President’s Newsletter: August 2025

From the Desk of Dr. Philip Cavalier

President of Kutztown University

President's Update

Welcome to the first edition of the President’s Newsletter. This will be a regular update from my office that will be shared with the university community and our key constituents throughout the year, with a goal of providing you with timely campus news and information.

When you interview and come to learn about a campus from a distance, you have certain impressions that you hope were the right ones when you get there. Everything that I thought I saw at KU has become a reality, in particular, the passion that everyone on this campus has for helping students succeed.

I’ve been intentional about getting out into our community, eating at the restaurants downtown, attending the Kutztown Fair and exploring the region to understand the community. I’ve been working to meet all the people across campus, along with donors, alumni and legislators.

“At Kutztown University, we believe breakthroughs are within everyone’s reach. We embody this by providing a dynamic, supportive environment where hard work and ingenuity thrive. We have a close-knit, caring community where we can depend on one another for understanding and encouragement. We’re friendly and inclusive. We always welcome and respect different perspectives.”

This is the heart of our brand, and I want us to epitomize this as an institution.

As I shared in my first letter to campus in July, I am hyper-focused on academic excellence, enrollment, and fundraising. I want to make sure we have strategic leadership in place for Enrollment Management and for Student Affairs. Both areas are critical for success with recruiting and retaining students. In addition, getting to know donors and developing relationships will help us with future fundraising efforts.

Going back to the interview process, I listened to our employees and agree we need to reassess the university’s flexible work policies. We want to recruit and retain the best employees at KU, and I’ve asked our vice presidents to begin developing policies to create more flexibility in our working environment.

I’m looking forward to getting to know students across campus. Part of that will be meeting with various organizations, some will be by chance, some will be walking down the DMZ, and a major part of that will be listening to students at our new town halls we plan to hold each semester (more details to come).

I’m ready and eager to welcome you all back in the days ahead.

It’s Good to be Golden.

(Phil) Dr. Cav

Save the Date – Presidential Inauguration April 10, 2026

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 10, 2026, for the presidential inauguration of KU’s 13th president, Dr. Philip Cavalier. The inauguration will be themed “Golden Opportunities,” as we look toward a future helping our students achieve lifetime success through their KU education and experience. Sandy Green, KU Council of Trustees, and Matt Santos, vice president of University Relations, will serve as inauguration co-chairs. More information will be shared with the campus community in future newsletters.

Division Updates

Academic Affairs

We are pleased to announce the following faculty were awarded tenure and/or promotion effective fall semester 2025:

Faculty Awarded Tenure

• Heather LaBarre, Social Work

Faculty Awarded Promotion

Instructor to Assistant Professor

• Donna DeMarco, Computer Science and Information Technology
• Shelby Hoppis, Sports Medicine

Assistant Professor to Associate Professor

• Heather LaBarre, Social Work
• Mary Weller, Social Work

Associate Professor to Professor

• Diana Elliott, Counselor Education and Student Affairs
• Kaoutar El Mounadi, Biological Sciences
• Joseph Harasta, Communication Studies
• Ko-Hsin Hsu, Criminal Justice
• Feisal Murshed, Business Administration
• Khori Newlander, Anthropology and Sociology
• Gregory Shelley, Psychology
• Myung Soon Song, Mathematics

Holly Tienken, Art and Design

Equity & Compliance

The Disability Services Office will welcome its largest My Place cohort to date (70 students), reflecting increased demand for Autism support. Inclusion efforts continue to expand through the donation of sensory-calming items to offices, pop-up sensory spaces at major events, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week each April. Supporting 1,400 students with disabilities, the Disability Services Office remains committed to advancing access, fostering campus collaboration and enhancing the experience of students, faculty, staff and guests.

Finance & Facilities

The university has begun a full life-cycle renovation of Johnson Hall, a traditional residence hall built in 1966. The renovation will address many failing building systems, while adding air conditioning and a new elevator. Scheduled to be completed and open for Fall 2026, the renovated hall will provide nearly 300 air-conditioned traditional beds for our first-time students. The project has a budget of just under $25 million and will be funded by a combination of bond financing and cash reserves.

KU Foundation

The KU Foundation is gearing up for the annual 1866 Minute Giving Challenge, happening Oct. 15-16. This exciting event invites the entire KU community to make a meaningful impact by supporting the areas we love most at KU. Your gift – no matter the size – makes a difference. Plus, Homecoming registration is now live, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. Let’s come together to show our Golden Bear pride, give back and make this year's challenge and Homecoming unforgettable. Mark your calendars, make a gift and join us for the celebration. Go Bears!

Student Affairs

This summer, New Student Orientation took on a brand-new look with many added elements to create a better experience for new students and families. The goal of orientation was to give students a fun experience in a welcoming environment where they have the opportunity to learn about the university, try campus dining, get their questions answered and (most importantly) make early connections with fellow students, faculty and staff. We have had more than 1,700 students attend orientation along with over 2,500 parents and families with over 90% show rates at all of our orientation sessions.

University Relations, Athletics & Enrollment

The 2025-26 Golden Bear athletic year kicks off Thursday, Sept. 4, as two of our top programs compete at Andre Reed Stadium. At 2 p.m., Golden Bear field hockey, coming off a national runner-up season, will host Southern New Hampshire. Admission for all fans is free. At 7 p.m., the two-time defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion Golden Bear football team will host Assumption. Students, faculty and staff with a valid KU ID will be admitted free. Football tickets for the general public can be purchased at the KU athletics website. Other fall home openers include women’s volleyball vs. Chestnut Hill, 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5 at Keystone Hall; women’s soccer vs. Millersville, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Keystone Field; and men’s and women’s cross country hosting the D2/3 Challenge, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at North Campus Course.

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