Daily Brief

Championship Saturday: Football to Host PSAC Championship Game; Field Hockey NCAA Tournament Game

Golden Bear athletics has two playoff games at Andre Reed Stadium tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 15. Football (10-0) welcomes IUP (7-2) for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship game at noon, as the Golden Bears seek the conference's first three-peat since the 1970s. Stick around after football, as KU field hockey (19-1) hosts Assumption in an NCAA first-round game at 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to the national semifinals next weekend. Live coverage and ticket information is available online.

Sports Information

COE Undergraduates Shine at National Literacy Conference

Undergraduate students Sara Aschenbrenner and Payton Kleckner from KU's visual impairment program represented Kutztown University with excellence at the Getting in Touch with Literacy (GITWL) Conference in Huntsville, Ala. They presented their research on "Adapting Games for Children with Visual Impairments" and impressed attendees with their professionalism, clarity and depth of knowledge, so much so that many were surprised to learn they were undergraduates. Notably, Kleckner was even offered an on-site job interview. Faculty members Dr. Nicole Johnson, Dr. Kathy Stanfa and Anna Tellis, assistant coordinator for the visual impairment program, also presented at the conference, sharing insights on "Using AI Tools for Braille Instruction." While all presentations were well received, special pride goes to our students for their outstanding contributions and representation of KU.  This experience is a shining example of undergraduate research in action and a testament to what happens when we put students first. It's also a reminder that at KU, It’s Good to Be Golden!

College of Education

Student Showcase to Celebrate Dr. Cavalier's Inauguration

As we prepare for the many exciting events leading up to the Inauguration of President Cavalier Friday, April 10, Dr. Cavalier wishes to include a Student Showcase Thursday, April 9, highlighting student academic and extracurricular accomplishments at KU. Since the inauguration will include an invitation to many people from off-campus, PASSHE presidents, state leaders, etc., along with all members of our campus community, this will be a great opportunity to feature the many amazing academic programs and other opportunities for students that make KU a place of Golden Opportunities. We invite each college to contribute to the Student Showcase through its department representative listed below. Showcase presentations could include, but is not limited to, work done in a class, independent research or other scholarship, creative works, musical performances or service/outreach activities. Showcase presentations that involve student interaction with attendees might be especially impactful. The anticipated format for the Showcase will involve attendees circulating among different Showcase presentations while enjoying refreshments at various academic buildings near Alumni Plaza. The Student Showcase committee is comprised of the following individuals with one-to-two academic leaders from each college, who will be in touch regarding how to submit work for the showcase: Leah Casellia, staff representation; Caecilia Holt, staff representation; Soojin Kim, College of Business; Roseanne Perkins, College of Education; Liz Quay and Frank Kumor, College of Visual and Performing Arts; Lynn Kutch and Matt Junker, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Melinda Quinones is working with student organizations/groups. If you have a student organization group interested in participating, email quinones@kutztown.edu.

Amy Pfeiler-Wunder and Melinda Quiñones, Committee Co-Chairs

Strategic Planning and Resources Committee: Election Nominations

University Senate and Senate Governance Committee nominations are now being accepted for the following elected position:
- One At-Large Staff representative for Strategic Planning and Resources Committee: makes recommendations concerning strategic planning, budget and development and allocation procedures for the university. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the committee develops and reviews all pertinent planning and budget materials. This is a two-year term. Any staff member below the rank of Cabinet is eligible. To self-nominate to be on the ballot, please complete the electronic form. Log in using your full KU email address and password. Willingness will close at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16. Engage access questions can be sent to Leah Cassellia at casselli@kutztown.edu. Information about governance committees, including mission statements, bylaws and memberships can be found online.

Governance Committees

Gregory Shelley, Vice President, University Senate

Open Hour with Provost

Faculty, staff and students are invited to drop by and chat with Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, during her open office hour 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, MSU Bears Den. Faculty and staff who would like to have a conversation, but for whom this time does not work, are welcome to contact the Office of the Provost at 610-683-4155 to schedule a time to meet.

Office of the Provost

Anne Imschweiler, Provost Office/Academic Affairs

Video from University Choir and Percussion Ensemble Performance

The University Choir, University Percussion Ensemble and guests Heartland Marimba debuted the Dark Sky Movement of the Death Valley Symphony April 8-9, 2024, created by composer Jenni Brandon of California. Brandon attended the performances in the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research April 8, and the Georgian Room April 9. Student performances were supported by professors Brandon Krieg, poet, Frank Kumor, conductor, Hannah Carr, choir director, Matthew Coley, percussion center curator, and Dale Parson, video artist. The silent video on display in Rohrbach Library, outside the coffee shop, during Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 debuted at these performances. It uses photographs from the National Park Service, the university's licensed Adobe stock photos and other publicly available sources, composed using Dr. Dale Parson's custom improvisational graphics software. Krieg's poem "The Stars Beyond the Stars" is mounted on the wall next to the library video display. The video includes the music from the performance. We would like to thank librarian Sylvia Pham and staff member Laurel Walker for supporting this installation.

Video

Dr. Dale Parson, Computer Science and Information Technology