Misericordia Today Summer 2010

S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

College of HealthSciences expandsopportunities forstudents, communityStories begin on page 9

For four years, Mackenzie CassidyRiaubia ’09 dreamed of teaching andleading a classroom of young elementaryschool students. Like a lot of collegestudents, the elementary and specialeducation major at Misericordia Universitylooked for ways to make her talents standout in a very competitive job market.Upon enrolling at MU, the Newton, N.J.,native quickly found a program that wouldbuild upon her classroom success andguarantee her either a job in her field orgraduate school acceptance within sixmonths of graduation.

The Guaranteed Placement Program(GPP) at Misericordia University is a novelapproach to better prepare students for the real-world work environment.Through a blend of experiential learningopportunities and educationalworkshops, students build skills over fouryears that enable them to successfullynavigate the job market or become a graduate student. The program’sworkshops and hands-on internships help students compete for better jobs by setting themselves apart. They buildsolid resumes and student leadershiptranscripts; refine etiquette, and gainpersonal experience through mock job interviews and much more.

Today, Riaubia says the GPP is one of

the reasons she’s living her dream atEtchwood High School in Maryland as thelead teacher in a self-contained specialeducation classroom. She gained neededself-confidence through mock interviewsessions and during the Real Worldseminar where inspirational successstories from peers and recent graduatesreinforced the path she chose to becomea valued professional. “The job market isvery unsteady and it’s nice to have thatextra something on your resume to showthat you are prepared and willing to workhard,” Riaubia says.

For Ericka Morrison ’09, successmotivated her to succeed both in theclassroom and in the GPP. Today,Morrison is a licensed physical therapistat PRO Rehab in Plains Township, Pa.,

and aspires to someday own and operateher own physical therapy clinic. Sheattributes her inspiration to being both a clinician and entrepreneur to the guestspeakers at GPP’s entrepreneur seminar,and believes the most important skill is to “always be yourself.”

“It was reassuring to know that asystem was in place to provide more thanjust a piece of paper at graduation,’’ addsher mother, Cecelia Morrison. “She feltabsolutely ready for whatever anemployer threw at her during aninterview. Her education provided herwith a sound knowledge of physicaltherapy and the GPP showed her how to market her skills successfully. Erickafound a job before graduation andpassed her boards on the first try, but in this economy knowing that she wasguaranteed employment through thisprogram was very comforting.’’

Established in 1999, the GPP’sprofessional development program hashad 153 students successfully completethe program. The program’s guaranteeprovides a three-month paid internship in the student’s field of study if thestudent does not find a job or is acceptedinto graduate school within six months ofgraduation. So far the GPP guarantee hasnot been used by a single student.

A degreewith aguaranteeNovel GPP program hasproven record of success

B Y B R I A N N A L O G A N ‘ 1 1

Courtney Moran is seated for the GPP’setiquette workshop, one of several theprogram has developed for students.

Kiplinger’s recognizes GPPMisericordia University was named a “Best

School for Standing By Grads” by Kiplinger’sPersonal Finance Magazine for its GuaranteedPlacement Program (GPP) which guaranteesplacement in a paid internship for graduates whoaren’t employed within six months of graduation.

Misericordia was one of two schools named“Best School for Standing By Grads” in thepersonal finance magazine’s special “Best ofEverything 2009” December issue. The articlewas highlighted with a Satisfaction Guaranteed checkmark.

The GPP is a four-year career developmentprogram that begins during the student’s

freshman year. The program offers a series ofcareer-focused activities that are designed tohelp Misericordia students meet the needs offuture employers. Students who commit to theprogram for four years are offered a wide varietyof activities such as leadership training, diversityawareness, building a portfolio, mock interviewsessions and resume preparation. Sessions areheld each semester culminating at graduation.

Students who fulfill the GPP requirements anddo not have a job offer in their field, or who arenot admitted to a graduate or professional schoolwithin six months of graduation, are offered apaid internship arranged by the University.

‘10Volume I, Number 1

Summer

c a t e g o r i e s

Misericordia Today is published twice a year by Misericordia University.

The magazine is distributed free of charge to alumni, parents, and friends

of the University. To request a subscription, call 570-674-3341.

Postmaster: send address changes to Alumni Office, Misericordia

University, Dallas, PA 18612-1090. © Misericordia University 2010

Misericordia Today

Jim Roberts, Director, Marketing Communications [email protected] Krzywicki, Editor [email protected] John Clark, Concept and Design [email protected]

Contributing Writers: Scott Crispell, Jim Roberts, Marianne Puhalla andBrianna Logan ‘11

Class Notes: Lailani Augustine, [email protected]

Contributing Photographers: Scott Crispell, Paul Krzywicki, Earl & SedorPhotographic, Charlotte Bartizek, Dan Kimbrough and Jack Kelly

23

English Department Chairpublishes Renaissanceliterature handbook.

4

Misericordia’s servicereceives nationalrecognition.

14

Students learn about morethan case studies in OTintervention class.

31

Alumna’s motto in life leads to pursuit of ‘justicefor everyone.’

To sign on to CougarConnect, use your unique ID located on the address panel.

4 M I S E R I C O R D I A T O D A Y

ADMINISTRATION

Michael A. MacDowell, Ed.D., President

Susan Helwig, M.S., VP, University Advancement

Mari King, Ed.D., VP, Academic Affairs

Mary Dana Hinton, Ph.D., AVP, Academic Affairs

Sr. Jean Messaros, RSM, VP, Student Affairs

John Risboskin, C.P.A., VP, Finance, Administration

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Paul Siegel, Chair

Andrew Cornell, Vice Chair

Michael Amory '85

Monsignor John J. Bendik

Christopher L. Borton, P.E.

Jonathan Brassington '95

Dr. Ruth A. Connolly

Scott Dagenais

Dr. Mary Ann Dillon, RSM, '68

Patricia Finan-Castellano '73

Harold E. Flack II

Dr. Martha Hanlon, RSM, '60

James D. Harkins

George Huntzinger

Sandy Insalaco, Sr.

Kristopher B. Jones, J.D.

William H. Kent

Scott Lynett

Sherry A. Manetta '72

Sr.Catherine McGroarty, RSM,'74

Mary Beth McNamara Sullivan ‘71

John C. Metz

Daniel Meuser

Dr. Deborah Smith-Mileski '75

Dr. Carol Rittner, RSM, '67

Rosemary A. Sigmond

Robert J. Soper

Sr. Mayon Sylvain '84

Murray Ufberg, Esq.

John T. Queenan, M.D.

William C. Williams

Anthony J. Grosek, Jr., Emeriti

Harold Rosenn, Esq., Emeriti

A Message to Alumni I retired as the CEO of a large international consulting firm based in

Washington, D.C. in 2002 and moved to our farm outside Dallas, Pa. At that time, I decided to devote my time and experience to betteringeducation. The area was rich in institutions of higher learning, but none more prestigious than Misericordia. For generations, it had been serving the needs of the local community and, more recently, has been extending its reach around the country. Under the leadership of President MichaelMacDowell, Misericordia is recognized for the high quality of its educationby its peers, by the employers who hire its graduates and by its community.

Having now served on the board of trustees for six years, I can seefirsthand just how impressive the quality of education at Misericordia is, and,being fortunate enough to have graduated from Cornell and then New YorkUniversity for my graduate work, I have a pretty good basis for comparison.

Several years ago, I hired a Misericordia senior to intern with my company to do research. She provedto be talented and hard working. When I inquired as to her plans for the future, she said she would worklocally until she could build her resume before trying to reach her goal of obtaining a marketing positionin New York City. My advice was to move directly to reach her goal as she had all the education anyoneelse would have seeking the same jobs. She was offered an interim position at Conde Nast, the giantpublishing company, where she would be in competition with a student from Harvard and one fromBrown for a key marketing position. You guessed it, she won. Today, three years later she is a highly paidsenior marketing manager with enormous responsibility and travelling the world. This young lady’ssuccess represents the value of a Misericordia education.

The quality of education at Misericordia is second to none. The Sisters of Mercy dedicated themselvesto making this possible and many people have helped fund this effort. Take pride, alumni, in theeducation that has been given to each of you and remember that you received your education partlythrough the generosity of others who help fund each and every student at Misericordia. For my part, I am proud to be a Trustee and will continue to work hard to keep the momentum going, but we need the help of all alumni. How about giving your university a hand by supporting the annual fund?

Sincerely yours,

William H. Kent

Misericordia University,

Board of Trustees

William H. Kent

Misericordia has been named for the third straight year by theCorporation for National and Community Service to the 2009President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, thehighest federal recognition a university can receive for commitmentto volunteering, service learning and civic engagement.

MU’s campus community performed 131,560 hours of service inthe 2008-09 academic year. The award recognizes more than 700institutions of higher education for their impact on issues frompoverty to homelessness. Thousands of students joined their facultyto develop innovative programs and projects to meet local needsusing the skills gained in their classroom. Health science majorsworked in clinics, teacher education majors tutored students, andbusiness majors collaborated with regional municipal governments.“Service has been the hallmark of this institution since the Sisters ofMercy founded it in 1924,’’ said Linda Ross, director of the ServiceLeadership Center. “By imbuing in each student a sense of service,Misericordia is helping students discover the opportunities theyneed to be successful in their careers and lives.’’

Service receives national recognition

5S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Losing her fatherwhen she was just11 years old, andgrowing up with twoyounger brothersand a mother ofmeager means,Irene Belarski ’50considered gettinga college educationto be her dream. Soafter earning ascholarship toMisericordia andgraduating cum

laude with a chemistry degree, she rightly couldhave considered her dream fulfilled.

But Belarski, who was born and raised inWyoming, Pa., went on to achieve much more,and 60 years later she's giving back to theinstitution that opened doors for her byestablishing the Irene Belarski ’50 EndowedScholarship at Misericordia.

"I was so fortunate to be able to expand myexperiences," Belarski said. "I've been thinkingas I've grown older I ought to do something toexpress my appreciation for the opportunitiespresented to me while attending Misericordia,

which led to a very satisfying lifetime career inteaching and guiding high school students."

Belarski's Misericordia degree initially led to a position as a chemical analyst for Merck & Co.in Rahway, N.J., where she also took graduateclasses at Columbia. But her time at Merck wasbrief, as she disliked the minimal interactionwith other people and lack of opportunity forfuture advancement.

Instead Belarski pursued a teaching career inSpringfield, N.J., while earning her masters inchemistry from Seton Hall. Belarski earnedNational Science Foundation (NSF) grants tostudy marine biology and nuclear physics at theUniversity of California, Berkeley. She taughthigh school biology and chemistry for theDepartment of Defense in Germany, Englandand Turkey for 10 years before settling in 1970in Colorado, where she spent the rest of hercareer as a high school chemistry teacher inLittleton. She picked Colorado, she said,because of the affinity for skiing she developedin Europe, a pastime she still enjoys today.

She continued studying the sciences well intoher career, thanks in part to additional NSFgrants, taking courses in mining and metallurgyat the Colorado School of Mines and nuclearphysics at the University of Colorado. When shefirst enrolled at Misericordia, she thought shewas going to be an arts major, but quickly fellfor the sciences after discovering collegescience courses to be far different than thoseshe had in high school.

Knowing well the challenges and joys sheexperienced, Belarski wants her scholarship tosupport a female student with financial needand an interest in a career in the sciences.

"Having received a tuition scholarship atCollege Misericordia, I really was at that timeecstatic that I 'd be able to achieve my goal of a college education," Belarski said. "AtMisericordia, the knowledge I gained wasimmeasurable, intellectually and spiritually, due to the teaching and guidance of the Sisters of Mercy. It was there I developed a lifelong interest in the science field."

Mary Jule PurcellMcCarthy ’52 uses a lot of superlativesto describe herexperiences andrelationship withMisericordia, butperhaps one wordsummarizes it best:Family.

After all, her sister,Ruth Purcell McEvoy’55 received herBachelor of Artsdegree in secondary

education; her daughter-in-law, Tina FabbriniMcCarthy ’88 earned a Bachelor of Science degreein nursing; and her granddaughter, Elizabeth LeeClements ’09 graduated with a degree in businessadministration — from her alma mater.

“Misericordia means everything,’’ McCarthysays simply. “I had a wonderful time during myundergrad years. I thought my education was verywell rounded. I had wonderful friends who I amstill in contact with today. I think that’s the beautyof Misericordia, the friendships you make.’’

Those familial feelings remain evident to thisday, as the Back Mountain resident has remainedactive in MU events. Through the years, she has

written letters to alumni for capital campaigns,served as president of the Alumni Association,chaired phone-a-thons and continues to be a class agent and a board member of the Alumni Association.

It only seemed natural when the extendedfamily gathered at her daughter, Clare Parkhurst’shome in 2007 to exchange Christmas presentsthat McCarthy received a gift with a Misericordiatheme which also embraces the spirit of thecharisms she holds so dear to her heart. Thefamily presented her a beautiful plaqueannouncing they had established the Mary JulePurcell McCarthy ’52 Endowed Scholarship insupport of the Women with Children Program.

“Oh my gosh, I’m immortal,’’ she recalls saying,gushing over the site of the plaque that features a picture of Misericordia and the names of herseven children and their spouses beneath it.“Every year when they announce the scholarship,I will not be forgotten.

“It means a great deal to me,’’ she adds aboutthe scholarship that was also supported by theN.Y. Times and Merrill Lynch Foundations. “Youthink of an education multiplying and everythinggoing forth and just continuing on. I think it’s soexciting that the program exists at Misericordia. I feel very fortunate that the scholarship in myname benefits that program.’’

McCarthy’s children — Clare Parkhurst, JeannieClements, John McCarthy, Lee McCarthy, JulieStrzeletz, Caroline Youngman and Tish McCarthyLast — established the academic scholarship afterMisericordia President Michael A. MacDowellsuggested it to them. “It was a unanimousdecision,’’ McCarthy Last says. “What a great way tohonor our mother when she is still alive. We didn’tthink about it much; there was really no discussion.It was, ‘Wow! What a great opportunity.’ It was thebest Christmas present we could have given her. It’sone of those gifts that keeps on giving.’’

“It made me feel incredible,’’ her son, John,adds about his mother’s reaction to the gift. “Iknew it would mean a great deal to her because Iknow how much Misericordia means to her. It wasthe best gift that we have ever given her.’’

The B.A. degree in English with a minor injournalism she earned at MU also enabled her toexperience a fulfilling career in education in Havrede Grace, Md., Doylestown, Pa., and at the RedRock Job Corps Center, where she served as theGED coordinator and English instructor. “It wasjust this wonderful, loving feeling I had for thecollege,’’ she adds. “I was always proud to say I was a graduate.’’

McCarthy and her husband, Lee, were marriedin 1955 and have seven children and 14 grandchildren.

scholarshipReliving the dream through

Irene Belarski ’50

Mary Jule PurcellMcCarthy ’52

Misericordia means familyAlumna’s children establish endowed scholarship in her honor

PROFILES IN

GIVIN

G


Graduate nursing studentsassist migrant workers

Adjunct nursing professor Cheryl Fuller,Ph.D., C.R.N.P., and nurse practitionerstudents work in conjunction with theKeystone Migrant Farm Workers Programto provide health checkups for migrantfarm workers at a residential camp inShickshinny as part of service-learningcourses, Acute Adult Health, ChronicAdult Health and Clinical Synthesis.

Established more than seven years ago, the program offers students theopportunity to share what they’ve learned in the classroom with areas of the community that need it most.

ATRI receives funding forhybrid speech research study

The Assistive Technology ResearchInstitute (ATRI) was awarded a $5,000grant by the Northeastern PennsylvaniaTechnology Institute for a hybrid speechresearch study. Denis Anson, M.S., O.T.R.,director of research and development forATRI, and undergraduate researchstudents Dominick DelPrete, MeganVascellaro, Alysa Scavone and KristiMcCluskey are comparing a hybridspeech input system and a speechrecognition system for speed andaccuracy of document generation.

Regional veteranshonored at campus ceremony

Lemmond Theater in Walsh Hall hostedthe annual Veterans Day AppreciationCeremony that is organized and hostedby state Rep. Karen Boback ’73, whorepresents the 117th District. Theceremony featured veterans and

Pennsylvania Adjutant Gen. Maj. Jessica Wright, the 28th Infantry Division Keystone Brass, ClarenceMichael, commander of the DallasAmerican Legion, and special guests.

Psychology studentpresents at conferences

Undergraduate psychology student,Michael Bobrowski ’10 presented theresults of two independent researchprojects he conducted with facultymembers at the 2010 Convention of theEastern Psychological Association and at the 22nd annual convention for theAssociation for Psychological Science.

Misericordia donatesballistic shields to police

The University donated high-techsafety shields to the Dallas and DallasTownship police departments to helpprotect them as they respond to anyincidents involving gunfire.

The University provided $15,580 topurchase four ballistics shields that will be shared by the two departments.

Honors Programholds make-a-thon

Honors Program students held amake-a-thon to build nightstands for theCatherine McAuley Centers in Scrantonand Wilkes-Barre as part of theuniversity’s National Day of Serviceactivities on campus.

Students, under the supervision ofScott Blanchard, Ph.D., assembled,

sanded, stained and painted tables for six hours.

SLP students make blanketsfor children in Ecuador

The MU Chapter of the NationalStudent Speech-Language HearingAssociation made more than 100comforting blankets for youngEcuadorian children.

Through Community Cares for Kids, Dr. Francis J. Collini, M.D., and a team of surgeons have been providingdesperately needed corrective surgerysince 1997 for children in Guayaquil.During a June 5-12 visit, Dr. Collini and his wife, Susan, presented theblankets to the children.

Ben Franklin TechnologyPartners honor president

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania presented President Michael A.MacDowell with an Innovation Award for special achievement.

CAMPUS VIEWS

NP studentAngela

Evans givesa checkup

to amigrantworker.

MichaelBobrowski

workedwith

Dr. AliciaNordstrom.

7S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

B Y J I M R O B E R T S

B Y D R . M A R Y D A N A H I N T O N , P h . D .

In 2009 and continuing well into this year,the issue of health care reform dominated thenational news. Because of the intensity of thisdebate, officials at Misericordia embarked ona pilot project to conduct the University’s firstHealth Care in America Survey.

A planning team at MU led by PresidentMichael A. MacDowell developed the healthcare survey, which is similar to the nationaland regional polls other colleges anduniversities conduct on important nationalissues such as presidential elections. “As anational leader in educating health careprofessionals, Misericordia developed andfunded the survey to reveal the attitudes ofAmericans, many of whom have been treatedor will be treated by MU graduates in thefields of physical therapy, occupationaltherapy, nursing, speech-languagepathology, medical imaging andpre-medicine,’’ says President MacDowell.

Braun Research successfully polled 1,008Americans via telephone between Nov. 6and Nov. 16, 2009.

The survey concluded that the health carereform debate is a cause of stress andannoyance among the majority of Americans

and three in 10 say health care costs have ledto arguments and tension among friends andfamily members.

Nearly all Americans with health careinsurance are satisfied with their coverage,though only three in five are takingadvantage of all preventative tests coveredby their insurance. Top concerns include thecost to future generations and impact on thefederal deficit, out-of-pocket expenses, andaccessible and quality coverage.

The survey earned Misericordiaconsiderable national and regional mediaattention. Placements included regionalnewspapers, BusinessWeek, United PressInternational, Yahoo Personal Finance,FOXBusiness and nearly 200 other media web sites.

Strategic planning process outlines goals, aspirations

In February 2009, Misericordia began a dynamic and collaborative process tocreate the next five-year strategic plan. The planning process was developed andimplemented with the help of Dr. PatrickSanaghan, a nationally renowned strategicplanning consultant. With his guidance, wecreated the Strategic Planning Task Force(PTF), a group of MU community memberswho agreed to help frame the new plan.

The strategic planning process has beena wonderfully collaborative opportunity forMisericordia. The PTF interviewed morethan 500 MU constituents, ranging fromfaculty to staff, students to employers,community leaders to Sisters of Mercy.More than 200 alumni contributed to theprocess by completing our online survey.

After receiving volumes of feedback, thePTF narrowed our aspirations for the nextfive years to six strategic themes: Mission,21st Century Curriculum, Diversity, FacultyExcellence in Teaching and Learning,

MU gets highmarks in survey

Students at Misericordia Universityoverwhelmingly rated their educationalexperience as positive, felt theirinstitution’s intellectualand creative work was academicallychallenging, felt theycompleted a significantamount of service tothe community andgave their school ahigh ranking forproviding a supportivecampus environment inthe 2009 National Survey of StudentEngagement (NSSE).

The survey also showed the highestbenchmarking ratings in numerouscategories and proof of systematicimprovement over time for theUniversity which began participating in the national survey in 2003.

NSSE is designed to obtaininformation from colleges and universitiesnationwide about student participation in programs and activities. More than360,000 randomly selected first- andfourth-year students from 617 collegesand universities across the countryparticipated in 2009. The results helpinstitutions confirm “good practices” in undergraduate education and providea benchmark by which schools candetermine an accurate measure of quality education.

“I’ve often said that perhaps the bestmeasure of a college is what its ownstudents say about it,” said Michael A.MacDowell, president. “This surveyconfirms our belief that Misericordiaprovides a caring environment as well as challenging academics and career preparation.”

In the study, 90 percent of MUfirst-year students said the Universityprovides substantial support foracademic success compared to 77percent at other schools surveyed.

Ninety-one percent of MisericordiaUniversity freshmen were satisfied withtheir overall educational experience and85 percent of seniors said they wouldchoose MU again if they could starttheir college career over.

Both scores are higher than theaverage of all participating schools inthe survey. Seventy-four percent ofMisericordia University seniors alsoreported working harder than theythought they could to meet aninstructor’s standards or expectations —13 percent above the mean score.When asked, “Do you feel theinstitution is committed to yoursuccess?” 90 percent of MU freshmensaid yes — a figure that is 13 percenthigher than comparative schools.

HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA(December 2009, Braun Research)

• 33% of Americans are concerned about losing their healthcare insurance.

• 11% had to drop coverage due to the recession.

• Only 27% of Americans feel optimistic about reform and just 11% feel excited.

• 52% say that the cost of healthcare has impacted their spending habits. Dr. MacDowell

Misericordia University releases first Health Care in America Survey

Resources, Communication andManagement, and Marketing/Branding.

Once the themes were identified,concept papers outlining our work in eacharea and possible goals moving forwardwere developed and shared with thecampus. More than 300 employees had anopportunity to share feedback. Followingreceipt of this feedback, we held a visionconference and a goals conference toshape the themes into strategies.

In October 2009, the President’s Cabinetand the Planning and Assessment Group(PAG) assumed primary responsibility forfinalizing the strategic plan. Together, PAGand Cabinet refined the concept papersinto specific strategies with measurablegoals and outcomes. The final plan will bepresented to the Board of Trustees in June.We look forward to sharing our formal planwith the entire MU community in August.

Dr. Hinton is associate vice president foracademic affairs

B Y P A U L K R Z Y W I C K I

For more than 25 years, Murray Ufberg,J.D., has helped to nurture Misericordia.As the longest serving member of theBoard of Trustees (BOT), he has seen itmature from the institution knownaffectionately as the “college on the hill’’to the nationally recognized, regionallyacclaimed University it has become today.

“The campus has blossomed into aremarkable tapestry of beautiful andwell-designed buildings and Misericordia,through the hard work of so many people,is no longer such a well-kept secret,’’ saysUfberg, who joined the BOT in 1985. “We are recognized as a fine educationalinstitution, without having lost orabandoned our core values.’’

Ufberg’s dedication to Misericordia and education overall can be traced backto strong family values rooted incommitment and caring while growing upin Shenandoah, Pa. At an early age, hismother instilled in him the importance of lifelong learning and his family has long believed in giving of oneself for the benefit of those less fortunate.

Thanks to dedicated communityservants like attorney Ufberg, Misericordia University is not defined by the brick-and-mortar buildings that dot its beautiful 124-acre campus or theacademic degrees it awards to worthystudents. Rather, Misericordia is thetrue-to-life tenets that guide theinstitution of higher education and peoplewho have made it a model for civicresponsibility and an asset for studentsand the region.

“The school has been and continues tomanifest a close, familial atmosphere andfortunately inculcates students with thebenefit of the Mercy charisms of Mercy,Service, Justice and Hospitality, as well asa sense of caring and sharing,’’ he says.

Ufberg also understands the challengesof higher education and his enormouscommitment of time and talent to theUniversity clearly shows he embraces thephilosophical cornerstones of theinstitution and Religious Sisters of Mercy.

“I am very proud of the enormousgrowth and progress which MU has madeduring my Board tenure,’’ adds Ufberg. “I have served as chair of the Committeeon Trustees for over a decade andimmensely enjoy that responsibility andthe wonderful people who have beeninvited to and have joined the Board with the benefit of the Committee’sselection process.’’

His benevolence, though, is not limitedto MU, as the nationally recognizedattorney serves humankind in the greatercommunity and commonwealth as well.Gov. Edward G. Rendell recentlyappointed him to a six-year term on theboard of directors for the PennsylvaniaHigher Education Assistance Agency, oneof the nation’s leading nonprofit studentaid organizations, and he also serves onthe board of directors for CommonwealthMedical College, Jewish Federation ofGreater Wilkes-Barre, Jewish CommunityCenter of Wyoming Valley and WVIA.

“My mother, of blessed memory, taught me that teaching was a very noble profession because it provided the opportunity to impart knowledge toothers,’’ says Ufberg, a partner in theWilkes-Barre law firm of Rosenn, Jenkins& Greenwald LLP. “Education was themost prized goal in our home. Myinvolvement with educational institutionssimply continues and confirms my love for education.’’

Attorney Ufberg and his wife, Margie,have three children, Aaron, Joshua and Rachel.


Ufberg,J.D.Board of Trustees

Murray

“Education wasthe most prizedgoal in ourhome.”

– Murray Ufberg

9S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Inside theCollege Of Health Sciences...

Pages: 10-21

The check is NOT in the mail

Despite Herculean efforts to raise the

$280,000 needed to receive a $2.75

million grant from the

Commonwealth

of Pennsylvania for the

College of Health Sciences

building renovation, only

$114,000 has been

committed to date. When

you consider that 5,011

health science majors make up more than

37 percent of MU’s alumni population, it’s

almost incomprehensible that a group

this large is seemingly unable to reach a

very doable goal.

Please remember that Misericordia does

not raise funds simply to have more

money. Rather, those dollars promote the

education of students – students just like

you when you were here. Should we be

unable to raise the remaining $166,000,

Misericordia will need to privately fund the

other $2.75 million. As national studies

show that raising tuition at this time is not

an option, we’ll continue to turn to our

alumni who have benefited from their

education in the health sciences to raise

this important funding.

It’s not too late to make a difference

and help Misericordia qualify for the

$2.75 million grant. We cannot do it

without you! Please don’t rely on others

to make the difference. Help make this

unprecedented opportunity a reality

and send your gift today!

Susan Helwig Vice President of University [email protected]


he new Misericordia UniversityCollege of Health Sciences (CHS)building opens the door toexpanded research, and clinical and educational

opportunities for students, faculty and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The renovated three-story,40,000-square-foot building on Lake Streetis a $6 million investment in the healthsciences by Misericordia. The historicstructure houses the nursing,speech-language pathology (SLP),occupational therapy (OT) and physicaltherapy (PT) departments. It allows theUniversity to meet the additional demandfor the free or low-cost clinics Misericordiahas been providing to the community in PTand SLP, while also expanding learning andcollaboration opportunities in the healthsciences for students and faculty.

“The investment in the College of HealthSciences re-affirms the University’scommitment to rigorous academics, strongcareer preparation and people,’’ said JeanA. Dyer, Ph.D., dean of the CHS. “The newacademic building offers a blend ofacademic and clinical experiences for ourstudents and low-cost health clinics forregional residents in need. These are thetypes of opportunities that define theMisericordia way.’’

More health care professionals graduatefrom Misericordia University than any othercollege or university in NortheasternPennsylvania. The increased opportunitiesin CHS will allow the institution to increasethe number of graduates by 55 percent infive years. These new and superblyeducated graduates will help to reduce the

shortage of health care professionals andmake health care in Pennsylvania moreaccessible and affordable.

“Misericordia has a national reputationfor producing highly qualified health careprofessionals in multiple fields,’’ saysMichael A. MacDowell, president. “TheUniversity is moving the College of HealthSciences to a central location for thecommunity’s convenience and to expandacademic and clinical services at a timewhen the nation is experiencing a severeshortage of health care professionals.’’

Misericordia University is regionallyacclaimed and nationally recognized for thehealth sciences and the services it provides.More than 1,500 people — 1,285 childrenand 251 adults — have been treated at theSpeech-Language and Hearing Center since2004, while additional people have beenreceiving clinical therapies at the PhysicalTherapy Center since 2004.

The SLP department’s suite on the secondfloor expands clinical space and offersadditional state-of-the-art technology thatwill benefit students and clients, alikethrough several high-tech laboratories. “Thisis an exciting period of growth for thespeech-language pathology program,’’ addsGlen Tellis, Ph.D., professor and chair.“Moving to the new facility will allow us toexpand our clinical services to thecommunity as we will double the number ofclinic rooms — resulting in more sessionsbeing offered to our clients.’’

The state-of-the-art Sensory-MotorGymnasium houses equipment for use withchildren diagnosed with autism, pervasivedevelopmental disorder and other relatedsensory-motor disorders. The

InvestingB Y P A U L K R Z Y W I C K I InOurMisericordia University’s new College

of Health Sciences building offers

opportunities for students, community

T

Sue Helwig

11S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Speech-Science Anatomy Lab enablesstudents to learn instrumentation they canapply to their clinical practice, while theAugmentative and AlternativeCommunication Lab features more than$200,000 in equipment that non-verbalclients use to enhance communication. TheCognition and Brain Injury Lab hasequipment to train students in assessingpatients with traumatic brain injuries, as wellas stroke patients and clients with swallowingdisorders. In the Stuttering and LanguageResearch Lab advanced video captureprocedures are utilized to train students toevaluate and treat clients who have languagedisorders or who stutter.

The Nursing Department is NortheasternPennsylvania’s oldest nursing program. Thedepartment’s third-floor suite providesextensive hands-on learning opportunities intwo SimMan learning laboratories, includinga central SimMan control room. Nursingstudents will also benefit from the expansionof the nursing learning resource lab. The new facility features eight hospital beds, state-of-the-art bedside technologyand surrounding curtains to create ahospital-like environment.

“Students will be able to documentpatient findings on an electronic healthrecord right at the bedside,’’ said CynthiaMailloux, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor

and chair. “Students will use the lab topractice skills that they will utilize for patientcare in the clinical setting. Nurse practitionerstudents will also be able to practice advancepractice skills.’’

The state-of-the-art SimMan labs featurefull-size universal simulators that offer the latestcomputer technology to allow students andfaculty to simulate real-life patient scenarios,like defibrillation, ventilation, chestcompressions and pulse checking.

The building enables the Physical TherapyCenter to provide more comprehensiveservices like strengthening and conditioningto clients during the academic year. Thefirst-floor clinic provides free clinicalevaluations and treatment to people without health insurance who have PT needs, like cardiovascular, pulmonary and neurological disorders.

The third-floor facility features more than2,300-square feet for separate neurologicand orthopedic labs with audio-videoequipment and treatment tables. The labspace and technology enable students topractice manual and mobility skills in theseparate “neuro’’ and “ortho’’ labs.

“We hope to be able to expand studentopportunities to provide physical therapyservices to individuals from the communitybefore the students participate in formalclinical education experiences,’’ said Susan

Barker, P.T., Ph.D., professor and chair. “Theadded hands-on experience prepares a morewell-rounded and competent clinician.’’

The OT department offers simulationlaboratories so students can apply theirclassroom lessons in a clinical setting, whilealso gaining important hands-on experience.The department’s two labs are equipped for 30students each and include an Activities of DailyLiving or ADL area, a splinting and handtherapy lab, and specialized low-vision, drivertesting training and work capacity training workstations. Each lab has an audiovisual projectionsystem and floor boxes, which provide ampleelectricity for students to use heat guns andheating pans to learn how to fabricate splints.

In many instances, the labs imitate real-lifescenarios that licensed professional OTsexperience. For example, the ADL labfeatures a kitchen, dining area, living room,bedroom and training bathroom for studentsto hone their skills. Student clinicians alsobecome familiar with and master the use ofassistive devices that are used to helpimpaired individuals master necessary tasksof daily living.

“In this area, students will practiceteaching their clients how to relearn the skillsthey need to function after a debilitatinginjury or disease, like a stroke, amputation orother impairment’’ said Grace Fisher, Ed.D.,O.T.R./L., associate professor and chair.

“These are the types of opportunities that definethe Misericordia way.”

– Jean A. Dyer, Ph.D.Dean, College of Health Sciences

Nursing student Marc Ingoglia ‘11 holds the newSimBaby in one of the new simulation labs at thenew College of Health Sciences building.

Occupational therapy student Jenna Rakowskiparticipates in OT-510 Pediatric OccupationalPerformance Interventions class at CHS.

Speech-language pathology student AshleySabota conducts a clinical session with a client atthe Speech-Language and Hearing Center.

Future

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY


SLP Scholarly WorkPublications:

Ruixia Yan, Ph.D., Assessing English Language Proficiency in InternationalAviation: Issues of Reliability, Validity, and Aviation Safety. VDM Publishing House.

Cari Tellis, Ph.D., Clarke Rosen, J.M. Close,M. Horton, Scott Yaruss, KatherineVerdolini-Abbott & James Sciote,Cytochrome C Oxidase Deficiency inHuman Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscle,Journal of Voice.

Glen M. Tellis, Ph.D., CulturalConsiderations in Assessing and TreatingAfrican-Americans Who Stutter.Perspectives on Fluency and FluencyDisorders, 19(1), pp. 6-13. Dr. Tellis, &Hegde, Introduction to CommunicativeDisorders – Student DVD, (4th ed.). Austin,Texas: PRO-ED. M.N. Hegde & Dr. Tellis,Introduction to Communicative Disorders –Instructor’s Manual, (4th ed.). PRO-ED.

Kathleen Scaler Scott, Ph.D., & Kenneth St.Louis, A Perspective on Improving Evidenceand Practice in Cluttering. Perspectives onFluency and Fluency Disorders, 19(2), 46-51.Dr. Scott, editorial review, Perspectives on

Fluency and Fluency Disorders, 19(2), 46-51.Presentations:

Dr. Cari Tellis, Laura Bauman ’10, Jessica Sofranko ‘07, Professors’ Inclusionof Aspects of Voice in Presentation SkillsCourses, American Speech-Language &Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention.

Dr. Scott & John Tetnowski, Fluency inAsperger’s, Stuttering, and No Diagnosis:Research and Practice, ASHA. Dr. Scott, D.Bahr & Nina Reardon-Reeves, CreatingEffective and Efficient Research Teams,ASHA. I.K. Reichel, Dr. Scott, John VanBorsel, D. Ward, Margaret Leahy, H.

Speech-Language and Hearing Center provides therapeutic services to region

B Y P A U L K R Z Y W I C K I

Communication

UnderstandingThe KeysTo

ill Sukus, Sr., has been coming to the campus ofMisericordia University for six years. He’s not agraduate student or a member of the campuscommunity, but he’s proud to say he’s personallyexperienced the Misericordia way.

The Speech-Language and Hearing Center at MUhas been instrumental in helping his 32-year-old son, Bill Jr., addressthe specter of autism. Since 2004, the Sukus family has beenattending weekly therapeutic sessions for their son. Behind aone-way window, his mother, father and other family membersmonitor his progress as undergraduate Misericordiaspeech-language pathology students follow a carefully designed program.

“His vocabulary has increased and he is also able to expresshimself and his needs,’’ Sukus says, explaining the progress his son has made at Misericordia’s clinic. “He can verbalize a longersentence and I think just the fact he can tell us what’s on his mind if he needs to has increased his volume.’’

“We’ve gathered a lot of ideas from the speech clinic to help us,’’ adds his mother, Debra Myers ’74, who earned her Bachelor ofScience degree in nursing from MU. “It’s helpful. Watching him and

watching what the clinicians are doing — this is where we get a lotof our ideas. We incorporate a lot of the ideas they give us throughthe program to increase his speech. It gives me a lot of pleasure tosee him communicate with longer, complete sentences.’’

The Sukus family is one of dozens of families that receive thebenefits of individualized and group therapeutic services at theSpeech-Language and Hearing Center during the academic year.Student clinicians, faculty and clinical directors provide sessions for all populations in the regional community, including children,adolescents and adults, for a nominal fee. The students gaininvaluable hands-on clinical experience, while clients receivenecessary interventions that improve the quality of their lives.

“You’re providing a service at a cost that is quite reasonable —and that’s quite appealing to a lot of people,’’ Sukus adds afterwatching his son’s therapeutic session.

As Linda Martin positions herself in one of the six newobservation-treatment rooms in the College of Health Sciencesbuilding on Lake Street, she listens closely as clinical supervisorAdina Rosenthal, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P., outlines the progress herhusband has made with his dementia at clinical sessions. Martin keeps a watchful eye on her 60-year-old husband while

B

13S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Sonsterud, C. Adams, St. Louis, Y. vanZaalen, G. Ademola & A. Oyedunni, GlobalPerspectives on Cluttering: Research,Assessment, and Treatmen, Sixth WorldCongress on Fluency Disorders, Rio DeJaneiro, Brazil. Dr. Scott, Ellen BennettLanouette, & J. Wong, Cluttering: A DifferentType of Fluency Disorder, NationalStuttering Association.

Hunter Manasco, Ph.D., Cognition,Language & Functional IndependenceFollowing a Right Hemispherectomy,ASHA, Dr. Manasco, Christina Santhouse‘10, Samantha Stewart ‘10 & Tara Helwig‘11. Dr. Manasco, Paul Dagenais, Effects of

Auditory Masking on Individuals withAphasia, ASHA. Dr. Manasco, YouTube inthe Speech- Language Pathology Classroom,ASHA. Dr. Manasco, Dagenais & JackieGuendouzi, The Effects of Binaural Maskingon Aphasia, Pennsylvania Speech-Languageand Hearing Association Conference.

Dr. Glen Tellis, M.N. Hegde, Lisa Bressler‘09, Sofranko & Katlyn Frey, ‘11 TheImportance of Research DesignsCoursework: Survey of CommunicativeDisorders Departments, ASHA. Dr. Tellis,Sofranko, Frey, Bressler & Kara Kyle, ’10,Middle and High School Students ViewsAbout Bullying and Stuttering, ASHA .

Dr. Tellis, Frey, Bressler, Kyle, & KellyBacher ‘08, What Do SchoolSpeech-Language Pathologists KnowAbout Stuttering?, ASHA. Jamie Thomas,’09 Dr. Tellis & Denis Anson, Cutting EdgeTechnology to Assess Stuttering andMonitor Treatment, ASHA.

Dr. Yan: Treatment of Autism: Implicationsfor Lexical Growth, poster sessionpresented at the Second China InternationalConference on Speech Therapy, Beijing,P.R., China. The Growth of Lexical Diversityin Children with Autism, at PennsylvaniaSpeech- Language-Hearing Association Convention.

Nicole Majewski ‘11, far left, engages Codie Yeager, 3, in atherapeutic session, and above, she reviews words with AlbertMartin, 60, as his wife, Linda, and clinical supervisor AdinaRosenthal watch. Ashley Sabota ‘11, far right, reviews pictureswith Bill Sukus, Jr.

carefully explaining his actions around their home.“He gets himself dressed,’’ she explains to Rosenthal.

“I pick out his clothes and lay them on the bed. It’s hard to knowwhere that edge is between the disability and what he can still do.’’

Inside the treatment room, he fields a series of questions fromMisericordia SLP student Nicole Majewski ’11 of Reading, Pa., thateach are designed to improve his memory skills The questions areroutine for most individuals, but cause Mr. Martin to pause and thinkbefore he responds with an unsure tone in his voice. As the studentclinician asks him to point to words that identify an animal, fruit orcolor, he receives positive reinforcement for his correct answers andpatience for his incorrect ones.

“Is that a color?’’ Majewski asks him, while he slides his finger overthe five words. “Good job, you got them all,’’ she applauds.

Down the hallway, three-year-old Codie Yeager is working toovercome an expressive language disorder and apraxia, which make it difficult for him to communicate verbally. In the sensorymotor-gym, Majewski playfully coaxes him to concentrate on lettersounds while pushing him on a platform swing.

“The swing is working well for him because he’s developinglanguage naturally in play,’’ explains Speech-Language and Hearing

Center Clinical Director Lori Cimino, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P. Using flash cards, Majewski has Codie focus on sounding out the

letter “B’’ for boo, while reviewing a picture of a ghost. Oftentimes,she helps Codie with letter sounds by pointing to her own mouthwhile she verbalizes the word. “It’s not easy for him to make thosesounds,’’ adds Cimino, explaining that apraxia inhibits people fromreadily imitating speech sounds. “He’ll speak fine eventually. Once he begins to make sounds we’ll move to a typical articulation approach.’’

The large, colorful room is filled with rubber balls of various sizes,as well as activity toys to engage and encourage young clientsinvolved in speech-language pathology services at MU. To theuntrained eye, the room resembles a playroom more than a clinicalsite or doctor’s office. The space, though, is an integral part of theclinic. It helps student clinicians maintain their youthful clients’attention through playful interaction while also working with them toresolve their disorders.

The Speech-Language and Hearing Center offers a wide variety ofservices for all populations. For more information about the servicesavailable, please call (570) 674-6724 or log on towww.misericordia.edu/slp.

Laughter and the echoes of childrenemanate from the College of Health Sciences’new first-floor occupational therapy laboratory.

At first glance, the activities appear toresemble playtime at any of a number of daycare centers across the country. Childrenplayfully blow bubbles, mold Play-Doh intocreative shapes and bang wooden blockstogether in designated play areas whileoccupational therapy (OT) students observe andinteract with them as part of the OccupationalTherapy-510 Pediatric OccupationalPerformance Interventions class with Lalit J.Shah, Ed.D., O.T.R./L., professor.

The distinctive course provides Misericordiastudents with an opportunity to experiencewhat it’s like to have a special needs child andto learn how families adjust to their needs. “We don’t realize the long-term impact of achild that needs long-term support,’’ explainsDr. Shah. “I want the students to learn firsthandfrom the parents how it is and what it is.

“That’s one of the main reasons why I bringthem in to class. Even though the students goto fieldwork and work with kids with theirclinical supervisors, a lot of times they don’thave the opportunity to interact with parents,’’he adds. “This also allows them to improvetheir interview skills and establish rapport.’’

For Jackie Siperko, the OT services her son,Derek, has received for the last three years

have meant a world of difference to the familyand nine-year-old. Derek did not like to betouched as a baby and had sensory issues thatirritated him, like fluorescent lights andbrushing his teeth. The problems werecompounded for years due to his inability tospeak until the age of three.

“He’s very uncomfortable in his own skin,’’ Mrs.Siperko explains to student clinicians. “He eatseverything now. He eats steak, squid, chicken; he eats everything of every kind of texture.

“He does really good,’’ the proud mothersays, recalling the problems he had at bedtime.“He does really well now; he gives hugs. All ofthose things have changed because he’s beenin OT since he was two. He’s just totallychanged thanks to occupational therapy. He’ssmart but he’s now just able to get his feelingsacross. You wouldn’t know talking to him thathe has any autism or sensory issues.’’

Licensed occupational therapists work withcaregivers and patients to improve their qualityof life and, hopefully, to eventually overcomedevelopmental delays due to conditions likeDown’s syndrome, pervasive developmentaldisorder and Asperger’s syndrome.

For about seven years, Dr. Shah has beeninviting parents and their children to participatein his class at MU. Outside the classroom, theyare former or present clients of his, but oncampus they are giving back to the profession

that means so much to them. Their experiencestranscend the entire OT process and enablestudents to develop important communicationskills in a semi-controlled environment. Studentslearn how to phrase sensitive, yet productivequestions, so they can properly develop clinicalinterventions for their future clients.

“They (parents) like the interaction with thestudents and they feel useful in developing theupcoming therapists, allowing them to developtheir skills’’ says Dr. Shah, who also believes thecourse introduces his students to the humanelement of OT. “It’s their way of giving back tothe profession. The students also report that itwas a very good experience for them. They hadnever realized what a family goes through justlooking at case studies.’’

The Misericordia OT program offersintervention classes for all age populations.Students are introduced in a similar manner toadult and geriatric clients through theOT-511-512 Adult/Geriatric OccupationalPerformance Interventions II and III courses.

The levels teach students different skills foreach age group. For example, pediatric patientsrange in age from zero to 21 years old and aretreated for issues like sensory integrationdisorders. Adults are 21 to 55-60 years of ageand they receive treatment for fractures, carpaltunnel and head trauma, while geriatric patientsare usually seen for degenerative diseases.


S T O R Y B Y P A U L K R Z Y W I C K I

The Human Side Of OT

Occupational Therapy Splint LabThe new OT splint lab in the College of

Health Sciences building provides students an

opportunity to gain experience making templates

and forming splints that have many clinical uses.

Kristi McCluskey, ‘11, far left, fits a splint onto

the wrist of classmate Alysa Scavone ‘11.

Students also use a splint heating pan that

heats water to help make splints pliable.

OCCUPATIO

NAL THERAPY

Nursing student Marc Ingoglia ‘11 carefullyleans over his patient to take his pulse, whilealso checking on his sporadic and shallowbreathing. As he monitors his patient’s vitalsigns on the bedside monitor, he receivesfurther clinical instruction from a professor in anadjacent control room.

Ingoglia is not in a regional hospital settingrather he is working through clinical scenarios inone of the College of Health Sciencesbuilding’s new high-tech nursing simulationlaboratories. Several times a day, nursingstudents fine-tune their classroom know-how byutilizing the latest technological advancementsin health care education and training. The labsfeature a full-size SimMan, a new $50,000SimBaby and other computerized mannequins.

Student nurses who are applying their lessonsin simulation exercises are carefully scrutinizedby nursing professors as their successes andfailures are also used to provide learningopportunities for their peers who watch in anadjacent classroom via a video screen.

“The cameras connected to the simulatorrooms enable our students to critically thinkabout what is being done with SimMan andSimBaby,’’ explains Cynthia Mailloux, Ph.D.,R.N., associate professor and chair. “They apply

themselves in a clinical setting where there areno repercussions for a mistake. We applaudtheir successes and have them repeat otherinterventions until they are proficient.’’

The investment in the nursing program isobvious in their suite of laboratories andclassrooms. An emergency room-likeenvironment features six hospital bed stationswith privacy curtains to imitate a patient’s roomand facades containing access to room air,oxygen, a blood pressure cuff, a suctionmachine, IV and tube feeding pumps, andbedside COWS or computers on wheels tosimulate charting on an electronic-health record.

The simulation labs were designed to providestudents a practical clinical experience,according to Dr. Mailloux. They include two,single-bed labs and an emergency roomconfiguration that are each occupied byhigh-tech mannequins that are designed tosimulate symptoms and conditions nurses arelikely to see in a real care setting. By utilizing thelabs, students acquire the full range of skillsneeded for practicing nurses, ranging fromdrawing blood and hanging an IV bag to properplacement of a nasogastric tube and a catheter.

“The simulators allow us to better enhancethe pre-clinical preparation of our students in

a safe, controlled environment,” says Dr.Mailloux. “The technology enables ourstudents to gain a lot of experience andconfidence in doing procedures withoutcompromising the health and well-being of realpatients. We supervise the students to makesure they demonstrate competency. By thetime they go into the hospital in their senioryear, they’ve practiced all of the skills.’’

SimMan and SimBaby also enable nursingstudents to monitor heart rates on acardiogram and perform intubation orventilation. The simulators’ vital signs canchange drastically to create a situation wherestudents need to react quickly. SimBaby allowsthe department to have students participate inneonatal as well as pediatric simulations.

The suite also has a classroom that featureseight computer stations at the bedside wherestudents can access a e-health records forcharting. It enables students to be betterprepared for the electronic world that exists inclinical settings. The classroom area isequipped with a sympodium for state-of-the-artdelivery of class content. Each bed alsofeatures a DVD player so students can usemulti-media to assist them in their practice ofnursing techniques and procedures.

15S U M M E R 2 0 1 0


TrainingGroundHigh-Tech

Nursing student Marc Ingoglia ‘11, far right, holds the new SimBaby inone of the simulation labs at the new College of Health Sciences

building. The lab features a control room, center, where faculty, left, can monitor students working with the full-size SimMan and SimBaby.

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Helping HandsMU Physical Therapy Center providesservices to underserved in community

S T O R Y B Y M A R I A N N E T U C K E R P U H A L L A

or 10-year-old Anthony Vanesko, of Dallas, Pa., hisafternoons spent at the Misericordia Physical Therapy (PT)Center in the new College of Health Sciences building onLake Street are as much fun as they are work. Vanesko hasbeen diagnosed in the autism spectrum and also hascerebral palsy that diminishes his muscle control,

particularly in his left arm and leg.In his second year of treatment at the center, the third grader at

Wycallis Elementary School in Dallas may not realize that the games of catch with associate professor Maureen Romanow Pascal, D.P.T.,N.C.S., or with PT students Danielle Leonzi, of Summit Hill, Pa., andDanielle Hogan, of Mowry, Pa., are a designated part of his physical therapy.

“We have a treatment plan for Anthony to increase the use of hisleft arm and leg and help him with his balance and walking,” Dr.Pascal says. “While we are playing catch with him or having him pickup small toys, we work with him to improve his motor control. Ourgoal is to help Anthony improve his functional abilities, especially byencouraging him to use his left arm and leg as much as possible.”

What seems like a simple game of jumping on a step is designed

to increase the muscle control in Vanesko’s legs and improve his gait.

“Working with the students and faculty here has been sogood for Anthony,” adds his mother, Sandy Vanesko, whobrings Anthony to Misericordia one day a week for physicaltherapy and a second day for speech-language therapy atthe Speech-Language and Hearing Center, also in the newCollege of Health Sciences building.

“He is benefiting so much from the physical activities andlearning to do so many good things,” his mother says. “It isgood for him and I think it is as good for the students to getthe chance to experience someone with his physicaldisabilities.”

The students agree. Both Leonzi and Hogan say they enjoybeing able to put what they learned in the classroom to suchgood use. “Our physical therapy program includes a numberof opportunities in different clinical settings. I have alreadyhad experience with geriatric patients on my first clinicalaffiliation and plan on working with this population when Igraduate in May 2011,” Leonzi says.

Hogan says she enjoys the younger patients and hopes togo into pediatric or orthopedic physical therapy once shegraduates in 2011 as well.

For more information about the Physical Therapy Center,please log on to misericordia.edu/pt.

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Dr. Maureen Pascal, far left,and students Danielle Leonzi,front, and Danielle Hoganwork with Anthony Vanesko in the center.

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Nursing, medical

imaging, OT, PT,

SLP graduates

helping society

in many waysPages 17-22


illiam J. Hartman,R.N., M.S.N.,A.N.P., ‘79 calls ithis “ice scraper’’story, but in realityit is a true-to-lifeanecdote that

chronicles a 27-year military career acrossthree continents and touches the lives ofcountless others both near and afar.

For Hartman, a fulfilling military careerdeveloped by happenstance during acareer fair in the lobby of the BanksStudent Life Center. As sleet and winterprecipitation peppered the landscape androadways outside, the commuter studentprepared for interviews with regionalhospital systems. Stalled by long lines, heapproached a lonely Army recruiter who,besides offering sound career advice, wasgiving away free ice scrapers, too.

“We struck up a conversation and hehelped me soon realize that I would bemuch better off joining his organization,’’he remembers. “Less than 60 days later, Iwas accepted into the Army Nurse Corpsand commissioned as a second lieutenantupon graduation from Misericordia.’’

A lot has happened since that chancemeeting. Hartman worked his waythrough the ranks and retired in 2005 as a full colonel and chief of the U.S. ArmyDepartment of Training Support (DTS),which is responsible for all off-campusmedical training for the Army. When hewas with the 101st Airborne Division, aChinook helicopter dropped him into Iraqthe day the ground war started and he

was in the middle of a civil war when hewas deployed to Somalia as a member of the 86th Evacuation Hospital.

His heroism was recognized when hewas awarded the Combat Medical Badgefor rendering medical aid while beingunder direct enemy fire in Iraq. Moreimportantly, though, he was member ofthe Forward Area Surgical Team (FST) thatrevolutionized the way wounded soldiersare treated in battle today. At the onset ofDesert Shield, Hartman was assigned tothe nine-member FST that was embeddedwith “gunfighters’’ to provide advancedtrauma life support and life saving surgeryat the forward edge of battle.

“Our entire operating room, traumaroom, recovery room and supplies fit intotwo sling load pallets that were hookedunder a Blackhawk or Chinook,’’ saysHartman, who was joined on the team bya general surgeon, orthopedic surgeon,two nurse anesthetists, two LPN-levelmedics and two operating roomtechnicians. “At the site of battle, thesling loads would be dropped to theground and we would jump out of thehelicopter and set up to provide care.’’

The concept was to stabilize soldiers

at the site of injury because they were so unstable they would not survive themedevac flight to the hospital. It workedso well in Iraq that the Army institutedFST units into other infantry unitsthroughout the Army system.

In between the seemingly exciting toursof duty, Hartman also held both clinicaland administrative duties throughout theUnited States, including being the chiefnurse of the national Army ROTCprogram. “I developed programs to assiststudents so that they could be part of themany facets of ROTC while maintainingacademic excellence,’’ says Hartman. “Our focus was on nursing excellence withcompassion and caring tightly woven intoconfidence and leadership so that eachwould be outstanding nurse officers upon graduation.’’

Today, Hartman and his wife, Marilyn,live in the rural village of Baileys Harborin Door County, Wis. Together they builttheir home and barn, and remain veryactive in their local community. Hecontinues to work as a nurse and is thedirector of nursing support at DoorCounty Memorial Hospital.

“CM instilled in me from day one thesense of duty to my fellow mankind,’’ saysHartman, whose father also served in theArmy. “To this day, my guide to providingnursing care is compassion. That is what Ilearned from Misericordia and I truly wishmore nurses had the same influence. Fromthe first days at Misericordia, I learnedfrom the best what it takes to truly provideholistic care to patients.’’

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Nursing alumnus receives battlefieldmedal for heroism in Iraq war


“CM instilled in me fromday one the sense of dutyto my fellow mankind.”

– William J. Hartman ‘79

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19S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

rom a young age, FrancineMaria Constable ’94 knew theimplications of a cancerdiagnosis. Treatment, prayersand support were a constant

theme for the family as her grandmother,Ethel Dawn SanRoman, battled lungcancer and her mother, DorothyConstable, fought breast cancer.

As an adult, their stories and struggleshave inspired her to make a career of“making someone’s life better’’ throughher daily decisions and professionaldedication in the field of radiology.Today, Constable serves on the MedicalDosimetrist Certification Board assecretary treasurer and is the oncologymanager and chief dosimetrist at TheDale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center,a department of Pocono Medical Centerin East Stroudsburg, Pa., where she plansand calculates radiation treatments forcancer patients.

After receiving her Bachelor of Sciencedegree in radiography with a minor inmanagement from Misericordia University’s

Medical Imaging program, she decided tospecialize in radiation therapy anddosimetry because it offered her anotherchallenge and provided her the humaninteraction she desired from her career.

“I always loved math and challenges,’’says Constable, who is also part of themedical center’s team assisting in thedesign of the new cancer center which willbegin construction in fall 2010. “Dosimetrygave me the best of both worlds. Lots ofmath and physics, and I still had patientcontact. I also believed that you couldprovide a different level of excellence indosimetry versus radiation therapy.

“The job is never the same any givenday and the technology is exploding,’’she adds.

A medical dosimetrist is a vital memberof the radiation oncology team who hasknowledge of the overall characteristicsand clinical relevance of radiationoncology treatment machines andequipment. The dosimetrist has theeducation and expertise necessary togenerate radiation dose distributions and

dose calculations in collaboration withthe medical physicist and radiationoncologist, according to the AmericanAssociation of Medical Dosimetrists.

Constable attributes a lot of herprofessional success to the highstandards in the Misericordia MedicalImaging program, which has a 21-yeartradition of having higher certificationpass rates than the national average.Since 1998, 96-percent of MU’s first-timetest takers have passed the AmericanRegistry of Radiologic Technologistsnational certification exam.

“The program helps you in many waystechnically,’’ says Constable, “but most ofall the program is quite difficult andforces you to immediately learn tomulti-task and prioritize — if you can’tyou will surely fail. This in health care isprobably one of the most importantaspects in Misericordia’s success.’’

For more information about themedical imaging program, please log onto misericordia.edu/mi.

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ABetter

LifeMI alumna helps people battlecancer as a medical dosimetrist S T O R Y B Y P A U L K R Z Y W I C K I

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classically trained singer andpianist who has performedat Carnegie Hall, JessicaSofranko ’07, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P., loves the study of the

human voice and has known she wantedto be in the speech-language pathology(SLP) field since she was a little girl. Shecredits Drs. Glen and Cari Tellis atMisericordia for inspiring her to maximizeher potential, and she is doing just that asa Ph.D. candidate in voice and acoustics atPenn State, considered one of the topdoctoral programs in the country.

Sofranko’s impressive resume alreadyincludes presentations at state andnational SLP conferences, two yearsworking as a speech-languagepathologist at Geisinger’s Janet WeisChildren’s Hospital in Danville Pa., andone year as a clinical supervisor for theMisericordia Speech-Language andHearing Clinic.

“I have a brother who was born with aspeech disorder and a grandmother whohad had several strokes when I wasyoung,” says the 25-year-old fromHazleton. “I can honestly say that I haveknown since I was in sixth grade that I

wanted to be a speech-languagetherapist because I knew what kind ofgood they could do.”

When looking for colleges, Sofrankosays it was the caring atmosphere atMisericordia that drew her to thedistinctive five-year master’s degreeprogram, where she took on the addedchallenge of a double major in bothpsychology and SLP.

“I loved that we had lots of clinicaltraining. I loved the science classes. Mostimportantly, it was the encouragement ofDrs. Cari and Glen Tellis, both Ph.D.’sthat inspired me to further my education,to obtain my Ph.D.”

Dr. Glen Tellis is an SLP professor anddepartment chair. Sofranko workedclosely with him and assistant professorDr. Cari Tellis, who is a trained operasinger and whose research also involvesthe use of the voice.

“Jessica is such a devoted andhard-worker,” Dr. Cari Tellis says. “Lastyear, while working at Geisinger Danville,Jessica volunteered to do research withme. She helped with four studies over thecourse of the year. One study was aimedat determining what teachers know about

vocal health and effective use of thevoice. The focus of another study was todetermine what individuals perceive ascharacteristics of an authoritative voice.Jessica also co-presented with me atstate and national conferences and hasalways represented Misericordia and ourprogram well.”

While on campus, Sofranko wasinvolved in the student chapter of theNational Student Speech LanguageHearing Association and the CollegeRepublicans Club. Excelling in theclassroom, she earned the AcademicExcellence Award for SLP, was named anAll-American National Collegiate Scholar,was elected to Kappa Gamma Pi honorsociety and the Psychology NationalHonor Society, along with being namedto the dean’s list every semester.

What about that performance atCarnegie Hall? Sofranko auditioned andwas invited to play the piano at thelegendary concert hall at age 18. It wasthe thrill of a lifetime.

For more information about the SLPprogram, please log on tomisericordia.edu/slp.

Beautiful

A

SLP alumnarealizes childhooddream by studying human voice

Sounds

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Back

21S U M M E R 2 0 1 0


s senior director ofrehabilitation services forHCR-ManorCare,Misericordia graduateJason Meixsell ’99 M.S.,O.T.R./L., coordinates the

work of more than 20 occupational andphysical therapists, and speech-languagepathologists throughout the company’seastern Pennsylvania region. He sharesthat expertise when he returns toMisericordia each weekend to teach a class for current students inoccupational therapy (OT).

“Often what has happened in theclinics on Thursday and Friday becomesthe topic for my lectures on Saturday,”says Meixsell, who also earned abachelor’s degree in psychology and acertificate in gerontology whilecompleting the five-year master’s degreeprogram. Meixsell is responsible for aregion that covers the Poconos toPhiladelphia for HCR-ManorCare — oneof the largest skilled nursing andrehabilitation companies in the country.His office is in Bethlehem, Pa. and helives in nearby Nazareth, Pa.

“My clinical specialty is in dementia

and Alzheimer’s disease and I really lovegetting to work with older adults … I justreally enjoy working with clinical patients.By orchestrating a well-developed andcomprehensive rehabilitation plan, I knowthat we can maximize the quality of lifefor both the patients and their families,”he adds. “It is a very rewarding position.”

As senior director of rehabilitationservices, Meixsell is responsible forcoordinating treatments for as many as90 patients in the eastern Pennsylvaniaregion. He is also responsible formentoring and training staff, financialmanagement, marketing and publicrelations, as well as staff education andquality assessment.

An avid ice hockey fan and DisneyWorld aficionado, Meixsell says being apart-time instructor at Misericordia is anew and different role for him and hegives credit to the OT faculty for goodmentoring, especially Grace Fisher, Ed.D.,O.T.R./L., chair of the OccupationalTherapy Department. “I was a teachingassistant for Dr. Fisher and we haveremained in contact since I graduated. Itwas with her encouragement that Ibecame a member of the campus

adjunct faculty.”In 1995, he also contributed two

chapters to the textbook, Handbook ofRemotivation Therapy, written by Jean A.Dyer, Ph.D., who has since become thedean of the College of Health Sciences.She learned of his expertise through hiswork with the National RemotivationTherapy Organization

While a student, Meixsell was involvedin the Misericordia Student OccupationalTherapy Association, was president of the Honor Society, served as a residentassistant, and volunteered his time withCampus Ministry.

In his fourth semester in front of theclassroom, he is teaching OT 221 -Human Performance II, a course thatcovers human development fromemerging adulthood through olderadulthood. He has plans to return to the classroom both in the summer and upcoming fall to teach Environmental Dimensions and Geriatric Intervention courses.

For more information about the OTprogram, please log on tomisericordia.edu/ot.

AGivingSuccessful

OT returnsto alma mater

OCCUPATIO

NAL THERAPY

Raising the Bar


A busy career and a family with fiveyoung children can be plenty to handle.Studying for a doctoral degree in additionto that would seem monumental.

But that's just what Dave Kozich ‘99 has done and receiving his doctorate in physical therapy this spring fromMisericordia. A graduate of Misericordia'sfive-year Master’s of Science in physicaltherapy program, Kozich credits theonline aspect of the doctoral program forhelping him achieve the degree.

"Having the program online isdefinitely an advantage," he said. "Itmakes it easier to do with work andfamily. They know the students in thatprogram have a number of obligationsand are mostly working full time, havefamilies and kids and a lot going on. They definitely make it easier toaccomplish and gear it toward thenon-traditional student."

And Kozich has a lot going on. Hemarried fellow Misericordia physicaltherapy graduate Erin McDermott ’99 in

2000. After both pursued careers in thefield, they welcomed triplets Ryan,Maggie and Ellie in 2005. In 2008, thesame year he began the doctoralprogram, they added to the family withtwins Katie and Molly.

Today, Kozich is a physical therapist atSt. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital inCoaldale, Pa., working with a variety ofin-patient and out-patient cases. ErinKozich, meanwhile, does per diemphysical therapy work. The family residesin Mountain Top, Pa.

"We both understand the stresses theother one is going through," he said. "It'snice to go home and talk about your dayand she knows where I'm coming fromand I know where she's coming from.With the doctoral program, Erin's beenvery supportive in any way she can, doingthings like taking the kids for a little bit soI can study or do research. Sheunderstands what it takes to do aprogram like this."

Pursuing his doctorate was important,

Kozich said, because of the additionalcareer opportunities it can provide andbecause he said it is expected mostphysical therapy programs will bedoctoral programs in the next decade.

"To keep up with that workforce thatwill be coming up, I thought it would be agood idea to go for the doctorate now soI can be as up-to-date and current aspossible in the field."

As an undergraduate, Kozich choseMisericordia University because of itsphysical therapy credentials andbecause "it felt like home." Lookingback, he said Misericordia helped instillin him an important sense of family thatplays a major part in a sometimeschallenging but always rewarding family life.

"I learned a sense of family first," heexplained. “That comes before work andit comes before school. And for our kidswe want to set that example for them, topoint them in the right direction."

Raising the BarMember of class of ‘99 returns for doctorate in physical therapy

Dave and Erin Kozich‘99 pose for a picturewith their children intheir Mountain Top,Pa., home.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

23S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

When Professor Rebecca Steinberger,Ph.D., received a call in 2006 from acolleague in England asking if she wouldbe interested in being a co-editor for a Renaissance-period handbook, she was thrilled.

“For each book, the series editorswere looking for both an editor andsubmissions from both sides of the Pond,and I was honored to be asked to takethe American lead role,” says the chair ofthe English Department, whose career isdevoted to teaching and research onEnglish literature. “This series is the firstof its kind that provides an educationalguide on single periods of literature.What an honor to be a part of it.”

Over the past four years, Dr. Becky, asshe is affectionately known on campus,was involved in requesting and reviewingsubmissions from widely known scholarsfrom both continents, compilingreference material and editing final copy.The 233-page book, The RenaissanceLiterature Handbook, was published byContinuum Press in January. It isrecognized as the first printed, editedcollection of essays and resources forstudents and teachers of Renaissanceliterature on both continents.

“Before I had even seen a copy, Iwent to the Modern LanguageAssociation conference in Philadelphia.When I walked up to my publisher’sexhibit, I saw other handbooks in the

series, but not mine,’’ she says. “When Iasked about it, I was told it was firstprinted in the United Kingdom, but hadalready sold out in the U.S. and there wasa long list of orders. It was great feeling.”

She returned to MU to find a copy inher mailbox. It is one in a series ofliterature and culture handbooksdesigned for those studying the arts. Eachhandbook offers a series of collectedessays and reference materials covering acertain period of English literature.

Dr. Steinberger says she wasparticularly thrilled to be asked to coverthe Renaissance because it is such a “richand lengthy” literary period. TheRenaissance extended from 1485 to1689 and was a robust and tumultuoustime. It included the reigns of King HenryVIII and Queen Elizabeth, who wassucceeded by James VI from Scotland.

“It was a high time for the arts andliterature and a time when publishing wastaking off,” she notes. “It offers a lot forstudents to learn and for professors tocover. This handbook brings a variety ofresources together, including a glossaryof key terms, time lines, historical contextessays and critiques, and an appendixincluding notes on contributors as well asa guide to digital resources.”

The handbook is only one of Dr.Steinberger’s recent successes. InFebruary, she was named a full professor,a tribute to her subject expertise and

prolific writing and research. Her first book, Shakespeare and

Twentieth-Century Irish Drama:Contextualizing Identity and StagingBoundaries, was published in 2008. She iscurrently editing the collection of essays,Encountering Ephemera from Shakespeareto Swift: Scholarship, Performance,Classroom, a guide for teaching ephemeralmatters in the classroom. She plans to edit athird collection of essays in honor of a literarycolleague, Adam Max Cohen, who recentlydied. The volume will include some of his yetunpublished works.

Her current research includes the study ofterror as a thematic thread through Britishliterature. She is working on a book exploringthe impact of historical violence and culturalconflict on the lives of those living in Londonand the resultant impact on literature. Panicon the Streets of London: Cultural Conflict inthe City is expected to be published in timefor the 2012 Olympics in London, England.

RenaissanceWoman

Professor follows her love forliterature in publishing handbook


FACULT

Y PROFILE


s an undergraduate studentin psychology atMisericordia, Patsy Gerhart’05 loved being a part ofCampus Ministry andlearned lessons about

mercy, service and sacrifice while onservice trips to Washington, D.C., and Jamaica.

Yet those trips only began to prepareher for what she would see when sheaccompanied members of her church inFairfield, Conn., on a service trip toRwanda last summer. There sheencountered people who owned nothingmore than the clothes on their backs. ForGerhart, the words “life changing” come to mind.

“When I met people who were not ableto complete a mud hut without help, Iknew that there are needs in the worldthat are hard for most of us tocomprehend,” states Gerhart, whotraveled with peers from Black RockCongregational Church which partneredwith World Relief, an internationalChristian humanitarian organization.“Despite the strife we saw, what was mostinspirational to me is that these people,who need the most basic necessities, are

the most joyful, faithful people I have everencountered. They have an extraordinaryfaith in God and their place in the world.They were extremely thankful we broughtthem a roof to put on their house, foodand soap — things we take for granted.”

The church sent its first missionary toAfrica in 1933 and now donates $1.1million annually to missions.

As participants in the Roofs for Rwandaprogram, Gerhart’s church also raisedmoney for metal roofs that are needed forthe houses they built in Africa. “Thepeople aren’t able to afford secure roofsfor their houses,’’ explains Gerhart, whostayed at the Free Methodist Guest Houseat Kibogora Hospital, Rwanda. “Wepurchased the roofs in the community tokeep the money there and helped themmake mud bricks and walls. You would besurprised at the amount of physical laborthat goes into the process of getting thedirt and the water and making mud bricks.

“For me, it was a profound lesson,being thankful for a home that canwithstand a sudden downpour. I looked atmy life and suddenly realized just howblessed I really am,” she adds.

Gerhart says her desire to help strangersa half world away was inspired by the spirit

of service she encountered atMisericordia. She first fell in love with theintimate campus setting and personableatmosphere during visits to see her oldersister, Ann Gerhart DiCampello ‘03, abiology and chemistry major.

The youngest Gerhart sister majored inpsychology with a minor in English, andalso earned a certificate in child welfarelaw. As a student, she was involved withthe Psychology Club, worked in theInsalaco Center for Career Developmentand earned dean’s list honors.

Her best friend at MU, Kristen EwallMcCormack ’05, joined Gerhart for areturn visit to campus in December 2009,which was timed to coincide with a holidayperformance by Elisabeth von Trapp on campus.

“It is so nice to see the Universityflourishing,” she adds, saying they bothmarveled at the new Sandy and MarleneInsalaco Hall and the refurbishedLemmond Theater.

Currently, Gerhart is planning to pursuea master’s degree in clinical and publichealth starting in the summer 2010.She invites fellow classmates to get intouch by emailing her [email protected].

Alumna carries Misericordia spirit on service trip to Rwanda

STORY BY

MARIANNE TUCKER PUHALLA

AA

ALUMNI PROFILE

S U M M E R 2 0 1 0 25

In his own words, Brad Kresge ’04acknowledges he is a work in progress.Imperfect and flawed like the rest of humanity,he stubbornly followed his own youthful pathbefore eventually learning valuable lessonsfrom life and his own transgressions.

He keeps those not-too-distant memoriesclose to his heart and works everyday to makehimself a better man through his actions, familyand faith. American poet Ralph Waldo Emersononce wrote, “What lies behind you and whatlies in front of you, pales in comparison to whatlies inside of you.’’

“I messed my life up enough that I actuallyknew I needed a savior,’’ Kresge wrote friendsin a heartfelt letter to family and friends shortlyafter making a life-changing decision. “Youknow, like someone to come in and rescue mefrom the hole I had dug myself into.’’

For Kresge, he found his inner contentmentby redefining and reprioritizing his life. Today, heis an anomaly, a living organ donor in a nationurging others for similar unselfish acts. Acrossthe country, the need for living organ donors isincreasing daily, according to the NationalKidney Foundation’s Living Donor Council(www.livingdonors.org).

According to the National KidneyFoundation, 13,157 kidney transplants wereconducted in the United States from Jan. 1,

2008 through Dec. 31, 2008. Of thosetransplants, 7,189 patients received kidneysfrom deceased donors and 5,968 living donorsprovided kidneys for transplant. In 2007,76,070 people were waiting for a kidneytransplant, according to the most recent data.

Thankfully for Andrew “Dru’’ Stokrp, Kresge’sblood type is O positive, meaning he is auniversal donor. That revelation and hisnew-found faith provided Kresge with thestrength and direction “to become the sort ofman that is willing to give all for Him,’’ he says.Kresge’s gift of life has enabled Stokrp, a fellowsenior high school youth leader at the LebanonArea Evangelical Free Church in Jonestown,Pa., to recover from kidney failure caused byAlport’s syndrome, a genetic disease thatattacks the kidneys. “I had been learning moreand more about what it actually means to be aChristian, specifically about loving others evenif it really costs you something,’’ Kresge says,explaining his decision.

After being on dialysis for about 10 months,Stokrp received his new kidney on Nov. 17,2009 from the acquaintance who is a familyfriend today. Along the way, Stokrp showedinitial signs of rejecting the new organ. He hadto undergo several plasmapheresis treatments,which separated the antibodies that wererejecting the new kidney. Stokrp is expected tomake a complete recovery in about a year.Kresge returned to work six weeks later withfew restrictions.

“I feel fine physically,’’ adds Kresge, whoreceived a master’s degree in physical therapyfrom Misericordia. “I just have to drink lots offluids and, in general, live a healthier lifestyle.’’

Kresge is a licensed physical therapist at askilled nursing facility in Lancaster, Pa., and hastwo children, Caleb, 4, and Norah, 1, with hiswife, Lauren Gianacopoulos Kresge ’03, whomhe met at MU while she was working towardsher bachelor’s degree in psychology andmaster’s degree in occupational therapy.

The father, husband, friend, Christian andorgan donor does not consider himself to be ahero. Rather, his random act of kindness is anextension of his faith. “The glory is God’s andHis alone,’’ he says. “If Jesus had not pulled meout of my pit and saved me from the way I wasgoing, I would still be lost and not donatingany kidney.’’

Along the way to learningwhat it’s like to be aChristian, an alumnusdonates his kidney to a fellow parishioner

“I messed my life upenough that I actuallyknew I needed a savior.”

– Brad Kresge ‘04

FaithHope

and FaithHope

andS T O R Y B Y P A U L K R Z Y W I C K I

Brad Kresge ‘04, right,puts his arm aroundhis friend, Dru Stokrp.

ALUMNI P

ROFILE


About 6,000 miles and a continentaway from his home in Bethlehem,Palestine, Adwan began the first leg ofhis altruistic journey at MisericordiaUniversity to help humankind throughresearch and medicine. “I have alwaysbeen curious and I have always lovedscience,’’ says Adwan, who is workingtowards his Ph.D., in cell, stem cell anddevelopmental biology at the Universityof Colorado. “I grew up with a strongsense of social responsibility and scienceprovided an avenue where I can do what I love and enjoy, and at the same timehelp others.’’

Today, his expertise and research intosalivary gland cell death is being fundedby a prestigious National Institute ofHealth-supported Ruth L. KirschsteinNational Research Service Award. Thepre-doctoral fellowship award’s goal is to ensure a diverse pool of scientists in biomedical, behavioral and clinicalresearch, and to provide support forpromising doctoral candidates.

The three-year grant is allowing Adwanto focus on developing therapeuticstrategies to protect against salivarygland dysfunction in head and neckcancer patients who are undergoingirradiation treatment. Since his researchbegan in April 2009, he has made

significant progress in understanding the molecular mechanism that regulatessalivary gland cell death, which can leadto xerostomia or dry mouth in 40,000people in the United States annually.

The salivary glands of head and neckcancer patients oftentimes die inresponse to irradiation and they do notregenerate. The condition greatlyreduces the quality of life for somepatients and the long-term prognosis canbe worse for others. “Saliva plays a lot ofimportant functions,’’ says Adwan,explaining the role it plays in chewing,digestion, speech and oral health. “Theloss of salivary functions is a seriouscondition that results in patients losingtheir teeth and being susceptible to allkinds of oral infections.’’

By understanding the mechanismthrough which the PKC delta proteinsignals for cell death, researchers hope tobe able to disrupt its mobility as a meansof disrupting its pro cell death function.“It’s important for this treatment to be

specific to the salivary gland since youdon’t want to protect cancer from thetoxic effects of irradiation,’’ he says. “Ourlab has identified a region that mediatessub-cellular mobility of this protein, whichcan potentially be used as a target fortherapeutic strategies.’’

A cum laude graduate in biology,Adwan credits a lot of his success inresearch and graduate school to theopportunities he received at MU. Heworked with doctors Frank DiPino,Angela Asirvatham and Larry Pedersen on biology and chemistry researchprojects on campus and secured asummer research internship at ThomasJefferson School of Graduate Studies.

“Through these opportunities, I had an idea of what research was going to be about and I was prepared to face thatreality as I started graduate school,’’ saysAdwan, who is in the process of applyingto medical school. “Misericordia offers a myriad of extracurricular opportunitiesthat give students the chance forpersonal and professional growth.

“Misericordia nurtured my desire tohelp others and my social responsibilitytowards others in the community,’’ he adds, “all of which made me morecommitted to my goal of helping othersand serving my community.’’

Alumnus conductsgroundbreaking research to help head and neck

cancer patients

BreakingNEW GROUND


Tariq Adwan’s research is being funded by a National Institute of Health-supportedRuth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.

ariq Adwan ’05 has traveledfarther than most in search of his dream.

T

“Misericordia nurtured mydesire to help others.”

– Tariq Adwan ‘05

ALUMNI PROFILE

27S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

On a day-to-day basis, Leah Steele,R.N., ’08 sees some pretty amazing casesas a nurse in the pediatric intermediatecare unit at the Penn State HersheyChildren’s Hospital, one of the mosthighly respected pediatric units in thecountry. But her work just barely preparedher for a recent trip to Ecuador where she assisted two pediatric heart surgeonswho performed 27 life-saving surgeries in 20 days.

“It is just eye-opening when you getthere. What we take for granted inmedicine, they would give anything for,”Steele opines. “They have a very highmortality rate. It truly was a gift to themto be able to fix something so small.”

By small, Steele refers to Tetralogy ofFallot, a congenital condition where achild has a hole between the two bottomchambers of their heart. It is a commonheart problem in children and one that,by standards in the United States, is

relatively easy to fix with a surgical patch. For the 10th year, Hershey Medical

Center (HMC) sent two cardiac surgeryteams to Ecuador, including two doctors— each with a team of nurses,anesthesiologists, perfusionists, residents,medical students and senior high schoolstudents from Milton S. Hershey HighSchool who served as translators. Theteam of cardiologists and residentsscreened more than 40 children per day,determining which patients the team maybest be able to help. The childrenselected ranged in age from threemonths to 17 years old.

The teams took a load of equipmentwith them, including surgical instrumentsand medicine. Ecuadorian doctors andnurses assisted with the surgeries. “I wasresponsible for post-operative care forthe 14 surgeries my team did the firstweek,” says Steele, who plans to returnto Ecuador with another HMC surgery

team in November 2010. “As a child, Ihad asthma and was in and out of thehospital. That made me want to be apediatric nurse and help kids feel better.”

The daughter of John Steele ofTamaqua, Pa., and Ida Steele of SummitHill, Pa., Steele earned her Bachelor ofScience degree in nursing fromMisericordia University in 2008. A Cougarcheerleader, she had the thrill ofcompeting in the squad’s first trip tonationals in 2007 in Dayton Beach, Fla.She was also an orientation leader, amember of SOAR, the Student OutdoorAdventure & Recreation Program, and performed with the campusChamber Singers.

“Going to Ecuador opened up a wholenew world of nursing to me and those onthe team,” Steele adds. “It reminds usthat this is why we became health careprofessionals. It was truly the mostamazing experience of my life.”

MedicalMiracles

Nursing gradassists pediatricheart mission in Ecuador


ALUMNI P

ROFILE

just want to take this opportunity to tell youhow happy and honored I feel to be askedto serve as President of your AlumniAssociation. These are truly exciting times

at Misericordia — times that have brought aboutsignificant changes at our school through what, onoccasion, seemed to be monumental challenges.

These past several months have seen theopening of the exquisite Pauly Friedman ArtGallery in Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall as wellas the addition to on-campus housing with theopening of Monsignor Andrew J. McGowanStudent Residence Hall. The former WalshAuditorium has been given a rebirth in the form of the beautifully remodeled Lemmond Theater in Walsh Hall. Events can now be held inclimate-controlled comfort.

The College of Health Sciences, located in theformer Commonwealth Telephone building onLake Street, will provide much needed space forthe expanded medical-related science programs.

All of these buildings with their current needand their implications for the future were madepossible in large part because of the generoussupport of you — the Alumni. Thanks to your loyalsupport, the “Leading from the Heart” campaignwas an overwhelming success. You can all beMisericordia proud.

Having had the delightful opportunity to meetmany of the incoming freshmen on “Move-inDay,” I must say that the true excitement oncampus comes not from the addition of thesewonderful new buildings, but from the studentsthemselves. Many members of the freshman classare at MU because of the financial aid youprovided through your support of the AnnualFund. Buildings, after all, may be spectacularinterpretations of concrete and steel, and brickand mortar, but they really come to life only whenthey are filled with the vibrancy of these fineyoung men and women. It is not until they echowith innovative ideas, impassioned discussion,new discoveries and spirits made to soar throughthe arts that these buildings achieve their full glory.

Misericordia today may not be the Misericordiayou remember, but, it is not one you will soonforget. Misericordia is very much alive and well.The students, faculty and staff all are dedicated tothe charisms of the Sisters of Mercy — mercy,service, justice and hospitality, and are thepromise of the future. You can be proud ofMisericordia; of the traditions from which wecame, of what we have become and of thepromise we will carry to the future.

Alumni News

Helene FlowerReed ’66

For more information aboutalumni events and news,visit the MU website:misericordia.edu/alumni

I


Class NotesMaureen Indira RamsonHairston is working as the

Director of Dietary Services

at the Potomac Rehab

Center, Potomac, M.D.

Mary E. HoldredgeAnyomi is proud to

announce that her paper

entitled, Website

Accessibility of Public Senior Institutions

in South Carolina, has been published

in the Against the Grain website, Vol. 21,

No. 4, Sept. 9, p.48-51. Mary resides in

Columbia, S.C.

Susan Woodeshick and

Andrew J. Katsock III, Esq.

were united in marriage on

July 17 in St. Stanislaus

Kostka Church, Wilkes-Barre. Susan is

employed by the Hanover Area School

District as a Title 1 math teacher and is

a Realtor with Century 21 Signature

Properties, Shavertown.

Iola Valenta and Rich

Fredrickson were married

on Sept., 18, 2009 at Our

Lady of Mount Carmel

Church, Pittston. Iola is employed as a

registered nurse at Wilkes-Barre General

Hospital. The couple resides in Pittston.

CarolynMachonis-Catalanoand her husband, David,

welcomed twin daughters,

Holly and Bethany on Sept. 1, 2009.

Leah Youells Brown is

working for the Central

Dauphin School District

as an occupational

therapist. Leah and her husband,

Michael, reside in Harrisburg.

Joshua Hogan and his wife, Evelyn,

announce the birth of a daughter, Olivia

Marie Hogan, on July 8, 2009.

Kristy DeRome and

Paul Gomberg were

united in marriage on

May 24, 2008 at Our

Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Pittston.

Following a honeymoon trip to St. Lucia,

the couple celebrated their first

anniversary in the Caribbean.

They reside in Exeter.

Tara Lee Bralczyk and

Christopher Jon Holko

were united in marriage on

Sept. 12, 2009 at St.

Aloysius Church, Wilkes-Barre. Tara is

employed by CDW as a senior account

manager. The couple resides in Brick, N.J.

Erin Burger Baronand her husband,

Jason, welcomed

their first child,

Rylee Mae,

on Sept. 19, 2009.

Angela Pastorelli Shobe and her

husband, Dillon, proudly announce the

birth of their son, Quinnlon Lee Shobe,

on Jan. 28.

Justin David Snyder is working at

Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital in

Lancaster. Justin, his wife, Ashlee,

and their son, reside in Middletown.

Colleen Corrigan and

Kevin Kloss were married

at St. Thomas More

Church, Lake Ariel, on July

10. Colleen earned a master’s degree in

classroom technology from Wilkes

University and is a teacher in the Western

Wayne School District.

Meghan Dwyer welcomed a daughter,

Gwendolyn, on Oct. 15, 2009. Megan

resides in Baltimore, Md.

Allyson YoungEisenhour and her

husband, Jason,

celebrated their

son, David Curtis’,

first birthday on

Feb. 11.

Allison Bush Korus and her husband,

Joseph, welcomed a son on

Sept. 9, 2009.

Erica Jule Llewellyn and Michael Patrick

Conahan were united in marriage on Sept.

18 at the Woodlands Inn and Resort,

Wilkes-Barre. Erica is the granddaughter

of Ruth Purcell McEvoy ’55. Erica and

Michael reside in Kingston. Christa Marraand Russell Lucas chose the Montdale

‘70 ‘01

‘03

‘04

‘77

‘81

‘89

‘98

‘99

‘00

29S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Country Club as the setting for their

wedding on July 25, 2009. Christa is

pursuing a doctor of physical therapy

degree at Misericordia University and

is employed by Geisinger Wyoming

Valley Hospital.

Kristin Marie Zbierski and Robert KarlHarris ’06 were united in marriage on

August 8, 2009 at Holy Transfiguration

Ukrainian Catholic Church, Nanticoke.

Kristin is employed as a fifth-grade

teacher in the Wilkes-Barre Area

School District. Robert is employed

as a marketing consultant for

Fox 56 television.

Gretchen FosterFish and her

husband, Brian,

welcomed a

daughter, Emilia

Lynn, on Dec. 11,

2008.

Melissa Martin and Glenn Lawless

were united in marriage on Oct. 23, 2009

in All Saints Parish, Plymouth. Melissa is

the daughter of Loretta Martin, who is a

Misericordia University employee.

Melissa is employed by the Woodlands

Inn and Resort, Wilkes-Barre as a

corporate sales executive.

Victoria Birkenhead Smith and her

husband, Paul, welcomed twin sons,

Tyler John and Zachary Paul on Feb. 7.

Victoria’s mom is Christine FisherBirkenhead ’86.

Wendy Wesley and Philip J. Novicki, Jr.,

were united in marriage on Sept. 26,

2009 at Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas.

Wendy is employed by the Wyoming

Valley West School District as a first-

grade teacher. They live in Luzerne.

Erin Elizabeth Confreyand Jason Paul

Derenick chose St.

Christopher’s Church,

Baldwin, N.Y., as the setting for their

May 23, 2009 wedding. Erin is a physical

therapist for Drayer Physical Therapy

Institute, Maryland.

Suzanne Pierce Hernandez and her

husband, Paul, welcomed a son, Isaiah

Michael, on July 12, 2009.

Emily S. VanEeden is a staff

occupational therapist at Central

Dauphin School District, Harrisburg.

Elizabeth Lee Zawatski and Justin

James Kaszowicz were united in

marriage on April 18 at St. Mary’s

Church, Mocanaqua. Elizabeth is

employed by the Guard Insurance

Group, Wilkes-Barre, as an internal

sales advisor. Elizabeth and Justin

live in Nanticoke.

Kelly Ahart and

Terrence Mull ’06were married on

June 20, 2009.

Kelly is working as a physical therapist

for Concentra at Trinity High School,

Mechanicsburg. Terrence works as a

physical education and assistant

athletic director at Trinity High School

in Camp Hill.

Kristina Schultz Amerman is working

at the Women’s Cancer Center of

Central Pennsylvania as achemotherapy

nurse. Kristina and her husband, Bruce,

live in Harrisburg.

Julianne Wolyniec and Curtis Brieling

were married on July 4, 2009 in the

Misericordia University Chapel by

the Rev. Michael Bryant. Julianne

is employed by the Luzerne

Intermediate Unit 18 as a special

education teacher. The couple

resides in Plains Township.

Ian Delaney is working

as an operations

coordinator for a beer

distributor, W & L Sales

in Camp Hill. Ian just bought a new

home in Camp Hill.

Susan Marie Gryziec and Timothy Ross

Showalter were married on June 6,

2009, at All Saints Parish, Plymouth.

Susan is pursuing a Master of Science

degree in publishing at Drexel University,

Philadelphia. She also works full time at

Pearson Publishing, Philadelphia, as a

content development editor.

Ian Scott Steele was recently hired by The Hetrick Center, Harrisburg, as a physical therapy technician. Ian resides in Middletown.

Leah Steele is a RN in the cardiacdepartment at Penn State HersheyMedical Center, Hershey.

Jeremy Reeves and Katie McHalechose St. John the Evangelist Church,Pittston as the setting for their Sept. 19,2009 wedding. Jeremy and Katie areliving in West Pittston.

Chase Daniel Susko and Ashlee Janette Boyle were united in marriageon Sept. 26, 2009 at St. Leo’s/HolyRosary Church, Ashley. Chase isemployed as a physical therapist atGood Shepherd, Allentown.

Julie Ann Fennerand Eric John Samanaswere united in marriage on Aug. 29 at St. John’s

Church, Larksville. Julie is employed byWyoming Valley Health Care as an RN.They reside in Kingston.

Rachel Kahn and Adam Sutliff were wed in St. Theresa’s Church,Shavertown on Aug. 8, 2009. Rachel is the daughter of Thea Kahn ’04 who is a MisericordiaUniversity employee. The couple resides in West Wyoming.

Joanna M. Kelley and Tyler D.Emmerich were united in marriage May 23, 2009. Joanna is employed as a nurse at Tampa General Hospital,Tampa, Fla. After a honeymoon trip to Jamaica, they make their home in Tampa, Fla.

Molly Jean Yaple and Thomas StevenBybee were married on July 25, 2009 at Stillwater Christian Church, Stillwater.Molly is employed as a registered nurse by the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center,Wilkes-Barre.

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

‘09

Misericordia offers best wishes and a

happy retirement to Bob Kaleta, Alumni

Services Coordinator, a valued

member of the alumni staff who retired

in April following 15 years of service.


His 23-member team of Air Force, Armyand Navy personnel arrived at the AdmiralKillick Coast Guard Station in Haiti to findhundreds of people strewn throughout thecompound waiting for medical care, somethere since the quake seven days earlier.

“The situation was absolutelyhorrendous,” he says. “Unfortunately, oneof our three planes was diverted, so wewere missing critical anesthesia equipmentas well as all our personal belongings.”

With no running water and workingunder two tents — one set up as anoperating room, the other to sleep in —the team began surgery on table tops anddesks. The cases were some of the mostchallenging Lt. Col. Williams had ever seen,even during war duty, including dangerouslimb amputations and severe scalp wounds.There were times when he needed to placehis hand on the patient’s chest to makesure they were breathing.

The chaotic setting and heroic medicalefforts attracted the attention of reportersfrom both the Associated Press and Timemagazine. Williams was featured in a

special report, “Medics Scramble to SaveQuake Survivors,” that appeared atwww.Time.com on Jan. 21.

With no anesthesia machine, Lt. Col.Williams was forced to use the moreprimitive TIVA — Total IV Anesthetic —method to administer sedationintravenously, and had to pump a blueJackson-Reese breathing bag by hand tocontrol the oxygen flow to the patient. Hehad learned the method in class but hadnever needed to use it before sincemodern machines give gas anesthesia.

Assisting on 11 surgeries in the first twodays, Lt. Col. Williams was happy to haveclean clothes and anesthesia equipmentarrive on the third day just in time to movethe OR into a nearby building deemed safeby engineers. The team was able tocomplete 10 surgeries that day thanks tothe improved conditions. He was alsorequired to do shifts of guard duty andoften slept in the OR just to make sure theequipment was safe.

His team worked in conjunction with theU.S.N.S. Comfort hospital ship and would

MissionMercy


Of

Time magazine chroniclesnursing alumnus’ assignmentto earthquake-ravaged Haiti

t. Col. Kenneth Williams ’88 might just tell you he was doing his job as a nurse anesthetist

for the U.S. Air Force, but the circumstances were far fromnormal. On duty with the Joint Task Force Bravo in SotoCano, Honduras, the Dallas, Pa., native was among the first medical personnel called to respond when the 7.0magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12.

L

transport critically injured patients there andreturn with patients for follow-up care, just tokeep the beds on the ship open for the mostseriously injured.

The relief effort took on an internationalflavor when teams from Mexico andColumbia arrived in mid-February. “Eventhough there was a language barrier, we’veworked well together and successfullyhelped each other out,” he adds.

The son of Nancy and Hank Williams ofDallas, Pa., the lieutenant colonel has someamazing numbers to report from the 29-daydeployment. The team treated more than1,250 patients from newborn to 77 yearsold, performed 64 surgeries and assisted aMexican orthopedic surgical team with 34additional surgeries. There were a few babydeliveries along the way, including onewoman who delivered in the tent whilesurgery was being performed.

Lt. Col. Williams returned to Honduras onFeb. 29. He expects to complete his tour ofduty in June and return to his home base,Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss., to bereunited with his wife, fellow MU nursinggraduate Karen Ann Haduck, R.N., ’88, andtheir daughters Amanda, 17, and Dana, 12.The couple met during their sophomoreyear in the nursing program.

Following graduation, Karen went intocivilian practice and her husband enteredROTC, serving for seven years beforeenrolling in the Uniformed ServicesUniversity of the Health Sciences foranesthesia training. He has served 22 yearswith the Air Force, including deploymentsto Turkey, the Persian Gulf, Italy, Ohio,Illinois and Delaware.

He follows in the footsteps of his father,Hank, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and olderbrother, Richard, who served in the U.S.Coast Guard. Younger brother, Raymond“Scott” ’92, a Misericordia businessalumnus, also served in the U.S. Army.

ALUMNI PROFILE

31S U M M E R 2 0 1 0


‘Justice Is For

Everyone’Alumna follows her motto in life to a seat on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas

justice,’’ Gartley adds. “Misericordia wasmy foundation.’’

Between 1991 and 2010, Judge Gartleyfollowed the same civic-minded path thatshe first crossed at MU. In 1991, shebegan her legal career in a regional lawoffice and as a full-time prosecutor in theLuzerne County District Attorney’s Office.The future jurist was the first S.T.O.P. (StopViolence Against Women) prosecutor inthe DA’s office and earned the office’shighest conviction rate in 2000. In 2002,Judge Gartley parlayed her work withvictims of crimes into a legal position atthe Barbara J. Hart Justice Center, whichwas created by former Gov. Tom Ridgeand the PA Coalition Against DomesticViolence. Two years later, she became thesenior attorney for the Justice Center.

“A majority of the legal work that Ifocused on was directed at helping peoplethrough terrible crises and allowing them toseek justice for some wrong that had beencommitted in their life,’’ she explains. “Idealt with the human side of the law wherechildren, teenagers, women and mensuffered unthinkable crimes. Advocating onbehalf of those who were victims andsurvivors became a focus of my career.’’

justice for those who felt betrayed by theirexperiences with life and the court systemthat dominated my adult years. It is thatexact same passion for justice that I bringto the bench.

“After nearly two decades of practicinglaw, I have unique insights into thechallenges that face victims, the poor anddisenfranchised,’’ adds Judge Gartley, whoearned her Juris Doctorate from SyracuseUniversity College of Law in 1991.

Justice comes in many forms. ForGartley, it was found in courtroomsthroughout the commonwealth as shefought to protect children, families andcommunities from common criminals.

“Misericordia offered me everyopportunity to succeed. My education andexperiences at Misericordia instilled in mea strong sense of confidence andfearlessness,’’ she says, matter-of-factly. “Isay that in a good way in that I leftMisericordia ready to take on the world.

“I learned and nurtured the vocation tohelp others and provide service to thosemost in need. And I found that justice wassomething everyone did not get, so I tookmy academically prepared mind and myneed to help others and fought for

ina Polachek Gartley’s mottoin life — “justice is foreveryone’’ — is simple andrevealing at the same time.It shows a woman who isgrounded in strong family

values and who also is willing to helpthose most in need.

It’s little wonder that as a determined18-year-old she matriculated toMisericordia and quickly found a strongconnection to the institution’s tenets. “I wasseeking a small college where I would knowmy instructors and have a very personalizededucation,’’ recalls Gartley, a 1988 summacum laude graduate with a double major inhistory and English and minors in writingand Russian area studies with aspecialization in pre-law. “I also felt a strongconnection to the mission of Misericordiaand its sense of service to society.’’

With the courage of her convictions,Gartley has possessed a passion to make adifference in both the legal communityand in her own community. As a practicingattorney for 18 years, she convictedviolent criminals, rapists and predators as acounty prosecutor and “ensured that thevictims of unimaginable abuse were givena voice in civil and criminal courts thatcould not be silenced.’’

She has taken that same fervor for equaljustice to the Luzerne County Court ofCommon Pleas, where she was seated as ajudge after being elected in November2009. “I learned that with faith, hard workand dedication you could accomplishanything,’’ says the lone female jurist inLuzerne County. “It was my need to seek

T

ALUMNI P

ROFILE

MU names MercyIntegration director

Little did she know when she attended theconvocation of the Sisters of Mercy of theMid-Atlantic Region at the Misericordia campus

in July 2009 that it would beher first step to a new positionand a new ministry. SisterBernadette Duross, RSM hasjoined the MU family as specialassistant to the president forMercy Integration.

“When University PresidentMichael MacDowell spoke toour gathering of more than 500sisters, he talked about the

spirit of Mercy and how it is woven into thecampus mission,” said Sister Bernadette.“Walking around the campus it was easy to see, the hospitality and spirit of Mercy was sorefreshingly present. I knew right away that this was a very special place and anextraordinary campus.”

In naming Sister Bernadette to this newposition, Misericordia joins a majority of the 16 colleges that comprise the Conference forMercy Higher Education with a designateddirector of mission integration. “MisericordiaUniversity is proud to have Sister Bernadettewith us in this important role,” said PresidentMacDowell. “Misericordia’s proud history isbased upon our Catholic identity and Mercytraditions. It is essential that we strive in everyway to honor that heritage in both our dailyoperations and long-range plans.”

The youngest of seven daughters, SisterBernadette was raised in West Philadelphia andattended West Catholic High School for girls.She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociologyfrom the University of Scranton and a master’sdegree in pastoral counseling and a certificatein spiritual direction from Neumann College.

She began her career as a parish socialminister at a predominantly African-Americanparish in North Philadelphia, and next served atthe Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth inWernersville, Pa., where she directed retreats,provided spiritual direction and supervision, andassisted with training programs for men, womenand religious from the U.S. and abroad. Shereturned to the University of Scranton to serve asthe director of Ignatian Spiritual Formation andvice president for Mission and Ministries. Shemost recently served at the Bethany House ofPrayer. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee in April 2009.

Sister Bernadette will have responsibility formission and Mercy integration throughout thecampus community. She will work closely withfaculty, staff and students to strengthen theUniversity’s commitment to and understandingof MU’s Catholic identity and Mercy traditions.Campus Ministry and Service Leadership officeswill report to Sister Bernadette and she will alsoserve as executive director of the EthicsInstitute of Northeastern Pennsylvania at MU.


Faculty NotebookAlicia Nordstrom, Ph.D., was granted

tenure and promoted to associate professorof psychology. Rebecca Steinberger, Ph.D.,English department chair; Glen M. Tellis,Ph.D., speech-language pathologydepartment chair; and Marnie Hiester Idec,Ph.D., psychology department chair, wereeach promoted to full professor.

Brenda Hage, Ph.D., C.R.N.P., associateprofessor of nursing and director of graduatenursing programs, has completed nationalboard certification requirements to become a gerontological nurse practitioner.

John N. Mellon, Ed.D., C.F.C.S., C.D.E.P.,associate professor of business, has beennamed by the Hospitality Sales andMarketing Association International to serveas a board member of the National Sales andMarketing Faculty Advisory Board.

Paula Pate-Schloder, M.S., (RT)(CV)(CT),associate professor of medical imaging, waselected president-elect of the Association ofEducators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences.

Ellen McLaughlin, Ed.D., O.T.R./L.,associate professor of occupational therapyand doctorate of occupational therapyprogram director, has been appointed as thechairperson for the Educational StandardsReview Committee by the AccreditationCouncil for Occupational Therapy Education.

Jim Siberski, M.S., CMC, CRmT, assistantprofessor and coordinator of gerontologyeducation, was recently certified as a caremanager by the National Academy ofCertified Care Managers.

The Nursing Department has formed anExternal Advisory Board comprised of 24regional health care professionals in responseto the changes and challenges in health careeducation. They bring years of experiencefrom varied backgrounds, including both theclinical and academic fields.

Faculty and a business graduate studentpresented research at the NortheasternPennsylvania Faculty Research Symposium,sponsored by the Institute for Public Policy &Economic Development at King’s College.Dr. Mellon presented the study, For

Enhancing Communities of Higher EducationTeaching Practices: Student PreferredMethods of Instruction Survey Results. John Sumansky, Ph.D., professor and

chair of the Department of Business anddirector of the Center for Economic andEntrepreneurship Education, and WilliamDesRosiers, M.B.A. candidate at MU,

presented, Business Incubators and RegionalEconomic Development: A ContinuingSearch for Impacts. Steven Tedford, Ph.D., assistant professor

of mathematics and computer science,presented, Characteristic Polynomials of Graphs.Corina N. Slaff, Ph.D., assistant professor

of business, presented, EmotionalIntelligence and Academic Leadership: An Exploratory Study of College andUniversity Presidents.

Mary Dana Hinton, Ph.D., has beennamed associate vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Hinton’s primaryresponsibilities will be to oversee theplanning and assessment efforts of theUniversity, including the implementation ofthe long-range strategic plan (See page 7).She will also guide MU through MiddleStates accreditation.

Dr. Hinton has also been appointed to theLuzerne County Community College Boardof Trustees and been named president of theMid-Atlantic Region of the AmericanAcademy of Religion.

Lorie Zelna, M.S., RT, (R)(MR), associateprofessor of medical imaging, has beennamed chair of the Pennsylvania Society ofRadiologic Technologist board.

Jean A. Dyer, Ph.D., dean of the Collegeof Health Sciences, has been invited to be acommissioner of the Northwest Commissionon Colleges and Universities. It is one of twopositions on the 24-member board offered toprofessionals outside the Northwest region.

Sister Patricia Lapczynski, RSM, DPS,associate professor of mathematics andcomputer sciences; Barbara McCraith,Ph.D., associate professor of biology;Kathleen Foley, M.S., dean of students;Michael P. Orleski, Ph.D., assistant professorof physics; and Dr. Hinton, participated inthe Association of American Colleges andUniversities Institute on General Educationand Assessment.

The following faculty members wererecognized at Commencement: Stevan L.Davies, Ph.D., professor of religious studies,received the Louis and Barbara AlesiExcellence in Scholarship Award; Allan W.Austin, Ph.D., associate professor of history,was presented the Pauly and SidneyFriedman Excellence in Service Award; andGwen M. Bartolacci, O.T.D., O.T.R./L.,associate professor of OT, received theJudge Max and Tillie Rosenn Excellence in Teaching Award.

33S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

The Religious Sisters of Mercy had

a simple, honest mission when they

established Misericordia in 1924.

Through their tenets of Mercy,

Service, Justice and Hospitality,

the sisters interwove noble principles

and ideals of Catholic scholarship

with challenging liberal arts

academic programs. Eighty-six

years later, the campus community

continues to live the Misericordia

way. The following sisters work at

MU played an important role in

making Misericordia what it is today

and will be tomorrow and they

are honored in the:

Mary Julian Baird RSM '45Mary Jerome Barrett RSMMary Germaine Barron RSMMary Josephita Barrow RSMMary Assumpta Blatterspiel RSMGertrude Marie Bogdon RSM '62Elizabeth Anne Brandreth RSM '61Mary Agnes Therese Brennan RSM '61Joan Marie Broderick RSM '62Mary Bertrand Brogan RSMMary Frances Burke RSMMary Aidan Byron RSM '42Mary Dolorosa Canfield RSMKathleen Marie Carroll RSM '63Mary Ricarda Cavan RSMMary Eduardus Cavanaugh RSMMary Sylvia Connell RSMMaria Teresa Corrigan RSMMary Christopher Coughlan RSMBarbara Craig RSM '53Mary Claver Cronin RSM '57Mariella Crowe RSM '44Mary Borgia Curran RSMAlice Louise Davis RSMMary Amadeus Defreitas RSM '61Mary Pierre Desmond RSMJeanne Marie Devaney RSM '58Anne Devaney RSM '64Annette Marie Diebold RSM '81Mary Reparata Dolan RSMMary Alacoque Dombroski RSMMary Kateri Dorwart RSM '44Mary Alphius Dulcey RSM '48Mary Borromeo Dunn RSMBernadette Duross RSMMary Ignatius Egan RSMMary Siena Finley RSM '51Mary Raymond Fitzpatrick RSMMary Gratia Frawley RSM '48

Ann Miriam Gallagher RSM '53Mary Sharon Gallagher RSM '58Mary DeChantal Gallagher RSMMiriam Gallagher RSMCarol Ann Gallagher RSM '66Mary Wilfred Gallagher RSMMary Immaculata Garrahan RSMMary Luke Gibbons RSM '53Marianna Gildea RSM '28Madeline Gill RSM '56Mary Glennon RSM '62Mary Theresa Glynn RSM '58Mary Pierre Greene RSMMary Felician Grogan RSM '48Elizabeth Guckavan RSMMary Rosaire Hanlon RSM Martha Hanlon RSM '60Patricia Anne Healy RSM '59Mary Eulalia Herron RSMCatherine Hill RSM '51Ann Horgan RSM '62Mary Cosmos Hughes RSMMary Martin Hughes RSM '37Mary Clarus Jasper RSMJoanne Marie Jones RSM '72Mary Germaine Kain RSMMary Lois Karalius RSMMary Carmela Kashmere RSM '61Mary Gonzaga Kehoe RSMMarie Noel Keller RSM '65Mary Ruth Kelly RSM '52Regina Kelly RSM '43Mary Lillian Kelly RSMMary Catherine Kelly RSMMary Bernadette Kennedy RSMMary Francis De Sales Knepper RSM '58Mary Kristina Knott RSM '74Constance Mary Kozel RSM '55Patricia Lapczynski RSM

Mary Caroline Legutko RSMRobert Marie Lockman RSM '65Mary De La Salle Lynch RSMMary Florence Madden RSMMary Francella Magee RSMMary Florita Maloney RSM '48Antoinette Manley RSM '87Cynthia Ann March RSM '80Mary Charles Mayock RSMMaureen McCann RSM '58Patricia Marie McCann RSM '69Marietta McCormack RSM '47Mary Catharine McGann RSMMary Carmel McGarigle RSM '52Mary Joel Magill RSM '47Mary Loretta McGill RSMMary Eloise McGinty RSM '40Mary Patrice McGrane RSMCatherine McGroarty RSM '74Mary Celestine McHale RSM '28Mary Mercedes McHale RSMMary Francesca McLaughlin RSMAnne Elizabeth McLaughlin RSM '63Dorothy McLaughlin RSM '54Mary Carmel McNelis RSMMary Cecilia Meighan RSM '58Mary Noel Menezes RSM '64Mary Annunciata Merrick RSMJean Messaros RSM '73Marie Dolores Moore RSM '49Teresa Mary Moyles RSM Cor Marie Mulhern RSM '58Mary Flora Mulhern RSM '55Mary Teresita Mulhern RSMMary Denis Murphy RSM '53Mary Ferdinand Nagle RSMHelen Mary Nagle RSM '51Mary Faith Naylor RSM '56Susan Marie Nowalis RSM '55

Mary James O’Brien RSMAnna O’Connell RSM '55Mary Crescentia O’Connor RSMMiriam Teresa O’Donnell RSM '46Marian O’Hora RSMEsther Ann O’Konski RSM '64James Mary Parker RSM '46Anne Paye RSM '52Mary Elaine Peter RSM '63Jayne Pruitt RSMJeanette Puetz RSMMary Colette Rafter RSMMary Cyril Reilly RSMMary Michael Reinhard RSM '46Rosemary Reirdon RSMMary Ambrose Reirdon RSMMary De Lourdes Rivers RSMMary Charlotte Russell RSM '35Eric Marie Setlock RSM '58Romaine Marie Shannon RSM '59Mary Olivia Smith RSM '50Mary Edmund Speicher RSMMiriam Francis Stadulis RSM '62Mary Mercia Sweeney RSMMary Donald Sweeney RSMMary Aloysius Thomas RSM '55Eileen Marie Toole RSM '63Ann Mary Turnbach RSM '62Marion Joseph Walsh RSM '41Mother Mary Teresa Walsh RSMMary Benedict Joseph Watters RSM '56Mary Denise Wilkins RSM '40Catherine Williamson RSM '61Catherine Mary Winters RSM '60Maria Wrubel RSM '56Mary Lia Zabresky RSM '36Mary Borromeo Zengion RSM

CIRCLE OF PRIDE


Make more alumni connections. Visit cougarconnect.misericordia.edu byusing your unique log-in ID located aboveyour address on Misericordia Today.

35S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Make more alumni connections. Visit cougarconnect.misericordia.edu byusing your unique log-in ID located aboveyour address on Misericordia Today.

36 M I S E R I C O R D I A T O D A YM I S E R I C O R D I A T O D A Y

Maintain your MU friendshipsfor a lifetime by staying in touch through CougarConnectFor more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at:[email protected] or visit: cougarconnect.misericordia.edu

Alumni Volunteer Program: Contact Virginia Conrad ’05 at (570) 674-6228to be an admissions, alumni/development or career services volunteer.

84 TH

A N N U A LC E R E M O N Y

COMMENCEMENT

MOMENTS

37S U M M E R 2 0 1 0


Her ministry is simple: Changing the worldone child at a time. And for more than 50years, she has done just that. At the end ofeach day, it is the hugs, smiles and goodconduct reports that fuel the energy ofMiriam Stadulis, RSM ’62, founder anddirector of the McGlynn Learning Center inWilkes-Barre, Pa.

Her foresight and untiring efforts earnedSister Miriam the 2009 Woman of the YearAward by the Women’s Club of theWyoming Valley, one of the most recent ofmany she has garnered in tribute to thebeneficial services she provides.

Each weekday, more than 50 underservedchildren living in the Boulevard Townhomesdevelopment spend their pre-school andafter-school hours being tutored and gettinghomework help from volunteers in thecenter. Their efforts are capped by a hotmeal provided daily by the Commission forEconomic Opportunity. The center providesa much-needed sense of security,socialization and academic encouragementwhile offering a more basic benefit ofkeeping them safe and off the streets.

“My hope is to plant the seeds for thesechildren to do good in life,” she offers. “Mywish is that they live good and happy lives. Ifwe can get them on the right road and showthem the importance of education, we’vemade a good start.”

In her role, Sister Miriam is part traffic cop— assigning incoming students to one of thefour tutoring stations in the center; partdisciplinarian — keeping in touch with thestudents’ teachers by e-mail to make surethey are keeping up their grades; and partchief “hugger’’ — welcoming each one byname and accepting the pint-sized hugs ofthanks they offer as they head out the door.

Sister Miriam holds a bachelor’s degree inbusiness from MU, but the Nanticoke, Pa.,native says she always loved children so shetook extra credits in elementary and

secondary education while living onthe third floor of Mercy Hall as anovitiate. She earned her master’s incounseling at the University ofScranton. Her early teaching careertook her to schools in Long Island,N.Y., and across Pennsylvania. Shewas the first vice-principal of BishopHafey High School when it opened inHazleton, Pa., in 1969. She returnedto her alma mater as director ofCounseling Services in 1973.

Inspired by what she saw workingwith Catholic Social Services, SisterMiriam opened the McGlynn Centerin 1988 with the support of theWilkes-Barre Area School District andHousing Authority, which provided atownhouse and free utilities. So manychildren responded a second unit nextdoor was added two years later.

With computers, furniture andsupplies she garners through grantsand donations, Sister Miriam relies onmore than 100 volunteers each year,including 20 students from MU.

She shares her time with numerousorganizations, serving on the boardsof directors of the Diversity Institute at Misericordia University, the GreaterWilkes-Barre Family YMCA andChildren’s Service Center. She is also a member of the Luzerne CountyYouth Council and the Luzerne CountyFamily Centers Planning Group.

Her efforts have not goneunnoticed. She was awarded anhonorary doctorate from King’sCollege and has received recognitionfrom the W-B Area School District,Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug andAlcohol Planning Council, ChildDevelopment Center of NEPA,Luzerne County Reading Council;Leadership W-B; Children’s ServiceCenter; W-B Education Association;Community of Inter-Faith Action; Cityof W-B, W-B NAACP and KiwanisClub of Wilkes-Barre.

WomanOf The YearAward honors Sister Miriam Stadulis RSM, ‘62

for service to underserved childrenS T O R Y B Y M A R I A N N E T U C K E R P U H A L L A

The McGlynn Center is located at 72 Midland Court, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702; phone (570) 824-8891. Sister Miriam can bereached at: [email protected]

QUICK INFO

RSM PROFILE

When the final horn sounded on theMisericordia University men’s basketballseason, it marked more than the end of the2009-10 campaign. For the Cougars and theirfans, in particular Pam and Herman Little, itmarked the end of an era – the Little Era.

The Littles have watched their sons, Andre andMarcus, handle the point guard duties for theCougars in eight of the last nine seasons. AfterAndre appeared in 106 games from 2001-02 to2004-05, the Littles took a year off before Marcusarrived in Dallas for the 2006-07 season.

In more than 200 games, the Stroudsburgnatives combined for 111 wins and six playoffberths, including a spot in this year’s FreedomConference tournament. “I wish Marcus had alittle brother,” said Misericordia head coachTrevor Woodruff, who coached Andre as asenior and has coached Marcus for all fouryears. “They have certainly left their mark onour program.”

Besides Andre’s breakout senior seasonwhere he averaged 15.8 points per game on hisway to first-team all-conference and Wendy’sAthlete of the Year honors, the duo’s careersare eerily similar. They both were part of 19-winseasons, the school single-season victoriesrecord, and both played on teams that reachedthe ECAC championships.

Andre, at 5 feet, 9 inches, and Marcus, at 5feet, 10 inches, both used their muscular bodiesand quickness to drive to the basket and get tothe foul line. “They are both so athletic,” saidWoodruff. “They brought so much to the table:quickness, durability, and consistency.”

Andre is tied for third in school history with106 games played while Marcus is fifth with103. Marcus is fourth with 330 free throwsmade while Andre is eighth with 227.

Marcus made 201 field goals and averaged7.6 points per game for his career while Andrescored 6.4 ppg on 209 field goals. Both playerswould step out and make an occasionalthree-pointer – with 33.8 percent for Marcus to33.3 percent for Andre.

In the assists department, Marcus is thirdwith 317 assists and Andre is fifth with 257while the positions are reversed for steals.Andre is third with 146 career steals whileMarcus is fifth with 121.

While Andre’s absence was eventually filledby his brother, Marcus’ departure will betougher to replace for the Cougars. “Anyprogram and coach would’ve been fortunate tohave Andre or Marcus play for them,” saidWoodruff. “Having the pleasure to coach bothof them has been invaluable to me personallyand our entire program.”

Little era ends for basketball program

Athletics Briefs

S T O R Y B Y S C O T T C R I S P E L L

Redmond an All-AmericanJunior Frank Redmond earned All-American

status at the NCAA Division III Track & FieldChampionships at Baldwin-Wallace College. Hefinished fifth in the 800m (1:53.05) to become

the first track & fieldAll-American in MU history.

“I’m really excited forFrank,’’ said head coach ChrisWadas. “He did what h cameout here to do. His goal wasto get to the finals and placeas high as possible. He puthimself in position with a greatrace in the prelims. This is a

great experience for him to build on for hissenior season.’’

Winter Sports Wrap-upThe MU men’s basketball team finished

16-12 and advanced to the FreedomConference championship game and the ECACSouth playoffs. Senior Dom Del Prete was afirst-team All-Freedom selection and ended hiscareer with 1,209 points.

The Cougars opened the season by winningthe Laurel Line Tournament with Del Preteearning MVP honors and Mark Williamsmaking the All-Tournament team.

MU won seven of its last nine regular seasongames to finish tied for second place during

the regular season in the Freedom Conference.The women’s basketball team finished 15-11

and earned a Freedom Conference playoffberth for the second consecutive year.

Sophomore Christine Marks was namedfirst-team All-Freedom after leading the team inscoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.7 rpg).

Senior Vanessa Wright concluded her careerin sixth place in career steals (173) and tied foreighth all-time in assists (187).

The swim teams enjoyed another successfulweekend at the MAC championships as thewomen finished second overall while the menwere third. The women won five MAC titles andset seven school records while the men won sixMAC titles and set eight school records.

MU’s individual MAC champions were JeffClark (100 & 200 breaststrokes), Greg Vossler(50 free), Alicia Bryk (50 free) and ChelseaMixon (100 free).

Clark set MAC records in the 100 and 200breaststrokes and became Misericordia’s firstNCAA qualifier since Eric Sweeney won anNCAA Championship in 1998-99.Sue Bochnovich concluded her track & field

career with an All-ECAC performance in the200m dash. She broke her own school recordto finish third in her final collegiate race.

Kelsey Cameron, Brianna Kramer, MarinaOrsson and Marcie Cusatis earned All-ECACstatus with a sixth-place finish and a schoolrecord in the 4x800 relay.

Bochnovich earned her second consecutiveMAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year Awardwhile winning four MAC championships. Shewon the 55m and 200m dashes and was part ofwinning teams in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays tolead MU to a runner-up finish in team standings.

For the men, Frank Redmond was All-ECACafter breaking his own school record andfinishing second at 800m. At the MAC meet, he won the 800m and was part of the winning4x800 relay team.Clark and Bochnovich also were named the

2009-10 Wendy’s Athletes of the Year at MU. Inits 11th year, the Wendy’s Athlete of the Monthprogram is sponsored by Quality Served Fast,he local Wendy’s franchise organization.

Marcus Little ‘10

Andre Little ‘05

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ATHLETICS

Jeff Clark, left, and Sue Bochnovich pose withthe trophies they received for being named the Wendy’s Athletes of the Year at MU.Frank Redmond



Warren Buffet is bullish when it comesto investments, but a local subsidiary ofhis Berkshire Hathaway Inc., holdingcompany also knows how to meetrevenue projections by developing newstate-of-the-art products and properlymanaging people.

Koehler-Bright Star LLC has been anindustry leader in lighting products since1909. The Hanover Townshipmanufacturing facility makes the safest,most advanced flashlight and lightingproducts for industrial safety, miningindustry and emergency respondersaround the world.

Managing the company’s growth anddevelopment are three vice presidentswho learned to properly manage bothbusiness and human assets through theorganizational management master’sdegree program at MisericordiaUniversity. Matt Malcolm ’02, ’04, PatriciaLeonard ‘02, ’06 and Laurie Cywinski ’03have different corporate responsibilities,but abide by similar philosophies.

“From my perspective, a successfulorganization develops plans to achievegoals, effectively communicates them

and crisply executes those plans,’’ saysMalcolm, who as executive vice presidentis in charge of strategic planning, newproduct development and revenuegeneration. “One of the tenets of the OMprogram is that management is not allabout financial modeling. But, in fact, italso includes the motivation andmanagement of people.’’

Leonard manages all aspects of humanresources and safety functions for Koehlerand Wells Lamont Industry Group inChicago, Ill., Philadelphia, Miss.,Semur-en-Auxois, France, and Quebec,Canada. That second MU degree allowedher to further sharpen her people skills.“The OM program has helped me developleadership skills and increase knowledge ofhow successful organizations function.Everything I have learned through the OMprogram I have been able to apply directlyto my work. The program helped to finetune my management skills,’’ she says.

“I was looking for a program thatwould build my leadership skills and giveme a an overview of other areas ofbusiness such as human resources andbusiness law,’’ adds Cywinski, who serves

BrightFuture

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OM graduates rise to VPs at Berkshire Hathaway Co.

a dual role as VP of finance for Koehlerand assistant director of finance forMarmon Industrial Companies. “Theprogram gave me a good workingknowledge of many aspects of businessneeded to succeed as a leader.’’

The VPs completed their graduatedegrees as working professionals withoutside family responsibilities. Each ofthem credited the Center for Adult andContinuing Education with understandingthe unique needs of adult learners andcatering to them, as well.

“They paid attention to the students,understood that at times work interferedwith class, helped students work throughtheir fears and anxieties, and were willingto assist in any way,’’ says Leonard. “Ifound the OM program to be job friendlyand geared toward adult learning. Theprogram made it easy for me to go backto school while working full time. I did notfeel like a number.’’

“During the time I was working on mydegree, I was able to attend classes inHazleton and on campus depending onmy personal and work schedule,’’ offersCywinski, who prepares the annual budgetand strategy plans for the company.“There were multiple choices throughoutthe program on time and location.’’

“I was attracted to the flexiblescheduling and also its emphasis onmanagement skills of an organization’shuman resources,’’ adds Malcolm.“Without hesitation, I can say that myeducation is a pivotal part of my ability tosuccessfully manage and provideleadership in today’s hyper-competitiveglobal marketplace.’’

Matt Malcolm ‘02,‘04, seated, LaurieCywinski ‘03, left, and Patricia Leonard‘02, ‘06, are vicepresidents atKoehler-Bright Star LLC.

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Career ExplorationCamps introduceteens to careers

Misericordia is offering high schooljuniors and seniors the opportunity forhands-on academic learning at eightCareer Exploration Camps.

The Communications & Media campon June 27-30 offers students the chanceto explore print, TV and new mediacareers. The camp is $85. To register,contact Melissa Sgroi, communicationsdepartment, chair, at (570) 674-6744,msgroi@ misericordia. edu.

The Literature camp on June 27-30 isdesigned for students who have apassion for stories, novels and the stae.The camp is $85. To register, callRebecca Steinberger, Ph.D., Englishdepartment chair, at (570) 674-6423,[email protected].

The Nursing camp is June 27-30 andoffers 15 students the opportunity togain a firsthand look at the exciting fieldthrough a mixture of clinical, laboratory,classroom and field experiences. Thecamp is $95. To register, contactKathleen Gelso, MSN, RN, at (570)674-6373 or at [email protected].

The Future Business Executives campfrom June 27-30 is for studentsinterested in being prepared to makegood decisions about finance, moneyand careers. The camp is $85. Toregister, contact Robert Williams,assistant director, Center for Economicand Entrepreneurship Education, at(570) 674-6777 or at [email protected].

The Speech-Language Pathologycamp from June 27-30 allows studentsto become familiar with the many careeroptions in the growing SLP field. Thecamp is $85. To register, contact DonnaDiBlasi at (570) 674-6724, [email protected].

The Biology camp is June 27-30 andstudents will gain experience working inteams and assisting with a researchproject. The camp is $95. To register, call(570) 674-6400 or [email protected].

The Future Teachers camp is June27-29. Students will learn about theeducation profession and participate inhands-on sessions designed to introducethem to methods and strategies utilizedby real educators. The camp is $75. Toregister, call (570) 674-6270 [email protected].

The Occupational Therapy camp isJune 27-29 and gives students theopportunity to learn about OT and tourclinical sites. The camp is $90. Toregister, contact Debbie Carey at (570)674-6391, [email protected].

At first glance, it might appear that fate is againsthim. Yet 32-year-old Mark Jones, a married father offour from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., has earned a 3.98 GPAand continues to pursue his bachelor’s degree fromMisericordia University despite the hardships hefaces due to his eldest son’s on-going battle withleukemia and losing his job during the recentrecession. His dedication and perseverance hasearned him the 2010 Misericordia UniversityOutstanding Adult Learner Award.

Jones is scheduled to graduate in December2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in BusinessAdministration with a minor in marketing that heearned through the Expressway Accelerated DegreeProgram. “I try to reiterate to my sons that it’s notjust about getting a better job because you have adegree. College is about learning, experiencing,becoming independent and challenging yourself tobe the best you can be,” he said.

A native of Charleston, W.V., Jones graduatedfrom high school in 1995, and began his collegiatecareer on a track and cross country scholarship atWest Virginia Wesleyan College. He had completedjust three semesters before a death in his familycaused him to return home and go to work full time.He came to the Wyoming Valley to pursue a job asa radio disc jockey in 1998. His career path nexttook him into newspaper advertising sales.

In February 2008, he made the decision to “finishwhat he started” and enrolled in Expressway. Theprogram’s flexible schedule allowed him to take

classes while continuing to work full time and raisefour sons with his wife, Maggie. The arduous taskwas made even harder because their then11-year-old son, Zackery, was undergoingchemotherapy treatments for leukemia.

Another hurdle soon followed when he waslaid-off from his job during the recession in 2009. “Iconsidered putting my education on hold, but mywife and I decided it was in our best interest for meto finish my educational pursuit even if it meantpersonal and financial hardship,” Jones said.

A member of the Business ProfessionalAssociation and a Peer Tutor, Jones has excelled inclass and earned plenty of accolades.

The Center for Adult and Continuing Educationhas introduced a Bachelor of Arts degree inGovernment, Law and National Security (GLNS) foradult learners with an associate’s degree to preparethem to enter the expanding national andhomeland security workforce within the governmentand private sector.

The recent institutionalization of security servicesdue to international and domestic events, andnatural and manmade disasters has created a needfor academic training that is more managerial andgovernment-oriented than traditional criminaljustice programs. The 66-credit GLNS programoffered through Expressway broadly trains studentsin law and government with an emphasis onanalytical managerial skills. It provides students witha strong foundation in the field of national securitystudies so graduates of the program can succeed ina wide range of challenging careers spanning thefederal, state, local and private-sector nationalsecurity system.

“Over the past decade, there has been anincreased interest in national security studies atboth the undergraduate and graduate levels,’’ said Brian Carso, J.D., Ph.D., assistant professor

of history and director of the new GLNS program.“The program is designed to appeal to studentsfrom a variety of academic backgrounds and toprovide them with a specialization that is at oncedirected and focused, and yet broad enough togive them flexibility in this growing and emerging career field.’’

Public safety and national security have beenpushed to the forefront of the public’sconsciousness due to terrorist attacks, naturaldisasters and various criminal activities. In response,public safety has been categorized under umbrellaterms like emergency management, homelandsecurity and national security. These neworganizational structures have been charged withdetecting, deterring and mitigating threats, bothdomestic and foreign.

The program is being offered to adult studentswith an associate’s degree and is being delivered in a format to account for their busy schedules. It is available in Misericordia’s Expressway Programwhich is designed to meet the needs of workingadults. The new program can be completed in aslittle as 2 1/2 years.

For more information about the Government,Law and National Security program at MisericordiaUniversity, please call the Center for Adult andContinuing Education at (570) 674-6791 or e-mailMaki McCann, assistant director of off-campusprograms and special initiatives, [email protected].

Adult learner pursueseducation despite hardships

Mark Jones poses for a picture with his son,Zackery, 13, after receiving the award.

Explore security issues in Government, Law andNational Security program

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Sister Mary Michele Brophy, RSM 1958

March 16, 2010

Eleanor Jackowski Buda 1969

November 7, 2009

Resia M. Carroll 1983

November 16, 2009

Kathleen Cavuto 1953

April 3, 2010

Mary Comer 1992

April 2, 2010

Josephine Zelnock Heffers 1942

November 1, 2009

Lucille M. Lang 1968

November 20, 2009

Sister Mary Lucian McGroarty, RSM 1963

November 26, 2009

Sister Maureen McGroarty, RSM 1954

March 24, 2010

Anne P. McKeown 1963

October 29, 2009

Elizabeth Kotinsley Myers 1939

September 1, 2008

Agnes Stephens Novitt 1951

December 4, 2009

Maria Kirwan Owen 1966

December 8, 2009

Margaret Shafer Pape 1975

March 1, 2010

Sister Mary James

Margaret Purcell, RSM 1959

January 1, 2010

Mary Isabel Gallagher Reiff 1950

February 28, 2010

Marie Wittner Roberts 1953

November 29, 2009

Mary Pugh Scanlan 1953

March 22, 2010

Marilyn Turon Schevets 1949

October 28, 2009

Luisa Amelio Smith 1987

January 7, 2010

Sister Mary Amalia Soulliard, RSM 1956

December 10, 2009

Mary Dettmore Watkins 1955

December 30, 2009

Ruth A. Wilhelm 1941

December 25, 2009

Mary McGuire Yankalunas 1960

March 28, 2010

Show off yourMisericordia Pride

University Advancement at Misericordia University and thePennsylvania Department of Transportation are offering the University’salumni another avenue to display their Cougar Pride everywhere they gothrough the new Misericordia University license plate.

Now available through Alumni Relations for $30, the plate featuresMisericordia’s historic arch.

For more information or to order a license plate, please contactDenise Miscavage, director of Alumni, Community and Donor Relations,at (570) 674-6248 or e-mail her at [email protected].

Secure your special number by placing the highest bid! Bid onnumbers 1-100. License plates are sold in number sequence order, sobidding on a higher number may postpone receipt of your plate.

The Pauly Friedman Art Galleryat Misericordia University hostedthe exhibit, Robert Capa: WorldWar II Photographs, and a relatedfour-part lecture series, Views ofthe War: World War II in Art, Filmand Photographs, from March 2 toApril 17.

The exhibit featured 33 printsfrom Capa, who was thepreeminent war photographerduring the world’s violent century.True to his motto, “If your picturesaren’t good enough, you aren’tclose enough,’’ his photographsportray the brutal reality of combatwith an intimacy and immediacythat had never before been seen.

The exhibit was complementedby World War II artifacts on loanfrom the Luzerne County HistoricalSociety, including authentic WorldWar II uniforms.

The Friedman Art Gallery alsofeatured exhibits Guiding Light byChristopher Ries (Aug. 22-Oct. 25,2009; Capturing Realism 2009: TheWaichulis Studio (Nov. 7-Dec. 19,2009); Elma Pratt and therebellious artistry of the Assemblyof Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaco(Jan. 25-Feb. 27, 2010); and theModern Masters (April 24-June 26).

For more information about thegallery, please call (570) 674-6250or log on to misericordia.edu/art.

Capa, WWII exhibits receive rave reviews

Brian Carso, J.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of history and curator of the exhibit, explains a photograph to a gallery guest.

Three Dog Night headlines Under the Stars in JulyLegendary music icons Three

Dog Night headline the Under theStars Summer Arts Festival at theWachovia Amphitheater in July,which also features The KenPeplowski Octet playing jazzstandards from The GreatAmerican Songbook.

In the early 1970s, no othergroup achieved more top 10 hits,moved more records or sold moreconcert tickets than Three DogNight. The Grammy-nominatedband has 21 consecutive Top 40hits, including No. 1 chart-toppersMama Told Me (Not to Come), Joyto the World, and Black and White.

Founding members Cory Wells

and Danny Hutton on lead vocals,as well as original keyboardistJimmy Greenspoon, are joined byguitarist Michael Allsup, PaulKingery on bass and vocals, andPat Bautz on drums.

The Starlight Concert starringThree Dog Night is Saturday, July17 at 8 p.m. Festival tables thatseat six are $360, amphitheatertickets are $30 and lawn seats are$20. The Jazz in July concertfeaturing The Ken Peplowski Octetis Wednesday, July 21 at 8 p.m.Festival tables that seat six are$120, amphitheater tickets are $15and lawn seats are $8. Call the BoxOffice at (570) 674-6719 for tickets.

301 Lake St., Dallas, PA 18612

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy

THEARTS&MORE Alumni Box Office (570) 674-6768 | Misericordia University Box Office (570) 674-6719

SUMMERJuly 5 – September 24A Vision of Rhythm exhibit by artist Brian Keeler ofWyalusing, Pa.Pauly Friedman Art Gallery artistreception, Wednesday, July 21, 5-8p.m. (570) 674-6250. Gallery Hours:Mon.-Thurs.: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday,10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat.- Sun: 1–5 p.m.

July 17, Saturday Under the Stars Concert Three Dog NightGrammy-nominated, legendarymusic icons perform live at theWachovia Amphitheater at 8 p.m.Tickets: $360 Festival Table (seats 6);$30 Amphitheater; $20 Lawn.

July 18 - 24 Exploritas at Misericordia Hospitality and education will be onthe menu for those over age 50during the University’s 31st annualadventure in lifelong learning. Pleasecall 1-800-454-5768 or go online atwww.exploritas.org

July 21, Wednesday Jazz in July Under the StarsThe Ken Peplowski Octet

presents The Great AmericanSongbook.Eight immensely talented leadingmusicians, members of TheStatesmen of Jazz and/or who haveshared the stage with stars like FrankSinatra, perform this magicalevening of jazz standards. WachoviaAmphitheater, 8 p.m. Tickets: $120Festival Table (seats 6); $15Amphitheater; $8 Lawn.

July 25-30 Institute on Sacred Scripture 42nd Institute offers thought-provoking scripture study hosted byDr. Marie Noel Keller RSM, Th.D. Toregister, please call (570) 674-6161 ore-mail Thea Kahn [email protected].

FALLOctober 1-3 Homecoming Weekend

October 2 Athletics Hall of Fame Induction

October 17-26Misericordia University AlumniAssociation-sponsored trip to Ireland.

November 18-20 Misericordia PlayersTheater to perform, 8 p.m.,Lemmond Theater in Walsh Hall. Tickets: $5 adults; $3 students/senior citizens.

December 2, ThursdayEnsemble Evening: DANCEStudent performances in dance in Lemmond Theater in Walsh Hall,7:30 p.m. No charge.

December 4, SaturdayBrunch With SantaBanks Student Life Center. For information contact the Alumni Box Office (570) 674-6768.

December 8, ThursdayEnsemble Evening: MUSICA delightful evening of Jazz, Wind, Flute ensembles, andChamber Singers studentperformances in the LemmondTheater. 7:30 p.m. No charge.

Dr. Noel Keller’s Tripswith a Difference2010November 30-December 7, 2010Alpine Christmas MarketsInnsbruck, Salzburg, Oberammergau and MunichOptional Train Ride on Free Day to Bolzano, Italy. $2,449

2011March 17-27, 2011Southern Italy and SicilyRome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast and Sicily$2,999 + 140 air/tax

May 26-June 6, 2011France MagnifiqueParis, Seine River Cruise, Normandy, French Riviera, Avignon, Monaco, etc.$3,599

September 2-12, 2011Gems of the Baltic CruiseTallin, Estonia, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen. Starting at $2,048 (includes airfare).Book by Aug 2, 2010 and save $130 per person.

Mid-to-Late October, 2011 (Dates and price to be announced)Greece: In the Footsteps of St. Paul11 Days featuring a 3-day Greek Isles and Turkey Cruise - Athens, Mykonos, Ephesus, Crete,Santorini. Thessaloniki, Philippi, Delphi and Corinth

FOR INFO OR RESERVATIONS, CALL:Dr. Noël Keller, RSM, Th.D., Tour DirectorCenter for Adult and Continuing Education(570) 674-6776 or email: [email protected]

Documents

Misericordia Today Summer 2010