwillanderson.com.

If You Go:

What: “The Fabulous Dorseys” with the Anderson Twins Sextet, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31

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

Admission: FREE

The University of Scranton has been nationally recognized for its dedication and distinction in community engagement in a newly released report that serves as the premier framework for assessing and honoring institutions committed to this work.

The 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, listed Scranton as one of 237 honorees nationwide. The cohort includes 157 public and 80 private institutions, including 19 others in Pennsylvania. The University is the only 2026 cohort recipient of the honor in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area.

The classification, which is valid until 2032, is awarded to colleges and universities that submitted a self-study that revealed an institutional integration of mission, culture, leadership and resources used to advance meaningful and impactful community engagement. The Carnegie Foundation describes community engagement as “the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity” that contributes to the public good.

Answering the Call To 'Love Your Neighbor'

“Students, faculty, staff and alumni engage with the Scranton community in a range of ways — direct service, academic projects and research, and joint initiatives — that help improve the community we all call home. They address community-defined needs and priorities in such areas as poverty, food insecurity, youth programming, health care, older adult needs, immigrant and refugee support, prison education and civic engagement,” said Julie Schumacher Cohen, assistant vice president of community engagement and government affairs. “These community-based activities and partnerships are where some of our best learning takes place and one of the important ways that we respond to the call to ‘love your neighbor,’ grounded in our Jesuit and Catholic mission."

As a Catholic, Jesuit institution, The University of Scranton’s identity is closely tied to serving others in the community. Spearheading the University’s efforts are the Center for Service and Social Justice, the Office of Community Relations in External Affairs, the Office of Community-Based Learning, the Leahy Community Health and Family Center and the Small Business Development Center. Collectively, these offices and others organize service opportunities, host educational and cultural events, provide health and wellness services, offer expert consulting solutions and create hands-on learning experiences that connect students and employees with local and regional partners. Altogether, through these and other offices and programs, the University invested $1,077,557 in its 2023-2024 annual budget to support institutional engagement in the community.

These campus offices work directly with a range of community organizations; the application highlights several key partnerships including Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, United Neighborhoods Center of NEPA, Scranton Jewish Community Center, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton Tomorrow, The Gino Merli Center, Catherine McAuley Center and Friends of the Poor, Bhutanese Cultural Foundation Association of Scranton, Congolese Community of Scranton, Saint Joseph's Center, Neighborworks of NEPA, Marywood STARS after-school program, McNichols Plaza Elementary School and more. 

“Since arriving at the University in 2021, I have found the relationship between The University of Scranton and the City of Scranton and the broader community of Northeastern Pennsylvania to be a source of pride, mutual learning, and collaboration in pursuit of the common good. The University cannot be successful if Scranton is not flourishing and vice versa,” Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University of Scranton president, said in a letter submitted with the Carnegie application. “The University’s Jesuit and Catholic mission characterizes how we seek to engage with our community — in solidarity, in a spirit of mutuality and encounter, and in service of justice and positive change.”

The application provides information and analysis of the University’s community engagement efforts, reflecting on areas of growth and improvement as well as long-standing programs and commitments. It details local co-curricular service such as students preparing 1,700 meals in 2023-2024 for low-income neighbors through innovative projects such as “We Care;" supporting and mentoring youth in after-school programs; conducting item drives; volunteering with numerous local non-profit organizations; and participating in domestic and international service trips.

Through community-based learning, faculty and students engage locally in ways tied to their academic course or program. They have helped improve the health and wellbeing of neighbors with special needs and older adults, archived the stories of veterans, addressed period poverty, created arts activities for elementary students, provided health fairs for newly arrived refugees, and promoted awareness and advocacy on such issues as child abuse, among other projects. In 2023-2024, a total of 88 community-based learning courses were taught at the University, including an estimated 1,200 students performing 31,673 academic service hours during that year.

Community engagement is embedded in still further ways — through student government’s biannual Street Sweep that beautifies streetscapes and parks, through the many faculty and staff (80%) who engage in local community volunteer activities, and through the University's alumni’s annual day of service. The application also highlights civic engagement programs — such as non-partisan voter engagement activities and a political dialogue across differences project run since 2017 — which help students reflect on their values and use their voice within campus and in the public square.

The data and projects detailed in the Carnegie application built on the information shared through the University’s 2024 Community and Economic Impact Report, produced by the University’s Office of Community Relations. The University produced an overall economic impact of more than $277 million and awarded over $100 million in institutional student aid. The newest building on campus, Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall, is a hub for several of the University’s community-focused programs and has state-of-the-art equipment that is meant to be shared with local partners.

The University of Scranton’s life-changing, four-year, pre-college program was recently awarded a grant that will help it continue to provide encouragement and academic, cultural and social enrichment to local teenagers who aspire to enroll in colleges and universities.

The University of Success program at The University of Scranton received a $15,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation. It was awarded as part of the 2025 spring grant cycle for the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. The funds will support promising high school students who can contribute to the community and achieve success with access to post-secondary education.

Created in 1996 and with its first full graduating class in 2001, the University of Success is supported by gifts and grants. The program, which is offered free of charge to selected local students beginning in Grade 9 and continuing through Grade 12, offers mentorship, seminars, test prep and developmental enrichment courses covering a wide range of topics. The University of Success staff closely works with students to keep them on track as they develop skills and confidence and ultimately gain admission to their chosen institutions of higher learning. The 17 University of Success graduates in the Class of 2025 matriculated to 11 colleges and universities, including five at The University of Scranton. Two graduates joined the military to further pursue their education.

The Robert H. Spitz Foundation has awarded more than $6 million in funding to initiatives and programs that serve the people of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. It was founded in 2015, shortly after the death of Spitz, who was born in Scranton in 1955, graduated from Scranton Central High School and the University of Miami, Florida, and had been employed by the U.S. Department of Labor and owned several local Arby’s restaurants.

One of The University of Scranton’s most historic and highest-achieving programs has been awarded a nearly $1 million federal grant.

The University of Scranton’s clinical rehabilitation counseling program will receive a five-year grant, totaling nearly $1 million, from the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The grant, which will provide scholarships to graduate students at Scranton and will also broaden program accessibility through online and hybrid learning formats, was announced Monday, Jan. 12, in partnership with U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan ’12 through an official press release.

“The University of Scranton plays an important role in preparing students for careers that meet real needs in our communities,” said Rep. Bresnahan in the press release. “That’s why I’m proud to have helped secure this critical funding to expand access to training and help address workforce shortages in rehabilitation and counseling services. I will always fight to bring tax dollars back to Northeastern Pennsylvania to strengthen programs our communities rely on.”

The rehabilitation counseling profession itself was significantly shaped — and in many ways created — by the federal government. It emerged in the early 20th century as a result of injured veterans returning from war and desiring a sense of normalcy. As the demand for these services grew, so, too, did the need for qualified professionals. Because of service demand and concomitant federal commitment to rehabilitation programmatic success, a handful of programs were started at well-established, graduate degree-granting colleges and universities.

Clinical rehabilitation counseling practitioners are charged with helping individuals overcome developmental, emotional, mental and physical disabilities while also encouraging autonomy and removing the social and attitudinal barriers that restrict full participation for people with disabilities.

“As a Catholic, Jesuit institution, The University of Scranton teaches our students and graduates to be ‘for and with others.’ We must not only serve others but stand in solidarity with them,” said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University of Scranton president. “The clinical rehabilitation counseling field is a shining example of this Jesuit ideal. Our students are trained to treat — but even more importantly, accompany — individuals as they face emotional, physical and psychological challenges. They work with the underserved and overlooked, treating them with the humanity and dignity they deserve and that ultimately helps them flourish.”

The grant will fund tuition scholarships and increase the pool of highly qualified, master’s-level rehabilitation counselors, thus addressing regional personnel shortages. The degree was previously offered only on-campus, but will now also be offered entirely online or as an on-campus/online hybrid, making it accessible to more students.

Scranton’s nationally recognized rehabilitation counseling program, which offers a Master of Science degree, was established in 1965. It is the second-oldest such program at a Catholic college or university in the U.S.

Since its inception, Scranton’s rehabilitation counseling program has prepared 976 graduates who have gone on to serve people with disabilities in both public and private settings. Data shows rehabilitation counselors are likely to serve 1,500 to 2,500 individual clients in a career, meaning Scranton’s graduates are estimated to have served about 1.5 million clients with disabilities.

In addition to the teaching rooted in Jesuit values and instruction coming from world-class educators, Scranton’s innovative program features state-of-the-art video technology at the David W. Hall Counselor Training Center, which enables students to record counseling sessions with hands-on supervision.

“We are very honored to have received this grant award, as it is a significant validation of the commitment to excellence of those who have built and sustained this program for over 60 years,” said Samantha Herrick, Ph.D., associate professor of counseling and human services and director of the University’s Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Program. “This grant will allow us to carry forward our mission into the future by increasing capacity and expanding access for qualified applicants with a passion for empowering others to reach their full potential.”

The clinical rehabilitation field offers strong employment rates and salaries, as well as opportunities to engage in meaningful, life-changing work. Additionally, Scranton alumni remain connected to the program long after graduation, evidenced by the 60-year anniversary celebration and reunion held this fall.

The grant will award the University’s program with five payments over a five-year period, totaling $999,909.16.

U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Scranton’s rehabilitation counseling program as No. 2 in Pennsylvania and in the top 50 in the U.S., reflecting its strong reputation across the nation.

The spirit of giving is alive and well at The University of Scranton, where, for the past month, students and faculty and staff members participated in an initiative that provides holiday gifts to families in need.

This year’s Gifts for Kids program — organized in partnership by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ), Friends of the Poor, the Catherine McAuley Center and Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton — yielded hundreds of gifts generously donated by members of the University community. Organizers requested a focus on teens, noting that infants typically receive ample donations but need less. In response, a record number of teen gifts were collected.

“We’ve seen a lot of community need this year,” said Ellen Judge, CSSJ outreach program coordinator. “We’re glad that people were able to be generous and donate so that we could participate in this important program every year on our campus.”

Collected items will be delivered to the Byron Recreation Complex, where volunteers will sort and prepare them for distribution on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and Wednesday, Dec. 17. Gifts will be distributed to families who pre-registered for assistance.

For additional coverage, please see this story from Fox 56.

Performance Music at The University of Scranton will continue in the holiday spirit at its 24th Annual Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert, this year featuring the Scranton Brass Orchestra. The concert is at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center (Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton). The event is open to the public. Attendees are asked to bring either a new unwrapped toy, a new piece of child’s clothing or a cash donation. All donated items will directly benefit children of local families in need this holiday season via the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice.

Founded by Cheryl Boga and Hal Baillie, Ph.D., and with artistic support from Mark Gould, and now in its 13th season, Scranton Brass Orchestra is a fully professional, 27-member ensemble comprised of brass and percussion players/teachers from across the region. Since its founding in June 2011, the group’s performances have been free and open to the public and have featured nationally and internationally acclaimed guests, among them some of the most acclaimed brass players of our time. Some of the goals of the group include to provide high-level large brass ensemble performance and listening opportunities, serve as an aural and visual model to aid in the tonal and technical development of student brass players and as a professional development resource for brass performers and teachers in the region, and give participating regional brass musicians and teachers opportunities to work with and observe masters of the art of brass playing.

The Empty Stocking Fund concert traces its origins back to 1999, when Boga’s friend, Alan Drake, the former chairman of the music department at Georgia’s Augusta University, told her about a benefit Christmas concert held there. She was intrigued and Drake gave his blessing for her to bring the concept back to Scranton for the following year. For the inaugural year, she and Drake waged a friendly competition to see which concert could raise the most money. Scranton won — and an annual tradition was born.

The concert’s charitable mission makes it particularly special. The University’s Performance Music family is always moved when they see the donated items out on display the night of the concert. Meanwhile, the performance itself never fails to produce an abundance of yuletide cheer.

For those who are unable to attend the concert but would still like to drop off a toy or other donation, they will be accepted at the Houlihan-McLean Center this week (Monday, Dec. 8 through Thursday, Dec. 11) from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Before the day of the concert, please use the Jefferson Avenue entrance.)

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Annual Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert with the Scranton Brass Orchestra, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Houlihan-McLean Center

ADMISSION: A donation of either a new unwrapped toy, new piece of child’s clothing, new toiletry items or a cash donation, with all proceeds directly benefiting local families in need

On the eve of finals week, members of The University of Scranton community gathered in reflection and celebration.

The University hosted the annual University Advent Liturgy Mass on Sunday, Dec. 5, inside the Byron Recreation Complex.

After Mass, attendees proceeded to the John and Jacquelyn Dionne Campus Green at the heart of campus, where the University's Christmas tree was lit for the season alongside a Nativity scene.

The world’s most prolific Christmastime communicator, Santa Claus, will spread holiday cheer this month in a variety of ways.

One of the more unique opportunities to greet Santa will happen across ham radio airwaves, connecting Scranton to the North Pole.

The University of Scranton’s W3USR amateur radio station will participate in CQ Santa, an open call in which Santa will invite ham radio operators from around the world to join him.

The state-of-the-art W3USR offices on the fifth floor of the Loyola Science Center will be open to children and their parents from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on the following dates when CQ Santa is live. Families should arrive by 7:45 p.m. to make sure they can be checked into the net.

• Thursday, Dec. 11
• Friday, Dec. 12
• Saturday, Dec. 13
• Thursday, Dec. 18
• Friday, Dec. 19
• Saturday, Dec. 20

The offices and hardware will be staffed by W3USR volunteers, students and faculty members who will help children transmit their wishes and greetings to Santa as he responds in real time. Questions can be sent to w3usr@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton’s Ph.D. in Accounting program is ranked No. 1 for research in accounting education, according to Brigham Young University’s Accounting Research Rankings, an internationally recognized benchmark for accounting research productivity.

The ranking measures research productivity across top accounting journals and reflects the exceptional work Scranton’s Ph.D. graduates and faculty have done in publishing influential research that helps improve accounting education. BYU’s data is categorized by topic, method and post-graduate window.

Scranton ranks No. 1 in the Main Ph.D. Program Rankings for All Education Publications 2024 in the 3-Year Recent and 6-Year Recent categories. It is fourth in the 3-Year All and 16th in the 6-Year All categories. Methodology could be found on the BYU Accounting website.

“This distinguished ranking recognizes the talent and dedication of our Ph.D. graduates, as well as the rigorous and supportive environment they experienced throughout their Ph.D. studies at The University of Scranton,” said Douglas M. Boyle, DBA’88, professor and chair of Scranton’s Accounting Department and director of the Ph.D. program. “Our Ph.D. students, graduates and faculty closely collaborate to advance educational research that upholds our Jesuit tradition, contributes to the accounting literature and benefits accounting faculty and students worldwide.”

BYU’s database lists ten Scranton Ph.D. graduates as authors — Drs. Samantha Falgout, Anthony Fulmore, Lisa S. Haylon, Heather Holcomb, Elena V. Isaacson, Gregory Kogan, Amanda S. Marcy, Thomas Kevin Parker, Linette A. Rayeski and Ashley Stampone — who collectively published 11 articles. Dr. Douglas M. Boyle was a co-author on seven of the 11 articles and Ph.D. faculty member Dr. James Boyle was a co-author on one.

Peer institutions ranked highly include Robert Gordon University in Scotland and the University of Western Australia, as well as American schools like Bentley University, Virginia Tech and the University of Alabama.

Additionally, the University’s Accounting Department is tied for second in Main University Rankings for Education Research and fourth in Main University Rankings for All Education Publications for the past six years worldwide. The 2024 report also ranked Dr. Douglas M. Boyle No. 2 in the world for accounting education publication volume in the past six years and No. 91 (tied) for Accounting Information System Research. Accounting faculty member Dr. James F. Boyle was ranked No. 10 (tied); and fellow faculty members Dr. Amanda Marcy and Dr. Ashley Stampone were ranked No. 79 (tied) worldwide. Dr. Stampone was also ranked No. 91 (tied) for Accounting Information System Research.

The University of Scranton’s accounting program is in the Kania School of Management, which was selected by the Princeton Review as one of the nation’s Best Business Schools. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Scranton’s accounting program as one of the top 40 nationally.

The University of Scranton and King’s College, along with the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, recently partnered on a civic celebration and demonstration to honor one of the region’s most notable inventors of the 20th century.

One-hundred-twenty years ago in 1905, Rev. Joseph Murgas publicly unveiled the “Tone Method,” a wireless communication system capable of transmitting messages reliably over long distances. Father Murgas, who was born in Slovakia but lived, died and is buried in Northeastern Pennsylvania, successfully tested the technology with a series of messages relayed between local stakeholders in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

On Saturday, Nov. 15, University of Scranton president Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., Ph.D., King’s College president Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D., Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and Wilkes-Barre Mayor George C. Brown recreated the historic transmission from the University’s W3USR amateur radio station in the Loyola Science Center and the Richard Abbas Alley Center for Health Sciences at King’s. In addition to the message relay, guests were treated to refreshments while visiting exhibits on display at both campuses, showcasing Father Murgas’ vast accomplishments, breakthroughs and artworks.

“This event truly was a special occasion,” said Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., W2NAF, associate professor of physics and engineering at The University of Scranton and member of the Murgas Amateur Radio Club. “We were able to bring together two wonderful cities and universities in a very unique way, all while celebrating the legacy of Father Murgas.

“He truly was a man who cared for his people while also advancing human knowledge. I am grateful to not only have been part of this celebration, but also to be a member of the Murgas Amateur Radio club that was established in his honor.”

The day also marked the 50-year anniversary of the Murgas Amateur Radio Club, which serves local radio operators and regularly participates in events and provides communications support for multiple local nonprofit organizations.

For additional coverage, please see the Times Leader, WVIA and The Citizens’ Voice.

The University of Scranton mourns the loss of a distinguished alumnus and civic leader whose death happened the very same night he was honored by his alma mater.

David J. Wenzel ’69, G’74, a decorated military veteran and public servant, died the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center. He was 80.

A Scranton native who lost both legs and an arm while serving with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Wenzel returned home and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Scranton. He then dedicated his life to public service, most notably from 1986-90 as the 27th Mayor of Scranton. After leaving office, Wenzel continued working as a pioneering disability rights advocate.

The University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS) had long planned to showcase memorabilia from Wenzel’s remarkable career at an exhibit at the Weinberg Memorial Library. “A Life of Service: Celebrating David J. Wenzel,” which opened earlier in the evening of Nov. 5. It was attended by numerous local and University officials, as well as Wenzel’s friends and family, including his wife, Janet, who accepted the inaugural CEEPS Public Service Award on his behalf. Going forward, the award will be renamed in Wenzel’s honor.

“David was a happy warrior,” said Wenzel’s friend, Joe Riccardo. “He kept that wonderful smile and twinkle in his eye, but he fought. He fought for his country in Vietnam. He fought for our community, both as Mayor and as an active citizen. Boy, he fought all his life to maintain his dignity; it wasn’t always easy as a triple amputee, but David was not going to allow any disability to get in his way to prevent him from achieving his goals.”

Prior to serving as mayor, Wenzel was Scranton’s tax collector. After leaving office, he served on the executive committee of the National Council on Disability. Later, he authored a book, “Scranton’s Mayors,” and received the honor of having his name attached to the beautiful David Wenzel Treehouse at Nay Aug Park.

Fellow Vietnam veteran and former President Judge of Lackawanna County, Tom Munley, spoke at the event and called Wenzel “my hero.” Former U.S. Sen. and Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service Bob Casey called him “an inspiration.” Former Scranton Mayor Christopher Doherty also spoke of Wenzel as a “great man.”

“Think of the impact he had on young men and women who asked the question: ‘Who’s this man? And he was the Mayor? What happened to him and what has he done?’” Doherty said. “When they get the answers, they realize here’s someone you should follow and model. Here’s someone who is a true leader of our city and a fine example of what our city produces: men of dignity, honor and honesty.”

The exhibit is open and will remain on display during regular library hours at the fifth-floor Heritage Room through Sunday, Dec. 14. 

For more coverage, please see: WNEP, The Times-Tribune, Fox 56 and WVIA.

Eighty-three high school students participated in team-building exercises, breakout sessions and other activities at the fifth annual Path to Business Excellence Conference.

The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management (KSOM) organized and hosted the event on Saturday, Nov. 22. Participants engaged in faculty- and student-led sessions and had an opportunity to hear from current students and alumni about their experience within KSOM, which holds accreditation from AACSB International, the gold standard for business school accreditation.

The students who attended the conference, along with their families, learned about a wide range of business majors offered at Scranton, including analytics and accounting programs that U.S. News and World Report ranked among the top 40 in the nation. Attendees also learned about Scranton’s underlying philosophy, guided by Jesuit ideals, in which students are encouraged to participate in community service, clubs and co-curricular activities while receiving an outstanding education.

Azzan Yadin-Israel, Ph.D., recently visited The University of Scranton as its featured speaker at the Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute Lecture.

Dr. Yadin-Israel’s presented “Solving the Mystery of Adam and Eve’s Forbidden Fruit” on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Pearn Auditorium in Brennan Hall. The speech was free and open to the public.

Dr. Yadin-Israel is the chair and professor of Jewish studies at Rutgers University and the author of the 2022 book, “Temptation Transformed: The Story of How the Forbidden Fruit Became an Apple.”

The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute was founded in 1979 through an endowment funded by the local Jewish community. The Institute was further funded in 1990 by a $1 million gift from Harry Weinberg. The lecture series has hosted numerous events and scholarly speakers throughout the years, fostering an appreciation for and understanding of Judaism, Israel and their histories.

The Jesuit principles instilled at The University of Scranton — critical thinking, ethical responsibility, a commitment to justice, among other things — will benefit professionals in any line of work.

A trio of military personnel reflected upon the Jesuit teachings at a Veterans Day Communication Leadership Panel, organized by Scranton’s Department of Communication and Media. Col. Richard H. Breen, Jr., ’77, director of public affairs and communications at the office of the assistant secretary of war for health affairs, served as the moderator. Panelists included Maj. Gen. Michael J. Terry ’79, U.S. Army, retired, and Lt. Col. Jay Wenger, professor of military science at The University of Scranton.

“The names that I would mention are all on buildings around campus,” Col. Breen said. “I was commissioned by Father William J. Byron. I had dinner many a night with Father Joseph Rock. Father Ed Gannon conducted the marriage ceremony for myself and my wife.

“Learning from your teachers and from the Jesuit values here — it’s something serious, it’s something that carries with you for the rest of your career.”

Col. Breen and the group spoke in front of nearly 100 guests — most of them students — during the hourlong panel and Q and A with the audience at the Kane Forum in Leahy Hall.

“Nobody prays for peace more than somebody that’s seen war,” Lt. Col. Wenger added. “In every corner of this world, there are lovely and wonderful people out there. The toughest environments you go into, the places where the Jesuit values are not, that is where they’re needed most. The morals, the ethics, the values that all of you have and that are fostered here — bring them to corners of the world. …

“When you are in these tough positions, you want somebody leading in the position that has (strong) values.”

The panelists spoke about numerous other items, including the value communications professionals can add to an organization such as a military command.

“The English language is a precise language when used precisely,” Maj. Gen. Terry said. “We have to be very careful when we use words. One of the most dangerous statements I ever got was … ‘Sir, I understand.’ Do you really? The importance of giving your intent, giving the opportunity for subordinate elements to develop their complementary plans and then coming back and back-briefing the higher level — that’s when you find out if you really understand.”

Maj. Gen. Terry and the panelists also offered advice to students who will soon enter the job market, emphasizing the importance of being on time, composed and respectful.

“Understand where you’re at,” Maj. Gen. Terry said. “As a communications person, you’re not the boss, you’re not the commander, you’re not the president. Where do you fit as a cog in that? And how can you support the mission? Be a team player. I think that’s the biggest thing. You want to be considered a team player among your peers because you’re going to have peers, and those peers may still be with you years down the road.”

The event also included a posting and retirement of the colors by the University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Color Guard. Cadets Michael O'Toole, an undeclared major from Middle Village, New York, and Evan Taddeo, a biology major from Havertown, presented the colors. The national anthem was sung by ROTC cadets Kiley Mullins, a nursing major from Northford, Connecticut, and Haley Hendershot, a nursing major from Blue Point, New York. It concluded with remarks from Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Media.

“To our students,” Dr. Smulowitz said, “I hope you leave here today with a renewed sense of purpose no matter your choice of career. Remember the example set by our distinguished veterans. The values they embody — integrity, selflessness and an unwavering commitment to their country — are all values we can all strive to uphold in our daily lives.”

The University of Scranton recently welcomed an international diplomat as a guest lecturer.

Mateusz Sakowicz, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York, spoke Friday, Nov. 7, at the Rose Room inside Brennan Hall.

Sakowicz presented, “Global Insight from Poland’s Consul General,” as part of the University’s Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminars series.

Sakowicz has worked in diplomatic relations for nearly 20 years. He assumed his current position in July 2024 after previously serving about four years as Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations in New York. Prior to that, he was awarded the Bronze Cross of Merit in 2019 for his diplomatic service.

Having hosted Sakowicz, as well as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s senior curator Tom Shieber and University of Pennsylvania professor Josef Wegner, one event remains in the fall’s luncheon series. Matthew Duss, executive director at the Center for International Policy, will present, “America is Ready for a Pro-Peace Foreign Policy. Is Washington?” on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the McIlhenny Ballroom in the DeNaples Center. Cost is $30 to attend and includes a buffet lunch.

For more information, visit the Schemel Forum’s website, call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu.

The Schemel Forum is sponsored by Munley Law.

By Marcus Smith '27, Student Correspondent

The Hindu festivals of Diwali and Navratri occurred in October with commemorations across Indian communities in the Scranton area.

At The University of Scranton, these festivals hold significance for a large part of the community and the University’s Asia Club hosts a celebration of the holidays each year.

Diwali is the annual celebration of good triumphing over evil, commemorated as a festival of lights.

For Sofiya Magar ’28, a marketing major from Scranton and the vice president of the Asia Club, it is more than just a religious ceremony.

“It's about unity, gratitude and the light we share with one another, bringing our community closer together through understanding and celebration,” Magar said. 

The celebration included a presentation on the origins and significance of Diwali and Navratri, food catered by Aramark, traditional Indian dancing and henna painting.

Even though Diwali is an Indian celebration, it is celebrated in many places all over the world.

“Diwali is celebrated across the world by millions of people, not only in India, but also in many other countries where South Asian communities live,” Magar said.

For the club, it represents something more than just celebrating an important holiday. It is an opportunity to share this important cultural event with the Scranton community as a whole.

“By celebrating Diwali as a campus club, we bring a piece of this global tradition to our university, allowing students, faculty and the wider Scranton community to come together and experience its warmth and beauty,” Magar said. “It creates a space where people of all backgrounds can learn about, connect with and appreciate the beauty of South Asian culture.”

Ann Pang-White, Ph.D., faculty moderator, was proud of the club officers and the work they put into arranging the event.

“It's delightful to work with Asia Club officers and see how the whole event comes together. I enjoyed watching all the officers dressed up in colorful and refined Indian outfits and the proud smiles on their faces. They worked very hard and deserved all the credit for such a wonderful show of an ancient culture,” said Dr. Pang-White, a professor of philosophy and director of Asian studies.

Over 100 people attended the event held Oct. 24 at Scranton. More than 40 attendees were from outside the University.

The presidents of The University of Scranton and King's College will join the Mayors of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Nov. 15, celebrating Rev. Joseph Murgas — the local priest, artist, botanist and scientist who pioneered the initial stages of wireless communication — and the 50th anniversary of the Murgas Amateur Radio Club named in his honor.

The event, which was organized in partnership with the Slovak Heritage Society of NEPA and the Luzerne County Historical Society, celebrates the November 1905 public unveiling of the “Tone Method,” a wireless communication system capable of transmitting voice and sound over long distances. It was developed and patented by Father Murgas. The test included a series of messages exchanged between Father Murgas; then Wilkes-Barre Mayor Frederick C. Kirkendall; then Scranton Mayor Alex T. Connell; and Rev. Michael John Hoban, a former bishop of the Diocese of Scranton.

At 1 p.m. on Nov. 15, Mayor George C. Brown and Mayor Paige Cognetti will recreate that transmission with King’s College president Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D., and The University of Scranton president Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., Ph.D.

The event also marks the 50th anniversary of the Murgas Amateur Radio Club, a community of local radio operators in Northeastern Pennsylvania that originated in the 1970s. The club participates in several operating events throughout the year and provides communications support for multiple local nonprofit organizations.

The University of Scranton and King's College will hold simultaneous celebrations from 1 to 4 p.m. that are free and open to the public.

The University of Scranton will transmit from its W3USR amateur radio station with a public showing of the event in the PNC Auditorium inside the Loyola Science Center. After the reenactment, attendees will be invited upstairs to the W3USR station to operate the radios and enjoy refreshments. An exhibit is also currently on display — covering Father Murgas, the Murgas Amateur Radio Club, W3USR and HamSCI — in the Loyola Science Center’s second-floor display cases.

King’s College will transmit from the Richard Abbas Alley Center for Health Sciences on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. Guests can also enjoy refreshments while they visit the Alley Center’s Rev. Joseph Murgas Room, which showcases his paintings, butterfly collection, wireless broadcasting work and his priestly vestments.

“This celebration not only recognizes Father Murgas, a brilliant technological pioneer who worked in our local area, but also reminds us that the people of the Murgas Amateur Radio Club, W3USR, The University of Scranton, King's College, and our greater NEPA community can continue Father Murgas’ legacy of innovation today,” said Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., W2NAF, associate professor of physics and engineering at The University of Scranton and member of the Murgas Amateur Radio Club.

Father Murgas was born in Tajov, Slovakia, in 1864 and later became one of the early pioneers in the science of radio. He pursued both religious studies and his interests in electricity, astronomy and advanced physics from an early age. After he was ordained a priest in 1888, he enrolled in the Electrical College of Vienna, Austria. He traveled to Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1896 and later served as the founding pastor of Sacred Heart Church at 601 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, where he conducted much of his research.

The University of Scranton recently welcomed renowned economist William Easterly, Ph.D., as the featured speaker at the Fall Henry George Lecture, an event that annually brings globally respected thought leaders to campus.

Dr. Easterly, professor of economics and co-director of the Development Research Institute at New York University, presented afternoon and evening lectures during his visit Tuesday, Oct. 21.

He also participated in a ceremony in the atrium of Brennan Hall, where his name was added to a commemorative plaque of Henry George lecturers. Thirteen previous speakers won Nobel Prizes.

After an afternoon lecture at Brennan Hall on the rise and fall of free markets, Dr. Easterly’s evening talk at the DeNaples Center was titled, “Violent Saviors: Development Lessons from the History of Colonialism.” Dr. Easterly addressed the consequences of coercive foreign interventions and emphasized the importance of empowering countries to freely make decisions.

Dr. Easterly’s visit also included attending a dinner held in honor of late alumnus John Kelly, a local realtor and member of the Schalkenbach Board of Directors whose generosity helped establish the Henry George series.

Dr. Easterly received a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985, worked from 1985 to 2001 at the World Bank as an economist and senior adviser in the Macroeconomics and Growth Division and then worked until 2003 at the Institute for International Economics and the Center for Global Development. He then began teaching at NYU and is the author of three books, more than 70 peer-reviewed academic articles and numerous columns and reviews published in national outlets.

The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute of The University of Scranton will welcome Azzan Yadin-Israel, Ph.D., chair and professor of Jewish studies at Rutgers University, for a lecture Thursday, Nov. 13. Dr. Yadin-Israel’s presentation, “Solving the Mystery of Adam and Eve’s Forbidden Fruit,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Pearn Auditorium in Brennan Hall.

Dr. Yadin-Israel is the author of “Temptation Transformed: The Story of How the Forbidden Fruit Became an Apple.” Released in 2022, Dr. Yadin-Israel’s book pursues the centuries-old mystery of why, when and where an apple became the forbidden fruit.

The Jerusalem Post called Dr. Yadin-Israel’s book “a fascinating exploration” and “an in-depth scholarly investigation” into the forbidden fruit’s roots.

Reflecting upon his research in an article for Rutgers Today, Dr. Yadin-Israel contends that historical linguistics played a large role in identifying the forbidden fruit.

“Most scholars have assumed that the emergence of the apple as the self-evident forbidden fruit must be driven by theological or religious considerations,” he said. “If my argument is correct, the change occurred as the result of forces that are completely indifferent to these matters. It was a general shift in the meaning of an Old French word that happened to have ramifications for the best-known symbol in the Hebrew Bible.”

Dr. Yadin-Israel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and Jewish thought from Hebrew University. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Jewish studies from the University of California, Berkeley. He’s been a member of the Rutgers faculty since 2002 and has also held visiting positions at Princeton University, Jewish Theological Seminary, Cardozo Law School and University of Chicago Divinity School.

Dr. Yadin-Israel’s presentation is free to attend and open to the public.

By Marcus Smith '27, Student Correspondent

The unsung story of coal mining’s effect on Scranton’s culture is on display now in the Hope Horn Gallery. 

“The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania: Selected Paintings, Sculptures and Works on Paper from Public and Private Collections, 1829-1959” is an exhibition showcasing the artwork that comes from the extensive history of coal mining in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Many pieces in the exhibition are taken from Richard Stanislaus’s G’98 private collection.

Born and raised in the Scranton area, Stanislaus has a deep connection to the coal industry.

Initially, Darlene Miller-Lanning, Ph.D, the curator of the Hope Horn gallery, wanted to do a single exhibition on Stanislaus’s private collection of artwork about coal mining and its culture, but it quickly grew much bigger.

“We wanted to do a show that we thought would represent works in his collection, but we ended up with two shows, there’s so much material,” Dr. Miller-Lanning said.

Stanislaus gave a presentation at the Oct. 24 opening of the collection to discuss the various pieces included in the exhibition, which was followed by a reception commemorating the opening.

The exhibition is an effort to bring awareness to the impact that mining had on the local community for those who might be unfamiliar with it.

“Everybody has a story. Everybody knew somebody or was related to somebody that was involved in coal mining,” Dr. Miller-Lanning said.

Unfortunately, the heritage of the coal region has faded from public memory over time. 

“There was this whole culture that grew up around it, and some of that is still present in the community, yet as generations move on, every year, a little less is remembered,” Dr. Miller-Lanning said.

“The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania: Selected Paintings, Sculptures and Works on Paper from Public and Private Collections, 1829-1959” will be presented at the Hope Horn Gallery until Dec. 12.

Ongoing through to Dec. 12, Art Exhibit: “The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania.” Selected paintings, sculptures, and works on papers from public and private collections: 1829-1959. Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

Nov. 5, 5 p.m. Exhibit Opening: “A Life of Service: Celebrating David J. Wenzel ’69, G’74,” sponsored by the University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service. Heritage Room. Weinberg Memorial Library. Reservations Required. Call 570-941-7401 or email alumni@scranton.edu.

Nov. 5-9, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. “A Doll’s House, Part 2” presented by The University Players. Studio Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Limited seating, reservations strongly suggested. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu

Nov. 7, 5 p.m. Art Gallery Lecture: “New Deal Post Office Murals in the Anthracite Regions of Northeastern Pennsylvania” presented by David Lembeck, independent scholar. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Reception follows at the Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. The reception is part of Scranton’s First Friday event. Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

Nov. 9, 9 a.m. Open House for prospective students and their families. Various locations on campus. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email admissions@scranton.edu.

Nov. 11, 5 p.m. Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities and The Jesuit Center: “The Bible, Gender, and Sexuality: Historical Insights and Contemporary Relevance” presented by Amy-Jill Levine, Ph.D., Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace; university professor of New Testament and Jewish studies emerita, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies emerita, professor of New Testament studies emerita, Vanderbilt University. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. 

Nov. 12, 12 noon. Israeli Jesuit Fr. David Neuhaus, S.J. will speak on "Equality, Justice, and Peace - A Catholic Vision for Reconciliation in Israel/Palestine Today." This event will be in person in Scranton (lunch offered starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Brennan Hall, Rose Room) and online webinar offered for guests joining from out of town. The lecture will focus on four elements in the Catholic Church's position regarding Israel/Palestine: the welfare of the Christian community and the protection of the Holy Places; the interpretation of the Scriptures as a resource for promoting equality, justice, and peace; the dialogue with Jews and Muslims; and the commitment to a social teaching that insists on equality, justice, and peace. The event is co-sponsored by The University of Scranton together with the Catholic Advisory Council for Churches for Middle East Peace and Bethlehem University Foundation as part of the 2025 Rev. Drew Christiansen S.J. national lecture series. Registration for this event can be completed here. Call 570-941-4419 or email julie.cohen@scranton.edu 

Nov. 13, 8:30 a.m. Data Science Day features programming tutorial, a keynote speaker and a data science competition for high school students. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required at https://scrantondatacontest.netlify.app/. Call 570-941-6486 or email joseph.klobusicky@scranton.edu.

Nov. 13, 5:30 p.m. Schemel Forum with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Collaborative Program Lecture: “From Manuscript to Print: The Journey of Medieval Books” presented by Michael Knies, special collections librarian and university archivist, Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton. The Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Registration required. Free. Exhibit and reception follow. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu.

Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute Lecture: “Solving the Mystery of Adam and Eve's Forbidden Fruit” by Azzan Yadin-Israel, Ph.D., professor and chair of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Pearn Auditorium of Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-7956 or marc.shapiro@scranton.edu 

Nov. 14, 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.

Nov. 15, 1 p.m. Father Murgas Day event honoring the 120^th anniversary of the first world overland long-distance wireless transmission using radio. Reenactment of the transmission between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton held in conjunction with the Murgas Amateur Radio Club, followed by radio station open houses and receptions at both campuses.. W3USR Amateur Radio Club at Scranton, PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center, and Alley Center for Health Science, King’s College. Free. Visit murgasarc.org or email murgasarc@gmail.com.

Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “America is Ready for a Pro-Peace Foreign Policy. Is Washington?” presented by Matthew Duss, executive director, Center for International Policy, former visiting scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu.

Nov. 20, 5:30 p.m. Ethics Across the Curriculum Lecture: “Spiritual Alienation and the Quest for God” presented by David McPherson, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. 

Nov. 20-22, 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. “Legally Blonde – The Musical” presented by Liva Arts Company. The Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. $5. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.livaartscompany.ludus.com or email livaartscompany@gmail.com.

Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Symphonic Band. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

Dec. 4, 5:30 p.m. Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities Lecture: “Do the Brain and Behavioral Sciences Show That Free Will is an Illusion?” presented by Timothy O’Connor, Ph.D., Mahlon Powell Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science, Indiana University. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. 

Dec. 6, 8 p.m. Performance Music: “58^th Annual Noel Night” featuring The University of Scranton Singers, String Orchestra and Chamber Ensembles with guest harpist Marg Davis and pianist Ron Stabinsky. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “The Scranton Brass Orchestra Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert.” Houlihan-McLean Center. Admission: one new unwrapped toy, new toiletry items or a cash donation. All proceeds will directly benefit local families in need. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

On Friday, Oct. 31, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a Halloween recital entitled, “Phantom of the Pipes,” featuring renowned organist Christopher Johnson performing a program centered around the themes of death, transfiguration and resurrection. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Johnson is a member of acclaimed chamber orchestra The Knights. He serves as Director of Music and Organist at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Scranton and as Director of Chapel Music at The Interchurch Center in New York City on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. In addition to previous appointments as Director of Music and Organist at The Riverside Church in New York City, Artist-in-Residence at Union Theological Seminary and Director of Music and Organist for the Woodstock/St. Paul Community at Columbia University, he also served as Assistant Organist at Christ Church United Methodist in Manhattan. While pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies at The Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music and Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music, his teachers included Adeline Huss, Todd Wilson and Thomas Murray for organ studies, and Joshua Smith, John Mack and Robert Vernon for orchestral studies. As a flautist and organist, he performs regularly with Ensemble Eccolo, a chamber ensemble based in Altenburg, Germany, presenting concerts throughout Europe and the Middle East. An enthusiastic and avid flyer of airplanes and lover of languages, Johnson is a type-rated commercial pilot with five flight and ground instructor ratings and dabbles in German, Norwegian and Egyptian Arabic.

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. It was restored and rededicated 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. 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 maintained by Stephen L Emery, Inc.: Pipe Organ Tuning and Restoration.

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

If You Go:

What: PHANTOM OF THE PIPES featuring organist Christopher Johnson
When: Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton
Admission: Free

The University of Scranton’s graduate program in clinical rehabilitation counseling will host an alumni reunion as part of a 60-year anniversary celebration.

Clinical rehabilitation alumni and University community members are welcome to attend the event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Kane Forum inside McGurrin Hall. It is free to attend and will feature food, fun and giveaways. Guests must register online at this link.

Two distinguished program alumni — Rob Froelich, 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 Froelich, senior vice president of Utilization Management at Genex — will also present, “AI – Where Do We Draw the Line? Ethics and Boundaries.” The presentation will examine ethical concerns raised by many counseling professionals who are uncertain about the practice of using artificial intelligence. It is a one-hour Ethics Continuing Education session; CRC certificate or certificate of attendance available.

University officials will also offer remarks and Lori Bruch, Ed.D., associate professor of counseling and human services, will speak on the history of the program as it marks 60 years.

The Lackawanna County Commissioner Debate — held Thursday, Oct. 23 — drew a nearly standing room-only crowd to The University of Scranton’s Pearn Auditorium at Brennan Hall.

Democrat Thom Welby, Republican Chet Merli and independent candidate Michael Cappellini participated in the debate organized by the University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS). A Nov. 4 special election will be held as the three candidates are vying for a seat on the three-member board of commissioners.

Much like the Scranton Mayoral Debate, held one week earlier, the Lackawanna County Commissioner Debate featured University personnel playing key roles. Brian Snee, Ph.D., director of CEEPS, was the debate moderator. Grace Lennox, a political science and philosophy double major and College Democrats president from Peckville, and Philip Huffman, a political science and history double major and College Republicans president from Scranton, read the debate rules, introduced the candidates and handled timekeeping duties. Additionally, three local journalists — WBRE-TV’s Connor Coar, The Times-Tribune’s Donnie Collins and WNEP-TV’s Stacy Lange — served as panelists.

The debate was livestreamed and recorded by ECTV and carried by other media outlets.

Robert Knowles, Jr., a Jesuit-educated insurance professional whose career has spanned 40-plus years, recently shared his experience and insights with students and faculty members at The University of Scranton.

Knowles, president of Scranton-based Knowles Insurance, was the featured speaker at an Oct. 21 luncheon held inside the DeNaples Center.

In addition to faculty members from the University’s Department of Economics, Finance and International Business, the luncheon was attended by students from the campus chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an international honor society for economics.

Drawing on his experience, which dates back to his education at Scranton Preparatory School and College of the Holy Cross, Knowles’ presentation was interactive and he participated in a Q-&-A with attendees. He spoke about the importance for young people to know what — and who — they want to be in life and how they can give back.

Knowles is a board member of the University’s Kania School of Management. He also serves as trustee and vice chairman at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation and has held roles at many other organizations in the Scranton community.

The University of Scranton on Thursday, Oct. 16, hosted its first of two political debates during this year’s general election cycle.

Scranton Mayor and Democratic nominee Paige Cognetti, Republican nominee Trish Beynon and independent candidates Gene Barrett and Rik Little participated in the Scranton Mayoral Debate at the PNC Auditorium inside Loyola Science Center. A nearly standing room-only crowd attended the debate, in addition to thousands more who watched a livestream recorded by ECTV and carried by other media outlets.

The hourlong event was presented by the University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS). The CEEPS director, Brian Snee, Ph.D., moderated the debate.

Three journalists — Donnie Collins of the Times-Tribune, Elizabeth Haikes of Fox 56 and Borys Krawczeniuk of WVIA — served as panelists, asking the nominees questions. The debate also featured presidents of the University’s College Democrats and Republicans greeting and introducing the nominees. Grace Lennox, of Peckville, is a political science and philosophy double major and College Democrats president. Philip Huffman, of Scranton, is a political science and history double major and College Republicans president.

The University will host another debate at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, when Lackawanna County Commissioner nominees take the stage at the Pearn Auditorium inside Brennan Hall.

Vision loss has many causes, comes in various forms and progresses at unique rates.

No matter the diagnosis, however, it is almost always met with some combination of fear and uncertainty.

That’s where Julie Nastasi ’01, Sc.D., OTD, associate professor in occupational therapy, and the Leahy Low Vision Clinic enter with clinical experience; and perhaps, more importantly, a compassionate bedside manner to relieve clients and restore their hope and independence.

Having officially opened in spring 2016, the clinic will mark its 10-year anniversary. It has served upward of a dozen clients some years and a handful in others, but it has never turned anyone away.

“A lot of what we do in the clinic with the clients is explain to them their diagnosis,” Dr. Nastasi said.

For instance, macular degeneration is the most common age-related eye condition. It is serious and life-changing — but also manageable.

In explaining the condition, Dr. Nastasi balls up a fist and presses it against her forehead.

“Look through your fist. You can’t see where you’re directly looking, but everything on the outside? You’re still going to have that vision,” she says. “We’ll tell them, ‘Your whole world is not going to go to black.’ You can really alleviate their stress and anxiety just by explaining it.”

Dr. Nastasi, an instructor at the University since 2011, previously worked in hospitals as an occupational therapist. She understands the pace at which doctors work. Sometimes, they simply do not have the time to fully explain a diagnosis.

“We don’t bill here ... I don’t have the constraints of insurance or the demands of productivity and things like that,” she said.

The clinic, which is located inside Leahy Hall, has never turned anyone away as referrals often come from Northeastern Eye Institute and Geisinger. Many clients are older and suffering from glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, a traumatic brain injury or stroke.

After receiving the referral form, Dr. Nastasi performs an evaluation.

“She gave me an eye exam. Without any equipment, that was the best eye exam I think I’ve ever had,” said client Madeline Strong, of Scranton. “She picked up on something right away and said, ‘Call your doctor.’”

Dr. Nastasi and her occupational therapy students — five of them this term — take the time to truly understand their clients.

“We want to know: Is it affecting your reading? Is it affecting your writing? What are the activities you want to be able to do?” Dr. Nastasi said. “We can’t fix their vision because it is a central nervous system disorder. However, I could teach them how to use their vision more effectively.”

The clinic treats clients with numerous pieces of specialized equipment, including closed-captioned televisions, digital and handheld magnifiers, screen readers and text-to-speech tools.

Even taking a few minutes to explain how to use accessibility tools on a smartphone can make a world of difference.

“I’m not a hugger,” Dr. Nastasi said. “But I get lots of hugs from the folks we help.”

Strong is one of those clients who repaid her clinician with an emotional embrace.

“She’s been an angel, she really has,” Strong said.

Facilities offering low-vision services are rare, and Vision Center reports that financial and healthcare system barriers, as well as structural and social detriments, often prevent people from getting the services they need.

The Leahy Low Vision Clinic is part of the Edward R. Leahy Jr. Clinic for the Uninsured, housed in Leahy Hall. It also has a physical therapy clinic, a counseling and behavioral health clinic and a medical clinic (operated with the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine).

The Leahy Low Vision Clinic sees patients by appointment only. For more information, please call 570-941-6112.

The University of Scranton Jazz Band will take the stage Saturday, Oct. 25, with acclaimed drummer Marion Felder joining them as the evening’s guest soloist. Presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton, the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Felder will also offer a free drumset masterclass at 4:30 p.m. for drummers ranging from 16-year-old students to adult teachers and professionals. (Student musicians under age 16 are welcome to attend accompanied by a parent, guardian, or music teacher.)

At the concert, the University’s student jazz ensemble will perform a variety of works that prominently feature Felder on drums.

"The program will feature music representing works in a variety of styles to showcase the versatility of our guest artists and broaden the experience of our student musicians," said performance music conductor and co-director Janelle Decker.

Performance music conductor and director Cheryl Y. Boga first met Felder when he came to New York City as a member of one of the earliest classes of The Juilliard School’s Jazz Studies program.

"Not only is Marion's mastery of 'driving' a big band with astounding time and musicality always evident," Boga said, "but he does it while keeping his entire focus on supporting the ensemble."

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Felder brings a dynamic blend of tradition, versatility and world-class training to the stage. Currently touring and recording with Michael Bublé, Felder has served as the drummer with the Wycliffe Gordon Quintet, the Count Basie Orchestra and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and has performed with a wide range of acclaimed artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Victor Goines, Carmen Bradford, Delfeayo Marsalis, Paul Simon, Van Morrison and Hank Jones, among many others. Felder earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at The Juilliard School on a full scholarship.

The University of Scranton Jazz Band is a 25-member ensemble of big band style instrumentation, made up of University of Scranton student musicians from majors spanning the curriculum. They perform five or more times per year. The majority of their performances are open to the public, free of admission charge, and often feature a nationally or internationally renowned guest soloist.

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

If You Go:

What: IN CONCERT: The University of Scranton Jazz Band with guest soloist Marion Felder, drums, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton
When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton
Admission: Free
Masterclass: Same day, same place, 4:30 p.m., also free