University News

Brandon Terry, Ph.D., presented the Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities’ annual Sondra H’87 and Morey Myers H’12 Distinguished Visiting Fellowship in the Humanities and Civic Engagement Lecture on April 23.

Dr. Terry, Harvard University's John L. Loeb associate professor of the social sciences and co-director of the Institute on Policing, Incarceration and Public Safety at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, presented a lecture called “Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope,” which shared a name with his recently published book.

The 546-page book, published in October, which was selected by the New York Times as one of “100 notable books of 2025,” deals with the reality of the civil rights movement, trying to replace romanticized, idealistic visions of the movement with a more nuanced understanding.

According to the New York Times, “The civil rights movement has been enshrined in American history as an exemplary model of transformative social action. Terry, a Harvard scholar, upends the conventional wisdom, rejecting both romanticized versions of the past and pessimistic accounts of the present to offer a nuanced theory of the movement — and of social movements in general — predicated on a rigorous philosophical vision of what he calls ‘tragic hope.’”

The Myers lecture, which is housed in The University of Scranton’s Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities, works to advance the University’s efforts in bringing renowned scholars, artists and thinkers to campus to share their work and enrich cultural and civic activity.

Sondra Myers was a longtime director of the University’s Schemel Forum whose career has focused on strengthening democracy and civic engagement through cultural programming, public policy work and humanities scholarship. Morey Myers, a civil rights activist and accomplished jurist, is a graduate of the Yale University School of Law and Syracuse University.

The University of Scranton recently hosted a massive history education event, bringing to campus hundreds of middle and high school students who used various platforms to showcase their creativity and research skills.

More than 700 middle and high school students from across Pennsylvania, competing as individuals and groups in junior and senior age levels, entered nearly 400 projects at this year’s National History Day in Pennsylvania State Contest. The students displayed and presented their submissions on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, at facilities throughout the University’s campus.

"It was amazing to see students from all kinds of backgrounds and from all over Pennsylvania, coming to The University of Scranton to share their research in and love of history," said Sean Brennan, Ph.D., professor of history and event organizer. "This contest not only helps to cultivate historical knowledge, but also promotes a sense of civic future the students will take into adulthood."

Prizes were awarded in the following categories: Best Documentary, Best Exhibit, Best Paper, Best Performance and Best Website. The first-, second- and third-place finishers received medals, while the first- and second-place finishers advance to the National Finals, held June 14-18, at the University of Maryland.

The overall school champions were Harrisburg’s Holy Name of Jesus School, Junior Division; and Parkland High School, Senior Division.

Coinciding with the 250-year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, entries followed the theme of Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.

In total, 708 students competed with 386 entries. A full list of medalists and special prize winners are available online.

The University of Scranton also hosted the National History Day Pennsylvania Region 2 contest in February .

The University will host next year’s Region 2 (March 6) and State Contests (April 24-25), as well.

Champions included the following:

Junior Group Documentary
Mikhail Zachariah, Nithin Raja, Srisathwik Kanteti and Advai Shyam, of South Fayette Middle School, “Three Mile Island: Nuclear Reform in the United States”

Senior Group Documentary

Daniel Khan and Edward Cheung, of the Haverford School, “Asphalt Genesis: The Hidden Cost Under the Forced Revolution of America’s Roads”

Junior Group Exhibit

Terra Nguyen and Reese Perry, of Holy Name of Jesus School, “From Charity to Care: Catherine Hershey’s Philanthropic Revolution”

Senior Group Exhibit

Lily Sadowski, Stella Rusinko, Alexis Strine and Hansa Gogineni, of Peters Township High School, “Orval Faubus: A Revolutionary Reaction to the Reform of the Little Rock Nine”

Junior Group Performance

Isabella Sedano-Perez, Hadley Schuller, Annabelle Valentin and Penelope Whetstone, of Reynolds Middle School, “Her Side of History”

Senior Group Performance

Nyahme Joslyn, Sophia Plastaras, Eliana Kelberg-Gross, Olivia Kang and Leila Golzari-Hunt, of the Julia Reynolds Masterman School, “One Voice, One America: How Marian Anderson’s Lincoln Memorial Performance Set a Precedent for Reform”

Junior Group Website

Grace Greenwood, Adalia Mathew and Diya Thirumurugan, of South Fayette Middle School, “A Glowing Workplace With Dark Secrets: The Radium Girls’ Fight for Reform”

Senior Group Website

Hari Kasibhotla and Lucas Vicente-Mendoza, of Central Bucks High School-South, “The Meiji Restoration: Rise of an Asian Powerhouse”

Junior Individual Documentary

Ella Futrel, of Holy Name of Jesus School, “The Monumental Miles”

Senior Individual Documentary

Madelyn Yucha, of Central High School (Philadelphia), More Than a Maid: The Complex Legacy of Hattie McDaniel

Junior Individual Exhibit

Rafael Alicea, of Saint Margaret Mary School, “El Grito de Lares: Revolution, Reaction and Reform Puerto Rico’s First Fight for Freedom”

Senior Individual Exhibit

Marjorie Yaschur, of Central Bucks High School-East, “The Sweet Side of History: Unwrapping Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Bar”

Junior Individual Performance

Hajar Syamsuddin, of Springhouse Middle School, “After Genocide and Revolution: The Journey of Healing Together Through Traditional Ways”

Senior Individual Performance

Areesha Mariyam, of Parkland High School, “An Unjust Reaction to the Bolshevik Revolution: The Palmer Raids”

Junior Individual Website

Imogan Middleton, of Springhouse Middle School, “Girls to the Front: The Riot Grrrl Revolution”

Senior Individual Website

Julide Ozcan, of Parkland High School, “Ether Day: Conquering Pain, Stirring Reaction and Catalyzing Modern Medicine”

Junior Paper

Aadhya Palepua, of Mount Nittany Middle School, “Liberty, Property and Federal Authority: Constitutional Conflict in Fries’s Rebellion”

Senior Paper

Vanshika Jain, of Mount Lebanon Senior High School, “Breaking the Gilded Hierarchy: The Bully Pulpit and the Birth of the Square Deal”

On Saturday, May 16, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a recital by critically and popularly acclaimed pianist and Northeastern Pennsylvania native John Wilson. 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.

“It is always a special pleasure to extend a warm welcome home to a world-renowned musician like John, who grew up in our area,” says Performance Music Executive Director, Janelle Decker.

A native of the Mid Valley area near Scranton, Wilson serves as orchestral pianist for the San Francisco Symphony; principal keyboard for the Marin Symphony, San Diego Symphony and Oakland Symphony; and is critically and popularly acclaimed for his extraordinary artistry and commanding presence. Last season cemented his reputation as a defining voice in American solo piano, beginning with a sold-out Carnegie Hall recital. In addition to his near-constant orchestral work, he performed solo concerti with San Francisco Philharmonic, Marin Symphony and Merced Symphony. He teaches at San Francisco Conservatory. His recording of Gershwin transcriptions by Earl Wild surpassed 1 million streams in its first year. He appears on two Grammy Award‑winning recordings with San Francisco Symphony and on “GRACE: The Music of Michael Tilson Thomas.”

Wilson has performed with violinist Joshua Bell; cellist Johannes Moser; and iconic vocalists Frederica von Stade, Sasha Cooke and Michael Feinstein; played on international tours with the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and Esa-Pekka Salonen; and made guest appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A passionate advocate for new music, he has premiered works by Michael Tilson Thomas, John Adams, Steve Reich, Timo Andres and Gabriela Lena Frank. 

Wilson’s outstanding performances and artistry have garnered widespread recognition and critical acclaim both domestically and internationally, earning him First Prize at the 2019 International Respighi Prize, the 2021 American Competition and the 2023 Ernst Bacon Memorial Award — the latter honoring exemplary performances of American music. Earlier milestones include a last-minute triumph in Beethoven’s Triple Concerto at the Sun Valley Music Festival — praised as “breathtakingly assured” by Idaho Press — and a standout performance of Mozart’s K. 491 at the 50th Anniversary Midsummer Mozart Festival.

For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit the Performance Music website. For more info on Wilson, visit johnwilsonpiano.com.

IF YOU GO:

What: IN RECITAL: John Wilson, piano, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2026

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

Admission: Free

Continuing its commitment to offering its students opportunities to work with world-class musicians, Performance Music at The University of Scranton is delighted to spotlight the work of Ahmed Alom at its 43rd annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert on Saturday, May 2.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton. Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

The World Premiere Composition Series provides students with the rare opportunity to perform the premiere of a work by a nationally or internationally known composer under the baton of that composer, getting a first-hand glimpse into the compositional process. Meanwhile, audiences get to experience the piece for the first time exactly as the composer intended.

At the concert, The University of Scranton Concert Choir and Concert Band will premiere two brand-new commissioned works by Alom, written specifically for the University’s student ensembles, entitled "A Night – There Lay the Days Between (for SATB choir)" and "A Cuban Landscape (for full concert band)."

"We are very excited to have Ahmed coming to work with our students and for them to have the honor of premiering his new works," said Cheryl Y. Boga, Artistic Director of Performance Music and conductor. “He first visited Scranton a few years ago with our longtime friend Caleb Hudson, and after hearing his incredible playing and moving compositions, we were delighted when he accepted our commission.”

As a pianist, composer and conductor, Alom’s boundary-crossing artistry has earned him worldwide recognition. His musical voice, shaped by the rigor of classical training and the rhythmic vitality of his Cuban heritage, bridges genres and traditions. His compositions have been championed by leading artists, most notably Yuja Wang, who premiered his "Displaced Étude No. 1" with New York Philharmonic. As a soloist, he has appeared with ensembles and orchestras throughout the Western Hemisphere.

A dynamic collaborator, Alom works with artists across genres, and his ensembles reflect his wide-ranging interests: Triple Cortado — a chamber trio with Caleb Hudson and Achilles Liarmakopoulos — merges classical virtuosity with contemporary works; while CrossCurrents, his duo with Pedrito Martínez, explores the intersection of Afro-Cuban traditions and European classical music. His debut album "Exilio (2023)" traced narratives of displacement through six Hispanic composers, including the first complete recording of Luis A. Calvo’s "Four Intermezzos."

Alom is also the youngest Artistic Director of the Washington Square Music Festival where he curates inclusive and forward-looking programming. His educational work includes masterclasses and lectures at Berklee College of Music, San Francisco Conservatory, Dartmouth, Peabody Institute, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.

The University of Scranton Concert Band is a 70-member ensemble of full standard concert band instrumentation, and the Concert Choir is an SSATBB group. Both feature members of The University of Scranton campus community — the vast majority undergraduate students along with a few graduate students, alumni and members of the faculty and staff. 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) are eligible for membership in the University 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 further information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit the University's website. For more info on Alom, visit his website.

IF YOU GO:

What: 43rd annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026

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

Admission: Free

The University of Scranton recently brought together more than 100 professionals from 18 U.S. states and overseas, discussing artificial intelligence and presenting topical research.

AI presents both significant promise and real challenges, engaging a wide range of perspectives that were covered at the University’s first AI-themed interdisciplinary conference, Confronting the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, held April 16-18.

Despite the countless points of view and interpretations about AI, however, common ground at the conference was found in the conscientious approach scholars have taken toward the technology and the unanimous agreement that it is here to stay.

“Our responsibility now is to determine how to live with it in ways that won’t diminish human lives and instead will promote the common good,” said George Aulisio, Ph.D., dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library. “I can think of no place more fitting than The University of Scranton to bring together scholars committed to exploring the ethical dimensions of a technology already shaping people’s lives.”

Dr. Aulisio was one of the event’s co-planners, along with Megan Heeder, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology and religious studies, and Daniel Marenda, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

“The conference was a major success,” Dr. Aulisio said. “One aspect of the conference that I particularly appreciated was its intentional interdisciplinarity. Having voices from the humanities, health sciences, business, libraries and the sciences brought a remarkable range of perspectives, each adding from its own area of expertise.”

Guests and participants considered AI's capabilities and its appropriate uses.

"We encountered a diverse range of perspectives from many disciplines on how to evaluate when to use AI in recognition of its dire environmental and human impact, as well as its expansive possibilities. AI skeptics conversed with AI enthusiasts throughout the conference, exploring not just what AI can do, but what it should do," Dr. Heeder said. "Our exceptional keynote speakers — Joe Vukov, from Loyola-Chicago’s Hank Center, and Paul Scherz, from the University of Notre Dame — shared their respective expert perspectives on how to understand human and post-human realities as an evaluative lens to guide our engagement with the world around us and how Alasdair MacIntyre‘s philosophy of social practices serves as tool to understand how AI might enhance or augment ways of engaging and working together. One of the great gifts of the conference was seeing new relationships flourish and hearing participants express the way in which the conference responded to a need in their professional and personal development."

The conference was sponsored by the Diocese of Scranton and Geisinger with support from the University’s Ethics Across the Curriculum initiative.

The University of Scranton will host an upcoming two-day conference — Applied Ethics in an Era of Globalization: Perspectives From the East and the West — where education leaders will speak and present on innovative ethics education.

The conference begins on Thursday, April 30, at the PNC Auditorium inside the Loyola Science Center. Thursday’s keynote speaker, Bryan W. Van Norden, Ph.D., professor and chair of philosophy at Vassar College, will at 9 a.m. present “On Living Well.” Dr. Van Norden’s presentation will explore how cultures across history have defined “living well,” from virtue and character to human nature.

The conference continues on Friday, May 1, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium. Friday’s keynote speaker, Robin M. Wang, professor of philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, will at 9 a.m. present “Ethos of Healing: The Ancient Art of Proximal Attunement.” Dr. Wang’s talk will focus on 2015 Nobel Prize-winning Tu Youyou’s groundbreaking malaria treatment that drew on ancient Daoist medical texts.

Beyond the two keynote lectures, the conference will feature more than a dozen other presenters from Scranton, Georgetown, Penn State, National Taiwan University, Holy Cross, Chicago and other institutions of higher learning.

In addition to Dr. Van Norden’s lecture on Thursday, the conference will feature lectures on the following topics: Moral Psychology and the Function of Ritual and Music; Geriatric Care and Filial Piety; Filiality, Earth Care and Feminist Ethics.

Friday’s conference features lectures on these topics: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Ethics; Approaches to Human Rights; War, Politics and Humanistic Education.

Applied Ethics in an Era of Globalization: Perspectives From the East and the West was made possible through funding by Ethics Across the Curriculum with sponsorship from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Philosophy and the Asian Studies Program.

The conference is free and open to the public, both in the University and Greater Scranton communities. Professors are encouraged to bring their class to any session that may enrich student learning as it relates to their course. A Royal Card reader will be on-site.

More information and a full program are available at this link.

By Marcus Smith '27, Student Correspondent

Students at The University of Scranton can look forward to quality-of-life improvements in their dining for the 2026-27 school season, thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), which recently announced Scranton as a recipient of its PA Hunger-Free Campus grant funding.

Adrianna Smith '22 G'23, student life special projects coordinator for The University of Scranton, outlined how the University plans to use its grant allocation. 

“We can increase the availability of grab-and-go meals, meal ingredient kits and emergency dining support while also piloting a micro-pantry and expanding access to hygiene products,” she explained. “Additional funding will allow for expanded grocery shuttle services, cooking workshops and SNAP education and application support to connect eligible students with crucial resources.”

Smith said the grant represents a new ability for campus-wide collaboration among several departments.

“This funding will support a collaborative initiative between the Division of Student Life and Center for Service and Social Justice, enhancing both immediate access to food and long-term resources for students,” Smith said. 

Smith also discussed the grant’s ability to help the University ensure that it lives up to its Jesuit ideals by recognizing and assisting with students’ physical, not just academic, needs. 

“By prioritizing dignity, we will continue to foster an environment where all students are supported and thriving both inside and outside the classroom,” Smith said.

PDE awarded $1 million worth of PA Hunger-Free Campus grants to 30 colleges and universities across the state of Pennsylvania.

The University of Scranton received $40,000 in grant funds from PDE to help improve the dining experience on campus.

PA Hunger-Free Campus grants are awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to help schools address food insecurity on campus, including expanding access to food options, creating awareness initiatives and upgrading facilities.

A group of students from The University of Scranton is once again organizing SoccerFest, a community-focused soccer tournament designed to bring together local youth athletes for a day of competition, teamwork and community engagement.

SoccerFest will take place on Saturday, May 9, at Fitzpatrick Field on the University's campus, featuring a fast-paced 6-v-6 tournament format. Teams of up to 10 players will compete in multiple divisions: U10 coed, U12 coed, U12 male, U14 girls, U14 male, high school male and high school female.

The event is entirely planned and executed by students as part of a sports event management course, giving them hands-on experience in organizing a large-scale athletic event — from marketing and registration to scheduling and game operations.

The tournament is open to players of all skill levels, offering each team a guaranteed set of games throughout the day. Participants will also receive event T-shirts. Registration is available through the SoccerFest website.

The goal of the event is to grow the community and bring people together for a fun day. In addition to providing a competitive outlet for young athletes, all SoccerFest proceeds support the charitable initiative of Friends of the Poor.

Student organizers are actively promoting the event across local community spaces, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, inclusivity and community connection.

Registration for SoccerFest 2026 is currently open, with early registration pricing available through April 17 and final registration closing May 3.

For more information, to register a team or to volunteer, visit the SoccerFest website.

The University of Scranton Jazz Band will take the stage Saturday, April 18, with acclaimed trombonist Jennifer Krupa joining them as the evening’s featured guest artist. 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.

“Our students are excited to work with Jen again after a very successful week last year of preparing and performing premieres of the works she and Wycliffe Gordon composed for them," said Performance Music Executive Director and conductor Janelle Decker.

“Krupa is truly a part of our Performance Music program here at Scranton — her musical and technical mastery and collaborative, respectful and intuitive teaching style have consistently had a strong positive impact on the musical experiences of our student musicians, staff and audiences throughout her many years of visits," said Cheryl Y. Boga, Artistic Director of Performance Music and conductor.

An acclaimed trombonist, musician, music educator, conductor, composer and arranger, Krupa has written original works and arrangements for a wide variety of ensembles that have been featured in recordings and performances across the globe. Her extensive discography spans nearly 40 recordings. She performs with many of the most highly regarded jazz artists of our time, serves as lead trombonist with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, co-leads the Krupa/Pilzer Quartet, is an in-demand soloist throughout the U.S., and maintains a very active career as a player, guest conductor, composer/arranger and teacher in the New York City and Washington/Maryland areas.

Krupa leads clinics, masterclasses and adjudications and guest conducts nationwide; conducts the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Combos; and has presented at the Jazz Educators Network, Midwest Clinic and the International Trombone Festival. Recently retired from her two-decade tenure with the United States Navy Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble, Krupa held multiple key roles with that ensemble, including Music Director, arranger, tour manager, operations and personnel manager and trombonist. She is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School where she directs the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra.

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.

Krupa received her first critic’s review as a professional in “The Scranton Tribune” for a performance in the University’s Houlihan McLean Center in 2000, performing with The Wycliffe Gordon Quintet.

For further information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit the University's website. For more info on Krupa, visit jenkrupa.com.

IF YOU GO:

What: IN CONCERT: The University of Scranton Jazz Ensemble featuring guest soloist Jennifer Krupa, trombone, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2026

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

Admission: FREE

As The University of Scranton’s programs that serve community members in need have expanded, so has the need for more space. The Center for Service and Social Justice’s many programs, previously held in the Arrupe House, have now moved to a larger, more modern space in Ciszek Hall on Mulberry Street.

A new kitchen and hall in the lower level will serve as a new space for the We Care Meal Program, through which students volunteer to prepare and package 50-100 meals weekly for community members in need. The meals include a main course, side, drink, snacks, dessert, utensils and a handmade card. The cards are made in the Crafts room on the first floor of Ciszek Hall. Meals have been donated to Community Intervention Center, Friends of the Poor and low-income housing developments such as Delaware Towers, Valley View, Bangor Heights, Hilltop and Jackson Terrace.

The first floor of Ciszek Hall includes the Royal Restore Food Pantry, which provides free, nutritious food and personal care products to University students and employees in need, and Teen Threads, a student-run program that offers clothing giveaways at area high schools and other programs for young adults. The hall also includes a meeting space for groups associated with the Center for Service and Social Justice.

The new space was showcased and blessed at an Open House in March. Participating in the event were Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., vice president for mission and ministry; Patricia Vaccaro, director of the Center for Service and Social Justice; and University students Patrick George, Endwell, New York; Bridgid Guarnuccio, Scotch Plains, New Jersey; Bradly Kaufman, Scranton; Christina Kennedy, Morristown, New Jersey; and Frank McCann, Glenside.

The University of Scranton has more than a dozen graduate programs ranked among the best in the nation, according to one of the leading authorities in assessing academic quality and reputation.

U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” report, released April 7, features 14 University of Scranton master’s and doctoral offerings ranked in their respective categories.

Among Scranton’s highest-ranked and fastest-rising programs are the following:

• No. 43 (tied), Best Rehabilitation Counseling Programs — up six spots from No. 49 in 2025
• No. 59 (tied), Best Occupational Therapy Programs — up 20 spots from No. 79 in 2025
• No. 99 (tied), Best Nurse Anesthesia Programs — up 12 spots from No. 111 in 2025

In rehabilitation counseling, Scranton ranks first in Pennsylvania and shares the No. 43 ranking with the likes of Texas Tech and the University of Alabama.

Scranton also held strong in the Best Healthcare Management Programs category, ranking 53rd nationally, tied with Creighton University, Texas State University, the University of Memphis and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, among others.

Additionally, after not being ranked in 2025, the University placed in the following categories:

• No. 109 (tied), Best International Business Programs
• No. 139 (tied), Best Management Programs
• No. 154 (tied), Best Marketing Programs
• No. 166 (tied), Best Supply Chain Management Programs

The University also received recognition in multiple other categories: Best Part-Time MBA Programs, No. 105 (tied); Best Physical Therapy Programs, No. 115 (tied); Best Business Analytics Programs, No. 115 (tied); Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice, No. 137; Best Accounting Programs, No. 148 (tied); and Best Finance Programs, No. 170 (tied).

The methodologies used by U.S. News to rank programs are constantly updated, refined and tailored to each category. Among the factors that go into U.S. News rankings are the results of surveys of educational and professional personnel, faculty student ratios and student test scores. In addition to U.S. News, The Wall Street Journal, Princeton Review and Forbes are among the other publications that have recently recognized the value of a Scranton education with noteworthy rankings.

The University of Scranton has more than 40 graduate programs covering specialties within the fields of business, health administration, health sciences, social sciences and STEM.

According to the most recent Roche Family Center for Career Development’s First Destination Survey, graduate students from the Class of 2024 reported a 100% success rate with 95% of them employed full-time. The graduates’ mean annual salary was $82,932, up 15% from just three years earlier.

For more information, visit The University of Scranton’s graduate admissions website.

The University of Scranton will host a three-day national interdisciplinary conference, bringing together educators, students and professionals to explore the wide-ranging implications of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

The conference, titled “Confronting the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence,” will be held Thursday, April 16, through Saturday, April 18, on the University’s campus. Registration is open with pricing ranging from $50 to $150. Included in the cost is unlimited access to the conference’s panels and workshops, as well as entry into a Thursday night mixer and Friday night dinner. Conference sponsors are the Diocese of Scranton and Geisinger.

Notable presenters include Ryan Struyk, director of AI innovation at CNN; Thursday’s keynote speaker Joe Vukov, Ph.D., associate director of Loyola University Chicago’s Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage and associate professor of philosophy; and Friday’s keynote speaker Paul Scherz, Ph.D., Our Lady of Guadalupe professor of theology at Notre Dame, program chair of the Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab and member of the Vatican Centre for Digital Culture’s AI Research Group.

Thursday’s programming begins at 5 p.m. with a welcome by Tracy Stewart, Ph.D., The University of Scranton’s interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, along with conference co-planners George Aulisio, Ph.D., dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library; Dan Marenda, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Megan Heeder, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology and religious studies.

On Friday, the conference will offer a staggering 28 breakout sessions across nine time slots, beginning in the 9 to 9:40 a.m. window and ending at 4:30 to 5:10 p.m.

Presenters are coming from across the U.S. to discuss topics including but not limited to arts and humanities; business; education; environmental impact; healthcare and medicine; law and policy; library and information science; philosophy; science; theology; social justice and equity; and social sciences.

A full conference schedule and list of presenters are now available on the University’s website.

The University of Scranton will welcome Harvard University faculty member Brandon Terry, Ph.D., as the speaker at this year’s Sondra H’87 and Morey Myers H’12 Distinguished Visiting Fellowship in the Humanities and Civic Engagement Lecture.

Dr. Terry, Harvard’s John L. Loeb associate professor of the social sciences and co-director of the Institute on Policing, Incarceration and Public Safety at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, will speak at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the Pearn Auditorium inside Brennan Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Dr. Terry’s lecture is titled “Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope,” the same title as his 546-page book released in October 2025.

The book was selected by The New York Times as one of “100 Notable Books of 2025.”

“The civil rights movement has been enshrined in American history as an exemplary model of transformative social action,” the newspaper wrote. “Terry, a Harvard scholar, upends the conventional wisdom, rejecting both romanticized versions of the past and pessimistic accounts of the present to offer a nuanced theory of the movement — and of social movements in general — predicated on a rigorous philosophical vision of what he calls ‘tragic hope.’”

Housed in The University of Scranton’s Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities, the Myers lecture was created to advance the University’s efforts in bringing renowned scholars, artists and thinkers to campus to share their work and enrich cultural and civic activity.

Sondra Myers was a longtime director of the University’s Schemel Forum whose career has focused on strengthening democracy and civic engagement through cultural programming, public policy work and humanities scholarship. Morey Myers, a civil rights activist and accomplished jurist, is a graduate of the Yale University School of Law and Syracuse University.

For more information, visit the Myers lecture’s webpage on the Slattery Center website.

The University of Scranton will host a Junior Open House on Saturday, April 25, welcoming high school juniors and their families to campus for a dynamic introduction to college life. Online registration is open for the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DeNaples Center.

Admissions counselors and current students will help facilitate campus tours and interactive sessions with faculty and representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Leahy College of Health Sciences. The event is designed to answer questions and offer insight into the opportunities available in and beyond the classroom.

“Our Junior Open House is an exciting opportunity for prospective students to experience Scranton firsthand — connecting with our admissions team, hearing from current Royals and exploring our academic programs alongside our college deans," said Hugh Doyle '17, G'20, director of undergraduate admissions. "Families will also enjoy a tour of our beautiful campus, including our facilities and residence halls, and begin to picture what their future at Scranton could look like.”

Founded in 1888, The University of Scranton is a Catholic and Jesuit university with 70 majors across its three colleges. Recent graduates have exceeded national benchmarks in achieving successful, post-graduation outcomes, demonstrating the value of a Scranton education. The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review are among the publications that have recently touted Scranton as one of the nation’s best colleges.

The University of Scranton’s Graduate Open House is set for Wednesday, April 22, at the DeNaples Center, where attendees will gain insight into the University’s graduate academic offerings, learning formats and career outcomes. Online registration is now open.

Held on the DeNaples Center’s fourth floor, the Graduate Open House is open to individuals who are interested in exploring an advanced degree. Program directors and faculty members will be in attendance and able to answer questions about Scranton’s 40-plus graduate programs. Graduate admissions staff members will also be at the event to explain the application process and answer questions about next steps.

The evening begins with optional campus tours at approximately 4:30 p.m., followed by check-in and refreshments at 5:30 p.m. Attendees will then take part in an opening session at 6:15 p.m. before breaking into program-specific information sessions at 6:45 p.m.

“Our Graduate Open House is a great opportunity for prospective students to experience Scranton firsthand,” said Melissa Afshari ’10, G’16, director of graduate and international admissions. “On April 22, they can connect with program directors, faculty and current students, while learning more about their program of interest. It gives them a chance to see what makes Scranton such a special place.”

The University of Scranton was founded in 1888 and is a Catholic and Jesuit university. The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Princeton Review are among the publications that have recently touted Scranton as one of the nation’s best colleges.

Five of The University of Scranton’s graduate programs are ranked in the top 50 in the nation, according to the most recent U.S. News and World Report “Best Graduate Schools” rankings. The Roche Family Center for Career Development’s Class of 2024 First Destination Survey revealed a 100% success rate and mean annual salary of nearly $83,000 for alumni who completed their graduate studies from summer 2023 through spring 2024.

The University of Scranton recently marked the opening of Waymarks Toward Reunion, a yearlong pilot program in sacred art and theology, with an opening event, titled, “A Feast in the Wilderness.”

Directed by visiting assistant professor Patrick Beldio, MFA, Ph.D., the March 8 gathering featured a lecture, meal and concert at the DeNaples Center and an evening Mass at Madonna della Strada Chapel.

“What filled the day was love, intention and care,” Dr. Beldio said.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Beldio reflected on major spiritual milestones that have shaped his own formation. He pointed to the Council of Nicaea in 325, the death of St. Francis of Assisi in 1226, St. Ignatius of Loyola’s turning away from military life during his time in Manresa, the beginning of Meher Baba’s decades-long silence in 1925 and the founding of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926 as helping frame the program as a meeting point of his work as an artist, scholar and teacher.

Following Dr. Beldio’s remarks, Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C., associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, began the program by offering a profound keynote speech introducing the contemplative vision of the late Rev. John S. Dunne, C.S.C., a shared mentor of his and Dr. Beldio.

The day continued with a lunch prepared by catering chef Larry Mullally, an afternoon concert by a devotional folk music trio from California-based Sufism Reoriented and an evening Mass.

“Waymarks Toward Reunion” is supported by a $100,000 grant from the Creative Arts Collective for Christian Life and Faith (CAC). It is a Jesuit-Franciscan partnership between Scranton and Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, with the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, D.C., as artistic home.

One of the greatest teams of any sport to ever represent the purple and white of The University of Scranton, the 2025-26 Lady Royals women's basketball team ended its season on Saturday.

After stringing together seven consecutive postseason wins in the Landmark Conference and NCAA tournaments, the Lady Royals advanced to the national championship game. Denison University ended Scranton's perfect season, winning the title game, 55-41.

The trip to Salem, Virginia, was not without highlights, however, as Scranton defeated New York University, 60-52, in the Final Four, snapping NYU's historic 91-game winning streak.

Sandwiched between the NYU and Denison games on Thursday and Saturday, the Lady Royals (32-1) volunteered on Friday with Feeding Southwest Virginia. The organization annually distributes nearly 19 million pounds of food to those in need.

"In this, the Lady Royals gave witness to what it means, in the Jesuit tradition, to be women 'for and with others,'" University president Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., said in a community email honoring the team. "By choosing presence over convenience and service over self, the team embodied the University's ideals of placing human dignity at the heart of all we do." 

Across the two games, senior Kaci Kranson scored 15 points, surpassing 2,000 in her career. Senior Kaeli Romanowski scored 23 points with a staggering 33 rebounds.

Meghan Lamanna scored 28 points and Elizabeth Bennett added 19 points, while Katie Gorski, Sophia Talutto and senior Jenna Sloan also played key roles for head coach Ben O'Brien.

In reflecting upon the championship game at his postgame press conference, O'Brien described the final game as a roller-coaster. Denison led, 19-11, at halftime. Scranton came back and led, 34-33, at the end of the three quarters. Both teams struggled mightily from beyond the 3-point line.

The NYU game also tested Scranton's resolve, as the Lady Royals jumped out to a 17-5 lead before being outscored, 47-43, the rest of the way.

Yet, Scranton persevered far more often than not — winning an 11th consecutive conference championship and playing in the national title game for the first time in 41 years — a credit to the team's leadership.

"To see Kaci, Kaeli, Jenna and the team navigate their way through that the way that they do — it's inspiring," O'Brien said. "These are young women who are going to go on to unbelievable careers. To see them on this stage, in this kind of game, navigating through that — it's unbelievable to watch.

"It just makes you so proud to have been a part of their journey here."

In his email, Father Marina expressed gratitude to the players, coaches, fans, families and friends of the Lady Royals.

"Please join me in congratulating the Lady Royals on a historic season that will be remembered with pride and gratitude," Father Marina said. "They have left a lasting mark and serve as a powerful testament of what it means to be a student at The University of Scranton."

The University will honor the team with a celebration at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, inside the Long Center.

News is happening all the time at The University of Scranton.

Look no further than March, when school is out of session for one week for spring break, but the announcements and events continue.

In case you missed it, here are some of the stories we've been working on:

Incoming Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs Announced

WeiDong Zhu, Ph.D., will serve the University as its next provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, beginning in July.

Read more about Dr. Zhu, who comes to Scranton by way of Jesuit sister institution Saint Peter's University, at this link.

KSOM's "Gold Standard" Accreditation Extended Through 2031

Only 6% of business schools in the world earn AACSB accreditation. The University's Kania School of Management is included in that group.

Click to read more about the accreditation review process and what the recognition means for KSOM.

Pope Francis Coauthor and Friend to Speak at the University

Rabbi Abraham Skorka, Ph.D., a renowned scholar, author and longtime friend of Pope Francis will soon visit the University.

Dr. Skorka will deliver the Judaic Studies Institute Lecture on Tuesday, May 12. Follow this link for more details about Dr. Skorka's upcoming lecture.

Lady Royals in the Final Four

The University of Scranton's women's basketball team completed a historic season in which it went 32-1.

Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, hailed the team as serving as a "powerful testament to what it means to be a student" at Scranton.

For additional coverage, please see WNEP and the Times-Tribune's live reporting from Salem, Virginia. WVIA also profiled the Lady Royals before they traveled to the Final Four.

Weiss Hall's IDEA Center Begins to Fulfill Its Promise

The 2025-26 academic year began with the opening of Robert S. '68 and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall.

One of Weiss Hall's signature facilities is the IDEA Center, where University of Scranton students and Greater Scranton community members and organizations are putting its cutting-edge facilities to use. Click to read more statistics and examples about how the IDEA Center is being used.

Additional Headlines:

University Library Book Sale Date, Details Announced | Click to Read More

Scranton Students and Professor Make Major Breakthrough in Nanoparticle Research | Click to Read More

Psychology Department Members Present Research at Conference | Click to Read More

Scranton Students Perform in 78th Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival | Click to Read More

Speaker Announced, Date Set for Spring Henry George Seminar | Click to Read More

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

The gold standard for business school accreditation has been reaccredited for the next six years at The University of Scranton.

Scranton’s undergraduate and master’s programs in business offered by the Kania School of Management (KSOM) have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) since 1995. The accreditation process requires schools to submit a comprehensive, 360-degree review every six years to prove that the college continues to offer students an exceptional and relevant business education.

Approximately 6% of business colleges worldwide — 1,072 schools of business in 70 countries — hold the prestigious AACSB accreditation.

“When we meet with parents and students, they not only recognize the value of a Jesuit education but recognize that one with AACSB accreditation assures that their son or daughter will receive a high-quality business education grounded in the liberal arts,” said Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management.

The accreditation review is conducted by deans from other AACSB-accredited schools and includes a comprehensive written report along with an on-site visit. During the visit, the deans meet with faculty, staff, students, the provost, the president and members of the KSOM advisory board. The review examines a school’s course development or innovation, the delivery or engagement of faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders and the outcomes or assessment of learning, all the while gathering evidence that the college’s education remains relevant to current business needs.

“In various aspects of the report, the peer review team noted how the faculty and staff take a very student-centric approach,” Dr. Higgins said.

The peer review team also noted teaching effectiveness and research as clear strengths of the business school. The team also highlighted that the Accounting program ranked second nationally in education research over both six- and 12-year windows, according to Brigham Young University’s Accounting Research Rankings, with Douglas M. Boyle, DBA ’88, professor and chair of Scranton’s Accounting Department and director of the Ph.D. program, ranking among the top accounting education researchers in the country.

The report also highlighted that KSOM fulfills its Jesuit mission by incorporating a societal impact course into every major, noting that it is recommending this as a best practice for all schools to follow.

The peer review team said it was impressed with how the school incorporates career orientation, beginning with a student’s first year, and the outstanding placements the school has in the New York and Philadelphia region. The team also mentioned the Henry George Lecture Series, which, overseen by the Economics, Finance and International Business Department, has brought 13 Nobel Prize winners to campus. Finally, the team spoke highly of Scranton’s Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) dynamic director, Lisa Hall Zielinski, and the integration of the SBDC and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Center with KSOM.

The SBDC program resides in the KSOM, leveraging University financial support to secure additional funding that facilitates student learning activity and community economic improvements.

Undergraduate Kania School of Management programs include bachelor’s degree programs in accounting, business administration, business analytics, economics, finance, international business, management, marketing and supply chain.

Graduate-level Kania School of Management programs include a master’s in accountancy; a master’s in finance; a master’s in business analytics; and a master of business administration (MBA) in general management or with a specialization in accounting, business analytics, finance, healthcare management, international business, marketing, and operations management. Combined bachelor’s and master’s level programs include accounting BS/MBA and finance BS/MBA, as well as accelerated programs in a number of areas.

One of the Weinberg Memorial Library’s most popular events — and for good reason — is returning in April. 

The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library announced it will host the 2026 Book Sale on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. It is open to the public.

A special preview sale — open to current members of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library, current members of the Schemel Forum and current University of Scranton students, faculty and staff — will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24. Current students, faculty and staff must bring their valid and unexpired Royal Card for entry.

The sale will offer a wide selection of paperback and hardcover titles, ranging from popular leisure reading to academic works with fiction, nonfiction, children’s, young adult, cookbooks and various other genres. A variety of CDs, DVDs and select vinyl records will also be on sale.

Sales benefit the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Endowment.

Cash, check and credit card payments will be accepted.

Additionally, the library will accept donations of clean books in good condition now through Friday, April 10.

For more information, to volunteer or to schedule a donation appointment, please contact Melisa Gallo at 570-941-6195 or email melisa.gallo@scranton.edu.

On Saturday, March 28, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a concert featuring the University’s Concert Choir and Symphonic Band. The concert will begin 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, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

According to conductors Cheryl Y. Boga and Janelle Decker, the concert will feature a short program by each group, as well as three or four pieces by the combined groups.

“Usually the two groups only perform together at our Commencements, so it is unusual and special for our Houlihan-McLean audience to have the opportunity to hear them combine forces," Decker said.

“We are looking forward to having the groups perform together in our own concert hall, a decidedly more intimate venue acoustically than the Commencement arena they usually team up in," Boga added.

The University of Scranton Concert Choir and Symphonic Band are 50- and 70-plus member groups, respectively, comprised of members of the University community. Their majors and departments span the curriculum. The vast majority of them are undergraduate students, joined by a few graduate students and members of the faculty and staff, none of whom are music majors. They are all brought together by their mutual love of music-making and sharing their love of music with their audiences.

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

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

IF YOU GO:

What: IN CONCERT: The University of Scranton Concert Choir and Symphonic Band, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton

When: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 7:30 p.m.

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

Admission: FREE

The University of Scranton Lady Royals departed from campus Tuesday afternoon.

Next stop: Salem, Virginia, home of the NCAA Division III women's basketball Final Four.

Having successfully defended their home court at the Long Center through four rounds of play — the first and second rounds, Sweet 16 and Elite 8 — the Lady Royals (31-0) will play New York University (29-0) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The winner advances to the national title game against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (28-3) or Denison University (28-2).

In the Elite 8 win against Concordia-Moorhead, 67-42, senior Kaci Kranson, the D3Hoops.com Region 5 Player of the Year, scored a team-high 15 points. Katie Gorski, Meghan Lamanna and first team all-region selection Kaeli Romanowski also scored in double-figures. Jenna Sloan and Elizabeth Bennett added seven points each. Freshman Sophia Talutto, the D3Hoops.com Region 5 Rookie of the Year, added four points. The Lady Royals are led by head coach Ben O'Brien, the D3Hoops.com Region 5 Coach of the Year.

The Lady Royals have won 11 consecutive Landmark Conference championships. They're back in the Final Four for the first time since 2019. The team won a national title in 1985.

Continue reading to learn more about the matchup and how can you watch and follow:

University of Scranton Lady Royals (31-0) vs. NYU Violets (29-0)

What: NCAA Division III women's basketball national semifinal

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19

Where: Cregger Center in Salem, Virginia

Watch online: The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. ESPN+ is a premium streaming service with original online content, including live sporting events. For more information or to purchase an ESPN+ subscription, visit the ESPN+ website.

Watch in-person: Fans are invited to join fellow fans at the University's Watch Party, which will be held at the McIlhenny Ballroom on the fourth floor of the DeNaples Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served and the game will be shown on the big screen. RSVP at this link.

Follow: The Lady Royals' Instagram handle is @ScrantonLadyRoyals and Twitter/X is @ScrantonWBB. The University's athletic department is on Instagram @RoyalAthletics and Twitter/X @RoyalAthletics. Additionally, live stats during the game will be published by the NCAA.

Tickets: Available for purchase via HomeTown Ticketing.

Up next: The winner advances to play in the national championship game against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (28-3) or Denison University (28-2). The national championship will also be streamed on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21.

Throughout construction of Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall, the 10,000 square-foot area on the first floor’s northwest wing always had a purpose.

The vision was that it would serve as a “makerspace” or “innovation hub,” two terms often used to describe the facility before it took on its official name: the IDEA Center — short for Innovation, Design, Education, Application — four things happening every day as it nears seven months of serving The University of Scranton and local communities.

"Whether you’re doing an in-class project and need to bring ideas to life, or just trying to find a creative outlet, the Center has so many resources available for students, faculty and the surrounding community,” said Allison Kipp ’29, an IDEA Center work study and business analytics major from Pittston.

The IDEA Center has assisted 185-plus students and counting with class or personal creative projects, using 3D design, CNC fabrication, graphic design or media production. The podcast studio alone has accommodated approximately 90 reservations.

Additionally, more than 400 community members have come through its doors, according to IDEA Center director Thomas Bryan, and it has served more than 200 of them with applied resources and programming.

"The Center has become a regional hub where educators, civic leaders, corporate teams and students collaborate through design-based learning, innovation and workforce-aligned experiences,” Bryan said.

Recent visitors have included several dozen attendees at Campaign School, a free workshop organized by the University's Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service. The event provided aspiring political candidates and staffers with opportunities to network and learn what it takes to run a political campaign. Using the IDEA Center’s large classroom space, the three current Lackawanna County Commissioners, former U.S. Sen. and current University of Scranton Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service Bob Casey, and prominent marketing professionals offered guidance at the event.

Many school-age children have visited the IDEA Center as well, including students from the NEPA PAC After School Program who used the IDEA Center’s industry-level design and fabrication tools to create personal brand images that were engraved onto wooden plaques. Students also went home with custom NEPA PAC T-shirts that they personally hand-pressed.

The visit, which included five Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students who volunteered to help, made for “an evening of creativity, innovation and hands-on learning,” Bryan said.

“Experiences like that embody the mission of the IDEA Center,” Bryan said. “Moving learners from consumers to creators and empowering young people across our region to see themselves as innovators, leaders and makers of their own future.”

Weiss Hall also serves as the headquarters for the Departments of Psychology and of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology; the Small Business Development Center; Student Health Services; the University of Success; and the Center for Health, Education and Wellness.

Together, these academic units, student-support offices and University programs fulfill the charge given years ago by one of the building’s benefactors.

"Get the idea, do basic research, apply the idea,” Robert S. Weiss '68 said at the 2024 naming announcement. “Then go out and ‘set the world on fire.’”