Courses + Resources
Badge of Completion
Participants earn a Digital Badge, which can be proudly displayed on portfolios and LinkedIn. This badge signifies the successful completion of a series of targeted courses (listed below) and reflects a strong commitment to personal and professional development. Students are encouraged to include the program on their resumes, offering an added opportunity to showcase their initiative and ambition to prospective employers and graduate schools.
Professor Bios & Course Materials
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Leadership Styles
Dr. Leininger has been in the field of higher education for over 21 years. Her roles have crossed over multiple departments, including adult education, internship and career management, alumni engagement, workforce development, and enrollment management. Her most recent position before joining the KU team had been Director of Student Success for Graduate and Adult Education at Alvernia University, as well as adjunct faculty for First Year Seminar.
Her passion for student success derives from helping students' sense of belonging on their college campus, and she strives to make every student she works realize that their dreams are in reach, even if their pathway looks different than they originally imagined.
Dr. Leininger recently completed her doctorate research, Persistence Factors of Latinx College Students at Four-Year Private, Predominantly White Institutions. Her quantitative research study at three schools in Southeast PA showed that students valued encouragement from their family, validation from faculty and staff, and self-responsibility to complete their degree "no matter what" life throws at them as a commitment to continuing their college enrollment.Course Materials:
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Promoting Belonging in the Workplace
Jerry Schearer graduated from Salem-Teikyo University with a BA in Youth
and Human Services. He has a master’s in education administration
from West Virginia University and additional credits in a Ed. D program in
Educational Leadership also from WVU. Jerry began his career in nonprofit
management, then has spent the past 30 years in Higher Education
in various professional positions in student affairs/student development
including residence life & housing, student activities, student conduct, new
student orientation, diversity & inclusion, and dean of students. Jerry
has been at Kutztown University since 2008 and has been in his current
position the Senior Associate Dean of Students and Chief Diversity Officer
for Kutztown University since 2020.
Jerry is also an adjunct instructor. He co-developed and taught the
Freshman Year Experience course at Salem International University (WV) for
four years and he also taught at Pierpont Community and Technical College
(WV) teaching two courses: Dealing with Diversity and Race, Class, and
Gender for six years. He has been teaching at Reading Area Community
College since 2011 in courses such a College Success Strategies, Sociology,
Cultural Anthropology, Interpersonal Communication and Psychology.Course Materials:
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Leadership and Business Etiquette
Jenelle Henry is one of the Assistant Directors of the Career Development Center at Kutztown University. Since starting at Kutztown in 2015, Jenelle loves meeting with students one-on-one to help them develop their own career development path and assist with reaching their career goals. Due to her background in education, she also works closely with the College of Education and marketing the offices services and resources.
Previous to Kutztown University, she served as the Director of the Career Center at Cedar Crest College and an Assistant Director at Moravian University. She began her 20 years in higher education as an Admissions Counselor at Edinboro University. Jenelle holds a Master’s degree from Kutztown University in School Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from Edinboro University.
Course Materials:
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Communication and Intentional Listening
Dr. Rebecca Riccardi (Ph.D., Louisiana State University) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Riccardi’s research focuses on interpersonal communication, specifically in health and family contexts. Dr. Riccardi has been published in Human Communication Research. In her free time, Dr. Riccardi enjoys traveling with her husband, cooking traditional dishes from her Cuban and Italian ancestries, and caring for her two rambunctious cats.
Course Materials:
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Emotional Intelligence
Dr. Leininger has been in the field of higher education for over 21 years. Her roles have crossed over multiple departments, including adult education, internship and career management, alumni engagement, workforce development, and enrollment management. Her most recent position before joining the KU team had been Director of Student Success for Graduate and Adult Education at Alvernia University, as well as adjunct faculty for First Year Seminar.
Her passion for student success derives from helping students' sense of belonging on their college campus, and she strives to make every student she works realize that their dreams are in reach, even if their pathway looks different than they originally imagined.
Dr. Leininger recently completed her doctorate research, Persistence Factors of Latinx College Students at Four-Year Private, Predominantly White Institutions. Her quantitative research study at three schools in Southeast PA showed that students valued encouragement from their family, validation from faculty and staff, and self-responsibility to complete their degree "no matter what" life throws at them as a commitment to continuing their college enrollment.Course Materials:
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Group & Team Dynamics
Jenelle Henry is one of the Assistant Directors of the Career Development Center at Kutztown University. Since starting at Kutztown in 2015, Jenelle loves meeting with students one-on-one to help them develop their own career development path and assist with reaching their career goals. Due to her background in education, she also works closely with the College of Education and marketing the offices services and resources.
Previous to Kutztown University, she served as the Director of the Career Center at Cedar Crest College and an Assistant Director at Moravian University. She began her 20 years in higher education as an Admissions Counselor at Edinboro University. Jenelle holds a Master’s degree from Kutztown University in School Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from Edinboro University.
Course Materials:
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Time & Stress Management
Dr. Rebecca Riccardi (Ph.D., Louisiana State University) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Riccardi’s research focuses on interpersonal communication, specifically in health and family contexts. Dr. Riccardi has been published in Human Communication Research. In her free time, Dr. Riccardi enjoys traveling with her husband, cooking traditional dishes from her Cuban and Italian ancestries, and caring for her two rambunctious cats.
Course Materials:
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Networking
Chad Ganley brings over 13 years of experience in higher education, combining expertise in career development, adjunct teaching, and professional recruiting. As Assistant Director of the Career Development Center at Kutztown University, he is committed to equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate today’s job market successfully.
In addition to his work in career development, Chad has five years of experience as an adjunct instructor, most recently teaching Management and Human Resources courses in Kutztown University’s College of Business. His teaching focuses on business networking, personal branding, and professional development, helping students build their career readiness and marketability.
Chad has been an active member of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Employers (PennACE) since 2013 and currently serves as the organization’s Membership Chair. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Millersville University and a Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs from West Chester University.
Course Materials:
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Are you Career Ready? Building Your Brand
Chad Ganley brings over 13 years of experience in higher education, combining expertise in career development, adjunct teaching, and professional recruiting. As Assistant Director of the Career Development Center at Kutztown University, he is committed to equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate today’s job market successfully.
In addition to his work in career development, Chad has five years of experience as an adjunct instructor, most recently teaching Management and Human Resources courses in Kutztown University’s College of Business. His teaching focuses on business networking, personal branding, and professional development, helping students build their career readiness and marketability.
Chad has been an active member of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Employers (PennACE) since 2013 and currently serves as the organization’s Membership Chair. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Millersville University and a Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs from West Chester University.
Course Materials: