Daily Brief
Sept. 8, 2025
Kaufinger and Vogel Recipients of 2025 Chambliss Faculty Research Awards
Dr. Gregory Kaufinger, professor of accounting, and Dr. Andrew Vogel, professor of English, have been awarded Kutztown University's 2025 Chambliss Faculty Research Awards for their extraordinary research and scholarship endeavors. The awards were presented during the university's Faculty and Staff Convocation and Celebration Friday, Aug. 22. The Chambliss Faculty Research Award, inaugurated in 2004 through a gift from Dr. Carlson R. Chambliss, professor emeriti of physical science, is meant to recognize the very highest achievement in research and scholarship and can be awarded only once within a person's career.
Kaufinger and Vogel Recipients of 2025 Chambliss Faculty Research Awards
University Relations
President Cavalier Connects with Reading Hospital
President Cavalier met with Dr. Charles Barbera, President and CEO of Reading Hospital, to explore partnership opportunities. Thank you to Dr. Guido Pichini ’74, KU Council of Trustees and Reading Hospital Board Member, for coordinating the visit.
University Relations
Weather
Weather forecasts are provided by KU's Dr. Michael Davis and "Monsoon Mike" Regensburger
High pressure over the eastern Great Lakes drifts toward New England. Fair skies are expected. High temperature near 73.
Announcements
First Pawbucks Sale of the Season: 35% off Apparel and Gift
Stop in the KU Campus Store today, Monday, Sept. 8, and save 35% on apparel and gift. Shop in-store or online (excludes other sales and discounts).
Kyle Rex, KU Campus Store
President's Open Hour
Faculty, staff and students are invited to stop by with President Cavalier during his open hour at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, MSU Fireplace Lounge. President Cavalier welcomes your thoughts, concerns and suggestions regarding KU.
Office of the President
AFSCME Election and Membership Meeting
In accordance with the AFSCME International Constitution, nominations for president, vice president, recording secretary, secretary-treasurer, three executive board members and one three-year trustee will be held at the next general membership meeting 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, 203 Academic Forum. Elections will take place at the Nov. 17 meeting. Dinner will be provided Sept. 15; please plan to attend.
Christina Ferris, Biology/AFSCME Local 2234
Stepped Bezel Jewelry Course
Join us for a hands-on jewelry workshop, where you'll master bezel stone setting and craft your own custom ring and Roman-era bracelet with instructor Janna Gregonis. The 10-class schedule is 6-8:30 p.m., Sept. 17 to Nov. 19. The course fee is $200 and includes a jewelry kit to create your custom ring and bracelet. Register online.
KU Advance Office of Extended Learning
Come Speak at Ignite Kutztown
We are seeking speakers for Ignite Kutztown! What is Ignite? It's a speaking event that follows a specific format, more on that below. This semester's Ignite is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, 135 Rickenbach, so mark your calendar to attend and see what itis all about. The basic idea behind Ignite is, what’s the nerdy passion you want to share with other people? Make a five-minute speech about it, with 20 slides that advance automatically every 15 seconds. This doesn't need to be about what you teach about, but it could be as long as you can cover it in five minutes. This can be anything you're passionate about, from a hobby, to a research subject, to a general interest. Thus far, we've had topics ranging from The Last of Us, Apples, Playing with Action Figures as an Adult, and many others. Here’s a great video, Why and How to Give an Ignite Talk. If you're stumped for topics, there are many YouTube videos of Ignite talks from around the country. Contact cripe@kutztown.edu for more information.
Emily Cripe, Communication Studies
NYTimes, LA Times, WSJ and Washington Post Access
The library is pleased to remind the KU community that you have free online access to four of America's most popular newspapers: The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Instructions for how to sign up for an account or renew your access are on the Rohrbach Library website. Please contact Bob Flatley at flatley@kutztown.edu with questions.
Bob Flatley, Rohrbach Library
Academics
Sabbatical Leave 2026-2027
The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce the following faculty members have been granted Sabbatical Leaves:
2026 Fall Semester
- Dannell MacIlwraith, Art and Design
- Holly Tienken, Art and Design
- Todd Underwood, Biological Sciences
2027 Spring Semester
- Michael Covello, Art and Design
- Albert Fu, Anthropology and Sociology
- Gregory Hanson, Modern Language Studies
- Jason Lanter, Psychology
- Vicki Meloney, Art and Design
- Elizabeth Schneider, Art and Design
- Yong-Sang Shim, Computer Science and Information Technology
2026-2027 Academic Year
- Helen S. Hamlet, Counselor Education and Student Affairs
- Christine J. Rhoads, Business Administration
- Scott Tracy, Counselor Education and Student Affairs
Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold, Academic Affairs
CEL: Classroom Visiting Community of Practice
In this Community of Practice, we visit one another’s classrooms: not to evaluate or judge performance, but to observe, appreciate and learn, sparking conversations that invite questions, insights and shared takeaways. In our group meetings, we reflect on what we found valuable, consider what we might adapt for our own teaching and explore how different pedagogical practices work across disciplines. The first meeting is 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, 6 Rohrbach Library. Sign up online.
Center for Engaged Learning Events
Center for Engaged Learning
CEL Professional Learning Opportunities
The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) offers a variety of teaching and learning events designed to connect colleagues, spark ideas and provide practical tools you can use right away. All events take place in the CEL, 6 Rohrbach Library.
Thursday, Sept. 25, Writing AI Assignments
Explore strategies for keeping assignments meaningful in an AI-driven landscape. We'll examine pedagogical techniques, assess AI's strengths and weaknesses and develop practical takeaways.
Learn about KU's many funding opportunities, from small grants to KU Bears. Discuss effective applications, share resources and leave with an action plan to support your scholarship and teaching.
Inspired by the hit TV show, faculty teams will use a “mystery basket” of teaching materials to design and present engaging lessons. Judges and candy prizes included.
Innovative Pedagogy Book Club, we meet every-other Monday at noon. We are reading: “10 to 25” by David Yeager.
This fall's CoP focuses on Classroom Visiting, observing not evaluating colleagues' teaching to spark conversations, insights and shared takeaways. Our first meeting is 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11.
Comp Conversations, biweekly sessions on writing instruction topics.
Hour of Power, weekly one-hour writing retreats, 10-11 a.m. Thursdays.
Center for Engaged Learning Events
Center for Engaged Learning
Upcoming Events
| Date | Time | Event |
| Sept. 8 | 3 p.m. | President's Open Hour MSU Fireplace Lounge |
| Sept. 11 | 10:15 a.m. | 9/11 Flags of Remembrance Ceremony Alumni Plaza |
| Sept. 11 | 11 a.m. | CEL Meeting 6 Rohrbach Library |
Athletics
| Date | Time | Event |
| Sept. 10 | 7 p.m. | Women's Soccer vs. Millersville Keystone Field (Watch | Stats) |
| Sept. 12 | 5 p.m. | Women's Volleyball vs. Bowie State Shannon Sullivan Memorial Tournament Keystone Arena (Watch | Stats) |
| Sept. 13 | 9:30 a.m. | Cross Country hosts DII/DIII Challenge North Campus Farm Course |
| Sept. 13 | 11 a.m. | #1 Field Hockey vs. Wingate Andre Reed Stadium (Watch | Stats) |
| Sept. 13 | 1 p.m. | Women's Volleyball vs. California (Pa.) Shannon Sullivan Memorial Tournament Keystone Arena (Watch | Stats) |
| Sept. 13 | 5:30 p.m. | Women's Volleyball vs. Caldwell Shannon Sullivan Memorial Tournament Keystone Arena (Watch | Stats) |
Accommodations
Persons with a disability, and who require accommodation, should notify the Disability Services Office two weeks prior to the event at 610-683-4108 or email DSO@kutztown.edu, TDD number: 610-683-4499, in order to discuss accommodations. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations. Please note: Kutztown University does not provide wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by email at pena@kutztown.edu. Pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Kutztown University does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, including admissions and employment. Any inquiries regarding the application of Title IX at Kutztown University may be made to Bradley Davis, the university’s Title IX coordinator, located in Old Main A-Wing, Room 02A, by phone at 610-683-4782 or by email at titleix@kutztown.edu. You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by email at OCR@ed.gov.