Daily Brief

KU Hosts Schuylkill County Superintendents Tuesday

Dr. Phil Cavalier, president, hosted a breakfast meet-and-greet Tuesday, Nov. 18, to connect with superintendents from Schuylkill County. The event provided leaders with the opportunity to engage and learn how Kutztown University can best support our local schools and strengthen our partnerships.

University Relations

Celebrating Excellence in Counseling Education

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Jill Krahwinkel-Bower has received the Outstanding Professional Teaching Award from the Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA). This honor recognizes her exceptional dedication to preparing future counselors and her commitment to advancing the profession through innovative and impactful teaching. The PCA, a leading voice for counseling professionals across Pennsylvania, champions ethical, inclusive and high-quality counseling practices. Each year, PCA highlights individuals who make a lasting difference; Krahwinkel-Bower's work exemplifies that mission. Please join us in congratulating Krahwinkel-Bower on this incredible achievement. Her passion and expertise continue to inspire students and colleagues alike. Learn more about PCA online.

College of Education

Your Marketing Help Desk: Live Q&A

Are you ready to take your marketing to the next level? Join us noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, for this free weekly session, where small-business owners and entrepreneurs can bring their questions about digital marketing, social media strategy, Canva and branding and get expert answers in real time. This interactive "help desk" format provides practical insights, tools and strategies to strengthen your brand and grow your business in today's digital marketplace.

Register

Rachael Wolfe, KU SBDC

Call for Centrally Funded Graduate Assistant Requests for 2026-2027

Kutztown University is now accepting requests for centrally funded Graduate Assistant (GA) positions for the 2026-2027 academic year. Priority consideration will be given to positions with a returning GA for Fall 2025. Applications will be evaluated based on the educational benefit to the student, the position's importance to university operations and alignment with university guidelines for graduate assistantships. Graduate assistantships are designed to enhance a student's educational experience while supporting KU's academic mission. Each assistantship should clearly identify learning outcomes and connect to the student's academic or professional goals. Assignments may include research assistance, peer counseling, lab or instructional support, tutoring, academic advising or data management. GAs may not independently teach lectures or labs without a faculty member present. Applications must be submitted using the Graduate Assistant Request Form, available at KU Forms Portal. Each GA position requires a separate application, even if duties are similar.
Timeline
- By Dec. 1, 2025: graduate program coordinators, job supervisors, area directors and faculty submit forms to department chairs or area directors.
- By Dec. 12, 2025: chairs and directors review and forward approved requests to academic deans and vice presidents.
- By Jan. 16, 2026: deans and vice presidents complete reviews and coordinate with the Office of Extended and Lifelong Learning and Graduate Studies.
- By Jan. 30, 2026: a review committee ranks requests from “not recommended” to “critical for university operations.”
- By Feb. 13, 2026: notifications are sent to departments and offices.
For department or externally funded GA positions, applications use the same Docusign form. Department funded requests (stipend and two-thirds tuition covered by the department or grant) are due Friday, Dec. 12. Externally funded positions have no deadline.

Melissa Lincoln, Vice Provost Office

Chambliss Undergraduate Student Academic Achievement Awards

Faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate undergraduate students graduating in December 2025 or May 2026 for this prestigious award. The nomination deadline is Feb. 9, 2026. Nominees should exemplify an exceptional individual achievement in one or more categories. See the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards webpage for more details and use the Chambliss Undergraduate Student Academic Achievement Nomination Form to submit a nomination.

Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards

Heather Arbuckle, Grants and Sponsored Projects

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

Employee of the Month

Do you have a coworker in your department or in any other department on campus that has gone above and beyond to support KU's mission? Acknowledge them by submitting an Employee of the Month nomination. Let us know about the amazing work everyone is doing at KU.

Employee of the Month Nomination Form

Elisabeth Manwiller, Human Resources

New Department of Society, History, and Culture

The start of the Spring 2026 semester, Jan. 26, 2026, will see the start of a new department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: the Department of Society, History, and Culture. We are excited to bring faculty together who are currently members of the departments of anthropology and sociology, geography, history, and modern language studies. Dr. John Stanley will be chairing the Department of Society, History, and Culture. Faculty will remain in their current offices for the Spring 2026 semester and will move to Old Main during Summer 2026. Major and minor programs and curricular offerings are not affected by this structural change. Please be in touch with Dr. Laurie McMillan or Stanley if questions arise.

Laurie McMillan, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

KU BEARS Grant Funding Deadline: Feb. 23, 2026

The KU BEARS Grant funding program supports faculty and student research pairs. The goals are twofold: to develop the necessary skillset of undergraduate students to help them become student researchers; and to provide faculty members with student-research assistants. Funded projects will be allotted up to $2,500 to cover student wages and $500 for presentation travel for the student. The program is open to all faculty members and to current freshmen, sophomores or juniors.

KU BEARS Grant Funding

Heather Arbuckle, Grants and Sponsored Projects