Applause!

We are so proud to share the accomplishments of our talented faculty, staff, and students here at Mercyhurst. Applause! is a way of showcasing the diverse research and accolades of our faculty, a variety of student successes, and hands-on community-oriented projects and experiences Mercyhurst provides. 

Applause! will be published here monthly—email submissions to Allison DiGilio to be featured on the website and in The Morning Tide email newsletter. 

    Heather Denning, assistant professor and chair of the Art, Design, & Communication Department, showcased her expertise at the American Art Therapy Association's 54th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, held from October. 25-29, 2023. Heather presented on two insightful panels, sharing her knowledge on "Expanding Ethical Art Therapy Practice to Professional Writing" and "Instructional Content Areas in Undergraduate Art Therapy Education." Additionally, she took on a leadership role by co-hosting a special interest group for undergraduate art therapy educators. Heather's dedication and leadership shine brightly, showcasing Mercyhurst's commitment to excellence in academia.

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    Heather Denning, Art Therapy professor

    Amanda Mulder, director of the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst took center stage in the short film titled "Come Dance with Us," directed by John Neiderer. The film follows two weary travelers on a suspenseful journey to reach an inn before nightfall. Watch the short film "Come Dance with Us" on YouTube. For additional details about the film, you can find more information on IMDb.

    Members of the Mercyhurst Physician Assistant Student Society (MPASS), advised by faculty member Robin Newhook, collected goods this fall to benefit The Caring Cupboard, a food bank in the Hershey area.  Last year they provided a full holiday meal for 220 families and a week’s worth of breakfasts and lunches for more than 200 children for the week of vacation from school. This year, The Caring Cupboard anticipates serving even greater numbers. 
    The Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA) challenged student members to the fundraising drive in conjunction with its annual convention, held in Hershey Nov. 29-Dec.2. Mercyhurst PA students raised several carloads of food that will be utilized for their holiday distribution.  We are proud to support this amazing organization’s efforts to combat food insecurities. 

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    PA students with food drive supplies

     

    October saw a new horror novel published by Mercyhurst’s own web developer, Paul Jessup. "Glass House" was put out by Portland, Oregon’s Underland Press.  It’s a haunted house novel, and his sixth publication. It’s been called “Masterful," “One of the most gorgeous haunted house novels I’ve ever read," as well as “A dizzying concoction of terror and supernatural horror.”  The same month he signed a two book deal with Underland for 2024. His short story collection, "The Skinless Man Counts to Five," is scheduled for release in March 2024, and another horror novel, "Cancer Eats the Heart," is scheduled for October 2024.

     

    Business professor Rajkamal Kesharwani, Ph.D. recently had his journal article “How an outside perspective can help an organization enhance their supply chain risk mitigation strategy” accepted for publication in the Issues in Information Systems Volume 24 that should be available by the end of the year. He collaborated on this paper with Professor Fred Hoffmann and Jacob Maynard, a recent Mercyhurst Intelligence Studies alumni. The research will be presented asynchronously in the 2023 IACIS conference to be held Oct. 4-7 in Florida. 

    This past summer, Physical Sciences Laboratory Manager Elizabeth Patnode completed a graduate certificate program in Geographic Information Science (GIS) through Northwest Missouri State University. She has now begun a full masters program in Natural Sciences Education through Colorado State University.  On Monday, Aug. 7, Peter Zohos gave the keynote presentation to a group of C-Suite business leaders from around the country. Almost all attendees were from the tourism, hospitality, and retail industries. The presentation was about his experiences turning around a restaurant by changing the culture to one where employee experience was just as important as the customer's. "The biggest surprise came when during my presentation nine of my team members stood up in the audience," Zohos said. "This was the best part of the day. These people trusted me and went on a journey with me years ago." 

    Assistant Professor of Russian Katie Duda, Ph.D. contributed a chapter, "My son, My self: Reevaluating a Culture of Vulnerability",  in "A Mind Purified by Suffering": Evgenia Ginzburg's Whirlwind Memoirs". The volume was edited by Olga M. Cooke and published by Academic Studies Press. Dr. Duda also gave an invited talk on Friday, Sept. 8, on War and Peace at Thomas Aquinas College in North Field, Massachusetts.

    Professors Heather Denning and Jodi Staniunas-Hopper from the Art, Design, & Communication Department, along with students Gillian Samul and Abigail Paccone presented a panel: "Building Community Engagement in Italy: Service Learning Abroad" at the 42nd Buckeye Art Therapy Association's Annual Symposium on Saturday, Sept. 9.  Additionally, Gillan Samul was awarded the Don Jones Memorial Scholarship for Undergraduate Art Therapy Student. Heather Denning co-presented a workshop "Eco Art Therapy Wellness Practices: Greening the Studio" on Friday, Sept. 8. (pictured, Gillian-left, Heather-middle, Abgail-right) 

     

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    Attendees from Art, Design & Communication Department

     

    The School of the Arts Artist Flock attended the D’Angelo Department of Music Faculty Collage on Wednesday, Sept.13 in Walker Recital Hall. The Artist Flock consists of students and faculty who wish to try out different art experiences together. Led by Dean of The School of the Arts Jodi Staniunas-Hopper, the Flock will gather for more art events this fall. Two that are scheduled are the “Government Inspector” on Thursday, Nov. 2, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Friday, Nov. 10. To get your name on the email list or nominate an event, send a note to jstaniunashopper@mercyhurst.edu

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    Students from Artist Flock sitted together

    Exercise Science student Nick Carso, recently defended his senior thesis research, "Effect of Gender on Range-of-Motion, Hamstring Flexibility, and Perceived Lumbosacral Pain in NCAA Division II Collegiate Rowers", at the Annual Conference of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 12-15. Exercise Science Program Director Robert Chetlin applauded Nick’s work stating that he did an excellent job addressing the delegates’ questions. 

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    Nick Carso defending his senior thesis

    Dean of the School of the Humanities Dr. Jeffrey Roessner received a fellowship to attend the 2023 Bowling Green State University (BGSU)-Popular Culture Association (PCA) Summer Research Institute, held at the Jerome Library on the campus of BGSU June 20-23, 2023. The institute offered access to the extensive popular culture and music archives at the library. Dr. Roessner’s research focused on the collection of Beatles material, particularly connected to the band’s relationship with wider trends in art, film, and literature of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Read more about the experience in this article from BG Independence News.   

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    Dr. Jeffrey Roessner with his Beatles materials

    This winter, Mercyhurst University, through the efforts of Dr. Chris Mansour, chair of the Cyber Security and Data Science Department, and Brian Fuller, director of the Center for Intelligence Research Analysis and Training, participated in a case study on cyber security challenges in higher education. The study was conducted by the Chronicle of Higher Education and Dell Technologies, both of which featured the results in their respective publications. Read “How Higher Ed is answering the Cyber Security Challenge.

    Art Department faculty Heather Denning and Jodi Staniunas-Hopper led 16 Mercyhurst students in a service-learning trip to Rome, Italy, this past May in partnership with United Planet. Volunteer sites and projects included packing and distributing food for those in need at Nonna Roma, and leading art activities with the Roma community and refugee women from Afghanistan. Other cultural experiences included learning dances of southern Italy and having breakfast at the Vatican.

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    Collage of images from the Art Rome Trip

    Pictured at left: Abby Kane Pictured at right: Gina Samara, Emma Ratesic, and Hannah Piatko

    Ridge College Director of Operations Brian Fuller presented at Penn State Behrend’s 18th Annual Erie Conference titled “Unleashing Erie’s Economic Potential: Harnessing the Region’s Strengths through Project RESOLVE,” on Tuesday, July 25. He was part of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network panel along with representatives from Penn State Behrend, Gannon University, and PennWest University. 

    Mercyhurst Communication Program Director Brian R. Sheridan, M.A., has been re-elected for his second term as president of the Meals on Wheel Erie board of directors. He has been a board member since 2019. 

    Mary A. Spadafor Endowed Chair of Music Nathan Hess was featured in Erie News Now's "The Last Word" with John Last on Friday, April 21, performing "The Onyx: March and Two-Step." The 1895 piano piece by seventeen-year-old Franklin, PA native George W. Feldman was part of the collection of a former antiques business in North East, PA called Ruby's Olde Time Antiques and Gifts. The former owners had long wanted to hear the work performed. 

    Other recent accomplishments for Nathan Hess include teaching a piano masterclass in the PNC Recital Hall at Duquesne University's Mary Pappert School of Music, teaching works by J.S. Bach and Claude Debussy on Tuesday, April 11. He also performed the piano part in Aaron Copland's original version of "Appalachian Spring" for 13 players with the Erie Philharmonic on Tuesday, April 25, at Edinboro University in Cole Auditorium.

    Religious Studies faculty members held their annual spring student gathering, where they inducted six new members to Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Religious Studies and Theology Honor Society. They also honored nine graduating seniors, in particular Hayes Miller, a Religious Studies major and winner of this year's Sister Carolyn Herrmman Service Award, and Grace Bonnett, a double major in Anthropology and Religious Studies and recipient of the 2023 President's Award for the Hafenmaier College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences as well as the Theta Alpha Kappa Outstanding Student Award for the Mercyhurst chapter.

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    Group photo from religious studies celebrating the graduating students

    Chair of the Department of Religious Studies Dr. Verna Ehret and Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Robert Von Thaden were recently featured in the WQLN PBS series "Chronicles," a docuseries showcasing the Lake Erie region's past and present. Ehret and Von Thaden provided their expertise on the May 10 episode of "Houses of Faith: Beyond the Brickwork Pt. III," and can be seen in the video at 2:05, 5:20, and 21:15.

    Our Department of Forensic Science was called in to assist Pennsylvania State Police in a recent investigation. "We were involved in the recovery and so what we try to do for all of these scenes is try to figure out what happened here," said Forensic Science Department Chair Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat. Check out the full story, courtesy of Erie News Now

    On Wednesday, April 19, Dr. Beatriz Torres and six Lakers from the Social Determinants of Health class spoke at Erie City Council meeting and met with City Council members Mayor Joseph V. Schemberand. Our students conducted a community assessment which included thorough observations of built environment, resources, and assets. These students were chosen by their peers to represent the class of 28 students. Students in this course conducted a community assessment which included thorough observations of built environment, resources, and assets. They walked the streets and spoke with neighbors about aspects that encourage and/or hinder health and wellbeing. Each student presented their observations and provided recommendations for improvement coming from neighbors’ input. Dr. Torres asked the City Council members to reflect on ways each of their policies could affect Erie’s community health. Pictured left to right: Dr. Beatriz Torres, Jonathan Boland (Criminal Justice), Michael Davis (Public Health), Nolani Lasanta (Public Health), Joseph Schember (Major, City of Erie) Sara Marin (Public Health), Maggie Newton (Sports Medicine, Public Health minor) and Kayla Gill (Social Work). 

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    Mercyhurst students at City Council

    On Friday, April 28, 40 ASN and RN-BSN Nursing graduates participated in the Department of Nursing Pinning Ceremony in Christ the King Chapel. During the ceremony, Sr. Mary Paul Carioty, RSM, a Registered Nurse for over 60 years, blessed the graduates’ hands. Each graduate received a Mercyhurst Nursing pin and selected a special someone (family, friend, faculty) to pin them. The pinning ceremony is an honored tradition among nurses.

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    2023 Pinning Ceremony

    Clinical Secretary in the DPAS, Sports Medicine Adjunct Lecturer, and Mercyhurst alumna Cynthia Kuhn, competed in the 2023 Boston Marathon with an impressive time of 3.28.29. A three-time brain tumor survivor, Kuhn set a lofty goal for herself to qualify for Boston, which she did with her time in the Erie Marathon in 2022. A short 15 months after her last surgery, she was on her way to Boston! “There are plenty of excuses if you don’t want to do something, but if you put your mind to something you CAN do it,” Kuhn said. With her finish time at the marathon, she has now qualified to compete in the 2024 Boston Marathon.

    Assistant Psychology Professor Dr. Derek McKay and Psychology major Thomas Palotas traveled to the British Neuroscience Association Conference in Brighton, United Kingdom, April 23-26. McKay and Palotas presented “The HEXACO and Five-Factor Models of Personality in Relation to Verbal Fluency.” McKay supervised Palotas and five other students in this collaborative research project: Ally Burrington, Riley Boyd, Gabriella Hoke, Kaitlyn Morris, and Ashton Houppert. McKay also accompanied Burrington, Boyd, and Hoke to The Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference (WPUPC) at Thiel College, on April 29. The students presented their research, “The Relationship Between the HEXACO Model of Personality and Phonemic Fluency: A Facet Level Examination.” 

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    Dr. McKay and student at British Neuroscience Association Conference

     

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    Dr McKay poses with another group of students at the conference

    Michaela Mitchell and Assistant Biology Professor Dr. Rajinikanth Mohan published a review article in the Journal of Advanced Research in collaboration with scientists at the University of South Carolina and from China. The article, titled “Join the green team: inducers of plant immunity in the plant disease sustainable control toolbox,” focuses sustainable control of plant disease in agriculture. 

    The Security Executive Council recently published a Security Leader Insight column featuring Ridge College Director of Operations and CIRAT Director, Brian Fuller. Brian and other Intelligence experts discuss how security can add value by mitigating risk of fraudulent ecommerce activities.

    Assistant Professor of Computer Science Kevin Matthe Caramancion was awarded the Certificate of Best Presenter at the 2023 IEEE 13th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, held Wednesday-Saturday, March 8-11. His paper titled "The Link Between a User's Religion and Mis/Disinformation Vulnerability," will soon be published by IEEE as a peer-reviewed proceeding article. 

    “I am incredibly humbled by this recognition and I am grateful for the opportunity to have presented my research to such a distinguished audience. It was a fantastic learning experience, and I am thrilled to know that my work has been appreciated by experts in the field,” Caramancion said. 

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    Certificate of Best Presenter presented to Mercyhurst's Assistant Proferssor of Computer Science

    Senior Intelligence Studies Major and Religious and Society minor Holly O’Donald presented “Analyzing and Proving a Relationship between Christian Religious Ideology and Domestic Violent Extremism in the United States” at the Lycoming Undergraduate Humanities Research Conference at Lycoming College on Saturday, April 1. The project was supervised by Dr. Brooke Shannon, assistant professor of Intelligence Studies, and Dr. Verna Ehret, professor of Religious Studies.

    Dr. John Parente and four students attended the College Sport Research Institute at the University of South Carolina for a national Sport Business Case Study Competition. Over the past four years, our Sport Business Management students have won three case study competitions and finished in second at the Pennsylvania Sport Business Conference held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Faculty and industry professionals have encouraged the group for years to take our talented students to the national competition. Unfortunately, COVID-19 cancelled Dr. Parente’s first attempt in spring 2020, but with a strong current group of students, they were well prepared for the challenge. Traditionally a male dominated field, Mercyhurst sent four female students of varying classes to compete in the Sport Business Case Competition. No other team of four at the event had more than two females (four person teams). The four students who represented Mercyhurst were senior Emily Blount, junior Paige Woodford, sophomore Abigail Kane, and freshman Alyssa Szychowski. Emily and Alyssa are student workers for Hurst Athletics, and Emily holds an internship with the Buffalo Sabres. Abigail is on the Women’s Soccer team and Paige is on the Women’s Basketball team. Dr. Parente believes the sport environment cultivates that competitive nature: “When the winning team was announced, they were mad.  If a ‘recount’ or a ‘double or nothing’ was a possibility, they would have taken it. The written feedback was not enough. They asked multiple judges how to improve, which was great to see that competitiveness. I assure you they will be back.”

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    Mercyhurst students at Sport Business Case Competition
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    Dr. Parente poses with students at conference

    At the 60th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences held in National Harbor, Maryland, Professor Emeritus of Criminology and Criminal Justice Dr. Peter Benekos presented a co-authored paper with Dr. Alida V. Merlo, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, titled “Emerging Moral Panic and Threats to Trauma-Informed Care in Juvenile Justice.” The paper assessed tensions between progressive and punitive ideologies and policies in Juvenile Justice and described the transformation of Harborcreek Youth Services from an Intensive Delinquency Treatment program to a fully Accredited, Sanctuary Certified, Trauma-Informed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (Disclosure: Dr. Benekos is the Secretary of the Board of Directors). The authors emphasized the success of Trauma-Informed Therapies and Multisensory Therapies, including Music Therapy which was implemented in 2014 by Mercyhurst Director of Music Therapy Craig Stevens, MA, MT-BC, NMT. The Therapy is now directed by Sam Krahe, MT-BC, NMT, of Lake Erie Music Therapy who is a graduate of the Mercyhurst Music Therapy program.

    Coordinator of Service and Justice Deonte Cooley was honored at the 2023 Erie’s Black Wall Street (EBWS) GREENlight Business Awards Gala, on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Erie Art Museum. He was recognized as realtor of the year by this rapidly expanding organization.

    Intelligence Studies Assistant Professor Fred Hoffman co-authored an article with Shelly Freyn that was published by the Journal of Intelligence Studies in Business: Freyn, S. and Hoffman, F. (2023). Competitive intelligence in an AI world: Practitioners' thoughts on technological advances and the educational needs of their successors. Article accepted for publication by the Journal of Intelligence Studies in Business 12(3), 6-17. 

    St. Mary Homes of Erie hosted their annual Christmas dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, for the Sisters of St. Joseph, board members, and others. They occassionally award the Medaille D'Or award for commitment to the ideals of the Sisters of St. Joseph and service to St. Mary's. For service for almost 19 years, this years’ recipient was awarded Jane Kelsey. She is pictured here with her son Danny (a Mercyhurst graduate) and the award following the dinner. Congratulations, Jane! 

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    Jane Kelsey and son after receiving her award

    In a recent episode of the docuseries "Chronicles," written and produced by PBS member station WQLN, creators sat down with Assistant Anthropology Professor Dr. Will Meyer for his insights.  Episode 6 of the series, “Erielhonan: Those Who Came Before (Part 1),” addresses the question of “Who are the Erie (Eriez)?,” the Indigenous peoples for whom our city and county are named.  While many questions surrounding the Erie linger to this day, we know that they were Iroquoian speakers, united in language and culture with the Haudenosaunee First Nations (Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Kanienkehaka [Mohawk]).  This series, which aired on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, takes a deep dive into the nature of the Erie, weaving together insights from Haudenosaunee guests as well as Dr. Meyer, who has strong personal and academic interests in Iroquoian languages and lifeways. Stay tuned for other episodes of “Chronicles” featuring Dr. Meyer!

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    Dr. Will Meyer in an episode of Chronicles

    "Awakenings: Propehtic Reflections" (Orbis, 2022) co-edited by Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies Mary Hembrow Snyder, Ph.D. and Sr. Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB was named among the Top 50 Spiritual Books of 2022 by Spirituality & Practice. 

    Dr. Christy Rieger, professor of English, presented an essay, "’Everybody is Ill:’ Disease and Class Privilege in Gaskell's ‘North and South’" at the Victorians Institute conference in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Friday, Oct. 14. 

    Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies Dalene Duvenage D.SyRM participated in the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) conference at the Citadel Military College in Charleston, South Carolina, Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 20-22. She presented a paper on the role of universities in the professional identity formation of intelligence studies students. If you would like to access Dalene’s presentation, email her at dduvenage@mercyhurst.edu

    Dr. Jeffrey Roessner, professor of English and associate dean of the Hafenmaier College, published his essay “Saved by Rock and Roll: The Velvet Underground In and Out of History” in the collection “The Velvet Underground: What Goes On,” edited by Sean Albiez and David Pattie (Bloomsbury, 2022). Research was completed with resources from the Cornell University Velvet Underground Archive. The essay argues that the Velvet Underground’s distinctiveness is less about musical style than about the rejection of the florid psychedelic image and counter-cultural politics that have become the dominant image of the late 1960s. For The Velvet’s most ardent admirers, their iconoclasm ultimately helped rescue rock from the self-absorbed excesses of psychedelia and recuperate the radical gestures of its 1950s origins. In this telling, it’s not that the band doesn’t fit into rock and roll history. Rather, they are central to it. Forming a crucial link between the originary moment of rock rebellion and the punk provocations to come, this band—with its Nordic chanteuse, androgynous girl drummer, electric violist, and dark shades—made it possible for rock’s subterranean history to be written.

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    Dr. Roessner poses with a book called "The Velvet Underground"

    Heather Denning, assistant professor of Art, recently co-authored the published "Instructional Content in Undergraduate Art Therapy Education" (2022) in “Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association.”  Heather also co-presented a panel with other undergraduate art therapy educators at the 53rd American Art Therapy Association Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday, Nov. 12. The panel was titled “Undergraduate Fieldwork: Practice & Ethics."

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    Professor Denning at panel disussion

    Allyson Schrimper-Minor M.S., DES, CMP, senior lecturer in Hospitality Management, was selected as a recipient of the Convening Leaders Faculty Scholarship by PMCA, the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists. She will attend the Convening Leaders event in January 2023, which supports innovation, education, and research concerning how business events generate economic and social legacies for businesses and communities.

    On Oct. 7-8, Assistant Professor of Russian Studies Kathryn Duda, Ph.D. participated in the New York State Association of European Historian 2022 Conference at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York. She presented in a roundtable about teaching responsive to Russia’s War in Ukraine. If you would like to access Kathryn’s remarks, the discussion questions, or the panel resources, contact her at kduda@mercyhurst.edu

    This October, Assistant Professor of Military Science CPT Sergio Franco was selected for the rank of Major. CPT Franco will now be considered a Field Grade Officer. He is scheduled to depart for the Pride of PA this summer. Congratulations, and thank you for your service!

    CPT Franco enlisted in the Army as a 68A, Biomedical Equipment Repair Technician in August 2005. In 2009, he was appointed as the Platoon Sergeant of the Medical Support Platoon in the 8th Medical Logistics Company in Germany until his selection for the Green to Gold Program in 2010. He earned his commission through the Green to Gold Program and completed his undergraduate at Penn State Behrend. He is also a graduate of Military Police Basic Officer’s Leader Course and the Military Police Captain’s Career Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After commissioning, CPT Franco worked for The Pride of PA as a Gold Bar Recruiter. In 2013, he assumed the duties of Executive Officer and Special Reactions Team OIC with the 252nd MP Detachment, 92nd MP Battalion. CPT Franco graduated the MP Captains Career Course in 2016 and joined the 93rd MP Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas, as the battalion S4. Selected for command in the 93rd MP Battalion, CPT Franco took over the 202d MP Company in May 2018. He joined the Pride of PA Battalion in September 2019. In 2020, Captain Franco earned a Master’s in Higher Education from the University of Louisville. CPT Franco’s military awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Army Superior Unit Award.

    Gary Cardot, assistant professor of Art, has launched a new website, garycardotphotography.com showcasing his photography work over the past three decades. His photography features architecture, landscapes, portraitures, collage work, documentary work on the rust belt, and a series of photographs of Central Park in New York City, New York. 

    Phillip Belfiore Ph.D., Graduate Special Education and Applied Disability Studies  program director and Special Education professor recently published two academic works. The first is titled “Academic Strategies for At-Risk Students in Urban School” featured in “Handbook of Special Education Research, Vol 2: Research-Based Practices and Intervention Innovations,” edited by C. Lemon, S. Powell, K. Lane, & T. Aceves. A summary of the work is as follows: “When comparing public school academic achievement at the national level, students enrolled in our largest urban school districts continue to underperform same grade level peers. This gap of proficiency widens when disaggregating data for students enrolled in urban school districts who are also eligible for the National School Lunch Program (National Center for Education Statistics, 2019). Additionally, these same students who underperform academically are more likely to face disciplinary sanctions, removing them further from the academic narrative. Whether identified as needing special education services or not, many young students in high poverty urban school are at-risk for academic failure, and as such, they shoulder our greatest challenge; reconstructing and maintaining an equitable public education playing field. Strategies rooted in applied behavior analysis provide solutions.” 

    Dr. Belfiore’s second publication is a peer-reviewed research paper co-authored with graduate school alumni Elisa Belfiore titled “Using errorless learning and discrimination training to teach early literacy skills in a pre-school setting,” featured in “Children and Teenagers.” A summary of the work is as follows: "This single case study investigates the effects of using an intervention package of errorless learning and discrimination trial training to teach a four-year old preschool student to read consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words. A single case multiple baseline across three equal instructional sets was used to evaluate the effects of the intervention package. Each set contained six CVC words incorporating words with each of the five vowels. The results of this study indicate that utilizing both errorless learning and discrimination training to teach a preschool student how to read CVC words was effective. In addition, generalization assessments post-intervention showed an increase in (a) mastering new unknown CVC words, as well as (b) book text reading.” 

    Heather Denning, assistant professor of Art co-presented a panel titled “Lessons Learned: Expanding Ethical Art Therapy Practice to Professional Writing" on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Buckeye Art Therapy Association's Annual Virtual Symposium. This panel featured other undergraduate art therapy educators.  

    Lucy Thairu, M.S., Ph.D., assistant professor of Public Health, recently published a research article in the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 4, No. 1. The article is titled “Maternal diet during postpartum seclusion: an ethnographic study among the Swahili of Pemba, Tanzania.” The introduction is as follows: “In Pemba, as in many other parts of the world, the first 40 days after birth constitute a period during which the mother and the newborn are secluded from the larger community. A cultural rationale for this seclusion is the belief that postpartum bleeding and discharge make the mother "unclean" [1,2]. Because of this perceived uncleanliness, a new mother is isolated, and her interactions with people beyond her immediate family restricted so that she does not "contaminate" them [1] During the seclusion, a new mother is not allowed to work or to do anything that is physically exhausting-this may permit her to rest and regain strength, and offer her an ideal opportunity to enjoy the newborn baby. She may also be restricted from eating certain foods and/or special foods may be added to her diet [3]. After forty days (the actual length of time may vary) a woman often resumes her normal activities such as farming, fetching water and cooking [3]. The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth description of maternal diet during the early postpartum period. The study was carried out within the framework of an ethnographic inquiry investigating care of the mother and the infant during postpartum seclusion in the northern district of the Pemba Island of Tanzania."

    Heather Denning, assistant professor of art and director of the art therapy program, published a book chapter, "Beginning Concepts of Group Work" in “Foundations of Art Therapy: Theory and Applications (2022).” Rastogi, M., Feldswisch, R.P., Pate, M. & Scarce, J. (Eds.). Elsevier. Artwork and narratives of Mercyhurst art therapy students are featured in this textbook to enhance learning objectives about group work.

    In July, art therapy alumni Jasmine Shaik '22 and Heather Denning, assistant professor of art and director of the art therapy program, volunteered at the Cheyenne River Youth Project for the RedCan Grafitti Jam. The RedCan Graffiti Jam is an annual event meant to empower Lakota Youth on Cheyenne River Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Murals are created by artists in the community and on site at the Youth Project reflecting Lakota culture. Heather and Jasmine volunteered by leading art activities and field day events, and working on the grounds and in the kitchen. Learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project by watching this documentary.

      

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    Posing at the RedCan Graffiti Jam
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    Students work with children on art

    Brian Fuller, director of operations for the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences, was featured as a guest speaker for a webinar for Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) on Tuesday, Aug. 9. This webinar discussed how the private sector can, and should, be leveraging Academia as a cost-effective capability in increasing product development, direct support to operations, and talent acquisition. The webinar also introduced participants to Mercyhurst’s Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences, the Center for Intelligence Research, Analysis, and Training (CIRAT), and the Computer Information Sciences program. Participants learned about the full scope of capabilities they could have access to, the process for leveraging all capabilities, and how to develop a talent pipeline directly with Ridge College through projects, internships, and capstones. 

    Assistant professor of biology Rajinikanth Mohan and Pre-Health first year post-baccalaureate student Sara Spells were published as first authors in article reviewing groundbreaking research on plant insect resistance titled “Caffeoylputrescine-hexenal-mediated nonhost resistance against leafhoppers” in the Trends in Plant Science journal. 

    Amber Marshall ‘22 was selected to participate in the Mercy DC Justice Advocacy Program 2022 held May 31-June 2, in Washington, D.C.  This program was sponsored by the Conference for Mercy Higher Education and offered by the Mercy Institute Justice Team. The conference hosted participants from Mercy institutions who are passionate about environmental justice See Amber’s conference biography here:

    Hello, my name is Amber Marshall. I am a graduating senior at Mercyhurst University, studying environmental science, biology, and art therapy. I have a passion to serve others and am very interested in environmental justice. I was recently accepted for an AmeriCorps VISTA position, doing the Healthy/Sustainable Futures position in Erie, PA. My personal goal from attending this program would be to have the skills to fight for fair policies and justice, especially for people who are even more vulnerable to climate change and other environmental issues. This conference would be a wonderful opportunity for the changes I would like to see in the future. 

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    Group photo from Conference for Mercy Higher Education

    Dr. Maria L. Garase, associate professor of criminal justice and associate dean of the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences, presented a paper titled “Second Chances: The Hidden Costs of Criminal Records and the Erie County Pardon Project” at the Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences (NEACJS) conference in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The conference theme was designated as “A System in Crisis: Tackling Pressing Issues in the Criminal Justice System.” Dr. Garase also serves on the executive board of NEACJS.   

    Assistant Professor of Biology Rajinikanth Mohan has received a $30,000 grant from Erie Community Foundation to perform research designed to assess toxic compound pollution levels near the Erie Coke plant and in the surrounding neighborhood. The funding is an addition to the $25,000 Foundation grant that Mohan received last year.

    Gary Cardot, assistant professor of art, has an exhibit of his photography montages at the Radius Gallery in Erie. The Radius Gallery is on the ninth floor of the Renaissance Center at 10th and State. He also has an accepted work in the juried Spring Show at the Erie Art Museum.

    Kimberly Zacherl, assistant professor of business, attended National Diversity Council Leadership Conference via videoconference in March. She attended session including “Pay Equity,” Leadership Role Vulnerability,” “Re-integrating into the Workplace (during COVID 19),” “Beyond the Balancing Act,” and “Intersectionality within Identity.” Zacherl will bring material from the conference into the classroom to share with students regarding the most up-to-date leadership and human resources practices. 

    Katie Boyd and the Mercyhurst Dining Team were recipients of the 2021 RAVE Award. Julius Ridgley, Manager of Community & Culture for Eat’n Park Hospitality Group stated: “We are so proud of Katie and her team for all the ways they live out our ‘we are passionate about food’ Core Value, and doubly proud of Katie because she was also the winner of a second award—the Parkhurst Extra Smile Award!” This makes Katie the first-ever winner of both the RAVE and Extra Smile Awards. Katie’s awards are also noted as a reflection on the entire Mercyhurst Dining Team. At the awards ceremony, Mark Broadhurst, Director of Operations at Parkhurst, spoke highly of Katie and the team: “Under Katie’s leadership the team at Mercyhurst are always coming up with creative ways to serve authentic food in a creative culinary rich manner. Mercyhurst executed a wonderful street food festival, an Octoberfest lunch, an apple festival, and a “Great Turkey Hunt” where they were recognized as runner up in the Guest Engagement category. That is quite the list of accomplishments, however you don’t get recognition like this just by planning a successful event, you need the right mix of leadership, creative thought, and passion.” Congratulations to Katie and the Mercyhurst Dining Services Team! 

    Kimberly Zacherl, program director for the Human Resource Management major, is proud to announce that senior Shannon Rechter is the second Human Resource Management undergraduate major to sit for the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional exam. Shannon recently passed the exam on her first attempt and now is a designated SHRM-CP. Shannon’s certification is a testament to her talents and the foundation she received through the Walker College of Business. The SHRM certification is one of the top Human Resource credentials recognized in the market today, providing Shannon with a competitive edge in the market as a graduating senior. Zacherl announced the re-alignment with the Society for Human Resource Management through 2025 which allows Human Resource Management majors the opportunity to sit for the exam once they have met all of the necessary requirements. “Mercyhurst University has given me all the resources necessary to successfully prepare for this certification,” Shannon said. “My professors have provided me with endless support and all the information I needed to have a solid background and understanding of all of the concepts and ideas covered in the SHRM-CP exam. The university, specifically my advisor Professor Kimberly Zacherl, assisted me in obtaining an internship that allowed me to tie in real life experiences to the concepts I was learning, which made preparing for the exam significantly easier. I am so thankful for everyone involved in the Walker College of Business and their commitment to helping students like me succeed.” 

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    Portrait of Shannon Rechter

    On Saturday, Nov. 13, Dr. Averill Earls, assistant professor of history, was awarded the Judith R. Walkowitz Prize for the Best Article in the History of Gender & Sexuality by the North American Conference on British Studies. Her article “Solicitor Brown and his boy: Love, Sex and Scandal in 20th century Ireland” was recognized at the NACBS-SCBS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA.  

    Dr. Christy Rieger, associate professor of English, presented a paper titled “The Eros of Illness: W. E. Henley’s In Hospital” at the Victorians Institute conference in Charlotte, NC, held October 22-24, 2021. 

    The Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA) held their annual conference at Kalahari Resort in the Poconos. Each year they pick a host city charity and challenge PA students to raise money and collect goods to support them. This year the charity chosen was The Kindness Project — an all-volunteer, donation-based, nonprofit-organization created to provide support to foster families in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. Their efforts to provide items such as clothing and furniture to help ease the transition of children into their new foster families. Members of the Mercyhurst Physician Assistant Student Society (MPASS), advised by faculty member Amanda Oliver, put forth an amazing effort again this year! The students raised funds and made donations to supply many items needed by The Kindness Project. They collected and purchased over 1500 baby wipes, 400 diapers, 120 pairs of socks, 60 pairs of gloves, 180 toothbrushes and 100 clothing items. They also donated crib sheets, bed sheets, toys, puzzles, activity books, flashcards, numerous backpacks, personal hygiene products, bibs, winter coats, and books. We are extremely proud of all our students, their families, and the community! In addition to being the top program for donations, members of the Mercyhurst PA Program participated in the 21st Annual PSPA Student Challenge Bowl. Each program can enter 1 team in the competition. This year’s team consisted of clinical students Brandon Zwick, James Matson, Rachel Pidala, and Rachel Orth. The students did an excellent job, coming in 2nd place overall! 

    In July, the director of the art therapy program, Heather Denning, and two art therapy student alumni, Alexis Nader ’21 and Laura Fredericks ’21 volunteered at the Cheyenne River Youth Project for the RedCan Graffiti Jam. The RedCan Graffiti Jam is an annual event meant to empower Lakota Youth on Cheyenne River Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.  Murals are created by artists in the community and on site at the Youth Project reflecting Lakota culture. Denning and the former art students volunteered leading art activities, field day events, and assisting on the grounds and kitchen for this event.

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    Students and Directof of the Art Therapy Program at RedCan Graffiti Jam

    Kimberly Zacherl, assistant professor of business, attended the Society for Human Resource Management Conference via videoconference in May 2021. Sessions attended include “Change Management Approaches and Techniques,” Social Media Risk Management in a COVID World,” “Background Screening,” “Pay Equity,” “Diversity Equity and Inclusion,” The Psychological Contract,” “The Mindful Advantage,” “Leading a Virtual Team,” and “Helping Your Workforce Re-connect during COVID.” She also attended three days of Keynote Speakers including Kendall Ficklin, Karith Foster, and Colene Rogers. Zacherl will bring material from the conference into the classroom to share with students regarding the most up-to-date Human Resource practices.

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    Portrait of Assistant Professor of Business Kimberly Zacherl

    Gary Cardot, assistant professor of art, will have his photography represented in a state-wide juried exhibit at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. His photograph, photograph, “Lower Parade, Erie, PA” was one of 104 accepted art works out of 2,200 entries.  The exhibit opens Sept. 26, 2021 and is on display until Jan. 2, 2022.  Cardot also has some of his collages of parades, store fronts, and other architectural studies on display at the new alternative art space in Erie, 1020 Collective, located at 1020 Holland Street in Erie. He is one of six artists from the region represented in the display. His image, “Hare Krishna Collage” will be displayed through Oct. 11, 2021. 

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    Photos at the State Museum of Pennsylvania exhibit

    Over the summer senior art therapy student Skyela Burgess '22 and senior graphic design student Sydney Dietz '22 created and completed a mural painting at Diehl Elementary School in Erie. The mural was designed with the goals of creating a colorful and aesthetically pleasing work of art addressing diversity and inclusion at the school. This project was funded by the Community Engagement Department by a mini-grant designed to enhance the university's goal of making a more antiracist and inclusive culture.  Karen Donnelly, Community School Director at Diehl Elementary, reported that returning students are responding positively to the mural and the impact of the mural was felt on the very first day of school. Many students commented that they either recognized themselves or someone they know in the mural. 

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    Mural painting at Diehl Elementary School

    Heather Denning, assistant professor in the art department, and Skyela Burgess, art therapy senior, co-presented a workshop "Professional Identity Development in Art Therapy: Reflections Through Self-Portraiture" at the Buckeye Art Therapy Association's Annual Virtual Symposium, "Art Therapy Across Borders & Cultures: Trauma Informed Care" on Sept. 11, 2021.  Self-portraits from art therapy students Olivia Andazola, Kayla Simonitis, and Ashleigh Merry were featured in the workshop. This presentation was especially meaningful as one of the co-presenters was a founder in the field of art therapy, Mickie McGraw, who started The Art Therapy Studio in Cleveland, OH, the oldest hospital-based studio-based art therapy program for patients with medical illnesses and disabled people in the country. 

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    Poster from workshop at Buckeye Art Therapy Association's Annual Virtual Symposium

    Gregory Baker, D.Min., vice president for mission, has published an article in the March-April 2021 issue of ¡Viva! Mercy magazine. Read ‘Manning’ Mercy: Reflections on Men’s Leadership of Mercy Ministries.

    Dr. Sherez Mohamed, assistant professor of Spanish, and Dr. Carol Ready presented a virtual panel discussion of “Spanish in Contact with Arabic” for the Department of Hispanic Studies at DePauw University on April 22.

    Gary Cardot had two photographs accepted in the annual Erie Art Museum Spring Show, which continues until June 26. He also had a photograph published online last September in the Philadelphia Photo Review, a national peer-reviewed journal of art photography.

    Mahtab Ahtari, PhD., assistant professor of business, has earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.

    Kimberly Zacherl, assistant professor of business, received her DiversityFirst Inclusive Leadership Certificate in April 2021. Zacherl attended training sessions facilitated by the National Diversity Council remotely, including Inclusive Leadership, Unconscious Bias, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, Collaborative Leadership, Best Practices for Inclusive Leaders and Firms, and Focusing to Empower. As the employee base, management teams and executive leadership becomes more diverse, successful managers will need to practice inclusive leadership. Zacherl intends to incorporate the training material in several Human Resource Management classes in which she teaches diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

    Rebecca Dunphy, a criminal justice and dance performance double major, was recently awarded the 2021 Bernie Meyer Undergraduate Scholarship Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Justice Educators (PACJE) at their virtual conference on March 26, 2021. Dr. Maria Garase, associate professor of criminal justice, nominated Rebecca for this competitive, statewide award which is given to an undergraduate student who demonstrates considerable success in and out of the classroom. At the awards ceremony, the PACJE committee noted that “in addition to her impressive academic performance, it was the clear dedication it takes to accept such time-consuming extracurricular activities that set Rebecca above her peers. As such, the PACJE committee felt her application exceeded that of the requirements for this award, despite several outstanding applicants.” 

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    Portrait of Rebecca Dunphy

    Dr. Robert Chetlin, associate professor of sports medicine, has been inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Chetlin is being recognized for his contribution to “sports science,” according to the announcement in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In addition to his role as professor, Chetlin is also clinical coordinator and director of the National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program at Mercyhurst.

    Dr. Alice Edwards, professor of Spanish, had an essay published in the spring 2020 edition of The Forum, the publication of Phi Sigma Iota International Foreign Language Honor Society, titled: "Philotes, Spoude, Idioma: Thoughts on a Friend's Passing". 

    Dr. Maria Garase, associate professor of criminal justice and chair of the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, and Julie Thomas, a crime victim advocate, recently co-presented at the 2021 Crime Victims’ Rights conference hosted by the Erie County Crime Victim Center.  The presentation, titled “Unpacking the Pardon and Commutation Process in PA: The Role of Victim Notification and Participation,” examined the role of the Board of Pardons in reviewing pardon and commutation applications, the public hearing processes and voting procedures, the victim notification policies, and how Covid-19 has impacted victim participation and preparations for the virtual, livestreamed hearings.

    Rajinikanth Mohan, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, published a scientific paper in the journal Cell in which he and his co-authors discovered the molecular mechanism by which plants suppress cell death when infected with a bacterial pathogen. Read “Formation of NPR1 Condensates Promotes Cell Survival during the Plant Immune Response.” Dr. Mohan has also received a grant from Erie Community Foundation for $25,000 to examine the extent of the spread of toxic chemicals from the now defunct Erie Coke plant to the neighborhoods in the vicinity.

    Dr. Edward A. Jolie of the Dept. of Anthropology recently had an article titled "The adoption of spinning wheels and looms by the Creek Indians" (co-authored with Donald Ball and W. Rex Weeks) published in the Journal of Alabama Archaeology 64 (1-2):35-56. On April 15, he delivered the livestreamed webinar "Basket Weaving in the Mesa Verde Tradition" via Zoom to more than 200 live attendees. The webinar, sponsored by the Colorado Archaeological Society and Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, focused on the role of basketry in the lives and livelihoods of Native Americans living in the Four Corners region of the US Southwest between 800 and 1,000 years ago. You can watch the talk on YouTube courtesy of Crow Canyon. Dr Jolie was also a featured panelist on April 20 for Virtual Archaeology Day. Organized by the Florida Public Archaeology Network and Valencia College, this annual event was created to provide information about the discipline to, and promote career options for, young anthropology students and interested members of the public.

    Kristen Beers and Kimberlee Blose, graduate students in the Master of Science in Integrative Nursing Leadership (MSN) program, were selected to complete a three-month Nurse Leader Fellowship at UPMC Hamot. This fellowship will provide a robust clinical practicum experience for these nurse leaders as they complete their nurse leadership capstone course, required of their MSN, this summer. The Nurse Leader Fellowship program is under the direction of Marci Bradley, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Clinical Director at Hamot, in collaboration with Judith Stanley, DHSc., RN, CNE, Nursing Leadership Program Director at Mercyhurst. Kristen Beers, BSN, RN, CSN is a certified school nurse for the Oil City School District and Nurse Administrator on Duty (AOD) at UPMC Northwest. Kristen will be the first UPMC Northwest employee to complete this leadership fellowship at UPMC Hamot. Kimberlee Blose, BSN, RN, CPAN, is the Nurse Clinician of UPMC Hamot’s Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Responsible for 39 direct reports and 24-hour accountability of the PACU, Kimberlee oversees the daily functions of the preoperative, postoperative, and waiting room areas of the hospital.

    Dr. Alexander Regina, assistant professor of marketing, was featured in WalletHub's piece about car insurance in Pennsylvania. You can find his recent contribution here

    Dr. Alice Edwards, professor of Spanish, presented her paper, "Ghosts of the Post-Memory in La resta, by Alia Trabucco Zerán," at the Congreso Internacional de Literaturas Hispánicas, March 4-6. She also presented a paper titled "Activating Memory: The Digital Protest of Aquí by María José Contreras Lorenzini" at the 13th Annual Gender Conference at Penn State Behrend on March 25.

    Dr. Maria L. Garase, associate professor of criminal justice, recently served on Zippia’s The Career Experts panel on "Criminal Justice Job Market Trends for Aspiring Graduates." Panelists discussed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates, as well as the types of certifications/licenses/courses that can have the biggest impact on job prospects. You can see Dr. Garase’s contributions to the panel here.

    Senior Rachel Sallach, the first Mercyhurst student to sit for the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional exam, passed the exam on her first attempt and now is a designated SHRM-CP, one of the top Human Resource credentials recognized in the market today. Kimberly Zacherl, program director for the Human Resource Management major, announced recently that Mercyhurst’s HR program was approved for renewal of alignment with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum through 2025, which allows students to apply for the SHRM certification exam sooner than students whose programs are not aligned with SHRM. “The certification process required hours of studying and preparing, but I had a solid foundation to build off of from my education at Mercyhurst and my internship experiences in Human Resources at MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions - Saegertown and currently at Country Fair, Inc.,” Sallach said. “This preparation and ability to become certified before graduation positions me very well as a soon-to-be graduate entering the workforce.”

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    Portrait of Rachel Sallach

    Allyson Schrimper-Minor attended the 2021 PCMA Convening Leaders Conference held virtually this year because of COVID. During the faculty workshop, Allyson was elected the faculty liaison for the 2022 cohort. She will serve as the direct contact between the Professional Convention Management Association and faculty members of participating universities on policies, procedures and involvement.

    Dr. Sherez Mohamed, assistant professor of Spanish, was a guest on the Our Erie podcast, March 30, to discuss linguistics and the way language, culture, and society interact. She also talked about African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and its importance and acceptance as a variant of English. You can listen to the episode, titled “Linguistically Speaking ... Words Matter,” here or wherever you get your podcasts.

    Darci Jones, Director of University Libraries, recently served as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in reviewing Point Park University’s recently completed self-study process. She served as first chair on Standard II, Ethics and Integrity, and second chair on Standard IV, Support of the Student Experience. Due to COVID 19 restrictions, all visits to Point Park were virtual, and the team's final report was delivered virtually. Darci has been a volunteer peer evaluator with Middle States since 2015.  

    Dr. Edward Jolie, assistant professor of anthropology, was interviewed for an Erie Reader story about “the ongoing issue Native Americans face of having to constantly remind others they are not mascots or peoples of the past.” Read “More Than a Stereotype.” 

    Dr. Christy Rieger, professor of English, has an essay in the current issue of Victorians Institute Journal (Vol. 47 2019-20), published by Pennsylvania State University Press. It is titled "Popular Fiction and the Holmesian Doctor Detective in L. T. Meade’s Stories from the Diary of a Doctor."

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    Cover of Victorians Institute Journal

    Senior Marina Boyle has earned a scholarship from the National Military Intelligence Foundation, a highly competitive award presented only to the most outstanding rising intelligence professionals, according to the NMIF. Boyle, who hails from Dublin, Ireland, is double majoring in Business & Competitive Intelligence and International Hospitality & Tourism, with a minor in Pre-Law Studies.

    The Giving Tree is an annual opportunity for the Mercyhurst Education Department to give back to the Erie community. This year, the effort benefitted Diehl Elementary School, whose families expressed a need for diapers and baby wipes. Students collected and donated 795 diapers and 52 packs of baby wipes for families in need. Amy Bauschard, advisor to the Mercyhurst chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, and Karen Donnelly, Community School Director at Diehl, are pictured with some of the donations. Mercyhurst University is the lead partner for the Community School Initiative at Diehl.

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    Faculty pose with a large table of donations

    Heather Denning, MA, ATR-BC, ATCS, LSW, lecturer in art therapy, presented a virtual workshop on  “Moving Through: An Embodied & Creative Approach to Healing Racism” at the Ashtabula Arts Center in Ashtabula, Ohio, on Dec. 5, 2020.

    Senior art therapy student Shannon Kutos, the Art Therapy III class, and faculty member Heather Denning completed a service project in November benefiting Saint Vincent Hospital's food pantry for patients and their families. The group painted five display sets designed by Kutos for the Festival of Lights event at Fairview Business Park. They worked throughout the fall semester on this remote service project in place of in-person service projects that couldn't occur during the pandemic. Mackenzie Pestotnik, a sophomore art therapy student, is pictured painting a piece for the dog park scene.

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    Student painting a puppy on wood

    Dr. Edward A. Jolie, Department of Anthropology, recently published (with Dr. Darrin Lowrey) “Analysis of a Delmarva Adena-Hopewell Textile Fragment Unearthed at the Frederica Site (7K-F-2) in Kent County, Delaware," in the latest Bulletin of the Archaeological Society of Delaware. The textile fragment, smaller than a postage stamp, is not just the only archaeological textile fragment yet known from humid Delaware, but also one of the oldest from the region and exceedingly fine in its construction, attesting to the skill of Native American weavers nearly 2,000 years ago. Dr. Jolie was also the featured guest on episode 11 of the Our Erie local podcast series. In the episode, titled, "Stolen Lands, Stereotypes, and Suspect History," he talked with the podcast’s hosts about local indigenous history and contemporary concerns. Coincidentally, it was released on Dec. 29, the anniversary of the 1890 Ghost Dance Massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, which comes up during the discussion. The podcast episode can be found on Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

    MoneyGeek.com recently published two articles featuring interviews with Gary Sullivan, assistant professor of risk management. Read his commentary on Understanding Car Insurance Quotes & How to Compare and Expert Advice on Finding Affordable Insurance in Pennsylvania.

    Academic counselor Nathan Nitczynski and career counselor Emma Kovacs have been accepted to present in the WNY Advising Conference on the connection between academic and career advising. The session will be pre-recorded for anyone interested in watching.