University of Scranton Announces Planned Spring Semester Events Note: Access to the campus is currently limited to members of the University community, invited guests and others as listed in the Royals Back Together plan. Campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Feb. 3 5 p.m. Book Discussion: “Freedom: An Unruly History” led by Matt Meyers, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, University of Scranton. The event is part of the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project’s second theme, “The U.S. Citizen and the American Founding.” Offered in-person or in a virtual format. Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu. Feb. 4 through Mar. 4 Art Exhibit: “Beneath the Surface, Behind the Horizon: Sculptures and Drawings by Cynthia Myron.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Feb. 10 noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Our Common Home: Vatican and Multifaith Engagement on Environment and Climate Justice” presented by Rabbi Daniel Swartz, spiritual leader, Temple Hesed and executive director, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Feb. 13 3 p.m. Performance Music: “Valentine’s Day Eve Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Jazz Band with special guest Arnt Arntzen, banjo, guitar and voice. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Feb. 18 noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Is Liberal Democracy Already History?” presented by Elzbieta Matynia, Ph.D., professor of sociology and liberal studies and director of the Transregional Center for Democratic Studies at the New School for Social Research. Kane Forum, Edward Leahy Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Feb. 20 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital” featuring John Wilson, pianist. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Mar. 1 5 p.m. Lecture with Q&A via Zoom – “Freedom and Our Founding: What do they mean for us today?” The event is part of the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project’s second theme, “The U.S. Citizen and the American Founding.” Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu. Mar. 3 noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Linneaus’ Legacy: Corrupting Color to Serve Discrimination and Exploitation” presented by Kathy Johnson Bowles, executive director of the Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Mar. 14 noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “A Remarkable Tale of Law, Politics, and Religion: The Making of Kiryas Joel, a Hasidic Town in Upstate New York” presented David N. Myers, Ph.D., Sady and Ludwig Kahn professor of Jewish history at UCLA and director of the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy, and Nomi Stolzenberg, founder and co-director of the USC Center for Law, History and Culture. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Mar. 21 through Apr. 29 Art Exhibit: “Shinnecock Sites and Portraits: Photographs by Jeremy Dennis.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Mar. 22 7 p.m. Public Dialogue on “Freedom and Our Founding: What do they mean for us today?” The event is part of the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project’s second theme, “The U.S. Citizen and the American Founding.” Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu. Mar. 23 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “General Recital” featuring The University of Scranton Performance Music students in solo, duo, trio and small ensemble performances. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Mar. 24 noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Window Into the Presidency: The White House Tapes and Their Meaning” presented by Fredrik Logevall, Ph.D., Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs, Harvard University. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Mar. 26 9 a.m. Preview Day for accepted students to The University of Scranton’s class of 2026. Various locations on campus. Call 570-941-7540 or email admissions@scranton.edu. Apr. 2 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital” featuring Kako Miura, violinist and friends. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Apr. 6 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “14th Annual Gene Yevich Memorial Concert” featuring Dr. Wycliffe A. Gordon with The University of Scranton Singers and Scranton Brass Orchestra. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Apr. 7 4 p.m. 2022 Annual ACHE Healthcare Symposium: “HEALTH’y Employees Lead to HEALTH’y Patients: Strategies to Support the Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals.” McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Includes dinner, presentation and panel discussion. Fees vary. Call 484-632-6605 or email brooke.devers@scranton.edu. Apr. 7 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring Dr. Wycliffe A. Gordon with The University of Scranton Jazz Band. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Apr. 20 4 p.m. Henry George Spring Lecture: “Evolution of Conventions of Behavior” presented by Andrew Schotter, Ph.D., professor of economics, New York University. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu. Apr. 22 noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Russia and the Post-Truth Society” presented by Jill Dougherty, former CNN’s Moscow bureau chief for almost a decade, Russian expert, adjunct professor at Georgetown University and a CNN on-air contributor. Kane Forum, Edward Leahy Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Apr. 25 5:30 p.m. Schemel Forum Collaborative Program with the Jesuit Center, The University of Scranton: “A Schemel Legacy: The Engineer and the Monk” presented by Christopher F. Schemel, Ph.D., president Delta Q Consultants, Inc. and courtesy professor of chemical engineering, University of South Florida, and Brother Mario Joseph, Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, Georgia. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall or remote, reception follows. $25 fee. Registration required. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Apr. 27 4:30 p.m. Annual Math Integration Bee. Calculus based competition for both high school and college divisions. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Registration required. Call 570-941-6580 or email stacey.muir@scranton.edu. Apr. 30-May 1 9 a.m. Saturday; noon Sunday. Friends of the Library Book and Plant Sale. Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu. Apr. 30 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “39th Annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Concert Band and Concert Choir premiering two new commissioned works by guest composer/conductor Javier Nero. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. May 9-13 Art Exhibit: “The University of Scranton Student Exhibition.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. May 7 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital” featuring John Romeri, organist and John Romeri, flautist. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. May 14 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton String Orchestra with special guests. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. May 21 TBA Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement. Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Wilkes-Barre. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu. May 22 TBA Commencement Baccalaureate Mass. Byron Recreation Complex. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu. Schemel Forum Courses Tuesdays, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 & Mar. 1, 8 6 p.m. Schemel Forum Evening Course: “James Bond and the Cold War” presented by Sean Brennan, Ph.D., professor of history, The University of Scranton. Weinberg Memorial Library or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Thursdays: Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 & Mar. 3, 10 6 p.m. Schemel Forum Evening Course: “Moral Citizenship: The Enlightenment Vision of the Ethical Community” presented by Christopher E. Fremaux, Ph.D., assistant professor of philosophy, The University of Scranton. Weinberg Memorial Library or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Wednesdays: Feb. 9, 16, 23 & Mar. 2, 9, 23 6 p.m. Schemel Forum Evening Course: “Police as Guardians in a Time of War” presented by Michael J. Jenkins, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of sociology, criminal justice and criminology and executive director, Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Crime, The University of Scranton. Weinberg Memorial Library or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu.
University of Scranton Announces January Events Note: Access to the campus is currently limited to members of the University community, invited guests and others as listed in the Royals Back Together plan. Campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Jan. 16 2:30 p.m.The Greater Scranton Martin Luther King Community Celebration: “Covid 19: Recognizing the trauma. Healing the soul.” Interactive Zoom webinar with audience question and answer. Free. Registration required. Call 570-941-6645 or email jennifer.pennington@scranton.edu. Jan. 29 8 a.m. Virtual Campaign School 2022. Learn how to run a successful campaign for public office. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County, the Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service at The University of Scranton, WNEP-TV and Toyota of Scranton. Registration required. Fees vary. Email lwvlackawanna@gmail.com or visit www.lwvlackawanna.org.
Gerald Zaboski Named Senior Vice President for the University of Scranton Gerald Zaboski ’87, G’95, was named senior vice president for the Office of the President at The University of Scranton, effective July 1, 2022. Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, has named Gerald Zaboski ’87, G’95, as senior vice president for the Office of the President, effective July 1, 2022. Zaboski currently serves as vice president for enrollment management and external affairs. In his new position, he will continue to oversee the areas of marketing, communications and external affairs for Scranton, in addition to assuming new responsibilities for assisting the president with the advancement of the University’s strategic plan, and the creation and sustaining of new and existing partnerships with other institutions of higher learning, both international and domestic. “Beginning his service in 1988, Gerry’s vast experience at Scranton and unquestionable devotion to our mission will prove quite beneficial to our success in the years ahead,” said Father Marina in an announcement to the University community regarding the promotion. Zaboski will also continue to serve as a member of the University’s cabinet and as the leader for the University’s Incident Management Team. Zaboski joined the staff at the University in 1988. During his career at Scranton he served as executive assistant to the president, vice president for external affairs and vice president for alumni and public relations. He has also served on and chaired several committees including the University’s 125th Anniversary Committee. Prior to joining the University, he worked as public information manager for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. Zaboski serves on the board and executive committee of the Agency for Community Empowerment, and on the boards of Lackawanna Industrial Fund Enterprises and the Institute for Public Policy and Research. He also serves as treasurer of the West Wyoming Hose Company #1. He is a past president of the Scranton Lions Club. A resident of West Wyoming, Zaboski earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The University of Scranton and is a member of Alpha Epsilon Alpha and Alpha Sigma Nu honor societies.
University of Scranton Physics Professor Awarded NSF Grant for Ham Radio Workshop Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., assistant professor physics and electrical engineering at The University of Scranton, was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant of $49,995 to support the “The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) 2022 Workshop,” which will take place March 18-19, 2022. Pictured working in the new ham radio station on campus, are, from left: Simal Sami, a sophomore who is part of Scranton’s Magis Honors Program in STEM; Dr. Frissell; and Veronica Romanek, a junior physics major. The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a grant of nearly $50,000 to Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and electrical engineering at The University of Scranton. The grant will support “The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) 2022 Workshop,” which will take place March 18 and 19 at The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The conference, which will take place in-person, also has a virtual format option. The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) is a collective of professional researchers and licensed amateur radio operators (a.k.a. hams) with the objective to foster collaborations between the amateur and professional communities for the purposes of advancing scientific research and understanding, encouraging the development of new technologies to support this research, and to provide educational opportunities for the amateur radio community and the general public. The workshop will serve as a team meeting for the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station project, which is a $1.3 million NSF funded project previously awarded to Dr. Frissell. The project seeks to harness the power of a network of licensed amateur radio operators to better understand and measure the effects of weather in the upper levels of Earth’s atmosphere. The theme for the two-day HamSCI workshop is “The Weather Connection.” The fifth annual workshop will feature prominent leaders in space weather, atmospheric weather and the connection between them. Speakers include a keynote presentation by Chen-Pang Yeang, Sc.D., Ph.D., associate professor at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto and author of “Probing the Sky with Radio Waves: From Wireless Technology to the Development of Atmospheric Science.” He will discuss “Ham Radio and the Discovery of the Ionosphere.” Tamitha Skov, Ph.D., research scientist in the Physical Sciences Laboratory Aerospace Corporation, will discuss the ionospheric impacts of space weather. Dr. Skov is well-known to the amateur radio community as “The Space Weather Woman” through her innovative YouTube space weather forecasts. Jim Bacon, a well-known retired meteorologist from the United Kingdom and active developer of the PropQuest website, will provide an amateur radio tutorial on the influences of terrestrial weather on radio propagation and the ionosphere. “The workshop series has led to cutting-edge work in the fields of space physics, citizen science, and the use of crowd-sourced ionospheric data,” said Dr. Frissell. “To maximize the potential of the ham radio-professional researcher relationship, meetings are needed to bring these groups together to learn about each other’s communities, vocabularies, share ideas, and participate in activities that advance both the scientific field and the radio hobby.” Dr. Frissell’s research focuses on the ionosphere, which is an atmospheric region that extends from about 50 to 600 miles above the earth’s surface. According to Dr. Frissell, changes in the ionosphere alter the behavior of radio wave propagation and greatly affect the radio communications and global navigation satellite systems. Understanding ionospheric structures and processes will lead to an increased understanding and prediction of these effects. In August 2021, Dr. Frissell received a six-figure grant through the NASA’s Space Weather Applications Operations 2 Research Program for the research project “Enabling Space Weather Research with Global Scale Amateur Radio Datasets.” The location of the 2022 conference near the NASA Marshal Space Flight Center. Registration for the HamSCI Workshop 2022 will open soon. Registration and additional information about the conference can be found on the HamSCI Workshop 2022 webpage.
Area Women Complete SBDC Startup Program Local women completed The University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center StartUP Fall program. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Center is a program of The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Pictured, from top left: Peggy Doolittle, Women’s Entrepreneurship Center administrative assistant; Katelyn McManamon, Special Projects Coordinator, SBDC; Niamh Boyle, Women’s Entrepreneurship Center student intern; Jennifer Dice, Katharine Lewis; Donna Simpson, consultant manager, SBDC; Amourelle Donnay, Siobhan McKenna, Monica Brooks and Suzanne Jarecki. Monica Brooks, Avoca; Jennifer Davis, Scranton; Jennifer Dice, Dalton; Amourelle Donnay, Dunmore; Suzanne Jarecki, Kunkletown; Katharine Lewis, Scranton; Siobhan McKenna, Clarks Green; and Erin Moskel, Peckville, and two others completed The University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center StartUP Fall Program. Facilitated by experienced business consultants from The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC), this six-week certificate series is designed to provide women with the skills and knowledge needed to start their own businesses, with a focus on serving women in transition or those trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. This program offers participants education, support and guidance in determining if entrepreneurship is an option for them while teaching business startup basics, legal and insurance considerations, marketing and social media essentials, business plan development, accounting and budget skills, financing options and goal setting. Housed in the Kania School of Management, The University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) is a program of the SBDC. WEC student interns and SBDC staff offer business start-up information, guidance, and encouragement. For more information, visit www.scrantonsbdc.com.
University of Scranton Students Receive STEM Summer Research Awards Five University of Scranton Students received Excellence in STEM Program Sanofi US Summer Research Awards, which provided support for the students’ independent research projects. From left: Olivia Sander ’23, Elisa Yanni ’22, Michael Quinnan ’23 and Victoria Caruso ’22. Award recipient Nia Long is absent from photo. Five University of Scranton students received Excellence in STEM Program Sanofi US Summer Research Awards, which provided support for the students’ independent research projects. The University students who received the Excellence in STEM Sanofi US Summer Research Awards are: Victoria Caruso ’22, Freehold, New Jersey; Nia Long ’22, East Stroudsburg; Michael Quinnan ’23, Shavertown; Olivia Sander ’23, Macungie; and Elisa Yanni ’22, Scranton. Caruso is majoring in biology at Scranton. She is working with her faculty mentor Amelia Randich, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on her research project entitled “Growth of diverse Alphaproteobacteria.” Long is majoring in neuroscience at Scranton. She is working with her faculty mentor Marc Seid, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on her research project entitled “Effects of chronic exposure to synthetic hydraulic fracturing solution on brain morphology in adult ants (Formica sp.)” Quinnan is majoring in biomathematics at Scranton. He is working with his faculty mentor Amelia Randich Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on his research project entitled “Characterizing Alphaproteobacteria and their cellular morphology.” Sander is majoring in neuroscience at Scranton. She is working with her faculty mentor Rob Waldeck, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the neuroscience program, on her research project entitled “The telencephalon’s influence on startle response plasticity in goldfish.” Yanni is majoring in neuroscience at Scranton. She is working with her faculty mentor Marc Seid, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on her research project entitled “The effect of sleep deprivation on learning in Camponotus floridanus.” Faculty members at Scranton often include undergraduate students in their academic projects. The University’s Faculty Student Research Program also supports undergraduate student participation in research. In addition, students participating in the University’s Honors Program and the Magis Honors Program in STEM work with faculty mentors on research projects. Sanofi is a global pharmaceutical company that is involved in the research, development, marketing and manufacturing of various medicines and vaccines. Every year, Sanofi offers multiple grants to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions that are working to advance participation in STEM fields.
University of Scranton Announces December Events Note: Access to the campus is currently limited to members of the University community, invited guests and others as listed in the Royals Back Together plan. Campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Dec. 4 8 p.m. (Prelude begins at 7:05 p.m.) Performance Music: “54th Annual Noel Night” featuring The University of Scranton Singers, Instrumental Chamber Ensembles, and pianist Ron Stabinsky. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Dec. 12 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Recital.” Performance music student musicians perform solo, duet, trio, and small group renditions of a variety of Christmas favorites. Houlihan-McLean Center. Admission: one new unwrapped toy, new toiletry items, or a monetary donation. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.
The University of Scranton Adds Public Policy and Service Major The University of Scranton now offers a new undergraduate major in public policy and service, which will prepare students for careers in the public, nonprofit and private sectors or to pursue specialized graduate training in public administration, public policy and nonprofit studies and nonprofit management. The new major, housed in the University’s College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Political Science, is currently enrolling students for the fall 2022 semester. “A public policy major acquires the knowledge and skills from political science, business, theology and other areas of the curriculum needed to successfully analyze and propose solutions to some of the most complex problems confronting our region, country and world today,” said Michael Allison, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at The University of Scranton. The new interdisciplinary major combines coursework from public policy, public administration and nonprofit studies. Students will learn the fundamentals of administration and policymaking in the United States and acquire skills in budgeting, personnel management, policy analysis and program evaluation, in addition to expertise in a specific policy area. Courses include Political Science Research, Policy Analysis, Women’s Right and Status, Environmental Policy Process, Economic Policy and Public Budgeting and Social Welfare Policy, among others. Students majoring in public policy and service will also complete an internship, community-based learning course or independent study to apply firsthand what they learned in the classroom. Several internship opportunities relevant to the program already exist in the local area in government agencies, nonprofits and the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development. Students will also be able to complete coursework in Washington, D.C., through the Washington Internship Institute and the Washington Center where the University has articulation agreements already in place. The University’s new Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service provides opportunities for student internships, research projects, and training programs, as well as networking opportunities with public officials and alumni working in public service careers. For additional information, contact the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 888-727-2686 or email admissions@scranton.edu, or Dr. Allison at 570-941-4392 or michael.allison@scranton.edu.
The University of Scranton to Host Acclaimed Trumpeter and Vocalist Benny Benack III Acclaimed trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III will perform at a concert featuring The University of Scranton’s Jazz Ensemble on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center. On Friday, Nov. 12, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a concert featuring the University’s Jazz Ensemble with acclaimed trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III as their guest soloist. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. The concert is open to invited guests and all members of the University community. Admission is free, all audience members must wear masks throughout the performance. University campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Please check Performance Music’s website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the recital for the most current information on audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.). The program will feature Benack soloing with the band on both voice and trumpet, and will include a variety of songs such as Bye Bye Blackbird, Choo Choo Ch’Boogie, Operator, Sway, St. Louis Blues and more. Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga is excited for Benack’s first visit to Scranton. “I have known Benny since fall of 2009 and have truly enjoyed watching and listening to him develop into such a mature, versatile and exciting musician and entertainer,” said Boga. “I am really looking forward to having him work with our students.” A 2014 finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition and winner of the 2011 Carmine Caruso International Trumpet Competition, Benack has already proven himself to be a rare talent as both a jazz trumpeter and vocalist. A frontman for Postmodern Jukebox, the vintage music collective famed for its old-school covers of modern pop songs, Benack in 2020 released “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” the follow-up to his well-received 2017 debut album, “One of a Kind.” The third in the generational line of a legendary family of Pittsburgh jazzmen, Benack has been showcased in international headliner tours at Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, JALC’s “NY Jazz All-Stars” (Mexico), throughout Asia and Europe, and has headlined his own group’s tours throughout the U.S. He has performed at New York City’s leading jazz venues, as well as played in the house band for NBC’s “Maya & Marty” and performed as a trumpet soloist with the Christian McBride Big Band, Ann Hampton Callaway, Josh Groban and Ben Folds. The University of Scranton Jazz Band is a 22-member ensemble made up of students from majors spanning the curriculum. There is no music major at the University, and all enrolled Scranton students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible for membership in the University bands, choirs and string ensembles, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Other programs within the department, including both large ensemble and chamber ensemble music-making opportunities, guest artist concerts, World Premiere Composition Series, the Nelhybel Collection and Scranton Brass Orchestra, closely coordinate programming with the student ensembles and offer unique opportunities for student musicians in the ensembles to hear, observe, interact and perform with numerous world-class musicians and artist-teachers. High school juniors and seniors who are considering applying to Scranton are encouraged to contact Performance Music to arrange to sit in on a rehearsal, meet the staff, attend a concert, or tour the building. For further information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on Benack, visit bennybenackjazz.com.
University of Scranton Professor Awarded Six-Figure National Science Foundation Grant Bryan Crable, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology at The University of Scranton, was awarded a $198,265 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for a two-year study of the impact of plastic debris on the physiology of freshwater microorganisms in Lake Lacawac. In addition to Dr. Crable’s role as principal investigator, the research project will involve and train approximately eight undergraduate students in field, laboratory and computer simulated investigations. According to Dr. Crable, microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size that are a common pollutant that have seen widespread accumulation in the environment since World War II. “This type of research is important because we really don’t have a good understanding of how plastics influence ecosystems,” said Dr. Crable. “For the longest time, we thought that microplastics didn’t really impact the local ecosystem. Over the last five to ten years, we have begun to get a better understanding of their impact. In the last few years, researchers have discovered there are microbes that degrade plastics and, although that can be beneficial, the overall impact has to be studied much more.” According to Dr. Crable, comparatively, there has been lots of research on the effects of plastic debris in marine environments, but there has been very little research in freshwater environments. “Lake Lacawac is only about 30 minutes away from campus and is a near pristine freshwater watershed. The lake was privately owned for a few hundred years. There has been essentially no development on the lake and there is no known microplastic intrusion,” said Dr. Crable. “Our experiment will use water from the lake in microcosms that we establish in a lake side field lab. In the first year, we will look at microbial communities which colonize plastics versus natural debris such as leaf litter. In the second year of the study, we will analyze the impacts of different types of plastics on microbial communities.” The project will provide full-time summer research opportunities to two to three students each summer for two years. Dr. Crable noted that students will gain experience using state-of-the-art software programs for analyzing microbial communities as well as learn critical programming languages used for statistical analyses. “One of the great things about the University is that undergraduates are doing actual research projects,” said Dr. Crable. “The benefit undergraduates get out of research, especially working on larger projects in a faculty member’s labs, is that they get to take ownership over some part of a project. The students are able to take the seeds of an idea and move it forward – to design the necessary experiments, carry them out and analyze the results to answer a question,” said Dr. Crable, who noted that students also have the possibility to present their studies at conferences, with some undergraduates having their research published in an academic journal. Through the research project, Dr. Crable will also develop an advanced undergraduate curriculum on microplastics, which will be integrated into the Special Topics in Biology – Environmental Microbiology course. Dr. Crable joined the faculty at Scranton in 2018. His research focuses on the fields of microbial physiology, environmental microbiology and microbial biotechnology. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Saint Vincent College, his master’s degree from Duquesne University and his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Oklahoma. In 2010, Dr. Crable was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship by the Institute for International Education to conduct research at the University of Wageningen in The Netherlands.
