Marywood Professor Named “Trailblazer in Higher Education” Jeffrey Kegolis, Ph.D., Marywood University’s vice president for the student experience, was recently named to City & State PA’s listing of 2024 Higher Education Trailblazers. City & State PA is a premier multimedia news organization that dedicates its coverage to Pennsylvania’s state and local government, including all things politics and public policy, with in-depth, non-partisan news coverage that serves Pennsylvania’s leaders every day as a trusted guide to the issues impacting the Keystone State. Since arriving at Marywood University last year, Dr. Kegolis, who is passionate about supporting college students, has championed a new, counselor-staffed mental health support hotline and rolled out The Hub, a space for academic, career, and veterans’ services at the campus learning commons. Dr. Kegolis’ career in higher education spans more than two decades and features extensive experience in multiple areas of student services, including leadership programs, campus engagement/activities, residence life, fraternity & sorority life, and student conduct, among others. Dr. Kegolis holds a Ph.D. degree in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University. He also is a graduate of Marywood University, where he earned a Master of Science degree in counselor education with secondary school certification. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a neuroscience concentration from King’s College.
Marywood Dance Marathon for Children’s Hospital Surpasses Goal Marywood University recently held its first Dance Marathon to benefit the Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. The event, which set a goal of $12,000, surpassed that amount through generous support from the community and successfully raised $16,000.67. Held near the end of the spring semester, Marywood students came together for the event, and the night of dancing also included face painting, sand art, corn hole, and catered food. Hospital and University representatives also spoke to the students about the impact of their efforts. Food and talent donations were contributed by TGI Fridays, GIANT, Perkins Franchising and Development, Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar, Lynn Sandy’s Bakery, Marywood’s Gourmet Dining LLC, Texas Roadhouse, Mike Walton DJ services, Party Crew LLC, Highway Line Dancing, Marywood’s Zumba instructor Vanessa Rodriguez, and more. The event concluded with a closing ceremony the next morning, during which students heard from Anne Baum, President of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, and Vanessa Gramm, the Director of Child Life at the hospital. The highlight was hosting the Marzen family, who shared their experience being treated at the hospital and how Marywood’s efforts are making a positive difference for families like them. Kevin Farrell, Marywood’s director of student engagement, noted that the students involved hope to expand this endeavor next year and make it an annual event.
Marywood University Celebrates 106th Annual Commencement Ceremony More than 800 students were part of Marywood University’s 106th annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 1 p.m., at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Casey Plaza, in Wilkes-Barre Twp. Marywood University’s two colleges, including the College of Health Sciences and the Reap College of Creative and Professional Studies, conferred degrees on undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students who hail from 24 states and 7 countries. Business, social work, and physician assistant studies were the top graduate level degree granting programs. Architecture, business, and nursing were the top undergraduate level degree granting programs. Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., Marywood University’s 12th President, who will retire on June 30, served as keynote speaker, bidding a fond farewell to the Class of 2024, the final graduating class of her eight-year presidential tenure. Prior to her address, Sister Mary received a citation recognizing the many accomplishments of her presidency. Sister Kathleen Lunsmann, IHM, Chair of the Marywood University Board of Trustees, shared that the Board recently granted Sister Mary the lifetime title of President Emerita, effective upon her retirement. Sister Kathleen praised Sister Mary’s leadership and vision, and expressed, “During the course of her presidency, Sister Mary has called upon her innate gifts of authenticity, compassion, courage, collaborative leadership, and bold vision, navigating both unprecedented challenges and outstanding accomplishments, always leading with hope, tenacity, and joy.” In her opening comments, Sister Mary teased that the Class of 2024 was not treated to a famous speaker who could have imparted the generic words of wisdom typically offered by those chosen to give such addresses, noting that she instead represented many people who know the graduates personally, the same people who prepared them for this moment. She chose the musical production, Merrily We Roll Along, to reflect upon the choices that are presented at milestone moments of our lives, and her keynote address culminated with the song “Our Time” from the musical. Sister Mary observed, “Commencement is a time to draw upon the skills you have learned to be leaders in the workforce, to value the friendships you have formed during your university years, and to rely on the values you were taught to guide you in your life choices.”
Marywood University Appoints New VP for the Student Experience Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., president of Marywood University, Scranton, Pa., has appointed Jeffrey Kegolis, Ph.D., to the position of vice president for the student experience (VPSE), effective July 6, 2023. “Dr. Kegolis brings an understanding of our culture and mission, as well as a wealth of expertise in serving students directly,” stated Sister Mary Persico, IHM. “This is exciting work that gets to the heart of who we are in our efforts to put students first.” The areas within the Student Experience include: the Office of Student Engagement, Housing and Residence Life, Student Health Services, the Counseling/Student Development Center, Retention and Advising, and the Dean of Students. Dr. Kegolis’ career in higher education spans more than two decades and features extensive experience in multiple areas of student services, including leadership programs, campus engagement/activities, residence life, fraternity and sorority life, and student conduct, among others. His passion throughout his career has focused upon helping others, where he served as a cluster facilitator for Leadershape©, presented to student leaders at the National Association of Australian University Colleges, Inc. (i.e., NAAUC), served for multiple years on the planning committee for The Placement Exchange (i.e., TPE), and developed and facilitated a customized communication module of leadership training, “Fundamentals of Leadership,” for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Dr. Kegolis most recently served as the director for student conduct and assessment at The University of Scranton. Prior to that, while at Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, Ohio, he was an assistant dean of students in the office of campus activities, and later an assistant dean of students in the office of the dean of students. Additionally, he was an assistant professor of psychology at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. where he also began his professional career in higher education as an assistant director of residence life. Dr. Kegolis earned his Ph.D. degree in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University. He also is a graduate of Marywood University, where he earned a master of science degree in counselor education with secondary school certification. He holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a neuroscience concentration from King’s College.
Marywood University Announces Scholarships Marywood University recently announced four new endowed scholarships, six new annual scholarships, and a new endowed special gift at the 2023 Scholarship Luncheon. The annual luncheon brought together students, donors, and esteemed guests to acknowledge the impact of scholarships and express heartfelt appreciation for their support. Renée Gregori Zehel ’91, Ph.D. ’16, vice president for university advancement, opened the program by welcoming guests and recognizing this year’s scholarship honorees. Following lunch, Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Marywood University President, recognized the new scholarship benefactors and presented each of them with a citation. Student scholarship recipients also played a prominent role in the program, including Emily Gunsel ’23, who presented the invocation; Stephanie Golden ’22 (M.I.A. ’24), a graduate architecture student, who gave the keynote address, sharing her personal Marywood journey and expressing profound gratitude on behalf of all student scholarship recipients; and Eleanor Kloss ’26, who offered the benediction. Marywood University remains dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of learners, where scholarships play an instrumental role in breaking barriers and creating opportunities. The Scholarship Luncheon serves as a testament to the university’s commitment to ensuring access to quality education for deserving students, regardless of their financial circumstances. Marywood awarded 389 named scholarships, exceeding one million dollars, in the 2022-2023 academic year. New endowed named scholarships can be established with a gift of $50,000 or more. New annual named scholarships can be established with a gift of $10,000 or more. For information on establishing a named scholarship, please contact the Office of University Advancement at 570-348-6238 or development@marywood.edu.
Moses Taylor Foundation Grant To Support Addition of Birthing Simulator at Marywood University A grant of $79,054 from the Moses Taylor Foundation is supporting the addition of a Laerdal SimMom Birthing Simulator at Marywood University, which will enable the University to better prepare nursing and physician assistant students for entry to practice.
Marywood University Launches New Environmental Studies Program As the world celebrates Earth Week, Marywood University affirms its role in environmental responsibility and advocacy, as well as its enduring commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, by announcing the launch of a new Environmental Studies degree program. The bachelor of arts program in Environmental Studies features three tracks, including Environmental Humanities, Environmental Justice, and Environmental Science. The tracks in the Environmental Studies program focus on environmental advocacy and encompass scientific principles, ethical frameworks, public policy, connections to the natural world, and communications skills. While Marywood offers an existing bachelor of science program in Environmental Science for those who wish to become professional environmental scientists/researchers, the new Environmental Studies program is designed for students who want to pursue a more advocacy-based approach in areas like law, journalism, or public policy versus a traditional science-only trajectory. The Environmental Studies program reflects Marywood’s mission and core values, also aligning with its status as a member of the first international cohort of Laudato Si’ Universities by the Vatican Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development. Marywood became one of the first universities to commit to being a Laudato Si’ University in October 2021, in support of Pope Francis’ 7-Year Journey Towards Integral Ecology—an action-oriented and holistic approach that addresses seven ecological and social challenges in the world. “Today’s complex environmental challenges call for versatile professionals who can adapt to and thrive in a variety of settings,” said Erin A. Sadlack, Ph.D., associate dean of the Insalaco College of Arts and Sciences. “Environmental Studies students at Marywood University will address real world problems, becoming well versed in the comprehensive analysis of complex environmental issues and potential solutions, oral and written communication skills, and critical thinking. The curriculum varies depending on the track of study chosen, but all Environmental Studies majors share the same foundational coursework and must do a capstone project.” Career options include advocacy-based professions focused on environmental issues, such as education, consulting, law, urban planning, policy, public relations, and more. Students are prepared to work in the environmental advocacy sectors of these professional areas upon graduation or to pursue advanced studies if their particular career aspirations warrant additional education. An Environmental Studies minor also is available to all students, complementing many existing majors and pre-professional programs at Marywood. For more information about the new Environmental Studies program at Marywood University, visit marywood.edu/progs/ug/environmental-studies or contact Marywood University Admissions by email at YourFuture@marywood.edu or by phone at 570-348-6234.
Marywood University to Hold Physician Assistant Virtual Information Session Marywood University’s Physician Assistant (PA) program will host a Virtual Information Session on Monday, April 11, 2022, from 5–7 p.m. This event is free and open to anyone interested in pursuing an advanced degree in PA Studies. Attendees will interact with Physician Assistant faculty and current students, learn about the admissions process, and participate in a Q&A session. To register, visit admissions.marywood.edu/register/Spr22PA. The PA program at Marywood University is committed to excellence in the training of students to provide both primary care and specialized health care in a variety of health care settings. The program provides students with the foundation for professional growth through personalized attention, diverse clinical experiences, and a commitment to excellence. Earning a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies prepares students for medical careers that are in demand and growing to meet expanding health care needs. For additional information about Marywood University’s Physician Assistant Virtual Information Session, please contact Lauren Tokash, Graduate Admissions Counselor, at tokash@marwood.edu, call the Office of Admissions, at (570) 348-6234, or register for the information session, at admissions.marywood.edu/register/Spr22PA.
Marywood University Awarded SHARE Grant The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), has approved Marywood University’s application for a SHARE Grant award in the amount of $295,264, which will be applied over a three-year period. “SHARE” stands for Sexual Assault and Harassment Awareness Response & Education, and the primary focus of the OVW grant is to strengthen a coordinated community response to incidents of sexual violence. The Women’s Resource Center, The Lackawanna District Attorney’s Office, and the Dunmore and Scranton Police Departments are partners in this project. The proposed SHARE project will expand and enhance available prevention education for students, faculty and administration; establish a more coordinated community resource strategy; and create new policies and procedures for prevention of stalking. “We are excited to receive this award, because it will serve to formalize relationships that we have had with the community for many years and create opportunities to continue to build the important work of the SHARE project,” stated Brandice Ricciardi-Lugar, associate director of the Counseling/Student Development Center at Marywood University. For additional information about the SHARE Project at Marywood University, please contact the Counseling/Student Development Center, at (570) 348-6245, or visit marywood.edu/csdc/resources.html.
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti Addresses Marywood Students on Leadership Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti recently visited Marywood University to speak to students in Dr. Lia Palmiter’s Master of Social Work Administration and Leadership class. Mayor Cognetti shared her personal journey on her road to Mayor and answered questions from the students.
