ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â

Playing the Long Game

In today’s technology-driven world, we often seek immediate gratification. Waiting has become almost an archaic notion for which society doesn’t seem to have time. But no matter the era, success doesn’t always come right away. It’s a byproduct of work and dedication; sometimes, success doesn’t come until long after the job is done.

That’s the common thread woven throughout this issue of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine.

Recently, we completed the Long-Range Facilities Master Plan, which we will use to improve our physical campus to be better suited for student and faculty success. It means a lot of relocation, some demolition, and a little construction. It will take several years to complete, but the result will benefit ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, its students, and the community as we build toward a brighter future.

Paired with that is the Academic Restructuring plan we made operational this school year. In a multiyear process, we looked at all our academic offerings and reshaped them to enhance their efficiency and align them with student and employer needs. This process will ensure sustainable growth amid difficult times in higher education.

Under the guidance of third-year coach Steve Kline, our baseball team put together a season for the ages. The Crimson Hawks lost their first three games, scoring 14 runs to their opponents’ 47, then winning 41 of the ensuing 56 games, claiming the regional title and earning a berth in the NCAA Division II World Series for the first time in school history.

Also, you’ll read about the future of the Cook Honors College, which recently celebrated the graduation of its 25th class. We’re proud of the success the college and its students have had, but we must play the long game by changing and evolving to ensure it has a bright future.

These are just a few examples of how, at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, our eyes are on the horizon. We work to change the lives of our students so they can impact their communities, their regions, and our world. But we know the intrinsic value of our work doesn’t reveal itself until we are many miles down the road.

That’s not always a bad thing, as you will read.

Michael A. Driscoll
President

Distinguished Professor

Lorraine Guth

Lorraine Guth, professor of counseling, was named ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Distinguished University Professor for 2024–25. A member of the faculty since 1998, she is known for her work to advance the counseling profession internationally. This has included providing direct service and conducting research in Bhutan, Malawi, and Turkey, and connecting with counseling professionals in Hong Kong, Ireland, and Italy.

During her year as Distinguished University Professor, she is focused on group work, wellness, and multicultural and diversity issues in counseling. She recently keynoted a mental health conference and studied the quality of life of mental health workers in Botswana. She also plans to write about and give a conference presentation on integrating sex positivity into counselor education and to pursue certification through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.

Senate Awards 

Last spring, the University Senate presented the following faculty awards. Department names reflect the academic structure at the time the awards were presented.

Julie Ankrum, a professor in the Department of Professional Studies in Education who joined the faculty in 2016, received the Distinguished Faculty Award for Research.

Mimi Benjamin, a professor in the Department of Student Affairs in Higher Education who joined the faculty in 2013, received the Distinguished Faculty Award for Service.

Gloria Park, a professor in the English Department who joined the faculty in 2008, received the Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching.

Honorary Doctorates

At its May commencement ceremonies, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â awarded honorary doctorates to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and local businesswoman Ellen Sylves Ruddock ’66, both of whom served as keynote speakers.

Josh Shapiro and Ellen Ruddock at May commencement ceremonies

Shapiro is a former state representative and Montgomery County commissioner who was elected to two terms as Pennsylvania attorney general before taking office as governor in 2023. Ruddock is a longtime entrepreneur whose business ventures included a consultancy that provided productivity, leadership, and motivational management training to companies throughout western Pennsylvania. She directed ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Center for Family Business for nearly a decade and received numerous awards for her service to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â and the Indiana community.

Fulbright Award

Ben Ford

Ben Ford, professor of anthropology and ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s 2023–24 Distinguished University Professor, was selected for a Fulbright US Scholar Program award. In the spring, he will head to Portugal to study human interactions with coastal landscapes. He has served on the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â faculty since 2009.

Volunteer Awards

In April, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â honored four people with the Award of Excellence in Volunteer Leadership:

Omega Gamble ’08, secretary of the Black Experience Alumni Committee, received the Affinity Services award.

Milady Lagunas, a May graduate of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Cook Honors College who held leadership roles with the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Ambassadors and the Latino Student Organization, received the Aspiring Alumni award.

Ruth Resentment ’64, a retired ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â administrator active in university events, alumni engagement, and student support, received the Advancement Support award.

Tracy Settle ’80, a former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Alumni Association board president who recently brought back the Regional Alumni Ambassador Program, received the Regional Impact award.

Andrew Longacre ’13, M’19 served as keynote speaker for this recognition event.

System Leadership

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s representation on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors is as follows:

Abigail Hancox, a student in ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Student Affairs in Higher Education and Public Affairs master’s degree programs, will serve until she completes her graduate study. She is a May graduate of the Cook Honors College and a former Student Government Association president.

Sam Smith, board of governors vice chair, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Council of Trustees chair, and a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, will serve through 2029.

Rich Caruso ’83, a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and a member and former president of the Foundation for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â board, will serve through 2026.

Alumni Board

In October, the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Alumni Association Board of Directors welcomed three new members: Valerie Sutton ’88, M’96, a career coach and consultant; Stephen Mihalacki ’01, an Army ROTC and Cook Honors College graduate who serves as vice president of network analytics at Magellan Health; and Morgan Huey ’16, a chiropractor and Cook Honors College graduate.

The Kindness of Physicists

Was very sad to see the announcement of the passing of Prof. Norm Gaggini of the Physics Department. Never took a class with Norm, but he and Prof. John Fox (my advisor) went out of their way to help me and my roommates recover from an apartment fire one week before finals and two weeks before graduation in 1975*. That kindness will never be forgotten.

Lee Cole ’75
Evergreen, CO 

*1975 was ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s centennial year. Everything was the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Centennial This and the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Centennial That. Some jokingly referred to the May 5th fire in the Pealer Building on Philadelphia Street as the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Centennial Fire. About three dozen students lived in the building. Forever grateful to the Red Cross for housing, the university for meal tickets, and the faculty for generally being understanding when all books, notebooks, lab notebooks, etc. were destroyed.

Editor’s Note: The writer, who has a PhD in physics from Dartmouth, said that at least five of six 1975 ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â physics graduates went on to earn doctorates.

1969 Freshman’s Perspective

The freshman class gathered in Fisher Auditorium for our first and only formal orientation. After all these years, I remember only one thing from that day. I assume it was intended to be a motivational message from one speaker. “Look to the person seated to your right. Now look to the person seated to your left. One of you will not be here next year.” Even high school did not prepare me for the emotional and academic challenges that I would encounter in the next four years.

So it was encouraging to read that a new student success infrastructure had been implemented “to keep them on track academically,  emotionally, socially” in the article “Withstanding the Winds of Change” in the Spring 2024 edition of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine.

Don’t underestimate the positive impact this will have on ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s reputation and on the success of its students. It is a significant step toward attracting new students and retaining students that would have dropped out after their first year or later.

Kudos to the University Planning Committee for recognizing the components that can be critical in helping many students successfully navigate to graduation and on to a career. As you roll out this program, also consider providing students with the guidance necessary to make the transition from college to the professional world. From personal experience, this can be as emotionally and socially challenging as one’s freshman year.

Ken Kubala ’73
Pittsburgh, PA

Editor’s Note: ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Career and Professional Development Center offers career coaching, résumé and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and other resources and services to help students with job preparation. In spring 2024, the center met with 661 students individually and brought 144 employers to campus for career fairs, panel discussions, and more.

Down to Business

First, my high school civics teacher told us, if you go to college, it will be the most fun you have in your life. He was right about that. As the real world brings serious challenges and opportunities, fun is sometimes at a premium. While I wasn’t the student at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â that I was in high school, I did learn to think while enrolled in a pretty broad field of study. That led me to employment with a company that told me it needed people who can think. In 36 years with them, I rose to general manager of a $100-million business and then to global director of sales, responsible for more than $220 million in annual orders at its peak, mostly because of work ethic and thinking ahead. 

While reading this article [“Withstanding the Winds of Change,” Spring 2024], it made me think of the enrollment and cost challenges ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â faces. It appears it is being addressed on a number of fronts, and the cost containment and freezes are great actions. What I wonder is whether period costs/overheads [costs not related to the production of the product] are being addressed. Across America in higher education, these costs have ballooned. The ratio of instructors to administration has gone from 80:20 to 50:50 at many institutions. I did an organizational-chart analysis of Oklahoma University and found it to be pretty accurate. At ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, are the 18 people hired to retain students seeing success? Are there metrics in place? That effort likely represents a burden of $100,000 per employee—$1.8 million annually. In business, I would ask how many students were retained to see if there were any return on investment.

Mike Gerzina ’77
Culpeper, VA

Editor’s Note: During the 2023–24 academic year, the first within the new student success infrastructure, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s fall-to-spring retention rate for first-year undergraduates was 90.1 percent, the highest rate since 2010. From fall 2023 to fall 2024, the retention rate for the same population was 75.3 percent, an increase of four percentage points over 2022 to 2023 and the highest rate in almost a decade. A more in-depth analysis of the infrastructure’s impact will be shared in the future.

By Matt Burglund

It was quite a year for the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Crimson Hawks.

Ten teams qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs. Three hosted regional championships, and two won regional crowns.

Fifty-six student-athletes earned all-conference honors, and 243 earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete awards.

Two coaches—Andrew McGlashen (women’s tennis) and Dan Braun (men’s golf)—were named PSAC Coach of the Year, while another, Steve Kline (baseball), took top honors in the region.

Women’s volleyball advanced to the Atlantic Region championship match in December 2023.

The baseball team won the region and advanced to the College World Series for the first time in school history. The women’s tennis team won its fourth consecutive regional crown, and the men’s golf team made its 27th consecutive appearance in the regional tournament. The women’s volleyball team also had a season for the ages, coming within one match of the regional championship.

The year of achievement culminated with a 39th-place finish overall—and third among PSAC schools—in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Learfield Cup, a national competition in which all 238 Division II schools are rated on their athletic success.

Champs Again

The men’s rugby club team won the crown at the National Collegiate Rugby national championships (15-player division) by beating the University of Memphis in Houston, Texas, in December. The win marks the third national championship in two years for the Crimson Hawks, who claimed the past two national titles in the seven-player division. ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â was the runner-up in 2022 in the 15-player division.

Breaking Through

Two former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â football players arrived in the NFL after traveling a long, occasionally bumpy road.

Dondrea Tillman, who starred for the Crimson Hawks from 2016 to 2019, was elevated from the practice squad to the Denver Broncos’ active roster in September. In his first NFL game, a 26-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 22, Tillman had a stellar performance as he recorded two quarterback sacks.

A six-foot-four outside linebacker, Tillman had 174 tackles in his ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â career, including 30 sacks. He was a two-time All-PSAC selection and, after playing two seasons in the fledgling Spring League, was selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2022 United States Football League supplemental draft.

After two standout seasons with the Stallions, Tillman signed with the Broncos and completed his journey to the NFL.

The week before Tillman’s debut, Irvin Charles made a play that announced his arrival in the NFL as a key special teamer for the New York Jets.

Charles, who caught 39 passes for 792 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021—his only season at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â after transferring from Penn State—blocked a punt in the third quarter of New York’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

With the Jets holding a 14-10 lead, Charles broke through the Titans’ line and blocked the punt, setting up his team for a short drive that ended with a field goal. New York went on to win, 24-17.

Charles signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2022. After seeing little playing time for two seasons, he seems to have broken through as a critical member of the Jets’ special teams unit.

Hall of Fame

At the annual ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Athletics Hall of Fame induction in September, 10 former student-athletes and one team were honored for their careers.

The ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 was inducted in September. Front row, from left: Crystal Heder Kosecki, Christine Wheeler Schrott, Jackie Hynson McKelvy, Barbara Bentrim Kubala, Larry Kubala, Alexa Lodovici, and Tim Buffone. Back row: ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Athletics Director Todd Garzarelli, Mario Hardison, Mike Higgins, Ashton Smith, Jim Wooding, Nick Sudzina, Rich Hornfeck, James Mill Jr. (representing his father, the late James G. Mill), and ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â President Michael Driscoll.

The Class of 2024 comprises Tim Buffone ’02 (football), Mario Hardison ’97 (football/track and field), Crystal Heder Kosecki ’08, M’12 (women’s soccer), Michael Higgins ’79 (cross country/track and field), Jackie Hynson McKelvy ’12, M’14 (women’s swimming), Alexa Lodovici ’13 (lacrosse), Christine Wheeler Schrott ’90 (cross country/track and field), Ashton Smith (men’s basketball), Nick Sudzina ’69 (baseball), Jim Wooding ’77 (track and field), and the 1964 football team.

Rich Hornfeck and Jim Mill were honored in the Coach/Administrator category.

The Honorary Bell Ringer Award was given to Larry Kubala ’68 and Barbara Bentrim Kubala ’68, M’73.

Career Moves

Steve Roach ’01, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s director of athletics from 2015 to 2018, was hired in September as deputy director of athletics at Elon University. Roach had been executive director of athletics at Texas A&M-Kingsville since leaving ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â.

Dominic Lombardi ’12 was reunited in March with Scooter Renkin ’13, his former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â men’s basketball teammate, when he was hired as an assistant coach at James Madison University. Lombardi had been an assistant at Morehead State, and when the head coach there was hired at JMU, he brought Lombardi along. Renkin is associate athletic director for development at JMU.

In the football world, several coaches with ties to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â are in new positions during the 2024 season: Luke Barker, an assistant coach at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from 2014 to 2020, is head coach at Fairmont State; Luke Getsy, an assistant from 2011 to 2013, is offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders; James Heiss ’14, who played at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 2011 and 2012, is director of football strength and conditioning at Georgia Southern University; Jalen Hairston, an assistant at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 2021, is defensive passing game coordinator at Maine; Jim Hostler ’90, a former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â player (1986-89) and assistant (1990-92, 1994-99), is a defensive analyst at the University of Southern California; Zack Johnson, an assistant at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 2022 and 2023, is defensive coordinator at Fairmont State; Anthony Leonard, an ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â assistant from 2016 to 2021, is defensive line coach at PennWest-California; Ben McAdoo ’00, a former student assistant at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, is senior offensive assistant for the NFL’s New England Patriots; D. K. McDonald, an assistant at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from 2006 to 2010, is defensive coordinator at the University of Kansas; Mitch Snyder ’18, an assistant at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from 2017 to 2023, is defensive coordinator at Wisconsin-Stevens Point; and Tim Zetts, an assistant at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 2011, is an offensive assistant with the Las Vegas Raiders. 

In Memoriam

Retired ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â administrator Ed Receski M’66, an assistant football coach under head coaches Chuck Mills, Chuck Klausing, and Bill Neal from 1961 to 1972, died June 16, 2024. 

All-In for Rural Health

Last summer, longtime ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â supporters Tim Cejka and Debra Phillips Cejka, both of the Class of ’73, contributed $2 million toward ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine.

Since 2022, the university has been exploring opening a medical college to address the shortage of primary-care physicians in Pennsylvania’s rural areas.

“We hope that our passion for this project will be contagious,” said Tim, a member of the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Council of Trustees and a 2006 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.

“ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s charge as a public university is to educate talented people who can fill the jobs that our commonwealth and our nation need—and we need doctors,” he said.

As of October, more than $30 million had been secured for the proposed medical college.

The university community is grateful to the following donors, who made gifts totaling $25,000 or more to the Foundation for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â between January 1 and June 30, 2024.

• Stephen Abel ’73, gifts to support the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Veterans Assistance Fund; ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Student Food Pantry; Fund for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â; Alumni Office; College of Education and Communications Dean’s Innovative Fund; Dean’s Innovation Funds for the College of Arts and Humanities, Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Northpointe; History Department and Geography and Regional Planning Department Enhancement Funds; Army ROTC Fund; and ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â baseball

• Sharon Albert, gifts to the Dr. P. Michael Kosicek Memorial Student Experience Fund to enhance student experiences in the Eberly College of Business

• Jay Althouse ’73, M’75, a gift to support the Music Department Enhancement Fund

• Anonymous gifts to support the Crimson Scholars Circle and Diversity and Inclusion

• An anonymous planned gift to support the Fund for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, benefiting the university’s greatest needs

• An anonymous gift to establish the Global Conservation Initiatives Enhancement Fund

• Robert Basehore ’71 and Kathie Kuvinka Basehore ’71, gifts to support the Fund for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, the Robert W. Basehore Jr. and Kathie Kuvinka Basehore Athletic Scholarship, and the creation of a college of osteopathic medicine

• Beaumont Foundation of America, C. Edward Keller ’74, and Judy Keller, a gift to support the C. Edward Keller Scholarship for students pursuing a degree in criminology

• Chevron Corporation, gifts to support the Safety Sciences Enhancement Fund

• Linda Deitman, a gift to support the Linda Drummond Deitman Scholarship for Culinary Arts for students in the Academy of Culinary Arts in good academic standing, with preference given to students from Armstrong, Indiana, or Jefferson counties

• Glenn Fitzgerald ’69, a gift to the Kathleen Rankin Fitzgerald Scholarship for Elementary Education for students pursuing an elementary education degree and to the Glenn Fitzgerald Scholarship for Natural Science for students pursuing a natural science degree

• ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Alumni Association, a gift to support the creation of a college of osteopathic medicine

• CJ Jaynes ’79, M’82, a gift to establish the Rear Admiral CJ Jaynes Scholarship for Veterans in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)

• James Leda ’95 and Leslie Vanderhoof Leda ’98, a gift to establish the James and Leslie Leda Career Readiness and Job Placement Endowment

• The Estate of Charlotte Lohman, a gift to establish the Francis J. and Charlotte H. Lohman Memorial Scholarship for full-time students with financial need

• The Estate of Betty Parsons Pytlik ’60, a gift to establish the Sara Elizabeth Leader Parsons Scholarship for students pursuing an undergraduate teacher education degree or certificate, with preference given to graduates of Mount Union Senior High School

• The Robert and Nellie Reynolds Fund, a gift through the Pittsburgh Foundation to the Student General Scholarship Fund. Both Robert Reynolds and Nellie Byers Reynolds were members of the Class of 1948.

• Ruth Riesenman ’64, a planned gift to support the Dr. Ruth A. Riesenman Scholarship for students in the Robert E. Cook Honors College

• Thomas Schott ’72 and Virginia Schott, a gift to establish the Thomas and Virginia Schott Social Studies Scholarship for full-time students pursuing a social studies education degree. Preference is given first to students from Elk County and second to students from Clearfield County.

• United Commercial Travelers Council 598, a gift to establish the United Commercial Travelers Council 598—Donald B. Townsend Memorial Scholarship for full-time juniors and seniors pursuing a major, minor, or certificate in special education or early childhood/special education. Preference is given to students who live in and who graduated from a high school in Indiana County and to those actively student teaching.

• Cynthia Vallina ’82, a planned gift supporting ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â women’s rugby, the Foreign Language Study Abroad Scholarship, the Political Science Department Memorial and Enhancement Fund, and the Enhancing ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Endowment

Interested in making a gift to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â? Contact University Advancement at 724-357-5661 or iup-giving@iup.edu. 

Donor Report: Passion and Pride, Passed Along

Learn about the impact of philanthropy at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â. Find stories about donors and the students who have benefited from their support.

Sesquicentennial Celebration

The university will kick off its 150th anniversary celebration during ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Giving Week, May 12–17, 2025. The first day of classes at Indiana State Normal School was May 17, 1875. Watch for more information about celebratory events in the Spring 2025 edition of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine.

New Vice President

In July, Jennifer DeAngelo took on the role of vice president for University Advancement, coming to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from York College of Pennsylvania. As assistant vice president for college development, she launched York’s first comprehensive campaign, which raised $92 million. She previously worked at Lock Haven University and at Penn State in athletic development. She is a graduate of Penn State and holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Jennifer Luzier Dunsmore ’98, who served as interim vice president during the search, has returned to her role as assistant vice president for Alumni and Friends. The University Advancement Division includes the offices of Alumni and Friends, Development and Fundraising, Strategic Partnerships, Engagement and University Events, and Advancement Services.

Marching Band Leadership

Cassidy Nalepa ’03 began serving as interim director of the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Marching Band and interim associate director of bands following Zach Cheever’s departure in July to take another position. Nalepa came to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from Ball State University, where she served as a bands graduate assistant while pursuing her doctorate. She also holds master’s degrees from Drexel and West Chester universities.

Medical College Plans Advance

Progress toward opening a college of osteopathic medicine at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â has continued with the addition of two associate deans to the team led by founding dean Miko Rose. 

Ryan Smith started in July as founding associate dean of clinical affairs for the proposed medical college. He is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and a board-certified psychiatrist who came to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine. Luke Mortensen started in August as founding associate dean of preclinical affairs for the proposed medical college. He came to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from Michigan State University.

In June, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â signed its first clinical training affiliation agreement—with Punxsutawney Area Hospital—for students in the proposed college. The second agreement, with Indiana Regional Medical Center, was signed in September.

Since late 2022, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â has been exploring establishing a medical college to help meet the need for primary-care physicians in rural Pennsylvania. The university plans to begin preparing facilities for the college in 2025, to begin hiring faculty and staff in 2026, and to welcome the first class of students in 2027. However, the timeline depends on completing requirements of the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

Brick-and-Mortar Honor

Ruth Riesenman at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Volunteer Recognition Breakfast in April

A longtime administrator in higher education, Ruth Riesenman ’64 had a groundbreaking career even before joining the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â staff in 1980. When Washington & Jefferson College named her its associate dean of Student Personnel in 1970, Riesenman became the school’s first female administrator. During its homecoming festivities this past September, W&J recognized Riesenman by naming a residence hall in her honor. Located on President’s Row, the building was previously named after ninth US president William Henry Harrison.

Riesenman’s service to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â lasted 25 years. She started as assistant director of Career Services and led the office a few years before joining the Office of the President in 1993. For a decade, she served as assistant and then executive assistant to President Lawrence Pettit. When Riesenman retired in 2005, Diane Reinhard was leading the university as interim president.

In addition to her bachelor’s degree from Indiana State College, Riesenman earned a master’s degree from Kent State and a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. Her ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â accolades include receiving the President’s Medal of Distinction in 2007 and the Award of Excellence in Volunteer Leadership last spring.

Exploring the ‘Near Woods’

Geography professor Kevin Patrick has always appreciated the “near woods”—those patches of nature easily accessible from the communities where he has lived. Located on the fringe of Indiana Borough, White’s Woods Nature Center and the adjacent ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Co-op Park have served that role for Patrick during his nearly 30 years on the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â faculty. Last year, he released a book, Near Woods: A Year in an Allegheny Forest, published by Rowman & Littlefield’s Stackpole division, through which he tells the story, over the course of each season, of the relationship between the community and these woods. The book includes mysteries he has observed, such as the presence of a large concrete foundation on the property, and explanations he found through a search of old newspapers. The Association of American Geographers chose Near Woods for its 2023 John Brinckerhoff Jackson Prize, which recognizes books that provide professional geography insights while appealing to a lay audience. While these parks have served as near woods for generations of students, many ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â community members in recent years have contributed time and expertise to the conservation and preservation of White’s Woods by assisting with a stewardship plan and removing invasive plant species, among other efforts.

Top-Cited Scientists

Four current and former faculty members are in the top 2 percent of cited scientists in their fields, according to the latest ranking by Stanford University and data analytics company Elsevier. Edward Gondolf, Abbas Ali, and David Hanauer are on the list for career-long impact, and Krys Kaniasty—along with Hanauer and Ali—made the list for single-year performance.

Professor Emeritus Gondolf retired from the Sociology Department in 2011 after 26 years of service, and Kaniasty retired from the Psychology faculty in August after 34 years. Ali has served on the Management faculty for 35 years and Hanauer on the English faculty for 22. Both Ali and Kaniasty hold the lifetime title of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Distinguished University Professor, having received the recognition in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Faculty Deaths

Recently reported deaths of former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â faculty members:

• John Broughton, a professor emeritus who retired from the Mathematics Department in 2002 after 31 years of service, died December 7, 2023.

• Elaine Balest Carbone ’70, M’74, who taught mathematics in the 1980s and early 1990s, died July 11, 2023.

• Claire Dandeneau, a professor who retired from the Counseling Department in 2021 after 26 years of service, died September 14, 2024.

• Arlo Davis, a professor emeritus who retired from the Mathematics Department in 2001 after 31 years of service, died February 9, 2024.

• John Freund, a professor emeritus who retired from the English Department in 1990 after 19 years of service, died March 22, 2024.

• Ernest Fricke, a professor emeritus who retired from the History Department in 1997 after 30 years of service, died February 27, 2021.

• Robert Gendron, a professor who retired from the Biology Department in 2012 after 26 years of service, died July 22, 2024.

• Edward Hauck ’58, a member of the Communications Media faculty for 16 years, from 1965 to 1981, died September 12, 2024.

• Dale Landon, a professor emeritus who retired from the History Department in 2000 after 33 years of service, died June 14, 2024.

• Donald McClure, who retired from the English Department faculty in 2001 after 34 years of service, died August 23, 2024.

• Gary Patton, a professor emeritus who retired from the Psychology Department in 1997 after 28 years of service, died August 20, 2024.

• Vicki Ruddock ’73, M’76, who taught in the Journalism Department between 1992 and 2002, died June 25, 2024.

• Ila Weaver ’89, an interior designer who taught at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 1994 and 1995, died April 20, 2024.

• Melvin Woodard, a professor emeritus who retired from the Mathematics Department in 1995 after 29 years of service, died October 5, 2024.

President of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â:
Michael Driscoll

Editor: Elaine Jacobs Smith ’93

Contributing Editors: Karen Philippi Gresh ’67, Bob Fulton ’75

Namedroppers Editor: Matthew Burglund ’98

All About Alumni Editor: Jason Levan ’97

Design: Meghan McMeans Strittmatter ’13

Photography: Brian Henry

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine is published by ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

The magazine’s address is John Sutton Hall, Room 321, 1011 South Drive, Indiana, PA 15705-1046 (telephone 724-357-3112; email iupmagazine@iup.edu). Correspondence regarding any aspect of the magazine may be directed to this office. Print and web images derived from photos submitted for publication become the property of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â and may be reprinted at the discretion of the university.

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine welcomes contributions to help defray the cost of publishing. The Official ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine Form may be used for this purpose.

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ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to excellence through diversity.