Daily Brief

Read the Fall 2026 Tower Magazine

The Fall 2026 issue of Tower, Kutztown University's fully online magazine, is now available. Check out the articles and catch up on alumni news.

University Relations

Retirement of Jeann Cengeri

With heartfelt gratitude and sincere congratulations, we celebrate Jeann Cengeri as she begins her retirement. Jeann's 20 years of dedicated service to Kutztown University and her contributions to our students, staff, faculty and employer partners will not be forgotten. Please join us in wishing her well in person at her retirement celebration 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, 250 MSU. Enjoy some delicious refreshments as we celebrate Jeann's career, accomplishments and exciting new chapter.

Kerri Gardi, Career Development Center

Remember Everyone Deployed Button Sales

The Student Veterans of America (SVA) and Military and Veteran Services are excited to announce our Red Button Sale in support of Red Fridays.
- Thursday, Oct. 1, noon to 2 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, Oct. 22, noon to 2 p.m.
The $1 red button sale will take place at the MSU front tables. Every red button purchased comes with a free coffee from either Starbucks or Book and Brew. Red Fridays are observed as a way to show support and solidarity for our deployed service members. By wearing red on Fridays, our campus community can help keep deployed soldiers and their service in our thoughts while demonstrating our continued support for those serving our country. We encourage students, faculty and staff to purchase a button, wear it on Fridays and join us in showing our support for deployed service members. Whether you have a military connection or simply want to show your support, wearing red is a meaningful way to stand with those who are currently serving. Funds raised will directly support KU military-connected students.

Nick Snyder, Military and Veteran Services

Installation Artist in Sharadin's Miller Gallery

The KU Miller Gallery is excited to announce that Ben Zamora (Seattle) is the Installation Artist in Residence for Fall 2026. Zamora is currently creating a LED light installation/exhibition with the help of students and volunteers. The exhibition opens to the public Thursday, Oct. 1, with a reception from 3-5 p.m. It is on view until the end of the semester. The Miller Gallery is located off the Atrium of the Sharadin Arts Building. Zamora's work moves seamlessly between performance and visual art, where he creates light-based sculptures and art installations for performance-based work, including projects with Kronos Quartet, Saint Genet, Director - Peter Sellars, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Barbican, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has created large-scale installations and sculptures for the Park Avenue Armory in New York, The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Amsterdam Light Festival, Kunsthalle Krems in Austria, Vienna Festival, Holland Festival, The Frye Art Museum, Suyama Space, as well as a number of galleries, museums, private art collections and public art projects.

Miller Art Gallery

Karen Stanford, College of Visual and Performing Arts

APSCUF-KU Drive for Student Food Pantry

APSCUF-KU is taking donations through Wednesday, Oct. 28 for the Lutheran Center Student Food Pantry. Canned goods, cereal, pantry staples, personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies are welcome. Drop off locations: 110 Beekey, 114 Boehm, 228 de Fran, 205 Lytle, 215 Old Main, 437 Old Main, 206 Rickenbach, 11 Rohrbach and 405 Sharadin.

Amy Lynch-Biniek, APSCUF-KU

Spirit Fridays

Fridays at KU are Spirit Fridays. All faculty, staff, students and the community are encouraged to wear maroon and gold and/or Kutztown University apparel on Fridays throughout the year. The KU Campus Store offers 20% off apparel and gifts the first Friday of every month as part of its First Friday Sale (in-store and online).

University Relations

Miller-Keystone Blood Drive

Miller-Keystone Blood Center will be on campus Wednesday, Oct. 7, 218 MSU. Sign up online and make a life-saving contribution. Every donation matters.

Amanda Garcia, Community Outreach Center

Faculty and Staff Halloween Door Decorating Contest

Unfurl the cobwebs and rally your team. The 2026 Faculty and Staff Halloween Door Decorating Contest is officially here and it's time to bring some festive magic to our halls. Whether you’re envisioning a spine-chilling classic haunted scene, a cozy autumn motif or a totally unique pop-culture creation, we want to see your department's creative spirit shine. Getting involved is simple. First, register your space by emailing stratton@kutztown.edu with your office name, building and room number by Wednesday, Oct. 14. Next, work your decorating magic and send a photo of your finished masterpiece to stratton@kutztown.edu by Friday, Oct. 23. Judging will take place Monday, Oct. 26 to Wednesday, Oct. 28, with our grand winners announced Friday, Oct. 30. As a friendly reminder, please ensure door handles remain visible and operational and that all decorations keep walkways and exits completely clear. Grab your scissors, tape and spooky ideas; we can't wait to see your amazing creations. Happy decorating.

Student Affairs

Wear Purple for Purple Thursday

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple Thursday, an annual event occurring on the third Thursday of October, is a national day of action to raise awareness for domestic violence and show support for survivors. We encourage all KU students, faculty and staff to wear purple Thursday, Oct. 15 and join us at 11:15 a.m. on the lawn behind Rohrbach Library for a campus picture to raise awareness for domestic violence in our community.

Jalil Dixon, Office of Compliance

HARLOween 2026

Join the Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Office's annual HARLOween event noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, DMZ (rain location 218 MSU). There will be free snacks and treats, games, prizes, live music, bouncy houses and more. Beck Hall will host a haunted house in the rec room. Canned goods or a $1 donation will be asked for admission. This no-cost event is fun for the whole family and is open to all. Halloween costumes are encouraged. We can't wait to see you there.

Sydney Holderman, Office of Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services

Calling All Offices: Host a Donation Box for Our Military Care Package Event

Our deployed military service members spend months away from their families, friends and the comforts of home. A simple care package filled with thoughtful items can provide encouragement, boost morale and remind them that their community is thinking of them. We are seeking campus offices interested in supporting this effort by hosting a donation collection box. We are collecting new, unopened, nonperishable snacks, card games, self-care and body care products, hair care items, stationery supplies and letters of encouragement to include in care packages for deployed soldiers. At the conclusion of the donation drive, all collected items will be assembled into care packages and sent to deployed service members. If your office is willing to serve as a collection site, we will provide a donation box along with a flyer listing suggested donation items. Contact Brianna Mazza if your office is interested in hosting a collection box or for additional information. Thank you for helping us make a difference for those serving our country.

Brianna Mazza, Military and Veterans Services

Faculty Call: Fall 2027 Learning Communities

Interested in exploring new ways to build connections and a stronger sense of community among students? Learning Communities are faculty-led experiences that bring a group of students together as a cohort by enrolling them in two or more courses together. By sharing classes, students have opportunities to build relationships with one another and with faculty while developing a stronger sense of connection to the university. Faculty interested in learning more about Learning Communities are invited to attend an informational session at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, via Zoom. Faculty who are unable to attend at this time may contact Steve Lem, chair, Academic Advising and Student Development, for more information.

Steve Lem, Academic Advising and Student Development