Penn State Scranton Real Estate Classes Penn State Scranton’s Center for Business Development and Community Outreach announce the dates for Real Estate Prelicensing Classes. Penn State Scranton offers a variety of real estate courses designed to prepare individuals for careers in the real estate field. Who should attend? Individuals interested in exploring Real Estate as a professionInterested in completing the education requirements for the PA Real Estate Commission Salesperson’s license examination.Anyone who has a personal interest in learning about Real Estate. Required Real Estate Salesperson Pre-licensing Courses The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission approves the educational requirements for the salesperson’s examination. Both classes do not need to be taken at the same time, however both are required to sit for the real estate salesperson exam. RE 5016A Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours) – $199 A foundation for the study of real estate in Pennsylvania, covering language, principles, and laws that govern the business. This course provides the student with a basic foundation for additional study and to support the practice of real estate in Pennsylvania. The course is designed to acquaint the student with the language, principles and laws that govern the business of real estate. Emphasis is on the underlying concepts of land, property, rights in the realty and the means, methods and laws that govern the conveyance of these rights. This class fulfills the 30 hr. requirement of instruction in the following schedule: Dates: January 31, 2022 – April 4, 2022Time: Mondays, 6 pm – 9 pmLocation: Penn State Scranton Campus – 120 Ridgeview Drive Dunmore PA 18512Register Online RE 5017A Real Estate Practice (45 hours) – $299 An introduction to all facets of the real estate business, including a survey of areas of specialization with emphasis on the role of a real estate agent in residential brokerage. Examination of a real estate transaction, designed to provide a working knowledge of the forms and documents used-including the related mathematics. This course provides the student with an introduction to all facets of the real estate business, including a survey of areas of specialization, with emphasis on the role of a real estate agent in residential brokerage. The course includes an examination of a real estate transaction, designed to provide you with a working knowledge of the forms and documents used along with related mathematics. This class fulfills the 45 hr. requirement of instruction in the following schedule: Dates: February 2, 2022 – April 25, 2022Days and Time: Wednesdays 6 pm – 9 pm February 2 – April 6, 2022Mondays and Wednesdays 6 pm – 9 pm April 11, 13, 18, 20 & 25, 2022Location: Penn State Scranton Campus – 120 Ridgeview Drive Dunmore PA 18512Register Online For more information, please contact 570-963-2509
Penn State Scranton Hosting Speaker on Race and Identity Michael Sidney Fosberg, founder of Incognito Inc., grew up believing he was white; then, in his early 30s, he learned that he is actually black. On Thursday, Nov. 4 at noon in the Study Learning Center’s Sherbine Lounge, he will present, “Nobody Wants to Talk About It – Race, Identity and the Difficulties in Forging Meaningful Conversations”. For more than a decade, Fosberg has toured the country performing his autobiographical play, “Incognito” at schools, colleges corporations, government agencies, community organizations and military bases. The play is based on his personal experiences in learning of, and discovering, his Black biological father. After hundreds of presentations and in-depth dialogues, Fosberg has assembled a set of tools and takeaways useful in navigating uncomfortable conversations about race and identity. He will share these tools at this presentation, with the goal of providing a road map to more authentic and meaningful conversations and authentic dialogue. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nicole Paolicelli in Penn State Scranton’s Student Activities Office at 570-963-2703 or email: ntp10@psu.edu. You can also visit the speaker’s website at: www.incognitotheplay.com.
Penn State Scranton is a Perfect Fit for First-Generation College Students Penn State Scranton alumna, Kalei Kowalchik, who graduated in 2020 with a degree in nursing, and current senior Dhruvi Patel, a business administration major, are both first-generation college students and both credit the campus’ staff, faculty and specific programs aimed at helping first-gen students for making their college careers successful, productive and enjoyable. For years, Penn State Scranton has strived to provide first-generation college students with all the necessary tools to make their undergraduate experience a successful one. Today, the campus’ commitment to this unique demographic remains as strong as ever. First-generation students remain a substantial percentage of Scranton’s overall student population, and about 47% of this fall’s new incoming students currently fall under that designation. Given that, the campus has placed a premium on providing numerous financial, advising, academic and mentoring resources to first-generation students. Because they’re the first in their families to attend college, first-gen students often face a variety of challenges, from navigating the application process to securing financial aid and paying bills to scheduling courses to gaining access to peer tutors and mentors. That partnership starts with the admissions staff, which guides students and parents through the complexities of the application, financial aid and bill-paying process. From there, the student services and engagement and advising teams effectively introduce them to campus academic and extracurricular life through New Student Orientation (NSO). Once the academic year begins, First Year Seminar (FYS) furthers that transition, while the campus’ Learning Center provides additional academic support. And the campus’ brand-new JumpStart mentoring program has been designed specifically to retain and sustain first-generation, underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students. “When we’re orienting first-generation students to the campus, we’re also orienting their families, because they don’t have a college experience to draw upon,” said Senior Admissions Counselor and Enrollment Marketing Specialist Julie Bialkowski. “We’re trying to support all students, but we know that because a lot of these students it’s their first experience with college, they have a lot more questions and don’t know how to navigate the process. There’s a lot of financial risk involved in a college education, so when we enroll you, we’re making a commitment to your success. It’s a partnership with the student and their family and Penn State. It’s all of our jobs to help them along and break down these barriers and show them the opportunities they have.” All the right resources For 2020 campus nursing program graduate and current doctoral student in Penn State’s College of Nursing, Kaléi Kowalchik, college was always a priority, and she was supported in her goal by her family members. But, as a first-generation student, Kowalchik found the college application and acceptance process daunting. She ended up applying to several schools and was happily surprised to be accepted to all of them. In the end, she chose Scranton. “Little did I know that Penn State Scranton would become my college of choice and the best decision I ever made for myself. I chose Penn State Scranton for a multitude of reasons — it was close to my home, the class sizes were small, its nursing program was well established with access to great clinical and educational experiences, it was a well-known university with a developed alumni society, and, most importantly, it was affordable. As a first-generation college student, I knew college was expensive and would be my financial responsibility. After considering all my options, it was evident Penn State (Scranton) was the right choice for me.” Many college students, regardless of their background, struggle to adjust to college. The difference for first-generation students, Kowalchik said, is having access to the resources and mentorship that can help them over those hurdles. “As a first-generation college student, I often felt lost throughout the process — specifically the weeks leading up to my first semester of college,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to buy to prepare for school, I didn’t know where I was supposed to go, what the rigor of my classes would be like, or even how long I would be on campus.” Luckily, the campus proved an easy place to make the transition to college life, Kowalchik said, noting NSO was extremely helpful in terms of introducing her to critical resources and offices, her student peers, faculty and staff, and the overall campus atmosphere. Coming from a single-parent household, Kowalchik was especially concerned about covering the cost of her education. So, she was grateful to have access to several campus grants and scholarships that alleviated some of her financial burden. In addition, she was highly impressed with the seemingly endless student resources, and was gratified to befriend a large contingent of fellow first-generation students. Gradually, she became happily immersed in campus life, thanks to its welcoming atmosphere. “I was fortunate to get to know every department on campus as a student, and if that tells you anything about Penn State Scranton, it’s that it is warm, inviting, and caring,” Kowalchik said. “Penn State Scranton’s ability for their faculty and staff to engage with the students and make them feel at home makes it such a wonderful college environment to be a part of. As I learned more about the campus each week and became familiar with the faculty and staff, I was able to build connections and relationships with each department that helped support me throughout my academic journey, for which I am eternally grateful. The faculty and staff genuinely care about their students’ well-being and personal experiences to help support them throughout this difficult journey.” A dream realized Another first-generation student, senior Dhruvi Patel, said it was her Indian immigrant parents’ longtime dream to send her and her brother to college. “My parents wanted to go to college but couldn’t because of their financial issues, so when we came to the U.S., they really pushed me and my brother to pursue whatever we loved,” said Patel, a business administration major with a concentration in accounting. Penn State Scranton caught Patel’s interest because of its diversity and small-campus feel – in particular, she felt she’d get more one-on-one attention from faculty here than at other colleges. With help, she successfully navigated her way through the application and financial aid process. Eventually, she also convinced her parents that “going to a small, public college instead of a big, private college wouldn’t make a difference because my career will depend on my hard work,” she said. Since arriving at the campus, Patel has thrived in her coursework and taken full advantage of additional resources outside of the classroom, including resume writing and job interviewing assistance that she credits with helping her land her current internship. Meanwhile, she’s completely devoted herself to extracurricular activities, serving as a peer mentor and tutor, Lion Ambassador and NSO leader. And she’s an avid participant in campus events and activities like Diwali, THON, bingo and Crafternoons. Over time, Patel has forged close connections with numerous staff and faculty members, among them Bialkowski, Assistant Teaching Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences Jim Hart, Interim Director of Student Services and Engagement Matt Nied, Adjunct Lecturer in Business Pat Sheridan and Lecturer in Business and Economics Frank Sorokach. “It was very important to be active on campus because I needed to figure out my college life and career on my own, and for that I needed to be confident and make connections,” said Patel, who intends to go to law school after completing her degree. “I love the campus and the faculty. They have pushed me to be better since day one and I wouldn’t be as confident as I am today if it wasn’t for them.” Of course, it helps to have staff and faculty members who know firsthand the struggles of first-generation students. That list includes Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and FYS Coordinator Raymond Petren, who was the first member of his family to earn a college degree. “Even though my parents provided me with the opportunity, they couldn’t provide me with guidance for success in college,” Petren said. “When I got there, I was like a ship without a rudder. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do or say. I felt like an outsider among my peers who often seemed so comfortable in that new context. Many of my peers had both interpersonal and financial resources that I did not have as a first-generation student and a child of divorce from a working-class family. It was only when a mindful professor connected with me, noticed my potential and provided personal guidance that the fog lifted and I felt as though college was a place for me. That was in my third year.” It’s Petren’s hope that FYS can provide students with the same level of support he received from that professor, albeit much earlier in their college careers. “Not only does FYS acclimate students to the academic rigors of college, but it connects them with their peers, the Penn State Scranton community, and both campus and University systems that provide support and promote progress. It’s particularly important for first-generation college students, who are typically academically prepared, but often have less guidance from their parents or other family members as to how to navigate the college experience,” Petren said. “First-year students are also likely to experience imposter syndrome – uncertainty about whether they belong here. FYS helps them confront these challenges and identify both personal and institutional resources that foster personal growth and success. An important part of FYS is engagement with FYS peer mentors, who are more experienced students who form relationships with FYS students, share their own experiences and provide guidance in times of uncertainty. A number of our peer mentors are also first-generation students, so they have relevant experience to share.” “Our peer mentors really become that first line of defense in helping our first-generation students make the transition to college,” Nied added. “For a lot of our students, they can just go home and ask mom and dad about a particular issue. First-generation students don’t have that. So, they’ll go to their peer mentor and ask, ‘How do I do this?’” This comprehensive, compassionate approach to the first-generation experience appears to be working well, as both Kowalchik and Patel can attest. “My decision to attend Penn State Scranton continues to be one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself, and I am very proud of the school I graduated from and continue to encourage others to apply and attend,” Kowalchik said. “Penn State Scranton is a well-rounded option for all student populations, but especially first-generation college students. Like any opportunity in life, you get out what you put in — meaning, you have to be willing to learn, explore, try new things and trust the process throughout your college experience.” “I couldn’t have picked a better college — it’s like my second home!” Patel added. “I would recommend this campus to anyone in a heartbeat.”
Penn State Scranton sees influx in out-of-state and international students As Penn State Scranton’s student population has gotten more diverse, so have the events hosted by the campus. At left, students take part in the Cultural Cuisine Tour, in which students go to various ethnic restaurants in the Scranton area to experience the foods of other cultures. Students here enjoyed a traditional Indian meal at the Mayuri Indian restaurant in Scranton. At right, dancers performed at the campus during a past Hispanic History celebration. Other events such as Diwali, Chinese Lunar New Year and Holi are also celebrated. Penn State Scranton’s student population continues to evolve in new and exciting ways, with recent growth coming among undergraduates from outside of Pennsylvania and the United States. This fall’s incoming campus class includes 69 out-of-state and eight international students out of nearly 300 students. The increase reflects Chancellor Marwan Wafa’s ongoing mission to further diversify the campus, said Director of Enrollment Management Sandra Feather. “Over the past few years, we’ve been taking baby steps. But we’ve also been growing in line with how our community is growing,” Feather said. “About 22 percent of our incoming admitted students are out-of-state, where typically our population is about 95 to 97 percent local. That is a huge game changer. And, as far as the number of international students, that is phenomenal for us, considering historically we’ve had one or two annually. Penn State has a strong international reputation, which makes a huge difference. And, as Dr. Wafa has put it, having that reputation globally helps us as a community to appreciate other cultures. That makes a big difference when fostering inclusion and diversity. That’s the future, and with the means of technology at our disposal now, we’re talking to people all over the world. So, why not have that experience with them?” Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Admission staff had to pivot to virtual appointments and eventually small in-person tours with prospective students and their families. The change, though, has proved highly beneficial in terms of recruiting both out-of-state and international students, Feather noted. “With the virtual appointments and small campus tours, you’re able to connect with the student and parent together. It’s much more personalized,” Feather said. “We can talk about the things parents care about. You can’t do that during the day when you travel to New York and talk to a group of students in a high school. And we can customize the need now too, instead of just doing the same old PowerPoint.” This year’s out-of-state student enrollees include residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Ohio, Illinois, Texas and Colorado. Incentive-wise, students from seven nearby states — Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia – and Washington, D.C., are eligible to receive the Discover Penn State Award if they attend one of the Commonwealth Campuses. For baccalaureate students, the award carries a $26,000 value over a four-year period. Feather recently gave a campus tour to Carlos Salazar Paz, a 36-year-old adult learner who moved from Denver, Colorado, to Scranton to attend the campus and major in project and supply chain management. Paz was attracted to Penn State Scranton for several reasons, among them the opportunity to earn a high-quality degree from an internationally renowned university in a small-campus setting. “I applied to 15 schools all throughout the U.S. Penn State was the first school to send a letter of acceptance,” Paz said. “And at the same time, for my major Penn State is ranked very high, so it was a no-brainer. And I chose Scranton because of the family feeling that the campus has and the people.” So far, the cross-country move has been a wise choice, said Paz, noting he’s thoroughly impressed with the campus and the faculty and staff members he’s met, including Feather. “It’s been amazing so far, and I like that the small campus gives you the opportunity to meet people,” Paz said. “Every single person that I’ve come across has been very helpful, but most importantly very welcoming. It is hard to be away from home, but everyone here has made sure that I do not feel that way, at least when I am around them. I’m looking forward to meeting great people and making great connections.” In 2019, Brooklyn, New York, native Melick Lubin transferred to the campus from State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, attracted by the chance to play on the men’s basketball team and to “attend a Penn State school and earn a Penn State degree.” At first, he found the transition to the new environment a bit difficult. After about two months, though, things started to click into place, said Lubin, now a senior corporate communication major. “I began to go to different events on campus to familiarize myself with the staff, faculty and other students,” he said. “The faculty and staff here love meeting new faces, so they are always willing to help you and provide you with the proper needs. And the campus provides many resources to help you get comfortable and acclimated to the new environment. Penn State Scranton has a ton to offer to out-of-state students, including many scholarships.” While the COVID-19 pandemic has made the campus a significantly quieter place during the past year and a half, Lubin still finds it to be “very open and welcoming.” “All the athletes here have built a bond, where we support and push each other regardless of the sport or activity. We also share the love with non-athletes. And the same goes for faculty and staff, who are open and loving and always have time to adhere to your needs,” Lubin said. “I would recommend Penn State Scranton to other out-of-state students and to any students looking to fulfill their dreams and goals while also enjoying the small-college experience.” On the international student side, the virtual outreach has also been extremely helpful, although sometimes a bit trickier to coordinate due to significant time differences, Feather said. This fall, incoming students from India, South Africa, Jamaica, Nigeria and China will add to the campus’ increasingly diverse population. Feather attributes a lot of this recent success to the efforts of Ryan Geiger, the international student adviser and global education coordinator for the University’s Northeast campuses. Given the cultural differences they encounter upon their arrival, many international students struggle to adjust to American collegiate life. Luckily, Feather said, the campus’ Student Services and Engagement staff have gone out of their way in recent years to ease the transition for students, from helping them move into their apartments to inviting them to their homes for holiday dinners to hosting a wide variety of diversity-themed campus events like Diwali and Chinese Lunar New Year. “At first, there’s going to be some hand holding, but the staff and faculty are so passionate and do such a good job of making our international students feel comfortable,” Feather said. “The international students don’t have that family support system when they come here, so it’s up to the campus community to become their family in a way,” added Interim Director of Student Services and Engagement Matt Nied. “It just goes back to Dr. Wafa’s goal of us being a welcoming campus. And as much as we try to do for them, the students do a lot for us, too, in terms of educating the campus community about their culture.” Xinyi Chen recently completed her first two years at the campus and will now finish her bachelor’s degree in actuarial science and mathematics at University Park. She moved to the U.S. two-and-a-half years ago from China, deciding to attend Penn State based on its global reputation for first-rate academics and the fact that it offered her intended majors. “When I first came to Penn State Scranton, I found that many things were quite different. Fortunately, the campus held many introductory activities such as the open house to provide us with the resources and assistance needed to ease my introduction to American higher education,” Chen said. “My adviser, Corinne Nulton, and my professors were very patient and gave me many suggestions on the course schedule. I am also very grateful to my professor, Dr. Taoye Zhang, for helping me get familiar with many things on campus. He also helped me with my undergraduate research and gave me lots of advice on my academics.” Outside the classroom, Chen found her niche as a Learning Center math tutor. And she was an avid attendee of the campus’ diversity events. “The campus did a great job promoting diversity, inclusion and equity,” Chen said. “The activity that impressed me most was the Lunar New Year, which gave us the opportunity to promote Chinese traditional culture and let us feel the festive atmosphere. Diversity at a university helps us build new perspectives on different cultures. We can learn more things from people instead of just from the online resources that may make us misunderstand.” “Penn State Scranton is a very welcoming place for international students,” Chen continued. “The students and faculty are great and always willing to help.”
Penn State Scranton Alum to Speak About ‘Office’ Experience Lynn Jesuitt-Donnini loves her job for a number of reasons, among them its relationship to a certain beloved Scranton-set TV show. On Monday, June 21, the Penn State Scranton alumna will be the featured speaker for the Penn State Northeast Region alumni chapters’ Summer 2021 Virtual Speakers Series. That night, Jesuitt-Donnini will discuss her experiences as the vice president of people/culture and public relations at Scranton-based Pennsylvania Paper & Supply Co., which for more than a decade has nurtured and maintained an association with the NBC sitcom “The Office.” The Penn Paper-“The Office” connection is now well-known. Not only is the television show set at a Scranton-based paper company — the fictional “Dunder Mifflin” — but the Penn Paper building is among the various Scranton locales seen in the show’s opening credits. In addition to her duties hiring, training and retaining Penn Paper and its affiliates’ nearly 300 employees, Jesuitt-Donnini has become the business’ go-to authority on “The Office.” Even today, the brick building with the distinctive tower continues to attract TV-show fans from all over the world who want to get a glimpse of the iconic landmark and all of the other real-life local places name-checked on the series, which ran on NBC from 2005 to 2013 but remains wildly popular through syndication and streaming services. At the upcoming event, Jesuitt-Donnini will share her anecdotes and collectibles from “The Office,” as well as provide attendees with a virtual tour of the Penn Paper operation. Jesuitt-Donnini said the company’s enduring association with the show has been nothing short of mind-blowing. “I never would have thought it would be this popular even 10 years later. We get visitors from all over the world to visit the tower and just get a glimpse of the ‘Office’ sign,” she said. “We are also one of the top five things to do while visiting Scranton, and have been on the cover and listed in many magazines and tourist promotional items. While we are not just a paper company, fans don’t seem to mind. They just want a picture to say they were here. The PR for this has been unbelievable.” Jesuitt-Donnini attended the campus from 1986 to 1988 before completing her bachelor’s degree in management at Penn State Harrisburg in 1990. She remembers plenty from her two years on campus, including the many people who left a lasting impression on her, among them former faculty members Dante Cancelli, Richard Harmstone and Walt Weber and former admissions office representative Ann Wilson. Even today, “they remind me how to be a better person,” said Jesuitt-Donnini, who has participated in the campus’ mentoring program. “I loved being at Worthington,” said Jesuitt-Donnini, referring to the campus’ former name. “Obviously, it was a little different, having only a few buildings compared to what is there today. The professors were just amazing and I often reflect on so many experiences. They really did take an interest, and back then we didn’t have the technology that we do today, so you were really able to sit and verbally communicate for hours with each other. For many of us, the SLC was our second home. There was no texting and no computers in class — you had to go to the computer lab to use one back then.” After graduating from Harrisburg, Jesuitt-Donnini worked in the banking industry for several years before realizing her true calling was “to work with individuals to help them find career placements and better opportunities.” So, she switched gears and pursued a new career in human resources. One day in 2005, she received an unexpected phone call from Douglas Fink, owner of Penn Paper & Supply. He wanted her to join the family-owned company as its very first director of human resources. Since then, Jesuitt-Donnini’s role has expanded significantly to also include public relations, marketing and event planning. She’s proud of the vital role she’s played in the company’s continual growth. “I’ve been here for 16 years, so that does say a lot,” Jesuitt-Donnini said. “It took a while and a lot of hard work to obtain this position. You must have a good leader and you also need to have great people on your team. The team is what drives any company and its goals, and here everyone knows what is expected of them.” Given the campus played such a significant role in shaping her professional journey, Jesuitt-Donnini is all too happy to come back and share her story with her fellow alumni. “I’m looking forward to sharing my life and how my education, family and Penn State really set the groundwork for who I am and what I bring to others,” she said. “No one can ever take your education from you. It is something that today many may take for granted, but just 30 years ago, that was not the case. The world has changed, the people have changed, technology has played a huge part in lives, but the one thing that still remains are the values that have to be there. Having a good foundation, education and family values plays a big part in anyone’s future.” The presentation begins at 6 p.m. on Zoom. Register at this link for it or any of the other summer alumni events. The other Northeast Region Virtual Speakers Series events this summer are: Summer BINGO Madness: Featuring the Penn State “Button Man”Monday, June 7, at 7 p.m. Jonathan U. Dougherty, Penn State class of 1999, director of corporate knowledge for James G. Davis Construction Corporation, will host a night of virtual bingo. Five games will be played, with each winner receiving a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card. The winner of a final “coverall”-themed game will earn a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card. Creative Candles by CorinaMonday, July 12, at 7 p.m. Corina Piller, Penn State class of 2016, owner of She Paints Co., will demonstrate the process of making soy candles. Through a Dog’s EyesMonday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. Retired Penn State Hazleton Assistant Professor of Biology David Orbin and his wife, Kathy, will discuss the origins of guide dogs for visually impaired people, their training from birth to service, and how local volunteer families are participating in this important service. Kahoot – Penn State TriviaMonday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. Roseanne Chesakis, Penn State class of 1984, information resources and services supervisor at Penn State Schuylkill’s Ciletti Memorial Library, will host a night of Penn State-themed trivia. There will be five games in total, with each winner receiving a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card. One grand prize winner will receive a Penn State goodie basket.