Daily Brief
May 6, 2024
Spring 2024 Commencement May 10-11
More than 1,130 students will be awarded degrees during Kutztown University's spring commencement ceremonies May 10-11, at O'Pake Fieldhouse. Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, university president, and Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, will preside.
University Relations
German Students Receive Awards
The German section of the Modern Language Studies (MLS) department recognized three outstanding students as part of the MLS department awards ceremony Tuesday, April 30. Jessica Southgate-Sands and Jaylin Calistro were inducted into Delta Phi Alpha, the National German Honor Society. Spring 2024 graduate Bekah March (BA German, BS Psychology) received the department's top honor, the Linda Oswald Bogert Award.
Lynn M. Kutch, Modern Language Studies
Social Media Seniors Showcase Capstone Projects
Social Media Theory and Strategy (SMS) seniors showcased their capstone projects in the Social Media Analytics Strategic Hub (SMASH) Monday, April 29. The event was attended by parents and Kutztown administrators, as well as a number of professionals from regional, digital organizations that have hosted SMS interns in the past and/or hired SMS graduates. During Q&A, seniors were provided insights by the working professionals regarding their capstone project as well as giving advice about applying and interviewing for positions in social media.
Keith Massie, Social Media Area Coordinator
Employer Thank You Breakfast
Thank you to the faculty and staff who participated in the annual "Employer Thank You Breakfast" Thursday, May 2. About 30 professionals representing 20 different organizations attended to network with employees and to hear from Christine Price, director of the KU Women's Center and LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Melinda Quinones, director of Multicultural Services, and Megan Rutter, assistant director of Disability Services and director of My Place Program, on "Today’s College Students - Why and How We Serve," as well as Carl Sheperis on "AI in Action: Exploring the Transformative Impact on Industry and the Next Generations of Talent."
Kerri Gardi, Career Development Center
Weather
Weather forecasts are provided by KU's Dr. Michael Davis and "Monsoon Mike" Regensburger
Easterly flow from the warm front passage on Sunday will provide for cloudy conditions and light rain/drizzle. Approaching cold front may trigger showers and possible thunderstorms by the afternoon. High temperature near 74.
Announcements
Save the Date: Faculty and Staff Recognition Picnic
Mark your calendars for the annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Picnic 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, O'Pake Fieldhouse. All Kutztown University faculty and staff are invited to attend this event. Invitations will be sent out following commencement.
Human Resources and the Office of the President
Brett Santos Named Director of New Student Orientation
Mr. Brett Santos '20 '22M has been named the new director of New Student Orientation (NSO). Santos has been the assistant director of Admissions/Campus Visit Experience at Arcadia University (Glenside, Pa.) for the past two years. Prior to that, he was an active undergraduate and graduate student here at KU. As an undergraduate, he was a tour guide and worked for NSO as a facilitator and student program coordinator. As a graduate student, Santos was the graduate assistant for NSO and also did internships with the KU registrar's office, the KU student success office and at Albright College Office of Admissions. Santos will begin his new role Monday, May 6 - welcome back to KU. We want to thank the search committee and everyone who came to the open forums for the candidates and provided your feedback. Also a very big thank you to Dr. Lisa Grabowski, who has led NSO for the past 10 years and been of service to KU for the past 24 years. She will retire at the end of May after helping to onboard Santos and continuing to work hard to prepare for summer connections.
Jerry Schearer, Office of the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students
Ruth Perkins Retirement
Please join us in congratulating Ruth Perkins on her well-deserved retirement from Kutztown University. Ruth is currently a Reference/Instruction Librarian at the Rohrbach Library. She began her employment at KU in 1998 and will retire at the conclusion of this academic year. We thank Ruth for her dedication to the students of KU and the library community. She will be greatly missed.
Jennifer Tanzos, Rohrbach Library
Dr. Therese Maskulka Memorial Service Wednesday, May 8
In remembrance of Dr. Therese Maskulka, associate professor of Marketing in the Department of Business Administration, who sadly passed Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, we warmly invite you to share in a celebration of her journey 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, Atrium, de Francesco Building lobby.
Patricia Braga, Department of Business Administration
Recycle Your Eclipse Glasses
Don't know what to do with your eclipse glasses? I am collecting used, but undamaged eclipse glasses to send to schools in Latin America so school-aged children can view the October 2024 annular eclipse. I will be sending them to Eclipse Glasses USA, Provo, Utah. You can either drop them off in my office or send them in campus mail, 231 Beekey, no later than Wednesday, May 15. Thank you.
Cheryl Faust, College of Education
Faculty Regalia Rental Pickup
Faculty who ordered rental regalia for commencement may pick up regalia Monday, May 6 through Thursday, May 9, KU Campus Store. For those unable to get to the KU Campus Store, the rented regalia will also be available for pickup during robing hours before each ceremony in 106 Keystone Hall. Please visit the link below for the Campus Store hours.
Shena Hesselbein, KUSSI
Community Outreach Center - Used Shoe Collection
The Community Outreach Center (COC) is still collecting used shoes - any size or style shoe is a great donation. Please drop off donations to the COC in the MSU, or if the office is closed, please leave shoes at the information desk. Thank you.
Amanda Garcia, Community Outreach Center
Academics
Pennsylvania School Social Workers’ Trauma-Informed Practices: Status and Future Needs
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Social Work, is pleased to announce that Jessica L. Schoonmaker, MSW, LCSW, will defend her Doctor of Social Work dissertation, “Pennsylvania School Social Workers’ Trauma-Informed Practices: Status and Future Needs” 4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. Please join online using this link below with meeting ID: 935 2141 6368. The dissertation chair is Dr. John Vafeas.
Sharon C Lyter, Department of Social Work
Your Voice Matters to the CEL
You are central to our mission. Please help us out by offering your anonymous feedback.
Please visit the webpage below to fill out the survey. Thank you.
Center for Engaged Learning
Upcoming Events
| Date | Time | Event |
| May 8 | 11 a.m. | P-Card Training Zoom |
| May 8 | 4 p.m. | Dr. Therese Maskulka Memorial Service Atrium, de Francesco |
| May 8 | 4:30 p.m. | Dissertation Defense: Jessica L. Schoonmaker Zoom |
| May 9 | 4 p.m. | Senior Toast Alumni Plaza |
| May 10 | 5 p.m. | Graduate Commencement O'Pake Fieldhouse |
| May 11 | 9 a.m. | Undergraduate Commencement: COE, CLAS O'Pake Fieldhouse |
| May 11 | 2 p.m. | Undergraduate Commencement: COB, CVPA O'Pake Fieldhouse |
Athletics
Women's Basketball Scholarship Golf Outing
Please consider joining us for the KU Women's Basketball Scholarship Golf Outing. This amazing and important fundraiser is a scramble tournament featuring great food, prizes, contests and more. The outing will be Friday, June 14, Macoby Run Golf Course. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $500 per foursome and limited space is available. To sign up, please click the link to register today. This event does sell out annually, so we hope to see you out on the course. Thank you from the KU women's basketball team.
Women's Basketball Golf Outing
Janet Malouf, Athletics
| Date | Time | Event |
| May 7 | 4 p.m. | Women's Lacrosse vs. East Stroudsburg PSAC Quarterfinals Keystone Field (Video | Stats | Tickets) |
Accommodations
Persons with a disability, and who require accommodation, should notify the Disability Services Office two weeks prior to the event at 610-683-4108 or email DSO@kutztown.edu, TDD number: 610-683-4499, in order to discuss accommodations. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations. Please note: Kutztown University does not provide wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator located in the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by email at pena@kutztown.edu or the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by email at OCR@ed.gov.