Daily Brief

Happy Thanksgiving

Thank you for making Kutztown University a caring campus community.

University Relations

Teaching Excellence Spotlight: Interactive Geometry for Early Learners

Future teachers in Dr. Katie Monahan's, Department of Elementary, Middle Level, Library and Learning Technologies, course are transforming deep math content into developmentally appropriate practice by creating geometry instructional posters for Pre‑K through first grade learners. This is an engaging, hands‑on lesson that centers how young children make sense of shapes, symmetry and spatial relationships. Earlier in the unit, students explored children's books and manipulatives. They then translated that learning into visual and interactive teaching tools they could use in their own classrooms. The collaborative studio format prompted rich discussion of math vocabulary, peer feedback to refine explanations and the design of visuals that are both accurate and accessible for early learners. This work exemplifies the College of Education's emphasis on excellence in teaching, merging strong content knowledge with best practices for early childhood, and our mission to put students first by preparing KU teacher‑candidates to craft joyful, rigorous math experiences for the youngest learners.

College of Education

MSU Thanksgiving Hours

The McFarland Student Union will close at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, and will reopen 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1.

Liz Ramos, MSU Operations

Clay Club's Holiday Sale

The Clay Club's Holiday Sale is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, across from Starbucks in the MSU. Come shop for holiday gifts created by current students in the ceramics studio. Your family and friends will love the special touch of a handmade work of art.

gwendolyn yoppolo, Clay Club

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

FYS Wonderfest: A Celebration of First-Year Innovation

This fall's FYS Wonderfest is 11-11:50 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, and Thursday, Dec. 4, MSU and Rohrbach Library. Students from Heather LaBarre, Marlene Fares and Loriann Irving's FYS sections will present their research-based and creative ideas. A schedule of breakout sessions is online. Consider attending and supporting our undergraduate researchers.

FYS Wonderfest

Lynn M Kutch, Undergraduate Research and Creativity

Communication Studies Senior Capstone Showcase

The Communication Studies Senior Capstone Showcase, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 223 MSU, provides graduating seniors the opportunity to demonstrate and celebrate years of hard work in their major. The last Wednesday of each semester is reserved for soon-to-be graduates, their friends, family, campus dignitaries and rising seniors to hear from and learn about their Senior Capstone projects. Majors spend the last semester of their academic careers developing and implementing projects that reflect the principles and fundamentals of the communication studies discipline. Many graduating seniors work on their projects for several semesters. These can range from scholarly research projects to working with local businesses developing everything from public relations and publicity plans to creating online and social media content, as well as large-scale strategic communication initiatives. Capstone Night also celebrates graduating seniors through awards and overall, it gives them a special occasion to display their four years of academic growth via a fun and festive evening.

Joseph Harasta, Communication Studies

Six from KU Women's Soccer Named to CSC Academic All-District Team

Six student-athletes from the Kutztown University women's soccer team have been named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. The recognized individuals include senior forward Caroline McDonald, senior midfielder Charlotte Rauch, senior defender Skyler Jordan, junior midfielder Maura Day, sophomore Midfielder Sarah Bronico, and sophomore defender Kaitlyn Hankins. The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.

Women's Soccer Academic All-District Team

Sports Information

Soccer's Day and Morgan Earn Spots on All-Atlantic Region First Team

Juniors Maura Day and Corinne Morgan of the Kutztown University women's soccer team each collected All-Atlantic Region First Team honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) at their respective positions. It is the highest career honor for each of the two Golden Bear stars, who led the team to success in the regular season and into another strong postseason run.

Women's Soccer All-Atlantic Region Team

Sports Information

Clements Wins Third Straight AFCA Division II Region 1 Coach of the Year

Kutztown University head coach Jim Clements earned his third straight American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Regional Coach of the Year award. Clements was tabbed Division II Region 1 Coach of the Year for the fifth time (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025) and earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time overall (2010, Delaware Valley).

Clements Wins Regional Coach of the Year

Sports Information