Penn State Lehigh Valley's financial aid department will host a free financial aid workshop for students who are considering enrolling in higher education:

Penn State Lehigh Valley's financial aid department will host two free financial aid workshops for students who are considering enrolling in higher education:

WHAT:          Financial Aid Workshops – learn how to complete the 2009—2010 Free Application
                       for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and ask questions about student aid.  

WHEN:           January 6, 2009 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

                        OR

                        January 8, 2009 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

                        (Snow date is January 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 12 Noon)  

WHERE:        Penn State Lehigh Valley

                        8380 Mohr Lane

                        Fogelsville, PA 18051 

RSVP:            Seating is limited.  Reserve a space by January 5, 2009
                       by calling 610-285-5000.

Glenn Kranzley is a native of Allentown, a product of the Allentown School District, and a lifelong Lehigh Valley resident. He received his degree in journalism from Penn State University in 1970. He then went to work as a reporter and editor at the former Bethlehem Globe-Times. As a reporter, he won four Pennsylvania Newspaper Association first-place awards for his investigative, environmental, and spot news stories. In 1971-1972, he was a professional fellow at The Washington Journalism Center, a program for journalists funded at the time by The Ford Foundation. He was serving as managing editor of The Globe-Times when he left and joined The Morning Call in Allentown in 1986, working on the copy and Sunday desks. He became a full-time opinion writer in 1989 and was named editor of the opinion pages in 1997. In 2004, he became a Morning Call vice president.

Since the early 1980s, he has taught all phases of journalism on the college level at Lehigh Valley schools, and since 1989 he has been a member of the adjunct faculty in journalism at Lehigh University. Kranzley is a frequent speaker in the schools and before community groups on newspapers, the First Amendment, and the future of journalism.  In October 2008, he was named Speaker of the Year by the Pennsylvania Communication Association. 

The lecture is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

The student activities office has announced that it will join with Penn State Hazleton to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of special events and community service on Monday, January 19, 2009.

The celebration will begin with a breakfast for the campus community and local agencies at 9:00 a.m.  At 11:00 a.m., featured speaker Shindana Cooper will talk about her relationship with Dr. King, and a musical presentation will follow. 

From 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. students, faculty, and staff will break into groups and head to various sites in the Hazleton area to perform community service.

Members of Penn State Lehigh Valley who are interested in participating in this event are asked to contact Cindy Nguyen at (610) 285-5042 by December 17, 2008, to register.

Dr. Roger Latzgo, instructor of music at Penn State Lehigh Valley, will lend his talent to the gala opening of the "Monet to Matisse" exhibition at 6:00 p.m. on January 31, 2009, at the Allentown Art Museum.

Latzgo will add musical dimension to the festivities with his renditions of French repertoire played on the museum's Steinway piano.  The music will span the later 19th and early 20th centuries, the period of activity of the featured artists, and include concert hall favorites by Bizet, Debussy, and Ravel, as well as music hall tangos, chansons, and waltzes.

The event is open to the public, but tickets are required.  For more information, contact the Allentown Art Museum at (610) 432-4333.

For media inquiries regarding Dr. Latzgo, please contact Allison Goodin at (610) 285-5067.

On the heels of the successful Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, the Student Government Association (SGA) has announced a drive for supplies to support deployed American troops.

"Thanks to the generosity of the students, faculty and staff, we were able to once again meet our goal of delivering 41 Thanksgiving meals to the Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown," says Cindy Ngyuen, coordinator of student activities.  "A caseworker at the shelter expressed their gratitude saying that Penn State Lehigh Valley's donation each year is 'priceless.'"

Donations for the supply drive for the American troops are requested to be dropped off in the SGA office by December 5, 2008.  Suggestions for donations include personal items such as baby wipes, skin lotion, disposable razors, toothbrush, toothpaste, eye drops, and zip lock bags, phone cards, AA batteries, magazines, and books.  In addition, snack items like beef jerky, energy/power bars, hot sauce, sunflower seeds, peanuts, candy, and chewing gum top the list of troop requests.

Dr. Jennifer Parker Talwar and Dr. David Livert, who serve as researchers for Penn State Lehigh Valley's Center for Community and Organizational Research, along with a team of students and research assistants, presented the findings of the study, "2008 Portrait of Latino Business Owners and Professionals," at a press conference held November 20, 2008 at The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).

The study was commissioned by the Latino Economic Council (LEC) of LVEDC as part of a larger effort to increase the visibility and success of Latino business owners and professionals in the region. The Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation, LVEDC, Air Products Foundation, Sovereign Bank and PPL provided the funding to launch and complete the study.

Dr. Talwar, associate professor of sociology, was the principal investigator and Dr. Livert, assistant professor of psychology, was co-investigator. They interviewed 103 business owners, mostly through personal meetings for an average of 1.5 hours; and surveyed 106 professionals electronically through their website. 

The results show that Latino business owners and professionals represent an economically empowered community in our region. Latino business owners include a wide variety of industries and are among the most prominent business owners in the Lehigh Valley. Some are pioneering global business networks in various regions of the world.  Small business ownership, in particular, is the path out of poverty especially for those who lack credentials to get a good job in the United States, writes Dr. Talwar.

Both Drs. Talwar and Livert agreed that this business community is an integral part of the urban revitalization that is taking place in the downtowns of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. "They are a silent key to economic development in our region as a whole," says Dr. Talwar," in so far as we are promoting our urban centers as tourist and entertainment zones with shopping, restaurants, museums, sports centers, and the new casino project." 

The study shows that the business owners have worked to make a living in this region through business ownership and entrepreneurship. One business owner surveyed told the researchers that he was successful in his business venture, "by the grace of God, my two hands, and I work like crazy."After starting from scratch in the U.S. he now has a net worth between $500,000-$750,000. Those numbers were reflective in the median annual business revenue for Latinos at $50,000-$100,000 and 34 percent have revenues exceeding $200,000. 

Of the Latino businesses surveyed, the majority, 46 percent, have deep roots to the Lehigh Valley and have been in the community for more than 21 years. Latino business owners overwhelmingly spend more locally and employ 1-25 people on average in their businesses.

Latino professionals surveyed show that they are socially and economically mobile and maintain strong networks with mentors outside of the region.  The vast majority (90 percent) of professionals speak English more than Spanish or with equal fluency. Among the professionals surveyed, 54 percent felt their Latino background had a positive impact on their career.  Like the Latino business owners, the professionals are also deeply rooted in the region with the majority (52 percent) giving back to the Lehigh Valley community by sharing their expertise and two-thirds, giving back financially.

Latinas are successful as business owners and professionals but a gender gap does exist. They tend to be more educated than their male peers, and they represent a wide variety of businesses, but on the whole they earn, spend, own less and are less networked.

Maria Teresa Donate, an Associate Professor at Northampton Community College and Chair of the LEC, felt that the study represented a need for the continued and focused education of Latinos. Just over 45 percent of the professionals had earned a graduate degree and most (76 percent) had earned a bachelor’s degree. 

The importance of an education is transferred to their children, with 92 percent of business owners and 83 percent of the professionals ranking an education for their children as the highest priority in their household.  The majority of business owners (92 percent) have a high school degree, 26 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Eighty percent of Latinas (versus 63 percent of Latino men) have some college experience, technical training or higher.

"Our goal in commissioning this study was to present facts to the community on Latino business owners and professionals and their contribution to our economic prosperity in the region.  We hope that the community at large will look at these results and use it to guide their individual efforts in their respective organizations to continue to encourage Latino business growth," says David Vaida, of Vaida Law Offices who serves as Chair of the Office of Minority and Women-Owned Businesses and is former chair of the LEC Board.

The complete study results can be downloaded from the LVEDC website at http://www.lehighvalley.org/ (click on About/Publications) or on the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board’s website at http://www.lvwib.org/. 

Penn State Lehigh Valley alumni and friends are invited to celebrate the season with a Winter Wine Tasting from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 11, at Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville, PA.

The event includes hot and cold appetizers, a winery tour, one hour of wine tasting, the presentation of six Vynecrest wines, a souvenir glass, and holiday entertainment by harpist Sarajane Williams.  It is co-sponsored by the Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association.

The cost is $10 for each Alumni Association member and $15 for each non-member.  Reservations are requested by Monday, December 8, and can be made by contacting Stacy Hamm at slh53@psu.edu or calling 610-285-5064. Or register online at http://events.lv.psu.edu/ and select December 11.

Singer/songwriter Mark DeRose will perform at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 9 in the Multipurpose room at the Lehigh Valley campus.

As a singer/songwriter and an instrumentalist on piano and guitar, Mark DeRose blends introspective lyrics with heartfelt acoustic rock.  Influenced by musical greats like James Taylor, Bruce Hornsby, and Dave Matthews, DeRose's performance has brought a distinctive sound to entertaining high energy crowds for nearly a decade.

DeRose has performed at many colleges and summer festivals in the Mid-Atlantic region.  In addition, he has opened for the Sugar Hill Gang, Josh Kelley, New Found Glory and, most recently, Blues Traveler. 

The performance is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact University Relations at 610-285-5067.

Nancy Coco, director of the Penn State Lehigh Valley Writing Project, will serve as guest lecturer for the SAGE December session at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 5,  at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Corporate Learning Center in Bethlehem. 

During the session, Coco will lead participants through a workshop that will allow them to capture some of their thoughts and memories and turn them into a personal poetic gift for their families.

"Memoir writing is about telling the stories of our lives through different styles of writing," says Coco.   "The finished product of a memoir session can be a wonderful gift to both the writer and the writer's family."

The Lehigh Valley Writing Project (LVWP) is a National Writing Project program committed to offering professional development that supports and enhances the literacy lives of all stakeholders in learning communities including teachers, administrators, students, families, and life-long learners. Nancy Coco has been the director of the Penn State Lehigh Valley Writing Project, a local chapter of the National Writing Project, for the last five years.  She has been a fellow of the National Writing Project since 1993.  Coco has also been a classroom teacher for 22 years specializing in middle and high school writing.  She received her master's in education from Wilkes University.

SAGE (Senior Adults Gaining Enrichment) is a community outreach program of Penn State Lehigh Valley designed to encourage intellectual and cultural enrichment for adults age 55 and older. In the fall and spring, the group offers a new, college-level lecture each month.

This event is open to adults age 55+, but reservations are required. This lecture is the fourth and final lecture in the Fall Series. The cost for the final lecture is $15. To reserve a space, contact Diane Lewis at 610-285-5066 or email dlewis@psu.edu. The Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center is located at 100 Brodhead Road, Suite 120, Bethlehem, PA, 18017.

For media inquiries, please contact Allison Goodin at 610-285-5067.

Penn State Lehigh Valley will observe World AIDS Awareness Day with a variety of educational activities from 12:00-3:00 p.m., Monday, December 1, in the Concourse.

Students will display educational posters and a questionnaire will be provided to test one's knowledge of HIV/AIDS. 

In addition, the campus will enact Day Without Art, which began on December 1, 1989, as the national day of action and mourning in response to the AIDS crisis. To make the public aware that AIDS can touch everyone, and inspire positive action, some 800 U.S. art and AIDS groups participated in the first Day Without Art, shutting down museums, sending staff to volunteer at AIDS services, or sponsoring special exhibitions of work about AIDS. Since then, Day Without Art has grown into a collaborative project in which an estimated 8,000 national and international museums, galleries, art centers, AIDS Service Organizations, libraries, high schools, and colleges take part.

AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1. The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988. World AIDS Day provides governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations, and individuals with an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

Penn State Lehigh Valley has issued a call for nominations for its 2009 Emerging Leaders Institute.  The program recognizes leadership potential among the high school juniors in the Lehigh Valley based on nominations by guidance counselors and student applications.  This year the program is based on the book, The Leadership Challenge, by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.

Throughout the four-month program, which is comprised of five Saturday sessions, Penn State Lehigh Valley Student Affairs staff will facilitate reflection and learning, while encouraging students to engage in community activities.  Students will learn about their leadership style, understand and communicate effectively to lead organizations, and participate in many interactive activities that support teamwork, collaboration, and foster change.

"The Emerging Leaders program taught me how to interact in a professional manner with people from a variety of backgrounds," says Sara Vreeland, a graduate of Dieruff High School and past participant in the institute.  "The activities challenged me to expand my knowledge, but they were also a lot of fun.  The leadership skills I gained set me apart from my peers and inspired me to take an active role in my community."

Additionally, the Emerging Leaders Institute partners with many community agencies, organizations, and legislators with the goal of creating a program that will empower and inspire the Lehigh Valley's youth to become active citizens who are passionate about their communities.

To learn more about the selection process or the program, please contact the University Relations office at 610-285-5067.

Dr. Barbara Cantalupo, associate professor of English, will be the featured speaker for the next Faculty Forum session at 1:00 p.m. on December 3, 2008 in Room 124 A & B at the Lehigh Valley campus.  Cantalupo will present "Edgar Allan Poe and the Arts Scene in NYC, 1844-1846." The event is free and open to the public.

This talk is from her current book-in-progess; she will be giving a similar talk at the International Edgar Allan Poe Conference: Two Hundred Years Later, February 3-6, 2009, at the Facultad de Humanidades de Albacete in Albacete, Spain.

"Edgar Allan Poe lived in New York City numerous times in his short life, but the most successful years of his career happened during his stay there from April 1844 to March 1846, the same years that the New York was becoming the nation's arts center," says Cantalupo. "Not only did Poe attend art exhibits, write about painting and sculpture, and become acquainted with artists in his neighborhood during this period, but this immersion in the visual arts had a significant impact on the writing he did during and immediately after his stay in New York City." 

Barbara Cantalupo has a Ph.D. in English from SUNY at Buffalo, a master's in Humanities in Photography and English from SUNY Buffalo, a master's of Social Work from SUNY Buffalo, and an AB degree in English and History from the University of Rochester. She is associate professor of English at Penn State Lehigh Valley and editor of The Edgar Allan Poe Review. Her scholarly edited books include Emma Wolf's Other Things Being Equal (Wayne State UP, 2002), Emma Wolf's Short Stories in The Smart Set (AMS Press, forthcoming), and co-editor with Richard Kopley of Prospects for American Literary Study, Vol. II (AMS Press, forthcoming). She has published numerous essays in scholarly journals on Hawthorne, Poe, Emma Wolf, Tillie Olsen, among others, and a series of interviews with Poe scholars in The Edgar Allan Poe Review including interviews with poets Richard Wilbur and Daniel Hoffman. She is also the author of an artists' book, Ghost City (NYSCA, 1988).

For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

Dr. Nichola Gutgold, associate professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley, will serve as the guest speaker for the Sacred Heart Visiting Nurses "Celebrity Luncheon" program.  The event will be held at Noon on Wednesday, November 12, in the ballroom of the Best Western Hotel in Bethlehem, PA.

Dr. Gutgold is the author of Paving the Way for Madam President (Lexington Books, 2006) and Seen and Heard: The Women of Television News (Lexington Books, 2008).  She will discuss the lives of the six women who have vied for the American presidency.  Gutgold is currently at work on a book about the presidential bid of Hillary Clinton.  A question and answer session, as well as a book sale and signing, will take place at the event.

The Celebrity Luncheon program provides financial support for the Pediatric Unit of Sacred Heart Visiting Nurses while offering a culturally-enriching experience for Lehigh Valley residents.  Other 2008 speakers include print and television journalist Peter Bergen, and CBS News Sunday Morning contributor Nancy Giles.

For more information or for tickets (if available), contact Judith Kramer at 610-967-4082.

Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Adult Learner Success Series will offer a session focused on "Empowering Adults through Technology" from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, November  18, in the Atrium at the Lehigh Valley campus.  Registration will begin at 4:45 p.m. and refreshments will be provided.  Reservations are requested by November 12, 2008.  This event is free and open to the campus community.

This informational session, sponsored by the Career Services office, will feature interactive presentations on technology and networking.  Participants will receive a basic tour of Facebook, including its setup and features, as well as an introduction to the new Penn State Lehigh Valley Adult Learner Facebook group.  In addition, an overview of blogging, the Penn State blogging system, and student perspectives on using these technological systems will be covered.

Presenters will include the following Penn State campus members:           

To reserve a space, please contact Jessica Kirkwood at 610-285-5002, or email jlk296@psu.edu.

Penn State Lehigh Valley will celebrate National Adult Learner Week with activities at the Lehigh Valley campus and the Corporate Learning Center.  The events are sponsored by the Division of Undergraduate Studies and Student Activities:

Stop by the welcome station for refreshments, and learn fun facts about the adult learners at Penn State Lehigh Valley.  Participate in an adult learner satisfaction survey and be entered into a raffle for Penn State attire and movie tickets.  Dates, times, and locations for these activities are as follows:

For more information, please contact University Relations at 610-285-5067.

Penn State Lehigh Valley will once again offer a special course designed to prepare students for the SAT Exam.  The course will be held from 9:00 a.m. – Noon, Saturdays, January 17 – March 7, 2009 (no class on January 31).  The course will be offered at both Penn State Lehigh Valley locations: 8380 Mohr Lane, Fogelsville, or 100 Brodhead Road, Bethlehem.

Penn State Lehigh Valley’s 21-hour course covers the math, verbal, reading comprehension, and essay portions of the test. This course offers proven test-taking techniques, practice tests, instructional help with the concepts covered, and feedback that will help students focus on areas that may need improvement. Penn State has been working to help high school students prepare for the SAT exams since 1968. This comprehensive program is taught by experienced Penn State instructors, who will challenge and guide you toward improving your test scores.

The fee for the course is $219 and includes the cost of materials and may be paid by check, money order, VISA, or MasterCard credit card.  Registration can be completed online or a registration form can be obtained at http://www.lv.psu.edu/CE/ce.htm.

Dr. Slava Rotkin, assistant professor of physics at Lehigh University, will serve as guest lecturer for the SAGE November session at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 7  at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Corporate Learning Center in Bethlehem. 

In his lecture, “Nanotechnology Zoo: Don't be Afraid of the Future,” Rotkin will discuss aspects of modern science that fall into the area known as nanoscience or nanotechnology including the driving forces for developing nanotechnology, its goals, and some of the successes. Rotkin, who has done research on the physics of nanoscale objects since 1993, will also explain why and how nanoscience is different from what was learned about the world in the past.

Dr. Slava V. Rotkin is the Frank J. Feigl Junior Faculty Scholar and assistant professor of physics at Lehigh University. He is also editor of Research Letters in Physics. Rotkin was a research fellow at Ioffe Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences (1994-99), then at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (1999-2004). He has taught at Lehigh since 2004. Professor Rotkin received his Ph.D. from Ioffe Institute (1997) and his M.Sc. (summa cum laude) from Electro-technical University, St. Petersburg, Russia (1994).

He was awarded the Eleanor and Joseph F. Libsch Early Career Research Award (2007), was named a Beckman Fellow (2000), completed the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences fellowship (1995), and received the President and Government Grant for Young Scientists of Russia (1994-96). His name has been included in Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders; Who’s Who in Science and Engineering; Who’s Who Among American Teachers and Educators; and AcademicKeys Who's Who in Sciences Higher Education.

Rotkin is an author/co-author of 90 publications. He serves as a reviewer for a number of funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation, and as a referee for more than 30 scientific journals.

SAGE (Senior Adults Gaining Enrichment) is a community outreach program of Penn State Lehigh Valley designed to encourage intellectual and cultural enrichment for adults age 55 and older. In the fall and spring, the group offers a new, college-level lecture each month.

This event is open to adults age 55+, but reservations are required. This lecture is the second of four lectures in the Fall Series. The cost for the entire series is $35. To reserve a space, contact Diane Lewis at 610-285-5066 or email dlewis@psu.edu. The Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center is located at 100 Brodhead Road, Suite 120, Bethlehem, PA, 18017.

For media inquiries, please contact Allison Goodin at 610-285-5067.

Penn State Lehigh Valley will celebrate National Adult Learner Week with activities at the Lehigh Valley campus and the Corporate Learning Center.  The events are sponsored by the Division of Undergraduate Studies and Student Activities:

Stop by the welcome station for refreshments, and learn fun facts about the adult learners at Penn State Lehigh Valley.  Participate in an adult learner satisfaction survey and be entered into a raffle for Penn State attire and movie tickets.  Dates, times, and locations for these activities are as follows:

·   Corporate Learning Center break room 

For more information, please contact University Relations at 610-285-5067.

Jonathan currently serves as Vice President for Government Relations for the Christian Medical Association (CMA) and directs the organization's Washington Office. As CMA's liaison with the federal government, he meets regularly with leaders in the White House and the U.S. legislature on health-related ethical issues including human trafficking, civil rights in healthcare, ethical issues at the beginning and end of life, bioethics, the role of faith in health, international health and HIV/AIDS. His on-site research on euthanasia in the Netherlands formed the basis for the No Mercy video and his presentation at an international conference in The Hague. Jonathan's commentaries on these subjects have appeared in USA Today, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and many other national publications.

On the issue of human trafficking, Jonathan has worked extensively with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Global AIDS Coordinator, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. U.S. Ambassador Mark Lagon, who heads the State Department’s anti-human trafficking program, recently thanked Imbody for what Ambassador Lagon described as his "assiduous efforts to integrate the discussion of health and human trafficking." After several years of his lobbying the State Department and the White House to examine the health implications of human trafficking, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in September 2008 held the first-ever national symposium on health and human trafficking.

The lecture is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

Singer/songwriter Mieka Pauley will perform at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 4, in the Atrium.

Pauley and her soul/rock/acoustic/alt style have inspired comparisons to Ben Harper, Cat Power, Neko Case, Patty Griffin, Fiona Apple, Jeff Buckley, and others.  She has played more than 700 live shows in the past five years in cities including her hometown of Boston, MA, New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Seattle, Nashville, Chicago, and London, to name a few.  Pauley has shared the stage with the likes of Citizen Cope, KT Tunstall, Eric Clapton, John Legend, Guster, and The Black Eyed Peas, among others.

The event is free and open to the public. 

Beginning Monday, November 3, Penn State Lehigh Valley clubs, students, alumni, faculty, and staff will work together to create Thanksgiving meals for local families.

This annual student-run food drive supplies 46 complete dinners, including turkeys, juice, rolls, pumpkin pie, potatoes, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy, to the Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown for families in need.  The students rely on donations from local grocery stores, local farmers, and other food outlets and bakeries.  Monetary donations are also helpful for supplies.

Anyone interested in donating food items or making a monetary contribution can do so by bringing their donation to the SGA office or Student Activities office.

In conjunction with The Baum School of Art in Allentown, students from Penn State Lehigh Valley will display a selection of their ceramic artwork and drawings beginning Monday, November 3 in the Concourse Gallery.  The exhibit runs through November 30 and is free and open to the public.  The Concourse Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

A German and Polish culture celebration will be held at Noon on Tuesday, October 21, in the Concourse.  Learn more about the rich heritage of these cultures by sampling some of their tastes, sounds and stories.

As senior communications officer at the World Bank Institute (WBI), Christopher Neal leads a team whose responsibilities include management of WBI’s website, publications program, public conferences and special events, internal and external communications, and media relations. Mr. Neal has held several positions over more than eight years at the World Bank, including senior communications advisor to the Bank’s Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, and senior communications advisor in the Latin America and Caribbean department.

He has also been Director General of Communications, among other communications management positions, at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), as well as communications officer at the Canadian Council for International Cooperation and CUSO, a large development NGO. Educated at Carleton University, Ottawa, he began his career as a legislative assistant to a Canadian cabinet minister, and then worked as a journalist for The (Montreal) Gazette and Ottawa Citizen, and as a freelancer in Latin America during the 1980s.

The lecture is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Adult Learner Success Series will offer a session focused on "Financial Planning for the Future" from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 21, in the Atrium at the Fogelsville campus. Registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. and dinner will be provided.  Reservations are requested by October 14.

This informational session, sponsored by the Career Services office, will feature interactive presentations by local financial experts followed by an open Q & A period. In addition, a representative from Merrill Lynch will be on site with an information table.

Kevin Brosious will present tips on investing, budgeting, and decreasing debt. Participants can download a cash flow worksheet that will be part of his presentation. Click here to download the worksheet.  Brosious is the founder and president of Wealth Management, Inc., a fee-Only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisory firm. He is a CFP® practitioner, a CPA, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). In addition, he is a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) and is a registered financial advisor with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). Brosious is also an adjunct professor at both Penn State and DeSales Universities where he teaches personal finance, investments, and other business courses. He received his B.S. in Accounting from Villanova University and an M.B.A. from Wilkes University.

Ray Hitti will offer insight on Savings strategies and finding the “right” financial planner. Hitti has more than 15 years of experience in sales and investment analysis with an extensive background in marketing, customer services and sales. He formerly worked for John Hancock Mutual Life for 10 years and is currently employed with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in New York, NY. Hitti is also an adjunct business professor at Penn State University. He received his B.S. in Management with a minor in finance from Penn State University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in marketing from DeSales University.

Michael Miller will represent Merrill Lynch at an information table.  Miller is employed with Merrill Lynch, Global Wealth Management.  He has over 16 years of experience in the investment markets as a Proprietary Equity Trader, Institutional Sales Trader and Financial Advisor.  Miller also focuses on families with special needs children or adults. He is a Certified Special Needs Advisor (CSNA designated) working with Good Shepherd and other special needs practices in eastern PA. He received his B.A. from Villanova University.

To reserve a space, please call Jessica Kirkwood at 610-285-5002 or email jlk296@psu.edu.

Prospective students and their families are invited to attend an Open House from 9:00 a.m. – noon, Saturday, October 25, at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

The program offers information to local high school juniors and seniors considering admission to Penn State, and students who have already been offered admission to the University. Hear about the options and opportunities at Penn State, speak with faculty, and interact with students, staff, and alumni. Participants can also attend a Financial Aid Q&A session.

To register, call 610-285-5000 or visit http://www.lv.psu.edu/.  Penn State Lehigh Valley is located at 8380 Mohr Lane, Fogelsville, PA, 18051.

October is Alcohol Awareness Month and Penn State Lehigh Valley marks the occasion with a Caribbean Mocktails event from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on October 16, in the Atrium at the Fogelsville campus.

The annual event, which is sponsored by the campus Wellness Committee, aims to inform students of fun and delicious alternatives to alcoholic beverages.  In order to sample the selection of drink recipes, each student must complete an alcohol awareness survey.

Penn State Lehigh Valley has partnered with SMARTHINKING, the leading provider of online tutoring and academic support, to offer live tutoring anytime, from anywhere. Students will receive real-time assistance in math, chemistry, bilingual math, physics, organic chemistry, biology, intro to anatomy and physiology, economics, introductory finance, accounting, and statistics. Writing support for all subjects is also provided through the online writing lab. SMARTHINKING e-structors™ have substantial tutoring and teaching experience, usually have an advanced degree, and participate in a rigorous online training and evaluation program. 

By offering online tutoring through SMARTHINKING, Penn State Lehigh Valley is making convenient and easy-to-use academic assistance available to students despite the time of day or their location. The service is especially helpful to those students who might not ordinarily be able to take advantage of traditional face-to-face tutoring or on-campus resources, such as commuter students, distance education students, students studying late at night, or any student with a hectic schedule.

"Currently at Penn State Lehigh Valley, students can use the on-campus learning assistance resources for limited hours.  Administrators felt that with students becoming more accustomed to 24/7 service in other aspects of their lives, they should also be able to access academic support to suit their own schedules," said Linda Rumfield, Learning Center coordinator at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

SMARTHINKING has been providing assistance to students since Spring 2000 and currently serves more than 500 clients across the nation.  Melinda Wright, one of the first students to use the service said, "It’s great having someone to answer your questions when you're on deadline.  The service is invaluable…I got a 4.0 for the first time in my life thanks to [SMARTHINKING’s] help."

SMARTHINKING is not designed to replace traditional college assistance programs or traditional college courses.  Its purpose is to serve as a supplement, in most cases, to existing campus tutoring programs and provide students with another tool for success.

More details about SMARTHINKING can be found online at www.smarthinking.com. 

Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society will hold its 3^rd Annual Basket Bingo Fundraiser at 11:30 a.m. on October 19, 2008, at the Fogelsville campus.  Proceeds from the event benefit the Penn State Lehigh Valley First-Year Scholarship Endowment Fund.

The event will include door prizes, a Chinese auction, food and beverages.  The cost is $20 in advance or $25 at the door and includes 20 games and specials.  All players must be age 18 or older. 

For more information, contact Katie Wells at 610-439-3484 or e-mail kwells@psalum.com.

After 15 years of devoted service, Lothar Gumberich, management development coordinator at Penn State Lehigh Valley, has announced his retirement. His duties will be assumed by Pamela Klass, a former project engineer at an engineering consulting firm.

During the course of his tenure, Gumberich, who was based at the Corporate Learning Center, coordinated management training programs for regional businesses and non-profit organizations. These programs provided leadership, supervisory, project management and technical writing skills, among other things, to organizations including Lehigh Valley Hospital, Grandview Hospital, Lutron Electronics, Mack Trucks, and Orasure.

Prior to joining Penn State, Gumberich worked for many years in marketing and sales. He looks forward to putting a greater focus on his role as associate chaplain at Easton Hospital and serving on the boards of local organizations.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society will host its annual Oktoberfest celebration at 6:30 p.m. on October 9, 2008 at Dunderbak’s in the Lehigh Valley Mall.

The event will feature a German food tasting including: bites in a bun, assorted sausages in steak rolls, potato pancakes, pierogies, German potato salad, Reuben wedges, turkey and tuna salad wrap rolls, German chocolate cake and coffee.

In addition to the opportunity to connect with other Lehigh Valley Penn Staters, participants will also receive a newly-designed Oktoberfest Beer Stein (must be 21 years of age and older), one free 12-ounce Spaten Oktoberfest Beer.  There will also be a chance to win genuine German raffle items and special Oktoberfest offers for Penn State alumni.

The cost to attend Oktoberfest is $20 for Alumni Association members and $25 for non-members.  Reservations are requested by Monday, October 6, and can be placed by calling Stacy Hamm at 610-285-5064 or slh53@psu.edu.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society is an organization that works throughout the year to create opportunities for alumni to support the campus, socialize, and mentor students.

Penn State Lehigh Valley has announced the following appointments to its faculty and staff:

FACULTY

John Botzum, instructor in mathematics – Botzum is completing his doctorate from George Washington University. He holds a master of science in mathematics and a bachelor of science in mathematics from the University of Akron. He has taught at Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College, Marywood University, DeVry University, and Kutztown University.

Henry Check, instructor in business – Check has taught business, finance, and accounting courses at Kutztown University, Ursinus College, Cedar Crest College, and DeSales University. He received a B.S. in electrical engineering, M.B.A., and a master of science in economics from Lehigh University.

Dr. Ana Figueroa, assistant professor of Spanish – Dr. Figueroa received her Ph.D. in Latin American literature and M.A. in Hispanic literature from Rutgers University. Until recently, she taught Spanish at Princeton University.

Michelle Kaschak, instructor in English – Kaschak received a B.A. in English from Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia; an M.A. in English from Shippensburg University; and completed a secondary education certification program from Kutztown University in 2002.

Michael Krajsa, instructor in business – Krajsa has taught MBA and undergraduate courses in entrepreneurship, management and marketing, international marketing, contemporary business, and consumer behavior at DeSales University. He was formerly director of innovation and entrepreneurship at Kutztown University Tekpark. He received his bachelor’s degree from Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, and his master’s degree from Penn State.

Richard Martin, instructor in information sciences and technology – Martin has an extensive background in computer systems and programming languages and applications. Most recently he taught part-time at Lincoln Technical Institute and Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech Schools. He graduated from Occidental College, Los Angeles, with a B.A. in philosophy; from Indiana University with a M.A. in philosophy, mathematical logic; and from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, with a M.S. in computer science.

Dr. Kevin McFall, assistant professor of engineering – Dr. McFall previously taught at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Lorraine Campus in Metz, France. He holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology; a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Dr. Kenneth Thigpen, director of academic affairs – Dr. Thigpen has a Ph.D. in English from Indiana University and was most recently provost and vice president for academic affairs at Briarcliff College. He was in the English department at Penn State at the beginning of his career and served as associate head of English for Penn State’s Commonwealth Education System from 1986-1993.

STAFF

Tiffany Cresswell-Yeager, director of student affairs – Cresswell-Yeager was most recently associate director of student affairs at Penn State Schuylkill.  She is a Penn State graduate with a bachelor of arts in journalism, and a master of education in training and development. She is working on her doctorate in administration and leadership from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Michael Damweber, admissions counselor – Damweber previously worked as an admissions counselor for Delaware Valley College.  He earned a bachelor of science in business from Penn State University in 2005.

Louise Frantz, coordinator of the practical nursing program – Frantz has held various nursing positions at St. Luke’s Hospital, Pottsville Hospital, and Gnaden Huetten Hospital where she taught critical care courses. Since 2006, she has been an adjunct faculty member at Northampton Community College and Lehigh Carbon Community College. She received her nursing diploma in 1989 from Geisinger Medical Center; a B.S. degree from Penn State in 2002; and her M.S.N. in education (September 2008) from the University of Phoenix.

Allison Goodin, assistant director of university relations – Goodin comes to Penn State Lehigh Valley having previously served as college relations associate at Cedar Crest College.  Prior to that, she was an account executive in the marketing practice of Ruder, Finn, Inc., in New York City. She received a bachelor of arts in English from Wagner College in 2002.

Pamela Klass, area representative – Klass has joined the Continuing Education team at the Corporate Learning Center. Before coming to Penn State, she was project engineer for an engineering consulting firm dealing in energy conservation for commercial and industrial businesses. She received a bachelor of science in industrial engineering with a math minor from Penn State in 1991. Additionally, she holds a Level 2 Pennsylvania teaching certificate for secondary mathematics.

Kate Morgan, director of university relations – Morgan was previously at the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, Georgia, where she coordinated e-learning courses. She holds a master's degree in interactive design and game development from Savannah College of Art and Design; a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations from Mississippi University for Women; and a web professional certificate from Penn State University.

Penn State Lehigh Valley invites alumni and friends to the best homecoming celebration in the nation as the Nittany Lions face off against Michigan on October 18.  The Penn State Lehigh Valley crowd will gather at the south side of the stadium – Lot 1519 and 1520, Red Parking Lot – until just before kick-off.

For additional information, contact Stacy Hamm, Alumni Relations Coordinator, at 610-285-5064 or slh53@psu.edu.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society is holding its annual Creamery Ice Cream Sale to benefit the Penn State Lehigh Valley First-Year Scholarship Endowment. 

Orders can be placed through October 27, 2008 and must be picked up on November 13, 2008 between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. at the Fogelsville campus.

An order form can be obtained by logging on to the Alumni Society website http://psulvalumni.org/documents/pdf/creamery2008.pdf, or by contacting Pam Klass at pklass_stjoe@yahoo.com.

Penn State Lehigh Valley will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with a performance by award winning teacher and HBO Def Poet Joaquin Zihuatanejo. Zihuatanejo will present “I Slam Therefore I Am,” at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 30 in the Atrium at the Fogelsville campus. 

Allentown native Edward Ryan, AARP appointed volunteer United Nations representative, will serve as guest lecturer for the SAGE October session on Friday, October 3, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Corporate Learning Center. 

In his lecture, “Positive Social Change: A World of Opportunity,” Ryan will review selected advocacy efforts of AARP to improve the quality of life for people of all ages throughout the world.  In addition, he will discuss the interactions undertaken with individuals and governments to express concerns for vulnerable populations and strengthen policies to make a difference.

Edward Ryan is a United Nations Representative as an appointed volunteer with the AARP Office of International Affairs in New York City, and a member of AARP Pennsylvania’s Executive Council, serving the organizations 1.9 million members in that state.  He is an active legislative advocate and a member of the state’s Long-Term Care Task Force.  He also represents AARP in the Lehigh Valley and has received AARP Pennsylvania’s highest award for volunteerism.

Ryan’s representation at the United Nations includes participation in conferences to facilitate dialogue and advocate for recognition of vital issues of aging with governments and non-governmental organizations.  He is also a member of the NGO Committee on Aging at the UN in New York and has co-chaired its observance of the International Day of Older Persons.

Ryan retired from Bethlehem Steel Corporation in 1986 and has since held jobs in sales and marketing as well as directing community relations for several companies including assisted living facilities and the Center for Healthy Aging at Lehigh Valley Hospital.  For the last two years, he has devoted himself exclusively to volunteering to improve the quality of life for people of all ages including serving with the Lehigh Valley Alliance on Aging and RSVP/Senior Corps.

SAGE (Senior Adults Gaining Enrichment) is a community outreach program of Penn State Lehigh Valley designed to encourage intellectual and cultural enrichment for adults age 55 and older.  In the fall and spring, the group offers a new, college-level lecture each month.

This event is open to adults age 55+, but reservations are required.  This lecture is the second in the Fall Series. The cost for the series is $35.  To reserve a space, contact Diane Lewis at 610-285-5066 or email dlewis@psu.edu.  The Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center is located at 100 Brodhead Road, Suite 120, Bethlehem, PA, 18017.

For media inquiries, please contact Allison Goodin at 610-285-5067.

Class will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturdays, October 18 through December 13 (no class November 29).  The cost for the course is $695 (includes course materials).  All classes are held at the Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center, 100 Brodhead Road, Suite 120, Bethlehem, PA.  Registration can be completed online or a registration form can be obtained at http://www.lv.psu.edu/CE/ce.htm.

For more information, contact Diane Lewis at (610) 285-5066 or email dlewis@psu.edu.

All women students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to join the Penn State Lehigh Valley team in the fight against breast cancer as they participate in the Women’s 5K Classic on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Lehigh Parkway.

This annual run/walk promotes awareness of breast cancer in the Lehigh Valley and raises money for breast cancer treatment and prevention. Since 1995, the Penn State Lehigh Valley team has helped raise approximately $45,000 for this cause.

The event is a 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) women’s walking/running event that happens rain or shine. Women of all fitness levels are encouraged to lace up and join the fun. Transportation will be available to take participants and volunteers to and from the race. It is strongly recommended to use this transportation because of the limited parking at Lehigh Parkway.

The registration fee has been waived. As such, each participant should pick up a registration form and pledge sheet from the official Women’s 5K Classic registration table in the Penn State Lehigh Valley Concourse, or contact Cindy Nguyen in the Multipurpose Room or e-mail ctn109@psu.edu or Barbara Long in room 137 or e-mail barblong@psu.edu.

You can also visit www.lv.psu.edu/5k.  

Bloom’s presentation will examine the role of Hollywood movies as arbiters of what constitutes civilization.  It will begin with an account of the "civilization panic" provoked by the Great War, highlighted by the pioneers of modernism, and exploited by the emerging Hollywood studios that became the dominant cultural influence between the world wars by reflecting and refracting national aspirations and assumptions.  Bloom will conclude by tracing Hollywood's representations and exploitations of "civilization panic" through both World Wars and the Cold War up to its recent post-9/11 resurgence.

Since 1982, James D. Bloom has taught literature and American Studies at Muhlenberg College where he has held the Class of 1932 Research Professorship and won the Shire Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has chaired Muhlenberg's English Department and directed its American Studies Program. He is the author of five books: Gravity Fails (2003), The Literary Bent (1997), Left Letters (1992), The Stock of Available Reality (1984) and Hollywood Intellect. Scheduled for spring 2009 publication, Hollywood Intellect examines how movies shape, regulate, and arbitrate the collective life of the mind in American history. His essays and reviews have appeared in American Literary History, American Studies, Contemporary Literature, Style, the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other publications.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

The Honors Program at Penn State Lehigh Valley invites the public to an informational forum featuring local Pennsylvania legislators from 9 – 11 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 2008, in the Atrium at the Fogelsville campus.

Guests of "Meet Your Legislators" will include Representative Jennifer Mann; Representative Joseph Brennan; and Jeff Warren, Senator Lisa Boscola’s Chief Legislative Aide, who will each give a short presentation. Afterward, students from the Honors Program will lead a question and answer period during which community members will also have the opportunity to participate.

"As part of the Honor’s Program mission, we strive to bring to campus educational forums that impact students' lives. We plan to have the forums twice per year," says Dr. Nichola Gutgold, honors program coordinator and associate professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley. "Some of our gifted students may go on to careers in public service and learning of the careers of public officials, as well as how their work impacts Penn State, is of great benefit to students. The forums also give students an opportunity to improve their communication skills."

This event is free and open to the public. Penn State Lehigh Valley campus is located at 8380 Mohr Lane, Fogelsville, PA, 18051. For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

Local artist Jill Stanley will display a selection of her acrylic and watercolor paintings in a new exhibit, "Four Seasons," in the Concourse Gallery at Penn State Lehigh Valley.  The exhibit opens on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 and runs through October 31, 2008.

Stanley is a self-described "devotee of color and nature," who often draws the inspiration for her paintings from her observations of those things.  "In my paintings, I endeavor to capture the light at a time of day, to recall a peaceful memory or to share the beauty of a place," says Stanley.  "Growing up in a small town fostered an affinity for things nostalgic and ordinary. Open landscapes, weathered barns, trees and gardens are some of my favorite subjects."

An admirer of many styles, from the ancient cave artists through the French Impressionists, the Wyeths to Warhol, Stanley says she strives to maintain her own distinct style of classic realism.  Instead of college, she concentrated on a full time career as a drafter, taking evening classes in watercolor at the Baum School of Art in Allentown, PA.  As a member of three art clubs, her paintings are often included in regional shows.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.  The Concourse Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact the University Relations Office at 610-285-5067.

FREE LECTURE FEATURES MORNING CALL EXEC

According to a 2007 report by the Lehigh Valley Alliance on Aging, 15 percent (84,000) of the area’s population are adults aged 65 or older, and by 2030 that number is expected to increase by 65 percent.  As this aging population keeps expanding, one Lehigh Valley group plans to keep expanding something else – their minds.

SAGE (Senior Adults Gaining Enrichment) is a community outreach program of Penn State Lehigh Valley designed to encourage intellectual and cultural enrichment for adults age 55 and older.  In the fall and spring, the group offers a new, college-level lecture each month. 

To kick off its fall series, SAGE will present Tim Kennedy, publisher, president and chief executive officer of The Morning Call, who will discuss “The Morning Call in the 21^st Century,” on Friday, September 26, 2008 at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Corporate Learning Center.  Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and coffee will be served before the lecture begins at 11:00 a.m.  This lecture will be offered at no charge to adults 55+ and a lunch discussion will follow.

“Our mission is to engage older adults of diverse backgrounds that are interested in intellectual pursuits,” says Paul D’Arcy, a PSU LV SAGE steering committee member.  “The changing landscape of the media, nationally as well as here in the Lehigh Valley, is of great interest to our audience.  We are looking forward to Mr. Kennedy’s lecture to stimulate thought and dialogue about the topic.”

In addition, D’Arcy hopes that the event will prompt seniors to take an active interest in the variety of topics that will be offered throughout the fall series including global perspectives on aging, nanotechnology and memoir writing.

This event is open to adults age 55+, but reservations are required.  To reserve a space, contact Diane Lewis at 610-285-5066 or email dlewis@psu.edu.  The Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center is located at 100 Brodhead Road, Suite 120, Bethlehem, PA, 18017.

For media inquiries, please contact Allison Goodin at 610-285-5067.

visiting the Lehigh Valley Hospital by Penn State students and the Nittany Lion to deliver gifts to children in the pediatric unit;

a trip to the Greenawald’s Fire Co. by faculty, staff, and students to help paint, clean, and handle minor repairs at the facility. 

The campus community will also be collecting supplies for Animals in Distress, a no-kill shelter. Many animals are in need of clean used/new towels and blankets, dog and cat food/treats (wet & dry), dog and cat beds, toys, collars, leashes, grooming supplies, and food bowls.

For more information, contact Cindy Nguyen, Student Affairs Coordinator, at 610-285-5042.

On Thursday, August 28, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 4:30–6 p.m., students at Penn State Lehigh Valley will have an opportunity to become familiar with various activities and services at the campus by participating in the Information Fair. The event features an informal environment for faculty and staff to promote services available to the students, allowing them the opportunity to become involved in a variety of activities.

Students are encouraged to visit the various information tables and gather signatures to be eligible for a drawing later in the day. Weather permitting, the event will be held in The Orchard.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society is sponsoring a Block Party at Blocker Harley-Davidson Yamaha Kawasaki Dealership, 770 State Road, Lehighton, starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2008. The event, which is geared for the whole family, includes an outdoor BBQ, live music, scenic motorcycle rides, and a Harley-Davidson store tour. For motorcycle owners, a 30-minute scenic route will be mapped out and rides begin prior to the event at 5 p.m. Demolition rides will be available on the Blocker test track. The cost of the event is $15/ person.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society works throughout the year to create opportunities for alumni to support the campus, socialize, and mentor students.

For additional information on this event, contact Stacy Hamm, Coordinator of Alumni Relations, at 610-285-5064 or via e-mail at slh53@psu.edu, or register online at http://events.lv.psu.edu/ and select the appropriate date.

Penn State Lehigh Valley is hosting its second annual Golf Gate – Tournament and Tailgate Party on Saturday, September 13, 2008. The tournament kicks off with a four-person scramble and shotgun start at 10 a.m. at the Berkleigh Golf Club, former home of the Betsy King LPGA Tournament in Kutztown.

This event features a golf tournament, Penn State giveaways, and a tailgate gathering one hour before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff of the Penn State vs. Syracuse football game. Proceeds from the tournament benefit student athletics at Penn State Lehigh Valley.                       

For additional information, contact Stacy Hamm, Coordinator of Alumni Relations, at 610-285-5064 or via e-mail at slh53@psu.edu.

Terry Hahn graduated with a B.F.A. degree in Communication Design from Kutztown University. He serves as the Creative Director at AniGlyphics. He also teaches computer design to children and adult students at the Baum School of Art.

Carter LeBlanc is an Allentown based photographer and a photography and graphic design instructor at the Baum School of Art. Over the last six years, Carter has aimed for a style of shooting that suits whatever his subject is. The ability to morph with his camera and treat it as an extension of his mind is Carter’s ultimate goal as an artist. Prior to moving to the East Coast and starting a family, he lived in Oregon, Alaska and Arizona. Each state was a different chapter of his photographic journey.

Topics in the comprehensive course curriculum include Statics, Engineering Mathematics, Mechanics of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electrical Circuits, Chemistry, Dynamics, Material Science/Structure of Matter, Engineering Economics, and Ethics.

Two former Penn State Lehigh Valley cyclists, Bobby Lea and Michael Friedman, have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team and will participate in the Men's Madison at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The cycling events of the 2008 Olympic Games will be held August 9-23. According to the posted schedule, the Men's Madison is Tuesday, August 19 at the Laoshan Velodrome. Lea will also compete in the points race on August 16 at the Laoshan Velodrome.

The Madison offers the perfect combination of teamwork, sprinting, and endurance. Run by teams of two, only one rider of the pair is active in the race at any given point. All riders start at the same time, and the winning team covers the most laps in the time allotted. As the active rider races, the other rests as he continues to circle at a slower speed. Riders can take over from each other with a handslap or by gripping hands and literally slinging the other back into the race. That gives the new rider a burst of speed and motion from the other as he exits the active role.

Under the mentoring of Penn State Cycling Coach Jim Young, both Penn State Lehigh Valley cyclists have represented their sport in national and international competitions. Penn State Lehigh Valley has been a center of cycling for the University for many years. The campus is home to the Penn State University Cycling Team.

Penn State Lehigh Valley, in partnership with the Holmes Corporation and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), is offering the instructor-led version of the official SHRM Learning System^® program. The SHRM Learning System provides the most current and comprehensive knowledge of the six functional areas of Human Resource Management – Strategic Management; Workforce Planning and Employment; Human Resource Development; Total Rewards; Employee and Labor Relations; and Risk Management.

            Dr. Kevin S. McFall has joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Engineering. He previously taught at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Lorraine Campus in Metz, France. He holds a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology; a master's in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

            Dr. Ana Figueroa has accepted a full-time position as Assistant Professor of Spanish. She received her Ph.D. in Latin American Literature and M.A. in Hispanic Literature from Rutgers University.  Until recently, she had been teaching Spanish at Princeton University.                 

            Michael J. Damweber has joined the admissions team as an admissions counselor. He will work with first-time college students, transfer students, and adult learners seeking enrollment into Penn State University, and assist with Open Houses and College Nights at local school districts and community colleges. Prior to his appointment, Mike was working as an admissions counselor for Delaware Valley College. A 2005 graduate, Mike earned a bachelor of science in Business degree from Penn State University.

In a historic move, the Penn State Alumni Association (PSAA) has pledged a gift of $2.1 million to support students across the university.

In support of the university’s new fund-raising drive, For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students, the gift will establish 35 Penn State Alumni Association Trustee Scholarships, each funded at $50,000 in twelve colleges, at twenty campuses, and three additional undergraduate units. Trustee Scholarships are based on financial need and awarded to students who are Pell Grant eligible, typically coming from families whose household income is below $40,000.            

Penn State Lehigh Valley was one of twenty campuses that will receive a $50,000 gift to establish the Penn State Alumni Association Trustee Scholarship. Proceeds for the gift will come from the Alumni Association’s Margin of Excellence Fund, an endowment established in 2000 to support major gifts to the university. The $2.1 million pledge will be paid over seven years, at the rate of about $300,000 per year.

In support of the university’s new fund-raising drive, For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students, the gift will establish 35 Penn State Alumni Association Trustee Scholarships, each funded at $50,000 in 12 colleges, at 20 campuses, and three additional undergraduate units. Trustee Scholarships are based on financial need and awarded to students who are Pell Grant eligible, typically coming from families whose household income is below $40,000.

In addition, the gift will include $350,000 to support graduate and professional education—$100,000 each for The Graduate School, the Penn State College of Medicine and the Penn State Dickinson School of Law—as well as $50,000 for Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

“The Alumni Association wanted to step up in a big way to address the concerns of Penn State students—our future alumni—over rising tuition,” said David Han, president of the Penn State Alumni Association. “In the land-grant college tradition, we believe this gift will help to keep open the doors of opportunity and ease the financial burden for generations of students to come.”

The gift decision was made during the annual spring meeting of Alumni Council, held April 17-18. The recommendation came from the Council’s Margin of Excellence Committee, acting on a proposal submitted by the Office of University Development. The recommendation was approved unanimously by the Alumni Council Executive Board, the governing board of the Penn State Alumni Association.

“This is a pace-setting leadership gift for the university’s campaign,” said Penn State President Graham Spanier. “Although our donors have established more than 450 Matching Trustee Scholarships over the last six years, this pledge to establish 35 new Penn State Alumni Association Trustee Scholarships is the largest single gift thus far for this purpose. The additional pledge to support students in our graduate and professional schools is deeply appreciated as well. This gift continues the Alumni Association’s tradition of philanthropy to Penn State, which since 1988 has totaled more than $12.5 million in gifts to the university.” 

Proceeds for the gift will come from the Alumni Association’s Margin of Excellence Fund, an endowment established in 2000 to support major gifts to the university. The $2.1 million pledge will be paid over seven years, at the rate of about $300,000 per year.

The Trustee Matching Scholarship Program was established by the university in 2002. It offers a novel approach to providing incentives for securing private gifts to establish new undergraduate scholarships (for which $50,000 is the minimal amount needed). The Trustee Matching Scholarship Program matches income from private scholarship endowments with funds from the university’s operating budget. Thus, a $50,000 gift for this purpose, which would generate $2,500 per year or five percent in spendable income, is matched by an additional five percent or $2,500 from the university every year in perpetuity  for this same scholarship.

“The added beauty of this gift is that it essentially enables us to double our money—and our impact—on behalf of Penn State students,” Han said. “The $1,750,000 we’ve committed for 35 Trustee Scholarships will provide the same financial support as a gift of $3,500,000.”

In addition, the University’s match to all 35 Trustee Scholarships will begin immediately, during the 2008-09 academic year. As the Alumni Association transfers its $50,000 into each of the scholarships over the next several years, they will become fully funded.

Barry Simpson, chair of Alumni Council’s 2008 Margin of Excellence Committee, noted that, “Penn State alumni the world over recognize the tremendous impact a Penn State education has made on their lives. Through this multi-year gift, we can help hundreds of students make their education more affordable. These talented students of today will become our alumni leaders of the future.

“The added benefit to this gift is that it affects nearly all academic units of the University,” Simpson said. “Each of these academic units has its own constituent alumni society that operates as part of the Penn State Alumni Association, so we are especially pleased to be making a gift that will benefit students from all colleges, schools and campuses.”

“These campuses were selected because they have the highest proportion of students who qualify for Trustee Scholarships,” said Simpson. “The Office of Educational Equity was chosen because it is charged with supporting educational access for targeted groups of low-income, potential first-generation college students. The Division of Undergraduates Studies (DUS) is the university-wide academic information and advising system. With more than 7,000 students at 20 campuses, DUS is Penn State’s largest unit of enrollment for entering baccalaureate students.”

Penn State alumni and friends wishing to establish a Trustee Scholarship in their own name or interested in making a personal contribution to one of the newly established Penn State Alumni Association Trustee Matching Scholarships may contact Dan Genard, director of development for undergraduate education and scholarships, at dqg2@psu.edu or 814-865-7594.

With more than 159,000 members, the Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world. Established in 1870, the Alumni Association strives to connect alumni to the University and to each other, provide valuable benefits to members and support the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. The Penn State Alumni Association organizes hundreds of annual events and programs designed to inform, involve and inspire Penn State alumni. For more information on the Alumni Association, go to www.alumni.psu.edu.

Bobby Lea, former Penn State Lehigh Valley cyclist, has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team, finishing with the fastest time in a qualifying test at the ADT Event Center in Carson, California.

In the 3,000-meter test, Lea clocked a time of 29.525 seconds in the race's first 500 meters and finished with a time of 3:17.648. Both marks easily surpassed USA Cycling's time standard of 30.670 seconds and 3:22.420, respectively.  With any luck, Michael Friedman(another former Penn State Lehigh Valley student) will be able to punch a ticket in Beijing.  Mike also met both time standards, but under USA Cycling's Olympic Selection Procedures, only Lea met the criteria for an automatic nomination to compete in the points race and the Madison at the Beijing Games.

In recent years, the Penn State Lehigh Valley graduate has competed at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, and throughout the country at national and regional road and track cycling events. While a student, Lea, along with his teammates, won a combined seven National Championships for Penn State. The Lehigh Valley campus has been a center of cycling for the University for many years. Penn State Lehigh Valley is home to the Penn State University Cycling Team.

Dr. Brian Mauro, Director of Student Affairs, has been honored for his long-time service to the students of Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Mauro was this year's recipient of the John W. Beatty Award for Outstanding Student Affairs Officer. Penn State presents this University-wide award to recognize one individual who has demonstrated over a period of years a commitment to students as a mentor, adviser, and counselor.

In addition to student recognition, the following faculty and staff were honored:

·         The Student Appreciation and Recognition Award is selected by the student body through the Student Government Association and is given to a staff or faculty member for outstanding work and dedication to the success of students on campus. This year’s recipient was Linda Rumfield, Learning Center Coordinator.

·         The Lehigh Valley Campus Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes and encourages teaching excellence at Penn State Lehigh Valley, was presented to Michelle M. Kline, Lecturer in Accounting and Coordinator of the Business Program.

·         The Lehigh Valley Campus Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award, which recognizes and encourages teaching excellence at Penn State Lehigh Valley, was presented to Charles A. Green, Instructor in History.

·         Dennis J. Phillips, Associate Librarian, was awarded the Outstanding Research and Creative Accomplishment Award. This award recognizes and encourages excellence in academic research, creative activity, scholarship, and mastery of subject matter by faculty at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

·         The Outstanding Staff Award was presented to Lyne Brobst, supervisor of Word Processing, for outstanding dedication and commitment to the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus.

Special recognition was given to the following students:

·         Academic All-Conference Golf Team Award was presented to Garrett B. Cooper of Allentown, Brian D. Lapinsky of New Ringgold, Adam T. Greene of Orefield, and Peter L. Wilson of Stroudsburg.

·         Academic All-Conference Cross-Country Team Award was presented to Nicholas M. Dzienis of Bethlehem and Gregory W. Rotariu of Slatington.

·         Academic All-Conference Tennis Team Award was presented to Brenda L. Holcomb of Coopersburg, Jeffrey S. Godley of Easton, Ali Jawad S. Khimji of Macungie; Caroline C. Lo of Pennsburg, and Peter L. Wilson of Stroudsburg.

·         Penn State Lehigh Valley Women’s Commission Adult Learner Award was presented to Stephanie A. Derstine of Kutztown, and AnnMarie G. Vaughn of Easton.

·         Dickinson School of Law Summer Law Scholars Award was presented to Quyvinh T. Tran of Allentown.

·         Eclipse Award was presented to Kathleen McKitish of Allentown.

·         Rose Cologne Keystone Citizen Award was presented to Peter L. Wilson of Stroudsburg.

·         USA Today Student Leadership Award was awarded to Gregory W. Rotariu of Slatington.

·         The 2008 Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award was awarded to Timothy R. Rabenold of Alburtis.

The event was held in the West Garden at Penn State Lehigh Valley in Fogelsville.

The keynote speaker for commencement was Jeff Taylor, entrepreneur and founder of Monster.com. Recognized as an innovator and visionary in both Internet and careers industries, Taylor reinvented the way the world looks for employment. His "monster idea," conceived at the dawn of the World Wide Web, quickly became one of the first dot-com companies (454th registered domain on the Web) and has grown into the world's leading online career site.

Students who graduated from Penn State Lehigh Valley include:

Associate in Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences:

Shannon Harry, Allentown;

Marisa E. DeRogatis, Easton;

Stewart Lawrence Ortega, Whitehall

Associate in Science in Business Administration:

Jason C. Short, Alburtis;

Courtney Lynn Hausman, Conshohocken;

Mark Joseph Crouse (High Distinction), Zionsville

Associate in Science in Information Sciences and Technology: 

Joshua Joseph Moyer, Orefield

Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology: 

Mercedes Maria Pereira, Benjamin Charles Snyder, Allentown;

Leigh Ann Bitler (Distinction), Bethlehem;

Edward S. Baranski, East Greenville;

Janet Billings (Highest Distinction), Easton;

Janis Lee Atkins, Crysti Lee Kleckner, Emmaus;

Caroline L. Andersen (Distinction), Brandon Ross Kleckner (High Distinction), Macungie;

Ashley Jae Lerner, Orefield

Bachelor of Science in Business:  

Timothy Richard Rabenold, Alburtis;

Stephen Andrew Barber, Ryan David Brahm, Julia Marie Chong, Sally Lynn Habib (Distinction), Brandon Phillip Metzger, Christine Suzanne Zoudeh, Allentown;

David R. Pettine, Bath;

George Wally Elchaar, Shalon Marie Malott, Paul William Morrison (High Distinction), Julia Tran (High Distinction), Michael Joseph Urbanavage, Christina Xenakis, Shannan Marie Sennetti, (Distinction), Bethlehem;

Alicia Lynn Rohrbach (Highest Distinction), Breinigsville;

Ni Ngoc Nguyen, Catasauqua;

Jacob Robert Patriarca, Rajwant Kaur Toor, Easton;

Kaitlin Marie Malinoski, Effort

Emma Maria Lara, Emmaus;

Andrew Robert Searfoss, Freemansburg;

Dru Richard Underwood, Lehighton;

Teresa A. Kashuba (Distinction), Macungie;

Michael D. Edgar, Nazareth;

Amanda Cecelia Grube, Jeffrey David Miller, New Tripoli;

William Joseph Pummer, Northampton;

Dawn Marie Edmiston (High Distinction), Orefield;

Alyssa Ann Heckman, Quakertown;

Desislava Terzieva, Saylorsburg

James Carl Hoffman (Distinction), Emily Marie Redline, Slatington

Peter Lynn Wilson (High Distinction), Stroudsburg;

Diab Safi Safi, John Rankin Webb, Whitehall;

Cheryl Urbach Donahue, Stewartsville, NJ;

Hao-Kang Huang, Taipei

Penn State University will hold the 2008 Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2008. The conference is a one-day event that showcases the best practices from the Penn State community involved with helping adult learners. Best practices come from classroom and distance learning teachers, administrators, counselors, researchers, and other persons involved with making life more fulfilling for adult students at Penn State.

·        Tie-dying shirts in the Atrium

·        Earth Day celebration by planting a tree and flowers around campus, and making bird houses, sponsored by SGA

·        Blues singer Sarah Ayers performing at 1:30 p.m.

Dr. Tai-Yin Huang, Assistant Professor of Physics at Penn State Lehigh Valley, is co-coordinator with Dr. Norma Crosby from the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, of an international workshop entitled, "Workshop on Coupling of Thunderstorms and Lightning Discharges to Near-Earth Space," to be held from June 23-27, 2008, at the University of Corsica, Corte, France. 
 
The workshop goals are twofold:  1) to better understand and identify the effects of thunderstorm processes on the atmospheric composition and dynamics; and 2) to investigate the effects of the various physical processes that couple thunderstorms to the Earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The workshop will consist of invited tutorials, contributed talks, and an interactive poster session.

The workshop is partly sponsored by Penn State Lehigh Valley, the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, the University of Corsica, the National Science Foundation, the European Space Agency, the Human Spaceflight and Exploration Directorate, the Topical Team on the Atmosphere-Space Interaction Monitor (ASIM) and the French National Space Agency (CNES) in the context of the TARANIS (Tool for the Analysis of RAdiations from lightNIngs and Sprites) mission.  For more information about the workshop, visit http://www.oma.be/TLE2008Workshop/ or contact Dr. Tai-Yin Huang at tuh4@psu.edu or call 610-285-5100.

This year’s graduates include: Marcia S. Balester, McAdoo; Nora J. Deppen, Bethlehem; Andrew T. Doren, Macungie;  Samia Elchaar, Bethlehem; Jennifer L. Knauer, Northampton; Amie M. Krauth, Whitehall; Rosimar A. Lloyd, Whitehall; Michele L. Mascia, Blakeslee; Devon Remsnyder, Stroudsburg; Michael F. Russo, Laurys Station; Chelsea M. Shive, Allentown; Luz Maria Velazquez, Bethlehem; and Jennifer M. Voorhees, Allentown.

If you are interested in submitting a presentation proposal for this conference, please follow the "Call for Proposals" link (http://www.lv.psu.edu/dlc2008/), complete the proposal submission form, and submit online. The deadline for proposal submission is May 15, 2008.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society is an organization that works throughout the year to create opportunities for alumni to support the campus, socialize, and mentor students. 

For additional information, contact Stacy Hamm, coordinator of Alumni Relations, at 610-285-5064 or via email at slh53@psu.edu, or register online at http://events.lv.psu.edu/ and select April 10.

AmeDeus, meaning Love of God, started in late September 2006 with a group of guys from the Lehigh Valley, who united their musical collaborations, striving to make music that opens everyone's eyes and ears. Emotion and definition seep through every word written and every note played for the sake of conveying a message.

This event is open to the public, free of charge. For more information, call Cindy Nguyen at 610-285-5042.

The lecture is open to the public and free of charge.

The book examines the lives, careers, and communication styles of twelve of the most compelling and recognizable women of television news, including Christiane Amanpour, Elizabeth Vargas, Diane Sawyer, Paula Zahn, Judy Woodruff, and Candy Crowley. From Barbara Walters' vast career that spans more than half a century to Katie Couric's historic appointment as the sole anchor of the CBS Evening News, this book explores the obstacles and opportunities for women in broadcasting.

Dr. Dressler is a researcher and author in the field of molecular biology, with current interest in Alzheimer’s Disease. He is the originator of the major undergraduate course in molecular biology at Harvard College, and a recipient of the Camille and Henry Drefus Award and the Guggenheim Fellowship. Upon completing his Ph.D. thesis at Harvard in 1970 on the mechanism of DNA replication, Dr. Dressler joined the university’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His research in molecular biology led to a series of scientific papers on DNA replication, DNA recombination, and the structure of viral chromosomes.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Library will present a series of "Lionside Chats" during the month of April. These informal presentations will focus on personal experiences of Holocaust survivors and Japanese Americans facing internment in U.S. "relocation" camps.

Tuesday, April 1 – 7 p.m.

The Kindertransport: A Child’s Escape from Nazi Germany

On August 31, 1939, Berthe Gittler put her only son Franz on the last Kindertransport train taking Jewish children out of Nazi Germany. Dr. Frank (Franz) Gittler recounts his journey in an interview filmed by the Shoah Foundation in 1996.  Frank’s wife Renee Gittler will be on hand to answer questions. Both Frank and Renee Gittler are Penn State alumni and taught chemistry at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Tuesday, April 8 – 7 p.m.

The Hidden Children of WWII

As Jews living in Paris during World War II, four-year-old Marcel and his mother, Sarah, feared every knock on their door. When bounty hunters stood ready to deliver them to the concentration camps, neighbors convinced them to let the pair escape. Marcel Guindine will share his story as a “hidden child,” given to the Red Cross by his mother so that others could shelter him from the Nazis.

Tuesday, April 15 – 7 p.m.

Dr. Foster’s List: Saving Japanese Americans from the U.S. Internment Camps

Thanks to the Academy Award-winning film, most Americans have heard of Oskar Schindler, who saved more than 1,100 Jews from death in Nazi concentration camps. During the same years of World War II, several smaller-scale Schindlers operated in the United States, saving their Japanese-American neighbors from internment camps. Dr. Margaret Christian, Associate Professor of English at Penn State Lehigh Valley,  will describe efforts by her great uncle, Dr. Augustus H. Foster, to protect Japanese-American families from internment.

All Lionside Chats are open to the public at the Penn State Lehigh Valley Library in Fogelsville and are free of charge. For more information, contact Judy Sandt at 610-285-5028 or jsandt@psu.edu.

An Information Session will be held from 3:30–4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, at the Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center in Bethlehem. To register for an Information Session, go to: www.gv.psu.edu/infosess/ or call 610-648-3312.

Enthusiastic and engaging, Taylor is a frequent speaker at colleges and universities across the country and serves as an expert at technology, advertising, and human capital conferences. He is the co-author of the books, Monster Careers: How to Land the Job of Your Life; Monster Careers: Interviewing: Master the Moment That Gets You the Job; and Monster Careers: Networking.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Wellness Committee is sponsoring this program as part of their mission of providing a healthy environment for the campus.

The Shape Up PA program runs from February 6-June 25. For more information, visit the website at: http://www.shapeuppa.org/.

For an application or for more information, contact Nancy Coco, director of the Lehigh Valley Writing Project, at 610-285-5026 or via e-mail at nxc4@psu.edu.

In observance of Chinese New Year, Penn State Lehigh Valley will acknowledge the Year of the Rat by presenting a variety of Chinese foods. The event will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2008, beginning at 12 noon in the Atrium and is open to the campus community. The festivities are being sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs.

This is one of several multicultural events at Penn State Lehigh Valley which are designed to bring an understanding of cultural acceptance throughout the campus community.

The exhibit will include a look at the contributions of the following individuals:  Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Louise Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nat King Cole, and Thurgood Marshall. The exhibit is being sponsored by the Penn State Lehigh Valley Diversity and Wellness Committee.

The exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is located at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus at  8380 Mohr Lane in Fogelsville.

Dr. Nichola Gutgold, Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley, will present the first in a series of lectures for adults 55 and older to be held on Friday, February 1, at the Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center in Bethlehem. The topic, Seen and Heard: The Women of Television News, explores the lives, careers, and communication styles of several recognizable women of television news, including Christiane Amanpour, Elizabeth Vargas, Diane Sawyer, Paula Zahn, Judy Woodruff, and Candy Crowley. Gutgold will discuss the obstacles and opportunities facing these women in broadcasting.            

Gutgold teaches introductory public speaking course as well as organizational communication, honors speech, and courses in media and film. She is author of numerous articles as well as co-author of the book Elizabeth Hanford Dole:  Speaking from the Heart (Praeger, 2004), and author of Paving the Way for Madam President (Lexington Books, 2006).    

            February 1 – Seen and Heard: The Women of Television News, presented by Dr. Nichola Gutgold, Associate Professor of Communication and Sciences, Penn State Lehigh Valley  

She has served as director of the National Council of Teachers of English Commission on Literature and currently is a member of NCTE's Secondary Section. NCTE has published her books Nikki Giovanni in the Classroom (NCTE), Alice Walker in the Classroom (NCTE), and Sandra Cisneros in the Classroom (NCTE). Her other books for teachers, With Rigor for All: Teaching the Classics to Contemporary Students and Beyond Standards: Excellence in the High School English Classroom, Cohesive Writing: Why Concept Is Not Enough and Papers, Papers, Papers: An English Teacher's Survival Guide are published by Heinemann: Portsmouth.