��vlog��Ƶ University

��vlog��Ƶ students and faculty earn statewide recognition at SPSEA conference

haileyrohrer — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:38:30 +0000

��vlog��Ƶ students and faculty earn statewide recognition at SPSEA conference haileyrohrer Fri, 04/17/2026 - 10:38

��vlog��Ƶ students and faculty earn statewide recognition at SPSEA conference

Students earn awards, regional leadership roles and national conference nominations at the 2026 Kindling Change Convention

��vlog��Ƶ University's Education students and faculty were recognized for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to the field at the Kindling Change 2026 Student Pennsylvania State Education Association (SPSEA) Conference & Convention. The ��vlog��Ƶ Education Association celebrated multiple student achievements, including regional leadership appointments and recognition for student-led initiatives.

The association received the Outstanding Chapter Event Award for the event "Carnival for All," an event that brought together association members and the community to create an inclusive, engaging experience for all. This award recognizes chapters that demonstrated excellence through events that foster involvement. Association member and PK-4 and Special Ed PK-12 major Josalym Atrip '26, also the inaugural recipient of the Exceptional Chapter Engagement with New Media Award, which recognizes chapters that effectively use social media and other platforms to communicate and connect with members and future educators.

"Last year, when we came to this conference, we were so excited to learn and grow. This year, to be recognized for that growth means so much," said Pk-4 and Special Ed Pk-12 major, Josalyn Artrip '26. "I am especially proud of our Carnival for All, an event centered on inclusion and community, and the impact it had. Getting to see this event recognized at this level was so meaningful."

In addition to the award, two students were elected to serve in key leadership roles within the Eastern Region. Catherine Scott was selected as Eastern Region President and House of Delegates Member, while Aislinn Murphy was named Eastern Region Vice President. These roles allow students to represent aspiring educators across the region, collaborate with peers statewide, and help shape the future of education through Student PSEA.

"Watching the ��vlog��Ƶ Education program grow has been one of the most rewarding experiences," said Assistant Professor of Education, Dr. Molly Brobst. "Our students consistently rise to the challenge, and their hard work shines in everything they do. The recognition and awards that students received at the SPSEA conference were well-deserved, and they reflect their dedication and the strong future of our program."

Both Scott and Murphy were also nominated to attend the Aspiring Educators Conference and National Education Association Representative Assembly (NEA RA), taking place June 28 through July 7 in Denver, Colorado. This opportunity will allow them to connect with educators from across the country, engage in professional development, and participate in discussions impacting public education.

Asian American Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month at ��vlog��Ƶ

jonfassnacht — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:30:44 +0000

Asian American Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month at ��vlog��Ƶ jonfassnacht Wed, 04/15/2026 - 13:30

Asian American Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month at ��vlog��Ƶ

On Campus & Local Events, Book Recommendations, History & More

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Desi American (AAPIDA) Heritage Month. This is a time to educate yourself and celebrate the cultures of countries within the Asian continent, the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, along with the Indian subcontinent. We celebrate this month and all year long by uplifting and honoring the identities, history, and experiences of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Americans. To fully acknowledge and appreciate AAPIDA Heritage Month before the end of the semester, we are sharing information, events, and activities in April.

June 1978, Rep. Frank Horton introduced a resolution that the President should “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” This resolution signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978. This law amended the original language of the bill and directed the President to issue a proclamation for the “7 day period beginning on May 4, 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” During the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1990 when Congress expanded the observance to a month for 1990. Then in 1992, Congress annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Here's an informational video to learn the locations being recognized for this month. Here is another video that provides some highlights on influential AAPIDA figures.

If you are interested in helping to create opportunities to celebrate this occasion and others to come, please email Arielle Phillips-Law, Ed.D., Director of Justice, Equity, and Inclusion, at arielle.phillips@alvernia.edu. We would love to meet and connect with you!

On Campus and in the Area

Boba, Bingo, and Brainteasers: April 17

Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Location: Bernardine Hall Lecture Hall

Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month Chef Spotlight: April 20, 27, 28

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Student Center Dining Hall
Description: We’re celebrating Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month by honoring chefs who have enriched our community and continue to inspire future culinary leaders.

Art for Resistance: Lessons from the No Arena Movement: April 23

Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm
Location: Black Box Theater + Gallery, Asian Arts Initiative: 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia
Description: From banner-making to flash choruses to poetry anthologies, art was at the heart of our community-building and resistance. Join us for a conversation with key artist-activists including David Acosta, Spiral Q, and Son Revoltura, as they reflect and share insights from No Arena organizing. After hearing from the artists, we'll break out into art-making groups to create signs, learn movement songs, and share stories.

AAPI Heritage Month Celebration 2026: May 3

Time: 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: Seneca Valley High School, Germantown, MD
Description: The Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) and Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) invites you and your whole family to our fifth-annual AAPI Heritage Month Celebration! This year, join us for captivating cultural performances, discover resources in the AAPI community, participate in our health fair, kid-friendly activities, and explore the rich cultures of our diverse community!

AAPI Heritage Month Gala: May 8

Time: 5:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Live! Casino & Hotel 900 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia| Asian American Business Alliance of Greater Philadelphia
Admission: $125 (Purchase tickets at the Asian American Business Alliance of Greater Philadelphia website.)
Description: Join the Asian American Business Alliance of Greater Philadelphia for a special evening celebrating AAPI Heritage Month and the 250 Anniversary of American Independence.

Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center: Wednesdays - Sundays

Time: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Location: West Fairmount Park Horticultural and Lansdowne Drives, Philadelphia
Description: Designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura, Shofuso was built in Japan in 1953 using traditional techniques and materials. This historic site and museum includes a hill and pond garden with a tiered waterfall, island, and koi fish, a tea garden featuring a traditional tea house, and a courtyard garden leading to a bathhouse.

Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park: Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31st

Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Location: 1500 Pattison Avenue & S. Broad Street, Philadelphia
Description: The Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park is a community of refugees and immigrant members who have called the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Park their home since the 1980’s. For 35+ years they have cultivated an open community space all their own, providing a cultural hub for social gatherings, sharing of ethnic cuisines and business opportunities through vending.

Book Recommendations from the Frank A. Franco Library

Check out book recommendations from Information Literacy Librarian, Jo Dienst. Bolded titles below and starred titles in the attached PDF are available in the Franco Library collection, with other titles available through the Berks County Public Libraries.

Adult Fiction

The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy, 2024
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto, 2023
The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson, 2025
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, 2019
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff, 2023

Non-Fiction

Go Home! By Rowan Hisayo Buchanan (ed.), 2018
Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen by Lili’uokalani, 1898
We Too Sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim and Sikh Immigrants Shape Our Multiracial Future by Deepa Iyer, 2015
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, 2020
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, 2021

Academic Research

Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India by Sujatha Gidla, 2017
K-Pop: The International Rise of the Korean Music Industry by JungBong Choi and Roald Maliangkay (Eds.), 2017
The Idea of Qi/Gi: East Asian and Comparative Philosophical Perspectives by Suk Gabriel Choi and Jung-Yeup Kim (Eds.), 2019
Opium’s Long Shadow: From Asian Revolt to Global Drug Control by Steffen Rimner, 2018
Asian Art by Michael Kerrigan, 2017

Jo’s Favorites (Your Information Literacy Librarian)

The Daughters of Madurai by Rajasree Variyar, 2023
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, 2021
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See, 2019
Displacement by Kiku Hughes, 2020
All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews, 2022

Let’s Eat!: Restaurants in Our Area

Hipoke Ramen

Address: 520 E. Lancaster Ave., Shillington
Website: hipokeramen.com
Description: Relatively new to Shillington, you can enjoy ramen, bubble tea, poke, fried rice, and other fresh and flavorful dishes close to campus.

Spoonful Thai Bistro

Address: 610 Penn Ave., West Reading
Website: spoonfulthai.com
Description: They endeavor to bring you the authenticity of Thai food served family style and prepared individually using fresh ingredients and homemade sauces.

Sprout: Rice & Noodles Vietnamese Eatery

Address: 58 N. Prince St., Lancaster
Website: riceandnoodlesrestaurant.com
Description: As a 3rd generation Vietnamese eatery, Sprout uses fresh and local ingredients that convey the chef’s love of cooking. They prepare authentic Vietnamese foods such as fresh spring rolls, French bread sandwiches (bánh mì), entrée salads, soups, rice platters and a variety of noodle dishes.

O2 K-BBQ

Address: 600 W. Uwchlan Ave., Exton
Website: o2kbbqpa.com
Description: O2 K-BBQ PA offers an authentic Korean BBQ experience with a modern twist. Their restaurant is a great place for you to enjoy a variety of fresh meats that are grilled right at your table, along with our traditional Korean side dishes.

Dim Sum Garden

Address: 1024 Race St., Philadelphia
Website: dimsumgardenphilly.com
Description: Their story began in 2003 when head chef Shizhou Da came to the US with the original recipe for Xiao Long Bao —Chinese steamed soup dumplings. She is the 5th generation of the original chef who created the very first Xiao Long Bao in China and has over 30 years of experience in making fresh, traditional homemade Shanghai style dim sum.

��vlog��Ƶ Community Musical: 'Godspell'

jonfassnacht — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:09:49 +0000

��vlog��Ƶ Community Musical: 'Godspell' jonfassnacht Mon, 04/13/2026 - 16:09

The Leadership Pathway: From Master’s to Ph.D.

jonfassnacht — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:24:52 +0000

The Leadership Pathway: From Master’s to Ph.D. jonfassnacht Tue, 04/07/2026 - 13:24

Master of Social Work Information Session

jonfassnacht — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:07:08 +0000

Master of Social Work Information Session jonfassnacht Tue, 04/07/2026 - 13:07

Broadway veterans, community help ��vlog��Ƶ stage 'Godspell'

jonfassnacht — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:40:42 +0000

Broadway veterans, community help ��vlog��Ƶ stage 'Godspell' jonfassnacht Tue, 04/07/2026 - 08:40

Broadway veterans, community help ��vlog��Ƶ stage 'Godspell'

PHOTO: Students and community members participate in a dress rehearsal for "Godspell."

Acclaimed musical opens this weekend, bringing together students and local participants

This weekend, ��vlog��Ƶ will bring a beloved musical to the Francis Hall Theatre stage - with a help from friends in the community and two Broadway veterans.

“Godspell” opens Friday, April 10, with additional performances April 11-12 and April 16-19. Tickets can be purchased here.

Written by “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz, the show is structured as a series of Biblical parables interspersed with music drawn mostly from traditional hymns.

The cast includes 13 ��vlog��Ƶ students and five community members. The creative team, production team, band and crew comprise 10 students and approximately 10 community members.

“‘Godspell’ is a story about community, about joy, about the power of coming together to create something larger than ourselves,” said ��vlog��Ƶ President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “This production has brought together students, employees, community members and professional artists in a way that reflects the very best of who we are.”

Support for the production was provided by the Hawley and Myrtle Quier Fund of the Berks County Community Foundation and the Reading Musical Foundation.

With Nathan Thomas, Ph.D., the founder of ��vlog��Ƶ’s theatre program, going on sabbatical, Fitzgerald reached out to Kevin Murphy, president and CEO of the Berks County Community Foundation, to discuss the possibility of a community musical. Murphy contacted college friend Jane Brockman to inquire if she and her husband Timothy Shew would direct a production while teaching classes.

The Broadway performers’ resumes include “Wicked,” “Les Misérables,” “Guys and Dolls” and “The Music Man.” Though they still maintain a place in New York for when they’re performing, they moved back to Hershey a decade ago.

“We're family people,” Shew said. “Jane's dad just turned 100 six months ago. So, we are close to him and he's doing great, living independently and kind of defying gravity.”

The maiden steps for the production were taken late in 2025, when Shew and Brockman hosted three workshops, followed by auditions in January.

“It's been wonderful,” Brockman said. “Having the community members come in to do the workshops and getting to know them, and then also getting to see the students go through the workshops and see them grow has been really satisfying and terrific.”

She extended kudos to Producer Brandon Kegerize, who she said has been invaluable in bringing the university and the community together.

They originally suggested staging another lesser-known Schwartz musical but then landed on “Godspell,” which they believed to be an accessible staple perfect for a Franciscan university.

Neither of the directors have performed in the show, but Brockman fell under its spell during the late 1970s, when her older sister’s youth group in Hershey toured churches in central Pennsylvania with their production.

“It's a fun, rollicking, joyful rendition of human kindness and parable telling,” Shew said. “It's oftentimes humorous, and it looks like it's improv when it's more rehearsed improvisation.”

The directors said the experience has been revealing for everyone involved. They were able to impart lessons from their many years on the stage to the participants, some of whom had never acted in a musical.

“It's really wonderful to see them blossom at this stage of the game,” Shew said.

Fitzgerald lauded the directors for their selfless roles in bringing “Godspell” to fruition.

“What makes their presence truly meaningful is not just where they have been, it is what they have chosen to do with that experience,” Fitzgerald said. “They have stepped into this community not as stars, but as mentors. They have given their time abundantly, invested in our students and community with intention, and modeled what it looks like to lead with both talent and generosity.”

Director Biographies

Timothy Shew

Shew most recently starred as the Wizard in the legendary Broadway National Tour of "Wicked." Immediately before, Shew jumped into BROADWAY’s FUNNY GIRL (starring Lea Michele). Shew toured with "Hello Dolly" starring Betty Buckley and Carolee Carmello. Prior to that, he appeared in both the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre productions of "The Visit," starring Chita Rivera and Roger Rees.

A veteran of 12 Broadway shows, Shew was the third Jean Valjean in the original multi Tony Award-winning Broadway production of "Les Miserables" and went on to perform that role more than 2,200 times, twice on Broadway and one year in the 10th anniversary production in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. In addition, he logged 1,244 performances in Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical "Guys and Dolls" with Nathan Lane. Shew was thrilled to be a part of the new and revamped version of Disney’s "The Little Mermaid" as Chef Louis and just prior to that, Broadway’s "Evita," starring Ricky Martin. He has also appeared as Daddy Warbucks in "Annie," and the pre-Broadway run of Kathy Lee Gifford’s musical "Saving Aimee/Scandalous" at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre. Shew appeared as the Mayor of SweetApple, Ohio in "Bye-Bye Birdie" on Broadway, which starred John Stamos, and onstage at the world famous Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. in Frank Wildhorn’s "Civil War." Tim had the privilege of soloing in Leonard Bernstein’s "Mass" with the Baltimore Symphony/Marin Alsop conducting at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. That recording was nominated for a Grammy. Tim also starred as Officer John Lonigan in the Leonard Bernstein/Comden and Green production of "Wonderful Town" with Donna Murphy and Brooke Shields.

Shew’s other Broadway credits include: "The Scarlet Pimpernel" as St. Cyr, the Alan Menken/Tim Rice Production of Disney’s "King David," "Sunset Boulevard" with Betty Buckley, and the pre-Broadway Andrew Lloyd Webber-Hal Prince musical "Whistle Down the Wind," directed by Hal Prince. Shew made his film debut as Officer O’Rourke in the movie musical "The Producers."

Shew can be heard on the "Chicago," "Shaggy Dog," and "Tangled" soundtracks and has been seen in three New York City Center’s Encore productions: "Tenderloin," "Face the Music" and "Juno." Audiences may be familiar with his work in American touring companies of "Showboat," "Evita" and "South Pacific" and in the multi-award-winning "Light in the Piazza." For many years, Shew performed the role of the Big Fat Man with a Bag (Santa Claus) at Radio City Music Hall’s “Christmas Spectacular.”

Shew has performed with symphonies and orchestras worldwide including the Baltimore Symphony and the National Symphony with Marvin Hamlisch at the Kennedy Center’s 35th Anniversary Celebration. Shew has numerous television and radio commercials to his credit including "Law & Order SVU," "Madame Secretary," "Ryan’s Hope" and had a recurring role as Bruno on "Guiding Light." For 15 years, Shew has produced “Broadway Sings on Park Avenue,” a concert to benefit children affected and infected with HIV and AIDS, and works extensively to educate and assist at-risk kids.

Shew resides in New York City and Hershey, Pa., with his wife, Jane. Shew's extensive work as a vocal director/teacher/clinician and adjudicator for theatre, choral and show choir festivals has taken him around the world.

Jane Brockman

Most recently, Brockman played Maude Dunlop in the Broadway company of "The Music Man" starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. Other Broadway performances include "Wicked," where she played the Midwife and Madame Morrible, and, for six years, "A Christmas Carol" starring Jim Dale, F. Murry Abraham, Tim Curry, Frank Langella, Tony Roberts and Roger Daltry.

Film and TV are also part of Brockman's repertoire. "FBI Most Wanted," "Law and Order SVU," "The Americans," "All My Children" and "The Producers" movie, to name a few. In the Emmy-nominated movie "Bad Education," starring Hugh Jackman, Brockman appeared as Bonnie Spicer, the wife of Ray Romano.

She was seen as Lady Anne in "Camelot" with the NY Philharmonic broadcast "Live From Lincoln Center" starring Gabriel Byrne, Christopher Lloyd and Marin Mazzie. She performed the role of Inga-Lena in ABBA's latest musical "Kristina" at Carnegie Hall and The Royal Albert Hall, London, and was Mother Superior in "Showboat" at Carnegie Hall. Other New York performances include off Broadway show "The Kid," the York Theatre's Musicals in Mufti series "Zorba," and Encores! "Kismet." For several years, Brockman was a vocalist with the NYC Ballet.

National Tours: "Wicked," Ernestina in "Hello Dolly!," "The Light in the Piazza" where she understudied and performed the role of Margaret, and "The Sound of Music" playing Sister Berthe.

Regionally, Brockman played the role of Mille opposite her husband Tim Shew in Gretna Theater's production of "7 Brides for 7 Brothers," also at Gretna, and "It Shoulda Been You" opposite Emmy winner Kim Zimmer. Other regional credits include Nettie Fowler and Mrs.
Mullin in "Carousel," Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast," Aunt Eller in "Oklahoma!" Marme in "Little Women," Chelsea in "On Golden Pond," Glinda in "The Wizard of Oz," Maria in "Lend Me a Tenor," Anna in "The King and I," Mrs. Upson in "Mame" and the Baroness in "The Sound of Music." Other performances include "Evita" at the Papermill Playhouse and "Starcrossed" at the Goodspeed Opera House.

Brockman has a bachelor's degree in voice from Penn State and an master's degree in opera/music theatre from Southern Illinois University. She taught voice at New York University and travels all over the country leading workshops in audition technique, acting the song and the ins and outs of being a working actor.

A Hershey native, Brockman and her Shew moved "back" to Hershey in 2015 and while they continue to work on Broadway, in theatre, film, and TV, they have found a wonderful community of student artists here in central PA. They spend much of their time coaching these students for University B.F.A/B.A. Music Theatre/Theatre auditions.

Biology major turns early college struggles into research success

jonfassnacht — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:33:21 +0000

Biology major turns early college struggles into research success

Name

Isaac Peterson '27

jonfassnacht Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:33

College

College of Innovation, Discovery, and Enterprise

Persona

Undergraduate student

Intro Content

PHOTO: Isaac Peterson - back row, second from left - conducted field research in the Amazon Rainforest during the summer of 2025 with faculty from ��vlog��Ƶ University and Georgetown University.

For Isaac Peterson '27, ��vlog��Ƶ University became the turning point that reshaped both his academic and personal identity. A biology major with a chemistry minor, Peterson arrived at ��vlog��Ƶ after an unsteady start to college, where athletics once defined his sense of purpose.

Though he entered higher education with a baseball commitment and ambitions shaped more by circumstance than passion, injuries and academic struggles forced him to confront a loss of direction early on. What followed was an unexpected rediscovery of purpose through science, mentorship and hands-on research opportunities.

“Growing up, baseball was my identity,” Peterson said. “When that was taken away, I really did not know who I was or what I wanted to do. Coming to ��vlog��Ƶ gave me the space to figure that out.”

At ��vlog��Ƶ, Peterson found inspiration in the classroom through faculty who modeled genuine care for both their disciplines and their students. Courses in genetics and organic chemistry helped him build confidence academically and form meaningful connections beyond athletics. Professors who emphasized curiosity, engagement, and real-world applications played a key role in shifting how he viewed learning and his own potential.

“Professors like Dr. Serapiglia in genetics and Dr. Kremer in organic chemistry set a great example of what it looks like to honestly care about what you teach, and that changed something in me,” said Peterson. “I made my first real friends outside of sports in those classrooms, and I found a path I actually believed in.”

��vlog��Ƶ did not just give me a second chance. It gave me a reason to be in the room in the first place.

That foundation led Peterson to Jamie Becker, Ph.D.’s microbiology course, where he learned about an international research opportunity to survey microbiota in mineral licks and their potential role as vectors for zoonotic pathogens. The experience ultimately took him to the Amazon Rainforest in the summer of 2025, where he conducted field research alongside faculty from ��vlog��Ƶ and Georgetown University, while working closely with indigenous communities.

“Hiking through the Amazon, working alongside people I deeply admired, and engaging with the indigenous communities we worked alongside, it remains the proudest thing I have ever done,” Peterson said.

Now a junior preparing to apply to medical school, he is serving as the first author on a methods paper with Becker and Georgetown Professor Brian Griffiths, which is approaching publication. This spring, he also presented his research at the Mengel Natural History Society’s Local Science Students Symposium. In addition to his research, he tutors biology and chemistry, supporting students who may be navigating the same uncertainty he once faced.

“I very much enjoyed working with the Mengel Natural History; it's always a pleasant experience to meet a group of people with so much passion for learning about the world around them,” said Peterson.

He is studying for the MCAT this summer and plans to apply next cycle. He hopes to work as a pulmonary intensivist in an ICU and is interested in contributing to research in the future, recognizing that there are still many unknowns in that field.

“��vlog��Ƶ did not just give me a second chance,” Peterson said. “It gave me a reason to be in the room in the first place.”

Inside the Ph.D. – Join a Live Doctoral Class at ��vlog��Ƶ

jonfassnacht — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:21:08 +0000

Inside the Ph.D. – Join a Live Doctoral Class at ��vlog��Ƶ jonfassnacht Tue, 03/31/2026 - 08:21

Criminal Justice grad and retired adjunct continues to serve with bereavement-focused books, support group

jonfassnacht — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:59:20 +0000

Criminal Justice grad and retired adjunct continues to serve with bereavement-focused books, support group

Name

Dominic Murgido ’79

jonfassnacht Mon, 03/23/2026 - 09:59

College

College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences

Department

Criminal Justice

Persona

Alumni

Intro Content

It’s hard to put Dominic Murgido ’79 in one descriptive box.

What lead him to ��vlog��Ƶ, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a double concentration in sociology and psychology? It may have been the talks he had with his father about police work and the respect they had for the state police. That certainly may be where his interest in the criminal justice field was born.

“I applied to three colleges and was accepted into all three," Murgido recalled. "But the ��vlog��Ƶ campus had a unique feel. It projected a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. And ��vlog��Ƶ put the criminal justice major on the map. It was highly regarded throughout the state.”

For good reason. Graduating magna cum laude, Murgido remembers being intrigued by lecturers visiting his classroom. They were actively working in the criminal justice field – judges, attorneys, probations officers, chiefs of police and the like. And that isn’t to say he didn’t value his liberal arts education, for which ��vlog��Ƶ was highly regarded as well.

“I just learned so much from a life perspective,” he said.

He also met his wife-to-be, Susan, three days into his college experience. After graduation, Murgido spent time working in private security and had a lengthy career in retail loss prevention with Berks-based Boscov’s, but he also returned to school part time at West Chester University for a five-year period to earn his master’s degree so he could pursue a dream of teaching.

Once word got out, he was approached by ��vlog��Ƶ to return as an adjunct professor.

“It was the call of a lifetime,” remembers Murgido, a recipient of the Ellen Frei Gruber Award. “I wanted to teach and doing it at my alma mater meant more to me than anything.”

And he did just that for a 24-year period. Looking back at the experience, if he had to sum it all up, he’d so it with one simple word: fun.

“There’s something unique about standing in front of the classroom and bringing a topic up and just watching the light bulbs pop up above (students') heads because of something you said or the way you brought up a topic," he said. "I was a teacher that took a look at the newspaper to see what the headlines were. And if something crazy was happening with the law, or with the criminal justice system or a crime of some kind, I’d say, ‘You know what? We’re going to spend a half-hour talking about it.’ Feeling the pulse of that classroom, the connection, the electricity, the students that were in front of you … it was incredible.”

The criminal justice program certainly saw its changes during Murgido’s time in it, first as a student, then as a professor. He recalls starting out with chalkboards, then moving to whiteboards, then computers. He remembers attending classes in-person, then hybrid learning becoming a possibility and now online-only courses.

Though he is retired from teaching, he remains actively involved at ��vlog��Ƶ, having donated to the university for 30 years and serving as avid supporter of the Hope Fund. He also maintains his engagement with the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters.

That’s not to say he isn’t busy. Murgido remains dedicated to his service to others, a mission central to ��vlog��Ƶ. After losing his wife in a tragic car accident, he founded sudSSpirit Bereavement Support Group in 2008, which meets in Exeter Township Community Library to this day. He’s authored three books based on life experiences with his personal grief journey. And he's the proprietor and master coffee roaster of It’s All About The Bean, an online adventure he enjoys as a hobby of sorts.

On any given day, one may find him enjoying a walk on the ��vlog��Ƶ campus.

“That campus, even as much as it has grown and built up, is the greatest," Murgido said. "I can still walk there and feel the connection to the university. To my beginnings. And to my wife.”

Packapalooza fuels momentum as applications, visits and deposits climb

kristopher.nolt@alvernia.edu — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 20:47:00 +0000

Packapalooza fuels momentum as applications, visits and deposits climb kristopher.nol… Sat, 03/21/2026 - 16:47

Packapalooza fuels momentum as applications, visits and deposits climb

Signature admissions event turns interest into action as ��vlog��Ƶ’s recruitment reach expands

��vlog��Ƶ University welcomed nearly 1000 guests, including over 180 students to Packapalooza, an immersive admissions experience designed for students to explore academic programs, affordability resources and student life through a day of personalized connections, held on Saturday.

Packapalooza comes at a time of continued recruitment momentum. Undergraduate admissions has seen increased interest this recruitment cycle, including increases in applications, visits, and first-year students interested in living on campus. Today’s statistics show a 38% increase in first-year enrolls compared to last year.

“Packapalooza is a powerful snapshot of what makes ��vlog��Ƶ stand out, students aren’t just touring a campus, they’re stepping into a community,” said President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “The energy today speaks to the dedication of our students, faculty and staff, and to our shared commitment to academic quality, experiential learning and our culture of care.”

Packapalooza begins with one-on-one appointments with faculty in students’ areas of interest, then invites families to “choose their own adventure” through more than 20 sessions and experiences across ��vlog��Ƶ’s locations. This year’s event included 11 academic and support sessions, along with opportunities to meet current students, learn about Student Financial Services and explore involvement, athletics and success resources.

Attendees traveled from seven states, reflecting ��vlog��Ƶ’s growing recruitment reach and the draw of a university that pairs career-focused programs with personalized support.

“Packapalooza is built for momentum; it turns interest into confidence and confidence into action,” said Associate Vice President of Admissions Bret Krotee M.Ed. ‘10. “By providing an experience that’s personal, informative and student-centered, we’re seeing strong outcomes in visits, applications and engagement, and today’s event helps move that momentum even further.”

“I know someone who goes to ��vlog��Ƶ and she told me good things about the school,” said student attendee Mali LeBron. “It seems like home to me and once I saw that the school added a cybersecurity program as a major and not just a minor I knew it was the place for me.”

The event also highlighted ��vlog��Ƶ’s academic spaces and hands-on learning environments, including experiences at the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne and program demonstrations aligned with students’ career interests.

Recent rankings, awards and student success indicators reinforce that momentum beyond a single day: U.S. News & World Report named ��vlog��Ƶ a top-ranked national university for the fourth consecutive year, citing measures that include social mobility and competitive programs; the redesigned Carnegie Classifications recognized ��vlog��Ƶ as a high access, high earnings institution for expanding opportunity alongside strong post-graduation outcomes and the university’s latest student success update reported increased fall enrollment and broad gains in retention, including a 74% first-year retention rate for bachelor’s degree seekers and notable year-over-year improvements for first-generation, Pell-eligible students and students of color.

Prospective students who could not attend Packapalooza can still schedule an individual visit, connect with an admissions counselor or take the next steps to apply and deposit at ��vlog��Ƶ.

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����vlog����Ƶ students and faculty earn statewide recognition at SPSEA conference

Students earn awards, regional leadership roles and national conference nominations at the 2026 Kindling Change Convention

Asian American Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month at ����vlog����Ƶ

On Campus & Local Events, Book Recommendations, History & More

On Campus and in the Area

Book Recommendations from the Frank A. Franco Library

Let’s Eat!: Restaurants in Our Area

����vlog����Ƶ Community Musical: 'Godspell'

The Leadership Pathway: From Master’s to Ph.D.

Master of Social Work Information Session

Broadway veterans, community help ����vlog����Ƶ stage 'Godspell'

Acclaimed musical opens this weekend, bringing together students and local participants

Director Biographies

Biology major turns early college struggles into research success

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Criminal Justice grad and retired adjunct continues to serve with bereavement-focused books, support group

Packapalooza fuels momentum as applications, visits and deposits climb

Signature admissions event turns interest into action as ����vlog����Ƶ’s recruitment reach expands

��vlog��Ƶ University

��vlog��Ƶ students and faculty earn statewide recognition at SPSEA conference

Asian American Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month at ��vlog��Ƶ

��vlog��Ƶ Community Musical: 'Godspell'

Broadway veterans, community help ��vlog��Ƶ stage 'Godspell'

Inside the Ph.D. – Join a Live Doctoral Class at ��vlog��Ƶ

Signature admissions event turns interest into action as ��vlog��Ƶ’s recruitment reach expands