Daily Brief

Celebrate Maddie Anthes

Join the CLAS Dean's Office 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, Graduate Center first floor, as we celebrate Maddie Anthes. She has contributed to CLAS and KU in countless ways in her time serving as assistant dean. We are excited for her as she begins a new chapter in Student Affairs as senior associate dean of Student Engagement and Student Assistance.

Laurie McMillan, CLAS Dean's Office

Vogel to Host Fall 2026 Chambliss Faculty Lecture Oct. 21

Kutztown University is proud to host an engaging and interactive lecture by Dr. Andrew Vogel, professor of English, for Kutztown University's Fall 2026 Chambliss Faculty Lecture 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 183 McFarland Student Union. The title of Vogel's presentation is "Mobility in the Irish Ireland Movement." In late 19th-century Ireland, storytelling became a driving force in the fight for freedom from colonial oppression. Travel was the basis of these stories. Emerging writers of the Irish Literary Revival like Augusta Gregory, William Butler Yeats and John Millington Synge explored Ireland, learned Irish-Gaelic, collected native stories and translated them for both page and stage, fueling the independence movement with ideas that redefined the ways Ireland experiences and navigates national space.

Vogel Presents Chambliss Faculty Lecture Oct. 21

University Relations

Tomorrow is Purple Thursday

Tomorrow is Purple Thursday. We encourage all KU students, faculty and staff to wear purple and join us at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, on the lawn behind Rohrbach Library for a campus picture to raise awareness of domestic violence in our community. 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.

Jalil Dixon, Office of Compliance

Homecoming Week Information and Updates

Join us 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, 183 MSU, as we go over everything happening during Homecoming Week. We'll review the week's schedule, highlight the events and activities available for our students and talk about ways to get involved and show off your Golden Bear pride.

Kelly Gillis, Student Involvement

Free Tickets for "Centralia: The Fire Below"

This new play will premiere 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15-16, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, Schaeffer Auditorium. "Centralia: The Fire Below" is the saga of the Pennsylvania town consumed by an underground mine fire. The 90-minute play features several original films, including "The Murder and Trial of Alexander Rea" and "Centralia Hill: Silent No More." A museum of Centralia artifacts will be available in the Schaeffer lobby 30 minutes before and after the performance. The cast includes actors from New York City, Philadelphia and Kutztown University. Tickets are free. Use the following link to reserve your tickets today: Centralia Tickets. For more information, email Centralia@kutztown.edu.

Centralia: The Fire Below

Deryl Johnson, Communication Studies

Come From Away

Sycamore Stage Theatre Company presents "Come From Away." This is a story for everyone. You will laugh and cry, but in the best way. People comment that they couldn't see a show about 9/11. It isn't about 9/11. It's about 9/12 and the power of what happens out of love and care for each other in the face of adversity. This story will change your life for the better. Do yourself a favor, join us in telling the story of the beauty of the human experience and support a few of our students, staff and parents of students.
Showtimes are:
- 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, Saturday, Oct. 17, Friday, Oct. 23, Saturday, Oct. 24
- 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, Saturday, Oct. 24

Come From Away Tickets

Elisabeth Manwiller, Human Resources

Chamber Ensemble Wins Second Place in Competition, to Perform in Reading Oct. 23

One of Kutztown University's chamber ensembles, Trio Caribe (Jade Hasbún, violin; Alejandro Bolivar, cello; and Andres Zuluaga, piano), won second place in the 2026 Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association (PMTA) Chamber Music Competition. As a result, they have been invited to perform along with other winners 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Friends of Chamber Music Society in Reading.

University Relations

Student of Concern Referral Information

We hope your fall semester is going well. As the middle of the semester approaches, please consider submitting a Student of Concern Referral if you notice a student experiencing personal, behavioral, financial, health-related or other challenges impacting their well-being. Signs of concern may include changes in behavior, appearance, communication, attendance, engagement or other indicators of distress. Students may also face challenges related to basic needs, family concerns, medical issues, difficult life circumstances or other personal matters. If you are concerned about a student's well-being or believe they may be experiencing challenges affecting their university experience, please submit a referral. Early awareness and intervention can help connect students with appropriate support and resources. Referrals may be submitted through the Student of Concern Referral Form or through Starfish using the Student Assistance general referral option. Questions may be directed to the Office of Student Assistance at studentassistance@kutztown.edu. For emergency situations requiring immediate attention, please contact Kutztown University Public Safety and Police Services at 610-683-4001.

Office of Student Assistance

Kelly Hojnacki, Office of Student Assistance

New Kids on the Block

Faculty who have joined KU within the past three years: you are invited to the Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6 Rohrbach Library, to gather, connect with colleagues and share ideas, questions and experiences. This informal conversation is a welcoming space to meet others, build community and feel more connected to KU.

CEL Programs and Events

Center for Engaged Learning

A Full House for Feedback

The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) welcomed Dr. Leslie Gates, director of the Center for Academic Excellence and professor of Art Education at Millersville University, Thursday, Oct. 1, for her presentation, "Increasing the Quality of Peer Feedback." The workshop portion drew a full house of faculty interested in a deceptively difficult teaching challenge: How do we help students give one another feedback that is honest, specific and actually useful? Gates shared practical strategies for improving peer feedback and building classroom cultures where students can develop these skills. The conversation continued afterward with a well-attended discussion group, allowing faculty to dig deeper, exchange ideas and consider applications in their own courses. Pizza helped fuel the conversation. CEL's next workshop, "New Kids on the Block," will be held Tuesday, Oct. 20. Faculty who have joined KU within the past three years are invited to join us for an informal opportunity to meet and connect with colleagues, share ideas, questions and experiences.

CEL Programs and Events

Center for Engaged Learning