LYCOMING COLLEGE SPRING 2024
then NOW} Little Shop of Horrors 1988
The Lycoming College Theatre Department debuted “Little Shop of Horrors” in 1988. This entertaining, horror-sci-fimusical comedy featuring the creative geniuses of Howard Ashman (book and lyrics) and Alan Menken (music) is one of the longest running off-Broadway shows and has entertained theatre goers for more than 35 years. The theatre department kicked off its 2023-24 season with the cult favorite in November. Directed by Biliana StoytchevaHorissian, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of theatre, this charmingly tongue-in-cheek dark comedy tells the story of a timid floral assistant, Seymour Krelborn, played by Chayton Wesneski ’26, who stumbles across a new breed of plant and names it after his crush, Audrey, played by Julia Martin ’25. The foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune as long as it is well fed, and Seymour must realize the plant’s intent toward global domination before it is too late. Learn more about upcoming performances at www.lycoming.edu/theatre/schedule. 1 www.lycoming.edu
n early February, I was in Washington, D.C., and attended the conference of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities as well as a Pennsylvania Higher Education Summit hosted by Pennsylvania’s senior Senator, Bob Casey. Much of the conversation at the meetings was sobering. We heard a report that the college-going rate nationwide has dropped from 70 percent to 61 percent since the beginning of the pandemic. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona briefed us on the delay in implementing the new FAFSA — a delay that means that most colleges, including Lycoming, are months late sending financial aid packages to admitted students. We discussed surveys showing that public confidence in higher education continues to fall. Taking seriously the challenges facing higher education, Lycoming’s board of trustees continues to authorize strategically impactful investments while also focusing on responsible cost control measures. The cover story about the new baseball field is one example of a thoughtful and impactful project. When the project is complete, Lycoming’s field will be one of the best Division III facilities in the northeast. It will be the cornerstone that sustains Coach Rick Oliveri’s ability to recruit rosters of 35-40 students, who would not otherwise be attending Lycoming. A less visible initiative is the Humanities Research Center (HRC). Under the leadership of its director, Andrew Leiter, Ph.D., the HRC has hosted an undergraduate research conference and published the inaugural issue of the Mid-Atlantic Humanities Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Research (see page 9). The work of the HRC recently received national coverage in Inside Higher Education. I am confident that this project has burnished our national reputation. Following our 2021 Strategic Plan, we have also focused on advancing inclusive excellence during the past year. That work has involved among other things the hiring of a chief diversity officer, piloting inclusive hiring practices, and developing bias response protocols. We are committed to attracting talented students and accomplished faculty and staff who bring diverse experiences to and enrich the learning environment of the campus. We have also taken time during the current academic year to celebrate two people who have served Lycoming with great distinction: Frank Girardi and Steve Wiser. As you will read in this issue, on Sept. 9, we dedicated Girardi Stadium to honor Coach G’s legacy as a gifted leader who did much to sustain our institutional culture of excellence. More recently, on Feb. 8, we held the first of several celebrations to recognize Coach Steve Wiser ’74, a true institutional treasure who has been on our football coaching staff for 50 years. During the first home football game next fall, we will dedicate a newly renovated football locker room to honor Coach Wiser. During the coming weeks, the advancement team and I will be traveling to various locations for alumni events. Our recent Florida travel coincided with the Tour Choir’s Spring Break concerts. As April approaches, so do the College’s 6th Annual Days of Giving. In 2023, the almost $500,000 contributed by 1,439 donors funded many programs, including student-faculty research, enriched experiences for student-athletes, global education, fraternity and sorority life, and much more. The focus of the 2024 Days of Giving on April 9 and 10 is on participation, and I encourage you to make a gift. Together, let’s tell the world that we are proud of Lycoming College and believe in its future! Kent C. Trachte, Ph.D. President From President the 2 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
’s Desk (L to R) Trachte, Girardi, Wiser, and Clark 3 www.lycoming.edu
EDITOR Amy Chandler marketing@lycoming.edu ASSOCIATE EDITORS Joe Guistina Marla Kramer Lynn (Detwiler) Zitta ’11 ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Murray Hanford PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Shaffer ’19 Eric Stashak Gordon Wenzel Max Wilhelm Ralph Wilson CLASS NOTES EDITOR Terri (Neufer) Brewer ’14 ADMINISTRATION Kent C. Trachte, Ph.D. President Chip Edmonds, Ed.D. ’98 Executive Vice President Susan M. Ross, Ph.D. Dean of the College Philip Sprunger, Ph.D. Provost & Dean of the Faculty VOL. 39, NO. 1 SPRING 2024 The best part of achieving any recognition that you may receive in your lifetime is sharing it with others LYCOMING COLLEGE MAGAZINE 4 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
LYCOMING COLLEGE ONE COLLEGE PLACE WILLIAMSPORT, PA 17701-5192 570-321-4000 www.lycoming.edu Copyright© 2024 Lycoming College. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or duplicated without the prior written permission of the publisher. Lycoming College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK NOTEWORTHY IF YOU BUILD IT. . .A BASEBALL COMPLEX CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF FORREST HALL STEPPING UP: NICK WILKE ’24 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: KERRY RICHMOND, PH.D. FACULTY & STAFF NEWS ALUMNI HAPPENINGS HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2023 CLASS NOTES CONNECT: RENE GORTAT ’12 FOLLOWING HER PASSION: SHIRLEY CURTIS ’59 2 6 12 18 16 20 22 24 28 36 GO PAPERLESS. To receive a link to an online version of Lycoming College Magazine rather than a paper copy, email marketing@lycoming.edu with “online magazine subscription” in the subject line. Include your name, class year, and mailing address in the message. 37 10 5 www.lycoming.edu
NOTEWOR Lycoming College officially dedicated Coach Frank Girardi Stadium during the football team’s home opener against SUNY Cortland on Sept. 9, 2023, in a pregame ceremony that featured College President Kent Trachte, Head Football Coach Mike Clark ’93, Coach Girardi’s son, Jerry Girardi ’86, and, of course, Coach Girardi. Clark, who played for Girardi from 1989-92, pointed out that Girardi was always quick to share credit for the football team’s success during his 36-year run as coach from 1972-2007, but was more than deserving of any of the many honors bestowed upon him during his career, including 13 Middle Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year awards and induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. LYCOMING DEDICATES GIRARDI STADIUM AT WARRIOR’S HOME OPENER Trachte read from a proclamation made by the board of trustees in October 2022, in which they stated, “Frank L. Girardi Sr. has profoundly impacted Lycoming College and did much to sustain our culture of excellence.” “The board of trustees expresses its appreciation to Coach Girardi by proclaiming that the football stadium that houses David Person Field at the Shangraw Athletic Complex shall henceforth be known as Frank L. Girardi Stadium,” said Trachte. Coach Girardi spoke last and, befitting his modest persona, quickly turned the attention to his excitement to celebrate the day with the hundreds of family members, former players, and loyal supporters from throughout his career who attended the dedication. “The best part of achieving any recognition that you may receive in your lifetime is sharing it with others,” Girardi said. “Your family, your loved ones, your friends, the outstanding fans that we have. And that’s what I’m doing today. I’m sharing this wonderful day with all of you.” The Frank L. Girardi Stadium encompasses the grandstand, press box, and training and locker rooms that the football team uses on a daily basis before practicing and playing games on David Person Field, a FieldTurfsurfaced playing field. Scan to view a video commemorating Coach Girardi’s years of service. 6 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
RTHY LYCOMING COLLEGE OFFERS GUARANTEED ADMISSION TO LOCAL STUDENTS Lycoming College is pleased to announce a new direct admissions initiative for Lycoming County that will allow qualifying students to receive a guaranteed offer of admission through a streamlined application process. High school seniors from any Lycoming County high school who have earned a 3.0 GPA or higher will be invited to become a member of the Class of 2028 — the 212th class to attend Lycoming College. “We love our Lycoming County students. We have a strong history of attracting great minds from our own backyard, and with this commitment, we hope to not only grow our enrollment, but also give local students a clear pathway to their future,” said Richard “Chip” Hinton, associate vice president for enrollment management. With acceptance comes automatic consideration for all of the College’s academic scholarships, ranging in value from $25,000 to $36,000 per year based on the individual assessment of metrics such as GPA, class rank, and SAT/ACT scores (if available). 7 www.lycoming.edu
Celebrated poet Rita Dove presented recent works during a reading at Lycoming College on Sept. 25, 2023. Dove was named this year’s Himes/Sweeney Visiting Scholar in Creative Writing at Lycoming. She teaches at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville where she is the Henry Hoyns Professor of Creative Writing. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her third collection of poetry, “Thomas and Beulah,” her most recent book, “Playlist for the Apocalypse,” was called “a vital collection of poems about history and mortality” by the New York Times, which named it a Top Book of 2021. Her many other books include “Collected Poems 1974-2004,” which was a finalist for the National Book Award and the recipient of the NAACP Image Award. From 1993 to 1995, Dove served as U.S. Poet Laureate at the Library of Congress, and in 2022 she received the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. Her other honors include Lifetime Achievement Medals from the Library of Virginia and the Fulbright Association, the 2014 Carole Weinstein Poetry Prize, the 2019 Wallace Stevens Award from the Academy of American Poets, and the 2021 Gold Medal for Poetry from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1996, she received the National Humanities Medal from President Bill Clinton and, in 2011, the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama — the only poet ever to receive both medals. “When considering literature from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, few artists would necessarily be considered truly indispensable,” said Sascha Feinstein, Ph.D., Robert L. & Charlene Shangraw Professor of English. “Rita Dove, however, is unquestionably a member of that rarefied group. That said, her prestige seems to be matched by her humility. She is an artist of the highest order.” PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING POET RITA DOVE OFFERS READING AT LYCOMING Lycoming College Summer Stock provides aspiring young actors from across the region the opportunity to exercise their acting and singing chops through a fun program that occurs during the summer months. Students grades 7-12 learn the ins and outs of being involved in a theatre production while making friends, exploring their creativity, and entertaining local audiences. Summer Stock premiered in August 2023 on the Community Arts Center (CAC) stage with Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical,” the inspiring story of an extraordinary little girl who possesses courage and cleverness, as well as the gift of telekinesis. Biliana StoytchevaHorissian, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of the theatre department, served as artistic director, leading a diverse cast of 22 local students and a professional staff including several other members of the Lycoming faculty, theatre department alumni, and current students. LYCOMING COLLEGE SUMMER STOCK THEATRE The College’s orchestra and band were also involved in the production. “I am thrilled that we were able to provide students from Williamsport and the surrounding areas with the opportunity to work with theatre professionals and create art at no cost to their families while bringing the magical world of Roald Dahl to life at the CAC this summer,” said Stoytcheva-Horissian. “The Lycoming College Summer Stock production of ‘Matilda’ was a great success, captivating audiences and showcasing the incredible talent of our cast and crew while enriching the lives of the kids involved in the project and fostering a stronger sense of community and appreciation for theatre in the region.” Learn more about Summer Stock and the anticipated 2024 production of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” at www.lycoming.edu/theatre/ summer-stock.aspx. 8 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
Lycoming College unveiled the inaugural volume of the Mid-Atlantic Humanities Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Research (MHR), featuring twelve essays from undergraduate students from the mid-Atlantic region, including three from Lycoming College students. Published under the auspices of the College’s Humanities Research Center (HRC), MHR celebrates excellence in undergraduate research in humanities and related disciplines. The essays included in this first annual issue engage a wide range of intellectual inquiry from classical art history to indigenous rights, from Shakespeare to theories of consciousness, from feminist theology to Haitian political history, and much more. Together, the work speaks to the complex, beautiful, and often troubling cultural history of humanity, and it reminds readers of the vibrant work being done in college classrooms to understand our past, ourselves, and our world. “Launching a journal for undergraduate humanities LYCOMING COLLEGE INTRODUCES MID-ATLANTIC HUMANITIES REVIEW research was a priority for the Humanities Research Center at Lycoming because there are not many opportunities for undergraduate students in the humanities to share their work with broader audiences in a professional venue,” said Andrew Leiter, Ph.D., professor of English and director of the HRC. “The Mid-Atlantic Humanities Review provides an opportunity for undergraduates doing advanced work in humanities and humanitiesrelated fields to showcase their research, engage the world of academic publishing, and develop professional skills in preparation for their careers or graduate study.” “I enjoyed learning about unique research that extended outside of my own work and knowledge,” said Sarah Lanphear ’25, a creative writing and biology double major whose work on Shakespeare was published in MHR. “I am excited to be a part of this inaugural issue and hope readers appreciate the work we compiled from a plethora of outstanding submissions.” A JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Scan the QR code to view a digital format of the MHR. 50 ISER ears Lycoming plans to honor Steve Wiser during the opening home football game this fall by naming the football locker room the Coach Steve Wiser ’74 Football Locker Room. This honor is part of the improvements planned for the athletic complex, which include the construction of a new apparel/ concession building, expansion of the plaza between the Keiper and Girardi Stadiums, and a complete renovation of the football locker room. Gifts of any size will help to support this $750,000 project and are greatly appreciated. Leadership gifts of $10,000 or more will be recognized on a permanent plaque commemorating the project and honoring Coach Wiser. Donors who make a $5,000 commitment will be able to name a locker in the Wiser Football Locker Room. Gifts can be made outright or pledged over a three-year period. SAVE THE DATE SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 Learn more at www.lycoming.edu/wiser. 9 www.lycoming.edu
If you bu Lycoming College is transforming the Senior League Field at Brandon Park into a 21st-century collegiate field, with the new field set to open this spring sing a lease of Brandon Park’s northwest corner, Lycoming College is completing the first phase of a transformation of the park’s Senior Baseball Field into a 21st-century collegiate baseball complex. Lycoming College and the City of Williamsport agreed upon a 25-year lease, securing the space as the Warriors home field through at least 2048, with options for additional 10-year extensions upon mutual agreement from the College and the City. 10 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
“Lycoming College is happy to partner with the City of Williamsport on a project that benefits both the College campus and the broader community,” said Kent Trachte, president of Lycoming. “Our $3 million investment in this field indicates both our commitment to athletics as part of the Lycoming College student experience and to the quality of life in Williamsport and Lycoming County.” Located just north of campus, the field was home to Lycoming baseball through the 1950s until the team moved to Bowman Field on the west side of town. In addition to collegiate play, the complex will be perfect to host high school and local summer competitions. The College has committed to investing $3 million in the baseball field, and the first phase of the project is expected to be complete in late March, allowing the Warriors to move into the new home field this year. Lycoming has worked with architecture firm Derck & Edson to ensure the field both enriches and preserves Brandon Park’s landscape, while also creating an enjoyable experience for fans and athletes alike. “The Brandon Park project is one of the most significant commitments in the history of Lycoming athletics,” Director of Athletics Mike Clark ’93 said. “We are not just ensuring the success of the baseball program — this project will bind the men’s and women’s tennis program to Brandon Park, and it creates a nice flow from the campus to Brandon Park to the Shangraw Athletic Complex two blocks north of the baseball field.” Part one of the phased project has expanded the field to a collegiate-sized field with 325-370-390-370-325 dimensions from left to right field. Field turf was installed for the playing surface along with netting, fencing, dugouts, and a scoreboard. Batting cages and bullpens are also part of the initial investment, making the field at Brandon Park ideal for a Division III baseball team. Stands, a press box, restrooms, and lighting will follow in later phases of construction. Naming opportunities are still available for the new facility and can be secured by contacting Glenn Smith II ’07, associate director of major gifts and athletics development, at smithg@lycoming.edu or 570-321-4455. ild ildit… it…By Joe Guistina 11 www.lycoming.edu
orrest Hall opened in 1968 as an all-women’s dorm that included wall-to-wall carpeting, built-in furniture, and suite-style rooms, which was innovative for that time. The dorm was made possible by a gift from Katherine Forrest Mathers ’28 (19101979), a graduate of Dickinson Seminary. Mathers’ sister, aunt, and three uncles also attended Dickinson, as did her husband, James Mathers ’34, so the family ties to the institution run deep. Her regard for her alma mater, along with her generosity, prompted Mathers to establish a memorial at Lycoming College honoring her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Fletcher Bliss Forrest, and sister, Anna Forrest Burfeindt ’30. Mathers’ granddaughter, Anissa (Epple) Ritchie ’93, shared, “My grandmother passed when I was a young girl, but my mother (Melissa Jane Mathers) reminded me all the time while growing up that ‘Grandma loved Lycoming.’” Ritchie knew it was the school for her when she first stepped foot on campus. “As I walked around touring as a prospective student, I knew my grandmother would be so proud of me attending.” Forrest Hall Celebrating the History ’28 ’67 ’68 ’69 ’70 ’74 ’75 ’76 ’77 Katherine Forrest Mathers graduates from Dickinson Seminary The Bell, Dec. 8, 1967 of of In 1968, Katherine Forrest Mathers ’28 donates to Lycoming College in memory of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Fletcher Bliss Forrest, and her sister, Anna Forrest Burfeindt ’30 Groundbreaking for Forrest Hall begins in September Forrest Hall construction is completed John Detwiler, acting president of Lycoming College, presents the Lycoming College Award of Distinction to Katherine Forrest Mathers ’28 for her generous philanthropy and dedication to the betterment of the College (June 7) Linda (Kramer) Morris ’73 and dormmates participate in the Forrest Hall turtle races in the hallway Suzanne (Ipri) Perlmutter ’74 tie-dyes a garment in the Forrest Hall bathroom of rooms 310 and 312 Forrest was new the year I was a freshman! Good times! - Sue Hunter Chynoweth ’74 Lambda Chi brothers carol in Forrest Hall (December) Linda Porr Sweeney ’78 and friends hang out in Forrest Hall The College considered closing Forrest Hall in 1976, citing declining enrollment, but the numbers increased soon after. The building remained open, but as a co-ed dorm by floor. 12 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
’93 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’04 ’23 Forrest Hall housed only men when Ritchie was a student, but she has fond memories of visiting friends who lived in the dorm. “I remember going into the building and seeing the dedication plaque that displayed my family name. I always took a few moments to pause and smile when passing by it,” said Ritchie, even though she never told her classmates at the time about the family connection. After 55 years of providing a second home to students, Forrest Hall — originally appointed as a temporary dorm — was taken offline this academic year and will be demolished in the coming months. “It has been special to hear of the fond memories current students and alumni have shared about their experiences living in Forrest Hall. For these students, and for those of us in student life, we will be forever grateful to the Forrest family for Forrest Hall and their commitment to Lycoming College,” said Dan Miller, Ed.D., vice president for student life and dean of students. Although saddened upon learning of the impending razing, Ritchie recognizes the needs of the College. “I hope that future generations will understand the love my grandmother had for this institution,” said Ritchie. “She was very proud to be a part of this school, and I want all to realize how much Lycoming meant to her. It means a lot to me, too. I am forever proud to be a graduate of Lycoming College!” A date for razing Forrest Hall is forthcoming, at which time Lycoming will host an event to acknowledge the Forrest family’s philanthropy. Alumni will have the opportunity to preserve a piece of campus history by purchasing a commemorative brick, with proceeds benefiting the campus facilities fund. Permanent recognition honoring the Forrest Hall legacy will be placed within its new greenspace. Suzanne (Smith) Culin ’74 and Esther (Leppler) Korner ’74 pose by the built-in desk and bureau in Forrest Hall (1970) and remain friends today Forrest Hall room 314 in 1977-78 — great times, great memories. - Kathy Moyer Herring ’79 Forrest Hall will be forever in my heart. As an RA, [I] undoubtedly had the most fun and best residents my sophomore and junior years. - Lisa Novakoski Howard ’97 In 2004, the board of trustees voted to demolish Forrest Hall, but the decision was reversed, and the building continued to house students until 2023 Katherine Forrest Mathers’ granddaughter, Anissa Epple Ritchie ’93, graduates from Lycoming College Seth Brahler ’99 in his dorm room Martin Burke ’99 and Josh Sivers ’99 decorate Forrest Hall It was a great place to live, and I loved those built-in shelves! - Amanda Young ’04 During Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 7, 2023, the College hosted Forrest Hall: The Final Countdown. Alumni had the opportunity to relive their glory days in the dorm. Snacks and beverages were stationed throughout the first floor, complete with a glow room where guests could write their farewell messages on the walls. Susan (Burkhard) Wilkins ’79 brought her Forrest Hall vintage tee to Homecoming Weekend 2023 13 www.lycoming.edu
APRIL9 &10 2024 Give like a WARRIOR 6TH ANNUAL April 9 & 10, 2024 Lycoming’s Days of Giving is almost here, and it’s time for us to rally together. Support the core of who we are during the 48-hour online event! Gifts to the Lycoming Fund provide critical resources for the College’s immediate needs, and your investment strengthens Lycoming’s foundational ability to provide a first-rate education to talented students. We aren’t counting dollars. We’re counting Warriors. Just think of the impact we could make if every Warrior gave back to Lycoming. Let’s come together to support current and future Warriors on Days of Giving. www.lycoming.edu/dayofgiving 14 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
WARRIORS Buildingthe next generation of provides its students with a connection to powerful resources. Along with guiding current students in the transition to becoming a Lycoming graduate, alumni can help build the next generation of Warriors by sharing their own college experiences with prospective students. Alumni Admissions Ambassadors help the Lycoming community by: Representing Lycoming at local college fairs Interviewing prospective students near their hometowns Serving as a resource for parents of admitted students Welcoming new students on move-in day Lycoming College’s strong NETWORK OF ALUMNI Let your family and friends know about an upcoming Open House. Feel free to post dates on your social media profiles with a link to our College. Here’s one option you can consider posting: Lycoming College’s Summer Open Houses are coming up! Go on a student-guided tour of our beautiful campus, meet faculty, and learn about studying abroad and great internships! REGISTER TODAY: www.lycoming.edu/visit JUNE 24, 2024 JULY 26, 2024 SUMMER OPEN HOUSES Additional visiting hours, contact information, and more are available on our website. NO PROBLEM. www.lycoming.edu/admissions If you are interested in serving as an Alumni Admissions Ambassador, please scan the QR code. Have questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at 1-800-345-3920. CAN’T MAKE IT? 15 www.lycoming.edu
UP W by Joe Guistina hether it’s through his time as the goalkeeper for the Lycoming College men’s soccer team, his decision to join the National Guard, or his Be The Match donation, Nick Wilke ’24 has proved time and again he’s ready to step up to a challenge. On a sunny, warm fall day in 2021, Nick Wilke ’24 drove to Mechanicsburg to join the U.S. Army National Guard, then drove six miles south on Route 15 to start his first collegiate soccer game against Messiah University, ranked ninth in the country at the time. The latter of those events was a harsh introduction, as a future Falcon All-American scored twice in a 3-0 Warrior defeat. The starting goalkeeping job was his, though, for better or worse, and it was a little rocky in 2021 when the team finished under .500 for the first time in eight years. 16 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
His move to the military started a little smoother. “I am in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), so I am in a National Guard unit while in college,” Wilke said. “I drill with the Guard unit one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer while doing all the ROTC stuff that everyone else does. The benefit of doing both is that I get both drill pay and education benefits of being in the Guard and the stipend and scholarship from ROTC.” Just as Wilke was willing to show his commitment to his country, he made sure he put a similar commitment to soccer. “I wanted to show the team that I was ready for my junior season,” he said. “The first thing we do is the two-mile run, and I dropped my time by two minutes. I wanted to show the team that I had bought into doing this.” The early results were encouraging. Six saves in a tie with perennial powerhouse Johns Hopkins and five shutouts in the first 11 games were followed by six conference wins, setting up a semifinal appearance at Misericordia. Wilke stole the show in penalty kicks when he stopped two shots, the second of which clinched the win and sent the Warriors to their seventh conference title game since 2013. In the end, Wilke and the Warrior defense pitched a shutout of fourth-ranked Stevens before falling in penalty kicks, although Wilke made another save during that shootout. “Assistant Coach Josh Gildea prepared me well, teaching me to look at foot placement and the way they run up to decide which way to go,” he said of the three saves he made in the shootouts. “I was pretty confident after doing it a lot in practice. I just trusted myself.” It was during the offseason, though, when Wilke made his biggest save. Through the Be The Match national registry, which he signed up for at the end of his sophomore year at Lycoming, he was chosen to donate stem cells to save a woman who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Due to his enlistment, his donation and testing were all done through the Department of Defense. With the Army’s blessing, he donated for 4-5 hours in January, actually delaying his arrival on campus for the start of the spring semester. It took a couple weeks to get back to feeling himself, but it is an experience he said he wouldn’t trade. “It’s definitely rewarding being able to do something that will ultimately change someone’s life forever,” Wilke said. That set up Wilke’s senior season, where he teamed with one of the most talented defenses in the program’s history – three-time All-Region outside back Brayden Wise ’24 and two-time All-Region outside back Kenny Clapp ’25 – as the Warriors entered the waters of the Landmark Conference for the first time and came out of the regular season without a loss, finishing 7-0-2 in conference play, allowing three goals and making 27 saves in those games. He finished the season fifth in Division III with 10 shutouts, helping him earn First Team All-Landmark Conference honors. “It felt really good to be personally acknowledged,” Wilke said. “All the work, not just in college, but my whole life in soccer, people recognized that I was really trying my best.” Wilke finished his career with the Warriors in the top three in program history in goals-against average (1.03) and shutouts (19), all while earning two College Sports Communicators Academic All-District awards as a criminal justice major. After graduation, Wilke will be stationed in Scranton, Pa., as a military intelligence officer, with his training to begin in December. He is also applying to become a member of the Pennsylvania State Police. “I have high aspirations for myself, and if I did want to go into the CIA or FBI, the best way to do that is through military intelligence, so I am just trying to keep those doors open,” Wilke said. “I know there’s a lot of smart people who are going to challenge me every day, and what’s life without a challenge?” It’s definitely rewarding being able to do something that will ultimately change someone’s life forever 17 www.lycoming.edu
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Humanizing the approach to CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM K KERRY RICHMOND, PH.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CRIMINOLOGY erry Richmond, Ph.D., has always been interested in criminal justice, but it took her a while to figure out how to translate that interest into a career. “While I didn’t actually pursue a career in criminal justice until I was in my mid-20s, I did participate in an internship at the Suffolk County Jail in Boston as an undergraduate that had a significant impact on me,” she says. “Social justice issues have always been important to me, and I have always been moved by Fyodor Dostovesky’s quote, ‘The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.’ How we treat people when they are at their worst says a lot about who we are as a society, and I’ve always wanted to try, in some small way, to address that.” Richmond’s primary areas of expertise are corrections (prisons), reentry from prison, and gender and crime. As a member of the Pennsylvania Reentry Council, she also assists counties in developing reentry coalitions and reentry programming. She explains that as a society, we have numerous stereotypes about who commits crimes. “In my work, I explore these stereotypes in greater depth and seek to change how people who have committed crimes are viewed and treated. Humanizing those who have committed crimes and understanding why they have engaged in certain behaviors, in my opinion, is an important first step in reforming our criminal justice system.” Explain how you and your students engage with Lycoming County, and how that work has been significant. I enjoy working with students on research projects, and much of the research conducted over the years would not have been possible without their assistance. Since 2015, I have conducted a recidivism study in Lycoming County and employ, through the support of a grant from the county, two to four students per semester. In this project, the students and I compile and track data on the recidivism rates (whether someone has committed another crime after they have been released from prison) of individuals who have been released from the county prison. While tracking recidivism rates is a common practice at the state and federal level, it is not done 18 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
consistently at the local (jail) level. Lycoming is one of the few counties in Pennsylvania that is consistently tracking these rates. The work we have done on this project has given the county a greater understanding of its jail population and has helped to highlight and address certain trends. For example, we are currently examining the reasons why individuals return to prison on a probation violation, as this makes up a large percentage of those who are in the county prison. This project has provided a great opportunity for students to understand how data can be tracked and utilized to inform policies and practices in the criminal justice system. One of the projects that was particularly meaningful to me is the data that Riley Groder ’17 and I compiled on the women housed at the State Industrial Home for Women at Muncy (now SCI-Muncy). While Muncy was a prominent women’s reformatory during the early half of the 20th century, there is little written about it. Through our work, we sought to understand in greater depth why women were sent to Muncy and what steps the institution took to try to “reform” them. The interdisciplinary nature of our work was meaningful in helping to make connections between the treatment of women during the reformatory movement and today. Are there aspects of learning about the criminal justice system that you think are beneficial to all to have a greater understanding about our society? The most important thing that I hope students gain from my classes is a more humanized perspective on crime and the criminal justice system. I want them to view what they hear in the news about crime and criminal justice issues with a more critical perspective, to have a deeper understanding of why these issues are occurring, and what needs to be done to promote change. I believe education and awareness about these issues are the first steps toward reform. Even if students are not interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice, this knowledge is valuable. What career paths have some of your former students taken, and what would you tell prospective students and their families about pursuing a degree in criminal justice? Students in our program have gone into many different areas of criminal justice at the local, state, and federal level. Some have pursued graduate and law degrees, and many have been successful in careers outside of criminal justice, which is a credit to their liberal arts education. While the type of work students pursue is important, I find the impact they are having within their chosen fields and how they are applying the skills they have learned to be most impressive. I always tell prospective students and their families that our program is broad in scope, and that we will provide students with the educational foundation and experience to pursue a career in whatever they want to do in criminal justice. However, because we are also a social science program and a liberal arts college, students are also gaining strong writing and critical thinking skills, as well as oral communication skills, that will prepare them for a wide variety of careers beyond criminal justice. The most important thing that I hope students gain from my classes is a more humanized perspective on crime and the criminal justice system. 19 www.lycoming.edu
Lycoming welcomed these new faculty members to campus for the 2023-24 academic year, bringing a breadth of knowledge to classrooms: Kira Braham, Ph.D., assistant professor of English; Patrick Chiu, Ph.D., assistant professor of music; Hannah Espy, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology; Matthew Kaunert, director of the Clean Water Institute and research and teaching associate in biology; Mallory Melton, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of anthropology and archaeology; Melissa Morris, Ph.D., assistant professor of astronomy; Andrew Paulhamus, CPA ’13, assistant professor of accounting; Zachary Reese, M.F.A., visiting assistant professor of film and video arts; Matthew Ripa, M.F.A., visiting professor of theatre; and Marisa Sánchez, Ph.D., assistant professor of art history. we experience particular objects, an account grounded in the higherorder theory of consciousness. Shyla Boyd, Ed.D., was named assistant dean for student transition and accessibility in September 2023. In this role, she will work primarily to collaborate with campus offices to promote a smooth transition experience from high school graduate to firstyear college student. In addition, she directs the Office of Accessibility Resources, in collaboration with a consulting psychologist. Boyd’s research focuses on strategies for increasing the performance of at-risk students, college access to under-represented youth, university partnerships, and community engagement. Cullen Chandler, Ph.D., Frank and Helen Lowry Professor of History, presented his research paper, “Königsnähe and the Counts in the Late Ninth Century,” at the International Medieval Congress held at the University of Leeds, U.K., in July 2023. In October, he presented his paper, “Drinking in Frankish Society,” at the Pictish Arts Society Annual Conference, hosted by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. The international online conference was dedicated to the “Bullion Stone,” found at Invergowrie in Angus while constructing the Dundee ring-road, in 1934. In February, Chandler was invited by the James V. Brown Library in Williamsport as a guest speaker where he reviewed Cat Jarman’s “River Kings: A New History of Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads.” The poem, “Séance for Ethan,” a seven-section elegy by Sascha Feinstein, Ph.D., Robert L. & Charlene Shangraw Professor and Chair of English, for his former student, Ethan Sellers, M.D. ’12, was published in Kestrel: A Journal of Literature and Art. The editors at Kestrel have nominated the poem for a Pushcart Prize, one of two nominations he has received this year. Five other poems — “Am I Blue?,” “Fame,” “Lighthouse,” “My First Dream of Philip Levine,” and “Recalling My Daily Pandemic Walk” — will appear in Arts Today. In September 2023, Richard “Chip” Hinton, MBA, was named associate vice president for enrollment management and will serve as the College’s chief enrollment officer. In this position, Hinton will guide Lycoming as it faces an increasingly challenging enrollment landscape and seeks to maximize student enrollment at the liberal arts and sciences institution. He will oversee undergraduate admissions, admissions operations, enrollment operations, and financial aid. As a member of the president’s cabinet, he will lead the departments of admissions and financial aid and partner with senior leaders across campus to develop and execute data informed, and research driven, strategic enrollment plans to meet Lycoming’s enrollment goals. Jacob Berger, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, presented “How Qualities and Content Interact in Perception” at the annual meeting of The Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness Conference in New York, N.Y., in June 2023. Berger also published “A Higher-Order Account of the Phenomenology of Particularity” in the journal Erkenntnis. Berger’s main goal in this work is to develop and defend a novel theory of how “A Shot of Gin,” written by Phoebe Wagner, Ph.D. ’14, assistant professor of English, was released in October 2023. The novel follows Juniper “Gin” Cain, who is pretty sure she’s mostly human. Working security for the vampire-owned All Saints Casino, Gin’s got an edge on the others: vampires can’t drink her blood, making her perfect for the job. But when a radiated zombie staggers into the casino’s club, she’s forced to expose the inhuman traits she’s kept hidden. Biliana Stoytcheva-Horissian, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of theatre, presented at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education annual conference in Austin, Tex. She was the session moderator, coordinator, and one of the presenters on the panel supported by Theatre as a Liberal Art and Theatre Advocacy focus groups entitled “Enough Talking: Taking Action on DEI and Improving Departmental Climate.” The panel introduced practical approaches that address DEI and help institutions improve job satisfaction while allowing them to create more inclusive and just theatre departments. 20 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
NEWS FACULTY & STAFF Jessica Munson, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology and archaeology, is co-editor and author of three chapters in “The Oxford Handbook of Archaeological Network Research,” which explores how network science can be applied in archaeology through an up-to-date overview of the field. In October 2023, Munson participated in a design workshop at the Amerind Museum in Arizona where scholars in archaeology, history, and political science gathered from across the U.S., Canada, and U.K. to develop plans for a new synthetic study of governance, well-being, and sustainability in past societies. The following month, she was invited to give her talk, “Long-Term Perspectives on Human Wellbeing and Political Change,” at the International Conference on Embodied Cognitive Science at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in Japan. Christopher Pearl, Ph.D., associate professor of history, was awarded the Pennsylvania Historical Association’s Philip S. Klein Award for best article on Pennsylvania history published within a three year period for his article, “Becoming Patriots: The Struggle for Inclusion and Exclusion on Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary Frontier,” in the special issue of Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies on Rethinking Borderlands published by Penn State University Press in 2021. Maybel Mesa Morales, Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish, was honored as an invited guest speaker at the International Conference of Hispanic Women Filmmakers, which took place in October 2023 at Clark University. The title of her presentation was “Visibilizar, promover y restaurar: Estrategias pedagógicas para la integración del cine de mujeres en las nuevas prácticas curriculares,” which translates to “Making Visible, Promoting, and Restoring: Pedagogical Strategies for the Integration of Women’s Cinema into New Curriculum Practices.” Justin Lopez-Medina, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice-criminology and a former probation/ parole officer, along with Jillian Eidson, Ph.D., co-authored “Perspectives on Community-Based Corrections,” published by Oxford University Press, as an aid to classroom instruction. The book description states, “Students generally take this course because they are preparing for a career in the field, so they need to be aware of current policies and practices in community corrections. In addition, given the decarceration trend and the economics of seeking incarceration alternatives, this topic is increasing in popularity and importance. This text takes an applied and practical approach to understanding community corrections, as well as changing data and policies. It will aid in understanding the complexities of communitybased corrections with up-to-date data on practice and effectiveness.” Marisa Sánchez, Ph.D., assistant professor of art history, presented at two academic conferences this fall: “Agency, Authorship and the Archive: The Case of Miss A” was part of a session on Historical Recovery in Museums for the International 2023 Feminist Art History Conference organized by American University, Washington, D.C., and “A Curator’s Perspective on a Collection and Its Institutional Histories” was part of the Universities Art Association of Canada held at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity. Both papers are part of her ongoing study on curatorial practices as well as questions on how histories are written, obscured, and even omitted through the site of the art exhibition. Thank you Thank you Lycoming extends its sincere gratitude to the following individuals for their dedication and service to the College upon their retirement: Tracy Miles, executive administrative assistant to the executive vice president (27 years), Tara Miller, administrative assistant to athletics (26 years), and Cynthia Springman, bursar (24 years). 21 www.lycoming.edu
Williamsport Crosscutters • Williamsport, Pa. Jack ’63 and Barb Tarditi’s Home • Avalon, N.J. Mission • Washington, D.C. Bald Birds Brewing Co. • Jersey Shore, Pa. Philadelphia Phillies • Philadelphia, Pa. The Santa Express • Williamsport, Pa. Knoebels Amusement Park • Elysburg, Pa. Tröegs Brewing Company • Hershey, Pa. 22 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
Lehigh Valley IronPigs • Allentown, Pa. Carboy Winery • Littleton, Co. The Barnyard & Carriage House • Totowa, N.J. Visit www.lycoming.edu/alumnievents to learn about and register for upcoming alumni engagement activities. lycofangear.com + = 23 www.lycoming.edu
reat fun was had by all during Lycoming College’s Homecoming Weekend, October 6-8, 2023. We are thankful for time together on campus reminiscing and creating new memories at a variety of events throughout the weekend. Families cheered on the Warriors at several athletic matches, including volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer, and the Lycoming vs. Wilkes football game. Softball alumnae also joined in a slow-pitch game. All were invited to hear the uplifting music at the Lycoming Band and Chamber Choir concert, and there was something tasty for everyone to enjoy at the Food Truck Festival and Warrior Barbecue. Alumni gathered at the ever-popular Beer & Pretzel Tent, while special anniversaries piqued alumni excitement. Lycoming Cross Country celebrated 40 years running (pun intended), while fraternity brothers celebrated 75 years of Lambda Chi Alpha and 70 years of Kappa Delta Rho. The Homecoming Breakfast provided a time to honor scholarship benefactors, members of the Tower Society, and Heritage Club donors, for whose support of our students and programs the College is forever grateful. The weekend festivities closed with an ecumenical service in Clarke Chapel. View photos at www.lycoming.edu/alumniphotos, and plan to join us at next year’s Homecoming Weekend, Oct 4-6, 2024. HOMECOMING 24 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
uring the Homecoming football game, Lycoming College Football honored Tim Chiarolanza ’11 by naming him honorary co-captain. Watching him take the field and participate in the coin toss was a special moment for all, especially for some of his former student-athletes who stood by his side. Chiarolanza returned to his alma mater in the summer of 2021 as Lycoming’s strength and conditioning coach. Just a few months later, he was tragically struck by a vehicle when his dog, Finn, darted into a street along the edge of campus. Finn was unharmed, but Chiarolanza suffered several life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. Despite his difficult and ongoing journey to recovery, he continues to keep a positive outlook on life and shares his gratitude with all who have supported him through this challenging time, especially his wife, Sarah. “What I tell myself every day as I am working out or at home is, ‘Be Better Today,’ said Chiarolanza. “We can’t affect what happened yesterday, we can’t affect what happens tomorrow. Today is the only thing that we can affect.” We can’t affect what happened yesterday ... Today is the only thing that we can affect.” Chiarolanza’s INSPIRING RECOVERY 25 www.lycoming.edu
FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS: contact Glenn Smith ’07, director of athletics development and associate director of major gifts (570) 321-4455 or smithg@lycoming.edu Every gift can be designated to a specific sports team, divided among multiple programs, or allocated to the Warrior Club General Fund, which supports all of Lycoming athletics. lycoathletics WARRIOR CLUB Help ensure that our Warriors have everything they need to compete at the highest level. 26 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
There’s a strong connection between your support and student success. Your annual support to the Lycoming Fund generates the best opportunities for our students in all aspects of their College experience. Your gifts help change lives so that our graduates can change the world. Scholarships Internships Mental health & wellness counseling Academics & faculty-led research Study abroad experiences Your gift Warrior Club Athletics support Extracurricular opportunities Creating lives of meaning & careers of distinction Alumni giving counts toward participation, which aids the College’s national rankings and ability to qualify for grant funding. Additionally, many companies match employee contributions, maximizing your support. Invest in LYCOMING COLLEGE today at www.lycoming.edu/givenow Creating Opportunity Since 1812 27 www.lycoming.edu
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