Daily Brief

Muzeta Named Recipient of 2025 John P. Schellenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Dr. Brenda Muzeta, associate professor of secondary education, was awarded Kutztown University’s 2025 John P. Schellenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The award was presented during the university's Faculty and Staff Convocation and Celebration Friday, Aug. 22. The John P. Schellenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was established by John P. Schellenberg, emeriti professor of physical science, faculty alumni and friends to recognize an early career faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding work.

Muzeta Named Recipient of 2025 John P. Schellenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

University Relations

Congrats to KU Influencers

Congratulations to the KU employees recognized as Positive Influencers by our May 2025 graduates. If you spot this design displayed in their office, workspace or social media, take a moment to congratulate them and thank them for the incredible impact they're making on KU students. Let's encourage them to keep up their amazing positive influence.

Kerri Gardi, Career Development Center

KU COE–KASD Partnership Expands Experiential Learning and Reinvents Assessment for Future Educators

Building on a successful pilot last year, Kutztown University's College of Education officially kicked off the second year of its partnership with Kutztown Area School District (KASD) last week. This collaboration offers KU secondary education students a transformative hands-on experience through a six-credit Principles of Learning course, co-taught onsite at Kutztown Area High School by KU secondary education chair, Dr. Mark Wolfmeyer, and KASD teacher and KU part-time faculty member, Dr. Karise Mace. At the heart of this initiative is Wolfmeyer's pioneering work in clinical curation, a model that empowers KU students to deeply observe and then enact specific instructional practices in real classroom settings. Through structured learning walks with volunteer teachers from Kutztown Area High School and Middle School, students hone in on targeted strategies, developing their professional vision alongside practicing educators. This partnership also marks a significant shift in how KU assesses its teacher candidates. Moving away from traditional exams and papers, the program embraces performance-based assessments, allowing students to demonstrate their growth through authentic teaching experiences and reflective practice. This model pushes the boundaries of how clinical experiences are curated and evaluated within undergraduate education. Leadership from both KASD and KU's College of Education joined students to kick off the semester and celebrate this dynamic collaboration, a statement of the value both parties have in this partnership. With ideas about expansion opportunities, the program continues to strengthen the bridge between theory and practice, preparing KU students to become thoughtful, skilled and reflective educators.

College of Education

JCPenney Suit-Up Event

You are invited to attend a KU and JCPenney Suit-Up event 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall, Pa. Get up to 45% off professional clothing. This event is exclusively for KU faculty, staff, students and alumni. Please bring your KU ID. No registration needed.

Jeann Cengeri, Career Development Center

9/11 Flags of Remembrance Ceremony

More than 700 American flags have been planted on the lawns surrounding Alumni Plaza in remembrance of the attacks from Sept. 11, 2001. Signage will be on-site to highlight critical timeline moments Thursday, Sept. 11. The KU community will observe moments of silence in place, wherever you may be on campus, at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m. and 10:03 a.m. The campus community is invited to attend our Flags of Remembrance Ceremony at 10:15 a.m., Alumni Plaza. Honorable guest speakers will share reflections followed by a tribute performed by the Kutztown Pipe Band, in honor of the lives that were lost and all who have been affected by these tragic events. Following the tribute, attendees are welcome to continue their reflection at the plaza and are also welcome to continue their time of reflection and honor in the following ways:
- Visit the tree that was planted and plaque placed in front of Old Main in memory of Gary Haag ’87, who was one of several KU alumni who died Sept. 11, 2001.
- Rohrbach Library will have a display highlighting detailed timelines and remembrance remarks.
- Sept. 11 is Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. The campus community is encouraged to perform a good deed or service on this day to keep the spirit of unity and community care alive.
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is allowing tributes to be posted on their Remember the Sky Remembrance Wall website. We thank you for your respectful participation. Questions can be directed to Military and Veterans Services at veterans@kutztown.edu. 

Military and Veterans Services

Nick Snyder, Military and Veterans Services

Governance Committees: Willingness to Serve

The Governance Committee has the following openings:

Professional Staff
- Committee on Committees (one opening): Makes faculty and professional staff appointments to university-wide committees as needed. It also makes recommendations on the structure of the committees to which it makes appointments. Must have three years of full-time service at the university by August 2025. This is a two-year term. KU employees designated "Professional Staff" are all those represented by SCUPA and managers below rank of Cabinet.

Faculty
- At-Large Faculty/Coach Senator (one opening): Senator representing the views of all faculty/coaches at the university. Must have three years of full-time service at the university by August 2025. This is a three-year term.
- One College of Education representative for the Academic Exceptions Committee (one-year term).
- One College of Visual and Performing Arts representative for the Strategic Planning and Resources Committee (one-year term).
- One Female Faculty representative for the Commission on the Status of Women (two-year term).
- One Male Faculty representative for the Commission on the Status of Women (two-year term).

Kutztown University faculty, managers and staff members: please use this online form to indicate your willingness to serve on University Governance Committees. Log in using your full KU email address and password. Willingness will close at 11:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15. Engage access questions can be sent to Leah Cassellia at casselli@kutztown.edu. Information about governance committees, including mission statements, bylaws and memberships can be found on the Governance Committee website.

Governance Committee Descriptions

Lisa Frye, University Senate President

Neurodiversity Reading Group for Fall 2025

As part of Kutztown University's Title III Grant, we are once again organizing a discussion group around issues of inclusion. This academic year we will read "The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work" by Ludmila N. Praslova, Ph.D. Meetings will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30; Thursday, Oct. 30; and Tuesday, Dec. 9. If you are interested in taking part in the discussion, please contact Karen Rauch, rauch@kutztown.edu, by Wednesday, Sept. 10. A copy of the book will be provided to each participant.

Karen Rauch, Office of the Provost

KU Email Signature

We are excited to share our accessible email signature for staff and faculty. This signature features the university’s official maroon color and is accessible for all audiences by removing gold and any logos. In this document, you will find instructions for Outlook on PC, Mac and the web app (OWA). We encourage the entire campus community to welcome and utilize this new signature to further advance our brand both on and off campus, and to align our efforts toward accessibility.

University Relations

Weather and Climate Chat Podcast Available

Campus weather experts "Monsoon" Mike Regensburger, advisor of Kutztown University Radio, and Dr. Michael Davis, professor, Physical Sciences, discuss past, present and future weather trends. Also in this podcast is a special topic on how Davis' students will be helping provide weather forecasts for airing on KUR. Listen on Spotify.

Weather and Climate Podcast

Mike Regensburger, Kutztown University Radio

Free Yoga Class

Free yoga classes will be held 4:45-5:45 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, Student Recreation Center North Studio for current faculty and staff members. No membership is required. Please present your ID at the Information Desk so that our staff can check you into the facility. You will also be required to sign a waiver with the instructor upon entering the class. Alumni and retirees are also welcome to attend with a paid membership.

Tracy Turner, Student Recreation Center

Academic Affairs Directory Now Available

Looking for contact information for dean's offices, department chairs or secretaries? The updated Academic Affairs Directory has you covered. A printable version is available at the bottom of the page for your convenience.

Academic Affairs Directory

Anne Imschweiler, Provost Office/Academic Affairs