Daily Brief

Significant Career Achievements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences celebrated its faculty and staff during this year’s annual picnic, recognizing significant professional accomplishments across departments. Faculty and staff were honored for  significant career achievements, including authoring a book, serving as a principal investigator on a major grant award and demonstrating cumulative scholarly productivity that continues to elevate Kutztown University’s academic reputation. Honorees received a certificate, booklet and pen set to celebrate their achievement.
Book publications: Colleen Clemens, Anne DeLong, Michael Downing, Moe Folk, Michael P. Gabriel, Arthur H. Garrison, Brandon Kreig, Sandra Leonard
Major external grants: Christopher Harris
Fifteen or more publications over the course of career: Albert Fu, Lynn Kutch, Phillip Reed, Steven Schnell, Stephen Stoeffler
More photos of the event are on the Kutztown University Liberal Arts and Sciences Facebook page.
Thank you to all faculty and staff in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for your expertise and creativity that inspire our students.

CLAS Community Picnic

Laurie McMillan, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Thank You, KU

Dear KU, thank you for the last 20 years. I have made many friends and have worked with a lot of you during this time. There are those who have been co-workers, peers and mentors and have helped, advised or guided me throughout the years. We have laughed, talked and discussed many things together. I appreciated those that came to my retirement party, all the kind words sent via email or in person, cards and hugs. I will miss all of your smiling faces, but know that I am still close by and you can reach out to me at jeannc30@gmail.com. Now on to the next chapter of my life called retirement.

Jeann Cengeri, Career Development Center

Benefits Announcement: Open Enrollment For PEBTF Oct. 12-30

The Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF) Open Enrollment Period is Monday, Oct. 12 through Friday, Oct. 30. The Open Enrollment Period is your annual opportunity to review your plan options and ensure that you have the coverage that works best for you and your family in 2027. All changes made to your PEBTF Enrollments through the open enrollment period will be effective Jan. 1, 2027. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Human Resources Department at humanresources@kutztown.edu.

Carleen McElderry, Human Resources

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. 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

Planetarium Show Tonight, "Stars: The Powerhouses of the Universe"

Join us for "Stars: The Powerhouses of the Universe" 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, Planetarium. Narrated by Star Wars’ Mark Hamill, "Stars" takes you on a journey through the lives of the stars, from their birth in vast clouds of gas and dust to their spectacular deaths as supernovae. Discover how stars produce their enormous energy, how astronomers uncover their secrets and how stars create many of the elements that make up the world around us. Colorful animated stories travel through different cultures and eras to explore how people have understood and interpreted the stars throughout human history. Combining science, history and immersive fulldome imagery, "Stars" tells the remarkable story of the powerhouses of our universe. This show is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served and the doors will open at 6 p.m. This event includes an optional tour of the astronomical research observatory and, if the weather is good, telescope views of the crescent moon and the planet Saturn.

Kutztown University Planetarium Shows

Phill Reed, Physical Sciences, Planetarium and Observatory

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

PASSHE Women's Consortium Annual Conference

This year's annual PASSHE Women's Consortium conference is Friday, Oct. 23, Zoom. "Rooted in Community: Leading with Intention and Resilience" will focus on resilience, intentionality and community-building by calling us together to celebrate our strength, prioritize well-being and unite in shared and complementary purposes. Through engaging sessions, meaningful dialogue and opportunities to network with faculty, staff, administrators and students from across PASSHE, we remain committed to exploring how community-building remains at the very core of resilience for those who teach, learn, lead and service with higher education. Whether you are seeking practical tools, fresh perspectives or community, this conference is designed to uplift, empower and energize.

Register

Marlene Nanouh Fares, PASSHE Women's Consortium

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

Rape Aggression Defense Training

Rape Aggression Defense Training (R.A.D.), provided by Public Safety and Police Services, is free to female students, faculty and staff. Training is 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 22A Old Main; Tuesday, Nov. 3, Georgian Room; and Thursday, Nov. 5, Georgian Room. You must attend all three sessions to complete the R.A.D. program. Email Danielle Santos or call 610-683-4860 to sign up. Limited spaces available.

KU Public Safety and Police Services

New Student Orientation - Spring Save the Dates

We are excited to share the New Student Orientation dates for students beginning at KU in the Spring 2027 semester.
- Freshmen Orientation: Wednesday, Jan. 13
- Transfer Orientation: Friday, Dec. 4 (online only) and Thursday, Jan. 14
We look forward to collaborating with our campus partners to welcome in our new Golden Bears.

Orientation

Brett Santos, New Student Orientation