Marywood University’s Community Leadership Celebration

Marywood University’s Tenth Annual Community Leadership Celebration will honor Professor Emerita of Art Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, M.F.A. on Thursday, May 4, 2023, 5:30 p.m., at the Center for Athletics and Wellness on the University’s campus. During the celebration, Sister Cor will receive the University’s Lead On Award, in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education, to service, and to the common good. An art auction will be featured during the event that includes a piece of artwork by Sister Cor.

The Community Leadership Celebration, Marywood’s signature fundraiser, provides special support to Marywood students and honors individuals in the community who exemplify Marywood’s core values in leadership and service to others. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the President’s Innovation Fund, which supports Marywood students through initiatives that enhance the academic experience in the IHM tradition.

A professed member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), Sister Cor spent the better part of five decades teaching, primarily teaching art at the high school and college levels. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Art at Marywood, she went on to complete multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Arts in Sculpture from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Marywood University, and a Master of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. Much of her prolific career as an art educator was spent at Marywood, where she taught for 30 years and served as Art Department Chair for 14 years, until her retirement in 2008. She now holds the distinction of Professor Emerita of Art.

As an artist, Sister Cor has been commissioned to create numerous sculptures, some of which can be seen throughout the country, including college, estate, wellness, and spiritual settings. Many of her sculptures and other works adorn the interior and exterior spaces at Marywood University and the IHM Congregation facilities. She has designed and published two books, including Spirit of Light (2004), and, her most recent, Spirit Within: The Art of Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM. Earlier this year, she presented a retrospective exhibit for Spirit Within, featuring paintings, calligraphy, prints, and sculptures at the Mahady Gallery at Marywood University. As a spiritual director, Sister Cor has presented extensive workshops and retreats, on five continents, for the Missionaries of Charity. She also has worked with the Institute for Priestly Formation, along with a multitude of parishes and congregations, offering retreats and spiritual direction for priests, consecrated religious, and members of the laity.

In addition to her long career as a Marywood faculty member, Sister Cor is a former Marywood trustee. She also has held membership and leadership positions with the Lackawanna Regional Cultural Council; Everhart Museum; Commission on Architecture and Urban Design; Scranton Diocesan Liturgical Commission; and Meals on Wheels. Sister Cor has been honored by numerous entities for her achievements as an artist, art educator, arts advocate, and a dedicated woman of faith and service.

To join Marywood University in honoring Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM at the Community Leadership Celebration on May 4, or for details about event sponsorships and items for auction, please visit marywood.edu/clc, or call (570) 348-6238.

Marywood University Events

Marywood University Featuring Graduating Students’ Artwork

The work of graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts students in the areas of graphic design, photography, illustration, and painting is on display in Marywood University’s Mahady Gallery through May 6. Additionally, the work of graduating Bachelor of Arts students in the area of art therapy is featured in the Suraci Gallery through May 6.

The Senior Art Exhibit is free and open to the public. The Mahady and Suraci Galleries are located in the Shields Center for Visual Arts on Marywood University’s campus, and hours for both galleries are: Mondays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesdays-Fridays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting for the Living City Lab at Marywood University Set for May 4

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will formally kick off the Living City Lab at Marywood University on Thursday, May 4, 1 p.m., in the Insalaco Center for Studio Arts, where the Living City Lab at Marywood University is located. Along with Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Marywood president, Center for the Living City Executive Director Maria MacDonald, invited dignitaries, and guests will be in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Kimberly Dowdell, incoming president of the American Institute of Architects; current and former Mayors of Scranton and Dunmore; and members of the Board of Trustees of Marywood University and the Center for the Living City.

The date of the event is significant, because it marks the birthday of Jane Jacobs and also commemorates “Jane Jacobs Day” and the 2nd Biennial Observe Scranton: Jane Jacobs’s First City Festival in Scranton. Jane Jacobs (1916-2006), a Scranton native, was an urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. She had no formal training as a planner, yet her 1961 treatise, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, introduced groundbreaking ideas about how cities function, evolve, and fail. The impact of her observation, activism, and writing has led to a planning blueprint for generations of architects, planners, politicians, and activists to practice.

The Center for the Living City holds the singular distinction of being the only urbanist organization founded in collaboration with Jane Jacobs. In the years since its 2005 founding by a group of activists, practitioners, and academics, the Center has become a leading global urbanist organization. Maria MacDonald, program director of interior architecture at Marywood University, serves as the executive director of the Center for the Living City. The mission is to inspire civic engagement and leadership development, invite creative urban solutions, and expand the understanding of the ecology of cities. Keeping the next generation and activists engaged with community and actively participating in their cities is at the heart of the Center’s mission—by everybody, for everybody.

The Living City Lab at Marywood University is a co-created space for experiential learning, where students address global challenges on a local scale. It consists of three key components: education, projects, and networking. Through integrated coursework rooted in urban ecology and sustainability, students across all disciplines create action-oriented local impact, work on real-life public design projects, connect with and learn from community leaders and mentors, and develop strong interdisciplinary career-connected pathways and local relationships.

Image ID: A line of colorful Adirondack chairs is the latest visual addition to the Living City Lab at Marywood University, located in the Insalaco Center for Studio Arts, also pictured. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Living City Lab at Marywood University is set for May 4 at 1 p.m

Marywood University to Host Leadership Symposium

Daniel J. Santaniello, President and CEO of Fidelity Bank, Will Deliver Keynote Address

Marywood University’s School of Business and Global Innovation (SBGI) is hosting a Leadership Symposium, “The Value in Values-led Business,” on Wednesday, April 19, from 3-7 p.m., in the Latour Room, Nazareth Student Center. The event is free and open to the public. All attendees will receive a ticket for a door prize, which will be drawn at the conclusion of the event.

Chris Speicher, Ph.D., SBGI Executive Director, will offer welcoming remarks, and the event will feature a student/alumni panel discussion at 3:15 p.m., followed by a poster session and networking. Light refreshments will be served at 4:30 p.m. Daniel J. Santaniello, President and CEO of Fidelity Bank, will deliver the keynote address at 5:30 p.m.

Born and raised in Lackawanna County, Mr. Santaniello is a 1990 graduate of Marywood University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He has been the President and CEO of Fidelity Bank since 2010. Prior to that, he served the organization as Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer and as the head of Retail Banking.

Through his vision for the future of community banking, Mr. Santaniello has successfully transformed Fidelity Bank into an organization passionate on delivering an unparalleled client experience by focusing on the needs of its bankers, clients, community, and shareholders. Under Mr. Santaniello’s leadership, Fidelity Bank’s assets have increased 323.44%. He is dedicated to both his profession and to many local philanthropic and civic organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. He proudly served on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Association of Bankers, and his commitment to his community has been honored by several civic and cultural organizations. Currently, Mr. Santaniello serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and the Scranton Cultural Center, Chairman of the Board of Director’s for Friendship House, and the Marywood University Board of Trustees. He is a committee member for the Lackawanna County Northeast Visitors Bureau, IHM Finance Committee, and the Lackawanna Industrial Fund Enterprises. Mr. Santaniello also is the former Treasurer of St. Joseph’s Center Foundation. He is a passionate volunteer of his time and talent through fundraising for the Women’s Resource Center and his alma mater, Marywood University. Additionally, he serves on his church’s Finance Council at Saint Eulalia’s Parish, Moscow.

Marywood University Launches Online Program

Building on the success of its existing biotechnology programs and meeting emerging educational and professional needs within this growing science industry, Marywood University is launching a completely online biotechnology master’s degree program.

Featuring a competitive, affordable pricing structure for all students, along with the convenience and flexibility of asynchronous online learning, the 32-credit program will be ready to begin in June 2023. The program cost will be $515 per credit, making it one of the most competitively priced graduate biotechnology degree programs in the Northeast region of the U.S.

Marywood’s M.S. degree program in biotechnology is the only graduate program of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including a two-year master’s program or a five-year bachelor’s to master’s program, with emphasis on either a research track or a business/entrepreneur track. Marywood University has had a professional science master’s program in biotechnology since 2006, but this new, completely online program format “meets students where they are and offers greater flexibility as well as affordability,” said Deanne Dulik Garver, Ph.D., associate professor of science and chairperson of Marywood’s science, mathematics, and computer science department.

Marywood’s interdisciplinary graduate degree in biotechnology blends modern science education with communication skills, management and business understanding, and analytical reasoning. Featuring MBA-level courses, a master’s degree in biotechnology is considered the scientific equivalent of the MBA, with emphasis on cutting-edge science. Additionally, a master’s degree in biotechnology greatly enhances admissions qualifications for students who eventually plan to apply to medical, dental, or veterinary programs. The present market for scientists with an M.S. Biotechnology degree is strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that biomedical research is growing at a rate of 17 percent (2020 through 2030 period)—double the average growth across all occupations.

Dr. Lisa Antoniacci, associate professor of science, oversees the work of Megan Hedgelon, who graduated from Marywood’s five-year B.S. to M.S. Biotechnology program in 2022.

Building on the success of its existing biotechnology programs and meeting emerging educational and professional needs within this growing science industry, Marywood University is launching a completely online biotechnology master’s degree program. Featuring a competitive, affordable pricing structure, along with the convenience and flexibility of asynchronous online learning, the 32-credit program will be ready to begin in June 2023.

For more information about Marywood University’s master’s program in biotechnology, visit marywood.edu/biotechnology-masters-degree or contact Marywood University Admissions by email at GoGrad@marywood.edu or by phone at 570-348-6234.

Marywood University’s Future Events

Marywood University to Show Jack and the Beanstalk

Marywood University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance gears up to present its Children’s Theatre production of Jack and the Beanstalk.There is a public performance on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 2 p.m., in the Munley Theatre at the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, while school district performances (closed to the public) will take place on March 30 and 31.

Under the direction of Dr. Laurie Houser, this family-friendly production is fun for all ages and features an adaptation of the classic fairytale, which tells of Jack, a boy who climbs to the top of a huge beanstalk, then uses his quick wits to outsmart a Giant in his castle in the clouds to free the imprisoned Queen. 

The cast of Jack and the Beanstalk features Jocelyn Meyer as Jack, Gabe Jenceleski as the Giant, Angela Klawiter as the Troll, and Mikaela Clark as the Bean Seller/Magic Harp.

Participating area schools receive an educational packet to prepare students for the show. The packet includes a synopsis of the story, classroom activities for before and after seeing the performance, coloring contests, and an audio recording of a song from the show, which enables the children to interact with the characters during the performance. The children also get to “meet and greet” the characters from the show as they board the buses to return to their schools.

Admission is $10 per person (regardless of age) or free with a valid Marywood ID. Tickets can be purchased in advance by credit card at https://marywood.universitytickets.com/ or purchased at the door.

Marywood University’s to Host Tenth Annual Community Leadership Celebration

Marywood University’s Tenth Annual Community Leadership Celebration will honor Professor Emerita of Art Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, M.F.A. on Thursday, May 4, 2023, 5:30 p.m., at the Center for Athletics and Wellness on the University’s campus. During the celebration, Sister Cor will receive the University’s Lead On Award, in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education, to service, and to the common good. An art auction will be featured during the event that includes a piece of artwork by Sister Cor.

The Community Leadership Celebration, Marywood’s signature fundraiser, provides special support to Marywood students and honors individuals in the community who exemplify Marywood’s core values in leadership and service to others. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the President’s Innovation Fund, which supports Marywood students through initiatives that enhance the academic experience in the IHM tradition.

A professed member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), Sister Cor spent the better part of five decades teaching, primarily teaching art at the high school and college levels. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Art at Marywood, she went on to complete multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Arts in Sculpture from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Marywood University, and a Master of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. Much of her prolific career as an art educator was spent at Marywood, where she taught for 30 years and served as Art Department Chair for 14 years, until her retirement in 2008. She now holds the distinction of Professor Emerita of Art.

As an artist, Sister Cor has been commissioned to create numerous sculptures, some of which can be seen throughout the country, including college, estate, wellness, and spiritual settings. Many of her sculptures and other works adorn the interior and exterior spaces at Marywood University and the IHM Congregation facilities. She has designed and published two books, including Spirit of Light (2004), and, her most recent, Spirit Within: The Art of Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM. Earlier this year, she presented a retrospective exhibit for Spirit Within, featuring paintings, calligraphy, prints, and sculptures at the Mahady Gallery at Marywood University. As a spiritual director, Sister Cor has presented extensive workshops and retreats, on five continents, for the Missionaries of Charity. She also has worked with the Institute for Priestly Formation, along with a multitude of parishes and congregations, offering retreats and spiritual direction for priests, consecrated religious, and members of the laity.

In addition to her long career as a Marywood faculty member, Sister Cor is a former Marywood trustee. She also has held membership and leadership positions with the Lackawanna Regional Cultural Council; Everhart Museum; Commission on Architecture and Urban Design; Scranton Diocesan Liturgical Commission; and Meals on Wheels. Sister Cor has been honored by numerous entities for her achievements as an artist, art educator, arts advocate, and a dedicated woman of faith and service.

To join Marywood University in honoring Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM at the Community Leadership Celebration on May 4, or for details about event sponsorships and items for auction, please visit marywood.edu/clc, or call (570) 348-6238.

Marywood University to Host Events for Prospective Students

Marywood University School of Architecture Day Set for March 20

In an eventspecially designed for students interested in pursuing degrees in Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Construction Management, Marywood University will hold a School of Architecture Day for prospective students on Monday, March 20, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, at the Center for Architectural Studies on campus. Students must register for the event by March 10 if they plan to attend, as space is limited.

The School of Architecture Day will feature meetings with faculty and student groups, tours of the Center for Architectural Studies and the Marywood campus, and opportunities to engage with various studio classes in the Architecture and Interior Architecture programs, as well as the new Center for the Living City’s Living Lab. In addition, there will be make/take activities with student groups and a Q&A panel with the Architecture Student Council and Admissions representatives. The event also includes a complimentary lunch.

Due to the structure of the program, this event is for students only. Parents are invited to attend a Q&A parent panel with the School of Architecture’s Program Director and faculty at 3 p.m.

To attend Marywood University’s School of Architecture Day, please go to marywood.edu/archday and register by March 10; space is limited. Contact the School of Architecture at architecture@marywood.edu or 570-961-4536 if you have any questions about the event.

Marywood University to Hold Virtual Master of Fine Arts Information Session

Marywood University will hold a virtual Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Information Session on Thursday, March 23, at 4 p.m. This information session is free and open to anyone who is interested in pursuing a low-residency master of fine arts degree. To register, please visit marywood.edu/mfainfo.

Marywood’s “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” MFA program for designers and illustrators is the oldest and best low-residency program in the country, designed for those who are working full time, but who are also interested in earning a terminal degree.

The virtual info session will cover what to expect during the three-year program that includes

four, two-week residential summer sessions at Marywood’s campus; six study tours conducted in New York City and other major cities; and independent work. Former student thesis and class

project examples will be shared. While production and technical skills are stressed, the thrust of the program is on creativity and conceptual thinking.For additional information about Marywood University’s MFA Information Session, please contact Steven Brower, MFA, director of the “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” MFA program at Marywood University, at (570) 348-6211, ext. 2569, or email sbrower@marywood.edu

Discover if Being a Dietitian is Right for You at Marywood University’s “Dietitian for a Day” Program

Marywood University is hosting a “Dietitian for a Day” program on Monday, March 27, from 9:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., in the O’Neill Center for Health Families on the University’s campus. The program is free and open to anyone considering a career in nutrition and dietetics.

The program offers students an opportunity to learn what a dietitian is and about the different areas in which dietitians practice. Attendees will gain hands-on experience in several practice areas including sports, clinical and community nutrition, food science, and food service. The program also includes a session with admissions and financial aid counselors, a tour of Marywood’s campus, and lunch. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the nutrition and dietetics faculty as well as current students.

Attendees will gain a clearer picture about the career opportunities for a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the types of classes, course material, and supervised practice involved in being a nutrition and dietetics major. Marywood’s Nutrition and Dietetics department provides coursework that prepares students to provide nutrition care in a variety of settings.

Register online by March 22 at marywood.edu/dietitianday to attend “Dietitian for a Day.” For additional information about Marywood University’s nutrition and dietetics program, please visit marywood.edu/academics/nutrition or call (570) 348-6277.

Marywood University’s MFA Program Ranks Among Top 10 in the Nation

David Plunkert, an nationally recognized illustrator, poster artist, graphic designer, and co-founder of Spur Design LLC in Baltimore, MD, is one of the industry masters who mentor and guest lecture in Marywood’s renowned “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” program.

Marywood University was recently notified that its MFA program, featuring the low-residency MFA Program, “Get Your Master’s with the Masters,” ranks among the top 10 in the nation by Best Value Schools. At #4, Marywood is the only regional institution named in this ranking, which is based on student/faculty ratio and tuition cost, including out-of-pocket expenses. To view Marywood’s ranking, go to bestvalueschools.org/best-mfa-degree/.

Marywood’s distinctive “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” program, a low-residency MFA in Graphic Design, Illustration, and Sequential Art for working professionals, is the oldest low-residency program in the country, designed for those who are working full time, but who are also interested in earning a terminal degree. Marywood also offers a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary MFA in Visual Arts with tracks in Clay, Sculpture, Printmaking, Painting, and Photography.

For more information about Marywood’s “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” low-residency MFA program, go to marywood.edu/visual-arts-graphic-design-illustration-masters-degree. To learn more about the scope of Marywood University’s Art Programs, visit marywood.edu/academics/art or contact the Office of Admissions at (570) 348-6234 or email GoGrad@marywood.edu (graduate) or YourFuture@marywood.edu (undergraduate).

Marywood University Wind Symphony Earns National Recognition

The Marywood University Wind Symphony is being nationally recognized as a featured ensemble at the Small Program Showcase during the 2023 College Band Directors National Association Conference, which will be held February 15-18, 2023, at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA.

Selected by blind peer review, audio excerpts of the Marywood Wind Symphony’s performances from recent concerts will be played, and F. David Romines, D.M.A., director of bands and co-chairperson of the Music, Theatre, and Dance department at Marywood, will be speaking about specifics related to the band program during the “Small College Program Audio Performances” session at the conference on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

“This is a great way to recognize the wonderful music we are making that might otherwise go unnoticed,” said Dr. Romines.

Marywood University is the only educational institution in Northeast Pennsylvania that offers Bachelor of Music degrees, and students are given the opportunity to perform locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. For more information on music programs at Marywood University, please visit marywood.edu/academics/mtd or contact the Office of University Admissions at YourFuture@marywood.edu or (570) 348-6234.

Marywood University Hosts Employment Fair

Marywood University is hosing a Business School Employment Fair on Thursday, March 30 from 11am – 2pm in the Latour Room of the Nazareth Student Center on Marywood’s campus. Setup will begin around 10am, and a light lunch will be provided to all businesses attending.

Students of all majors are invited but we anticipate mostly our business students attending that day as well as Marywood alumni. They will come prepared with resumes and questions about internship / job opportunities. Businesses are welcome to bring marketing materials and can use any of our available space if they’d like to interview students on-site that day. They will have a table on which to hang a banner or provide materials to students.

There is no cost to participate, but we are limited to 30 businesses. In the past, some would give away a gift card or another prize to students who stopped by their table but this is certainly not necessary.

If any business would like to be part of our event, they can email me directly at awasho@maryu.marywood.edu

Marywood University Sets Open House for Prospective Undergraduates

Marywood University will hold a spring undergraduate open house for high school students and their parents on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in the Fireplace Lounge at the Nazareth Student Center on the University’s campus, and the last campus tour departs at 1:30 p.m.

The event will include informative tours of the campus, complimentary continental breakfast and lunch for all guests, and the opportunity to meet with current Marywood students, faculty, and athletic coaches. Information sessions with admissions and financial aid counselors will also be available.

For more information and to register, visit marywood.edu/openhouse, email YourFuture@marywood.edu, or call Marywood University’s admissions office at (570) 348-6234.