Marywood University Earns Second Place in Design Challenge Marywood University’s School of Architecture (MUSOA) captured second place honors in the Retrofit Housing division in the final stage of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® 2023 Design Challenge, which took place in Colorado on April 22. The student team was led jointly by MUSOA faculty Jodi La Coe and Maria MacDonald, with design advisors Elizabeth Andrzejewski (MUSOA), Sara Melick (Marywood), Cole Hastings Goldstein (Johnson College), Jeremy Leaidicker (Penn State Extension–Susquehanna), Paul Pearson (University of Scranton), Matthew Finkenbinder (Wilkes University), and Joseph Wheeler (Virginia Tech) and industry partners Richard Pedranti Architects and Greenman Pedersen, Inc. Students competing in the Solar Decathlon Design Challenge work in multidisciplinary teams to create innovative and high-performance building designs that address real-world issues related to climate change, affordability, and environmental justice. Marywood University was among 55 Finalist Teams representing 61 collegiate institutions during the 2023 Design Challenge. Teams presented their zero energy building designs to a panel of industry experts, and finalists were selected based on their innovations, technical plans, and the quality of their presentations. The competition included six residential and commercial divisions: New Housing, Retrofit Housing, Attached Housing, Multifamily Housing, Office Building, and Education Building. “Just making it (to the finals) is a major accomplishment,” stated MacDonald, founding director of Marywood’s interior architecture program and Center for the Living City executive director. “To earn second place at this level of international competition is a prestigious honor and accomplishment.” Together with faculty, design advisors, and industry partners, students designed Glacier Jane—two floating cabins on Ely Lake and a Girl Scout troop house in the forest at Girl Scouts at the Heart of Pennsylvania’s Camp Archbald in Brooklyn Township, PA. Glacier Jane is inspired by urban activist Jane Jacobs, who attended Camp Archbald, and Ely Lake, formed during the Last Glacial Period. Utilizing solar panels, wind turbines, and rainwater collection, Glacier Jane will be completely grid- and utility-independent. During the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Semesters, 15 architecture students worked as a team to design the buildings and hillside of Mariners’ Unit. Also, during the Spring 2023 Semester, these 15 students were joined by students from other disciplines at Marywood University to create a 1:1 model of the floating cabins, which is on display in the Kresge Gallery in Insalaco Center for Studio Arts at Marywood and is open to the public. Over the next two years, while competing in the 2025 Solar Decathlon Build Challenge (SDBC), these and many more students will build this project at Camp Archbald gaining valuable experiences alongside industry partners. For this phase of the project, Marywood University’s new Living City Lab will organize students, faculty, and experts to build Glacier Jane.
Marywood University Upcoming Events Marywood University to Hold a Virtual Master of Fine Arts Information Session Marywood University will hold a virtual Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Information Session on Thursday, May 25, 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 is the oldest and best low-residency program in the country, designed for educators, graphic designers, and illustrators who are working professionally anywhere in the world and are 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. By design, the program is structured for students to keep their day job while pursuing a terminal degree. While production and technical skills are stressed, the core of the program encompasses creativity and conceptual thinking. For more details about the MFA in Graphic Design and Illustration Degree program, visit marywood.edu/visual-arts-graphic-design-illustration-masters-degree. To register for the MFA Info Session, please visit marywood.edu/mfainfo. 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. Marywood University to Hold Transfer Tuesdays Opportunities Marywood University has set several dates in late spring and throughout the summer for its Transfer Tuesdays program. Transfer Tuesday events are for current or former college students, at all stages of their college journey, who are considering transferring to Marywood University. Transfer Tuesdays opportunities will take place on the following Tuesdays: May 23, June 20, July 18, and August 15, 2023. Those interested in the spring/summer Transfer Tuesdays events can schedule an appointment every half hour, beginning at 2 p.m. and running through 6 p.m. Registered visitors can discuss financial aid and scholarship options, transfer credits, take a tour of campus, review credits for transfer eligibility, and complete an application for admission. Marywood University’s fall semester begins on Monday, August 28, 2023. For additional information about transferring to Marywood, or to register for the Transfer Tuesdays program, please visit marywood.edu/transfer or call Marywood University’s Office of University Admissions, at (570) 348-6234 or email YourFuture@marywood.edu. Philadelphia Poet Laureate to Address Graduates at Marywood University’s 105th Commencement Trapeta B. Mayson, LCSW, MBA, Philadelphia’s fifth poet laureate, will address graduates at Marywood University’s 105th Commencement on May 20, 2023. She will receive an honorary doctorate at the ceremony. Mayson was born in Liberia. Her family immigrated to the United States when she was a young girl, and she was raised in Philadelphia. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in political science and master’s degrees in social services and business from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research and from Villanova University School of Business respectively. In addition to serving as Philadelphia’s fifth poet laureate, Mayson is a licensed clinical social worker and Chief Program Officer at a community mental health agency in Philadelphia. Her term as the city’s poet laureate occurred in 2020-2021, during the height of the pandemic, a time that underscored the vital intersection of mental health and poetry as part of the human experience. In response, she established the Healing Verse Philly Poetry Line, a toll-free telephone line featuring a 90-second poem by a Philadelphia-connected poet, offering callers encouraging verses of care and community, along with providing national mental health resources. The author of two self published poetry collections, Mocha Melodies and She Was Once Herself, Mayson also released the music and poetry projects SCAT and This Is How We Get Through, in collaboration with jazz guitarist Monnette Sudler. A Cave Canem, Pew, and Aspen Words fellow, she was awarded a Leeway Transformation Award and is a Pennsylvanian Council on the Arts grantee, among others. Mayson is a member of the Greene Street Artist Cooperative and, in 2021, she received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship
Marywood University Designated a Voter Friendly Campus Marywood University was recently named a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia, by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education as part of the nationwide Voter Friendly Campus initiative. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encouraged their students to register and vote in the recent 2022 elections, along with a stated commitment to continue to foster and promote good voting habits for years to come. Those institutions designated Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural, and urban campuses, collectively serving over 3.5 million students. “As part of our ongoing efforts as a designated Voter Friendly Campus, Marywood continues to promote civic engagement every year, not just during major election years,” said Kevin Farrell, director of student engagement at Marywood University. “With our Pacers to the Polls initiative, as well as our participation in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, the university has made a strong statement about its civic mission to prepare students to be engaged participants in our democracy, and we are eager to continue engaging students throughout 2023, 2024, and beyond.” Pacers to the Polls is Marywood’s nonpartisan campaign focused on increasing voter registration, preparedness, and turnout among students. Many different events and initiatives take place throughout the year as part of this campaign, and they are led and managed by a task force of students, staff, and faculty members. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge strives to change civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities and programs on college campuses, making them a defining feature of campus life. The mission of the 2023 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process—every year, not just during years featuring federal elections. Marywood was evaluated based on a written plan detailing how the university registered, educated, and turned out student voters in 2022, how it facilitated voter engagement efforts on campus, and by providing a final analysis of its efforts.
Marywood University to Break Ground for the Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion on April 28 Scranton, PA (April 19, 2023) — Marywood University will break ground for a new health sciences pavilion on Friday, April 28, during a 4 p.m. ceremony on the entrance lawn of the Center for Athletics and Wellness on University Avenue. A community reception will follow in the atrium at the Keith J. O’Neill Center for Healthy Families. The new Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion will be an exciting addition to The Keith J. O’Neill Center for Healthy Families, further expanding the university’s deep commitment to health and wellness. It will be a space where health professions students can learn and grow together, sharing state-of-the-art labs, classrooms, conference areas, and the latest technologies. Construction has already begun, and the project completion is expected in the summer of 2024, in time for fall 2024 classes. Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Marywood President, members of the Marywood University Board of Trustees, and students majoring in various health professions will be on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony. The new pavilion is being named in honor of the Pascucci Family, major benefactors of the project. The Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion is also being made possible in part by Community Project Funding through Congressman Matt Cartwright, who played a significant role in securing the grant. Hemmler+Camayd Architects designed the new pavilion, and it is being constructed by Sordoni Construction Services, Inc. Image ID:A rendering depicts a view of the new Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion at dusk. The new facility, is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024, in time for fall 2024 classes.
Marywood’s First Annual Unified Softball Spectacular Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Northeast Region is partnering with Marywood University for an upcoming event: Unified Softball Spectacular. We would be delighted if you and your family could join us. Please note details below:
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.
