INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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What’s UpVol. 10, Issue 20 July 20, 2016

Story Idea?Send story and noteworthy ideas and items to Allyson Roberts,

alroberts@widener.edu

HR Announces Six New Hires 2

Faces of Widener: Tiffany Jones

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4PT Student is One of Five Additions to the Board

New Issue of Chester Magazine Highlights Business and Arts Scene

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5Summer Immersion Experience Offered at Delaware Law

Rising junior biology major Khanh Minh Mai came to Widener from her native country of Vietnam knowing only Director of International Admissions Candice Chan. She admits that it was a big adjustment to adapt to a new school while also adapting to a new country and a new culture. She also had to adjust quickly as her courses had already begun before she received her visa. It would have been easy for Mai to head home or fade quietly into the background, but instead, she became increasingly involved at Widener, participating this year in the Summer Research Program with Dr. Kate Goodrich, associate professor of biology.

“Because of our size, we are able to really get to know and connect with our students,” said Goodrich. “This program reflects our culture.”

Goodrich and Mai are collaborating this summer on a research project to determine if a species of milkweed at the Taylor Arboretum at Widener University changes its scent when disturbed. They spend hours collecting specimens in the field and then analyzing them in Kirkbride Hall. Their findings could help further the understanding of how plants defend themselves or adapt when under attack.

The opportunity for faculty mentorship is one aspect drawing students to the Summer Research Program. Another is the opportunity to connect with fellow student researchers through weekly

social and professional development opportunities. Participants can also apply for discounted summer housing.

“Angie Corbo and Loyd Bastin have done a great job as co-directors of the Summer Research Program to create a true learning community where our students can get to know students and faculty from other disciplines,” said Dr. Suzanne Mannes, assistant professor of psychology.

Mannes is currently working with rising senior psychology major Sascha Gruden to code and analyze data from a study to determine if comprehension of juror instructions improves among jurors when they are given simplified instructions delivered earlier in a trial.

Continued on pg. 2

Summer Research Program Provides Students with Intimate

Learning Experiences

8Noteworthy

Mark Your Calendar: Free Concert July 29 3

7Arts and Sciences Introduces Four New Graduate Certificates

7Spotlight on Sports: Alumnus Tyler Williams Competes at U.S. Olympic Trials

Points of Pride: Widener Student-Athletes Achieve on the Field and in the Classroom

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8John Culhane: Professor, Pundit, Parent

Rising junior Khanh Minh Mai collects milkweed in the Taylor

Arboretum at Widener University for a study she is conducting with

Dr. Kate Goodrich.

Artists Wanted! 6

5Enter to Win Union Tickets by July 24

4Beth Barol Named Director of the Center for Social Work Education

Summer Research Program Continued from pg.1

“I think my students and I mutually benefit from our participation in the Summer Research Program,” said Mannes. “They help me stay on a timeline to complete my research, and they get opportunities to learn the research process and often present and publish our findings.”

One student hoping to gain valuable resume experience this summer is rising junior biochemistry major Ben Borokhovsky, who has his sights set on medical school as a participant in the Medical Scholars Program. Borokhovsky is among a small group of students working alongside Dr. Alexis Nagengast, associate professor of biochemistry and chemistry, to look at a splicing factor in fruit flies that may have implications down the road for fighting obesity in humans.

“We are venturing into the unknown right here at Widener, and the potential applications of our work is so cool and life-changing,” said Borokhovsky.

Now in its eighth year, the Summer Research Program has participation from more than 30 faculty members and 70 students from schools and colleges across campus.

Save the Date!

Save the date to learn more about these featured projects and others at the annual Summer Research Symposium on Sept. 23.

Points of Pride…

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Widener Student-Athletes Achieve on the Field and in the Classroom Widener student-athletes lit up the academic scoreboard during the 2015–2016 academic year. Widener topped all schools in the Middle Atlantic Conference with 43 students achieving perfect 4.0 grade point averages. One of those students was softball captain Alie Alkins, valedictorian of the Class of 2016. Alkins’ achievement capped a standout year for Widener’s student-athletes: 311 made the Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll, a school-record 33 were named Academic All-Middle Atlantic Conference, 22 were recognized as Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area and three were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.As impressive as these figures is what the majority of Widener student-athletes are studying. According to team rosters, 66 percent of Widener student-athletes are enrolled in challenging STEM or health care related majors such as engineering, nursing, pre-physical therapy, biology, accounting or finance.Widener University President Julie E. Wollman praised the efforts of the student-athletes on the conference, regional and national academic accolades. “Our student-athletes should take great pride in what they have been able to accomplish academically,” Wollman said. “It is a demonstration of their discipline, focus and commitment in the classroom just as they demonstrate these qualities in their sports. Everyone in the university community is certainly very proud of them.”

Rising junior Ben Borokhovsky works alongside Dr. Alexis

Nagengast on a research project involving fruit flies.

Welcome to Widener! HR Announces Six New Hires

Once a month, the Office of Human Resources will announce new hires to the campus community in What’s Up @ Widener.Please welcome the following new employees to Widener:

Heather Astorga, web content manager in the Office of University Relations

Kara Gunderman, area coordinator with the Office of Residence Life

Ethel Horsey, assistant director of field education for the Online MSW Program

Matthew Jaskel, area coordinator with the Office of Residence Life

Greg Maher, part-time campus safety officer

Jolynne Shannon, assistant director for the Online MSW Program

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On July 1, Dr. Tiffany Jones, assistant director of exploratory studies, celebrated her 10th anniversary at Widener. Jones says that the years have flown by because she truly loves her job.

Prior to joining Widener as an academic coach and advisor, Jones worked as a mental health therapist for children and later as an academic coordinator for student-athletes at Temple University. She was excited about the Widener position as it allowed her to work with a broader student population. In 2012, she

moved into her current role as assistant director of exploratory studies.

Originally from Chester, and a product of the Chester schools, Jones saw working at Widener as a homecoming of sorts. “It was an incredible opportunity to come home and work in the community,” she said.

Jones also enjoys the job because she believes that she can truly impact a student’s collegiate experience. “I enjoy watching each student grow and build confidence to succeed,” she said.

As assistant director of exploratory studies, Jones serves as an academic coach for fulltime undergraduate students, coordinates academic success workshops and Widener Days, advises students and manages academic transition, a program designed to help students transfer to a non-science major.

“At Widener, students get a second chance to explore another major if they did not originally select one that’s a right fit,” said Jones. “It’s a great retention tool; it helps students

determine exactly what major is best for them.” She works closely with deans to identify students who may benefit from the program. She then helps participating students use a range of services offered by her office, find an academic coach for support and receive advising.

Jones also serves as a liaison between students and the School of Nursing. She works with exploratory studies students who want to pursue a nursing major and also helps nursing students transfer out of the school and into a different program. She also provides academic coaching for freshman through junior nursing students on effective learning strategies to help them succeed in this demanding major.

Jones relates to the students as she was a Widener student herself not too long ago. She received her doctorate in higher education administration leadership in August 2013.

Off campus, the Delaware resident keeps busy with her hobbies of photography and event planning.

Dr. Tiffany Jones, Assistant Director of Exploratory Studies

Faces of Widener: Tiffany Jones

Mark Your Calendar:

Free Concert July 29

by Chinese Children’s Choir

The Singing Hearts Children’s Choir of Shanghai, China, will offer a free concert on Friday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Kapelski Learning Center #1.

Comprised of Chinese middle school–aged children, the choir will sing popular songs in both English and Chinese.

All members of the Widener community are invited to attend. A reception on the Kapelski Portico will follow the concert.

The performance is free and open to the public. No tickets are necessary.

The Singing Hearts Children’s Choir was founded by Lily Tan, wife of Widener University Trustee Richard Tan.

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The Widener University Board of Trustees recently named five new members to its ranks, including new student member Samantha Krupa, who is enrolled in the physical therapy doctoral program.

Krupa also earned her undergraduate degree from Widener, graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in

psychology. She completed a physical therapy internship in fall 2015 at Nova Care Rehabilitation in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. A Dean’s List student, Krupa was also involved in several activities as an undergraduate, including Alternative Spring Break and Women’s Rugby, and she served as a Crew Leader and PRIDE Mentor.

“I’ll work to always have students’ best interests in mind during board meetings,” said Krupa. “I intend to be intuitive and thoughtful when speaking students’ opinions during board meetings. Overall, I want to be a person the students can trust to make sure their experience at Widener is as fulfilling and rewarding as mine has been thus far.”

Joining Krupa as newly elected members of the Widener Board of Trustees are Claire M. DeMatteis, the senior vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary for Affinity Health Plan; Glenn Eckard, vice president for business development

for People 2.0 in West Chester, Pennsylvania; Matthew Hartley, executive director of the Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy and professor at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education; and Douglas M. Wolfberg, a founding member of the Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, law firm of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth.

The Board of Trustees is charged with ensuring that Widener upholds its mission as a metropolitan university, serves as a bridge between the university and society and holds in trust the intellectual, physical and financial assets of the institution.

“Widener is extremely pleased to welcome such highly qualified members to an already strong Board of Trustees,” said Widener President Julie E. Wollman. “We look forward to their service and wise counsel to the board.”

PT Student is One of Five Additions to the Board

Samantha Krupa, ‘16, a PT doctoral student, is the new

student member on the Widener University Board

of Trustees.

Beth Barol Named Director of the Center for Social Work Education

Dr. Beth Barol has been appointed director of the Center for Social Work Education and associate dean of the School of Human Service Professions.

Barol, who joined the Widener faculty as an assistant professor in 2004 and served as interim director of the Center for Social Work Education since July 2015, replaces Dr. John Poulin. While serving as interim director, Barol’s accomplishments include overseeing significant modifications to the master of social work curriculum, launching and managing a successful online MSW program and hiring and mentoring new faculty and staff.

“Under Beth’s leadership, the Center for Social Work Education has

maintained an excellent collegial culture during a time of rapid growth and change,” said Dr. Paula Silver, dean of the School of Human Service Professions. “She is clearly the ideal person to continue to shepherd the Center.”

Barol is pleased to be granted the opportunity to take over as director. “It’s an endorsement for the initiatives we have been working on while I’ve been in the interim role,” she said. “With the help of a committed and supportive faculty, we continued to push forward during this period.”

To learn more about Barol, read the complete news release.

Dr. Beth Barol is the new director of the Center for

Social Work Education and associate dean of the School

of Human Service Professions.

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Delaware Law School has once again served as a learning laboratory for a group of undergraduates thinking about pursuing juris doctor degrees for careers in law.

The Jurist Academy, now in its ninth year, hosted 15 students for a two-week summer stay on campus that involved mock law school classes and exams, training preparation for the Law School Admissions Test, field trips to court and a law firm and meetings with key school administrators.

The program was designed to provide an immersion experience for rising college juniors and seniors from backgrounds that are typically underrepresented in the legal profession.

“It’s allowing me to be a step ahead, to see what it’s like before I decide to do it,” said Jurist Academy student Gioana Ashley of Goldey-Beacom College. “You learn so much, and you’re exposed to so many types of law.”

Jurist Academy Director Nicole Barkley, assistant dean and multicultural affairs officer, said that’s exactly what Delaware Law School wants the participants to experience. By setting them up in mock classes with exams, they get a feel for the rigors of law school. By taking them on a field trip to one of the program sponsors, Richards Layton & Finger in Wilmington, they hear from young associates about the expectations of big-firm life. By taking them on a field

trip to the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania, they get a window into courtroom advocacy.

“This program is an eye–opener and a game–changer for a lot of these participants,” Barkley said. “For many, it solidifies their interest in a legal career and allows them to pursue a J.D. with confidence because they are primed for success. For others it might get them thinking about alternative careers in the law outside of those requiring a J.D., if they decide the degree is not for them. Either way we are proud of the valuable service the program provides.”

Delaware Law School graduate Renee Mosley, who earned her J.D. in May, said she found what she was looking for in the Jurist Academy. She recently accepted an associate position at Richards Layton & Finger, the firm she first visited on a Jurist Academy field trip several summers ago.

“I am forever grateful for my experience at Jurist Academy. Jurist Academy not only gave me the skills I needed to succeed in law school, but also the confidence to pursue my dreams,” Mosley said.

Summer Immersion Experience Offered at Delaware Law

The 2016 Jurist Academy participants take a field trip to Richards Layton & Finger in Wilmington, Delaware.

Calling all soccer fans...

Win 20 suite tickets to a Philadelphia Union soccer game while supporting a great cause.

The Chester-Upland Soccer for Success program is holding its annual fundraising raffle with the grand prize of 20 suite tickets for the Union game against Real Salt Lake on July 31.

The deadline to purchase tickets is July 24, so act now by visiting http://bit.ly/29DGh7k.

The drawing takes place July 25.

Enter to Win Union Tickets by July 24 to Support a Good Cause

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The second issue of Chester magazine is fresh off the press. With a goal to “shed light on Chester’s untold stories,” a group of 16 Widener students set out in the fall of 2015 to find and report these stories as part of a magazine journalism class taught by Sam Starnes, editor of Widener Magazine. The students were supported by a $1,000 Schmutz Student Engagement Mini grant, which is given annually to support undergraduate student-led projects that focus on Chester.

Kelsey Styles, a senior communication studies and creative writing major, served as the managing editor of Chester magazine. She said creating a magazine from scratch was an incredibly challenging but rewarding learning experience.

“One of the most inspiring things I noticed was the amount of pride people from Chester have in their hometown,” Styles said. “They want people to know about Chester. I hope that it’s the voice of the Chester residents—not the voice of the Widener University students—that comes through.”

The issue highlights the arts renaissance in Chester and its role in community development and economic revitalization. The cover of the magazine features part of a watercolor painting by Chester artist Van Buren Payne, who is profiled in the magazine.

In addition to several stories that highlight the arts renaissance in Chester and its role in community development, the magazine includes stories on Clippers basketball, the park system, three Gates Millennium

Scholars from Chester High School, the Healthy Start program for infants, the Senior Community Services Center, TV personality and Chester native Al Alberts and the many nonprofit organizations working to improve lives in Chester.

“I see this magazine and the stories that fall within the pages as a stage of positive expression for the city of Chester,” said Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland. “There are great

things happening here, and any opportunity to highlight those things is a progressive step forward in building a better Chester.”

Free copies of the magazine have been distributed throughout the city. The full magazine is also available online at www.widener.edu/chestermagazine. A

reception celebrating the publication of the magazine will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Art on the Avenue of the States gallery at 504 Avenue of the States as part of Chester’s inaugural arts festival One Day in Chester (see sidebar).

In addition to Styles, student contributors to the magazine include art directors Josh Colley and Rose McGinnis; contributing editors Aly Amato, Gabe Armando, Blair Gelb, Asanya Grant, Jeannette McGuire, Sarah Rehberg and Kimberlee Roberts; and writers Briana Carcione, Tyler Goodwin, Amanda Joseph, Marissa Lanholm, Connor Schlegel, Joshua Schneider, Kasai Smith and Katherine Yauri. Melanie Franz, a senior graphic designer in the Office of University Relations at Widener, served as art director advisor for the magazine.

New Issue of Chester Magazine Highlights Business and Arts Scene

Artists Wanted!Widener students, faculty and community members are invited to showcase their art and/or art activity at the One Day in Chester inaugural arts festival on Saturday, Aug. 27 in the 500 block of the Avenue of the States. Through its involvement in the Boundaries and Bridges Initiative, Widener is co-hosting this festival to help honor Chester’s rich cultural heritage, highlight the exciting cultural and arts activities currently taking place in the city and build excitement for using art to drive revitalization within Chester.

The One Day in Chester event will only be successful through the participation of individuals who not only live in Chester, but are also connected to the city whether it’s through work or school. High participation will lead to new collaborations and new projects that will help Chester’s arts community—and ultimately Chester—thrive. This mirrors the goal of the Boundaries and Bridges Initiative.

To participate in One Day in Chester, complete the artist form. Priority consideration will be given to individuals who complete the application by July 25. To learn more, contact College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sharon Meagher at smmeagher@widener.edu.

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The College of Arts and Sciences has introduced four new graduate certificates: Non-profit Leadership, Creative Placemaking, Diversity in the Workplace and Urban Studies. The certificates were designed to give students a cost and time-effective way to earn graduate credentials and work toward a career move or a step up in their career ladder.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sharon Meagher says that these certificate programs may be of particular interest to Widener employees as all courses for the programs are offered at night to best accommodate working adult learners. “We are also working with adult learners in mind to develop new master’s degree programs, which will allow students to customize a master’s degree by combining these certificates,” Meagher continued.

Most courses in the new certificate programs also transfer to one or more

of the university’s existing master’s degree programs. Therefore, individuals interested in a longer degree program can test the program first by working toward a graduate certificate.

To earn one of the new graduate certificates, students must complete four courses with a B or better within three years. Many of the courses overlap, which adds another layer of flexibility because students can easily change programs should they discover another one better suits their needs.

Each of the four programs has a distinctive thematic focus:

• Non-profit Leadership develops leadership, citizenship, communication and civic engagement skills for work in the non-profit sector;

• Creative Placemaking focuses on theory and practice of how to use arts and humanities methodologies and content to create exciting and engaging

programs that strengthen and build communities;

• Diversity in the Workplace educates professionals to recognize and address the issues surrounding the promotion and support of diversity in their workplace and professional lives; and

• Urban Studies aims to give students a deeper understanding of urban and suburban issues to position them to take the lead in addressing those challenges in creative ways.

Learn More!

To learn more about Widener’s new graduate certificate programs, or to apply, visit www.widener.edu/casgradcerts. Also contact Stephanie Ottino, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, at arts_and_sciences@widener.edu or 610-499-4691.

Arts and Sciences Introduces Four New Graduate Certificates Ideal for Professionals

Widener alumnus Tyler Williams, ’15, recently competed among the nation’s best athletes at the U.S. Olympic Trials held July 6 at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field. He was one of 24 athletes

competing in the men’s hammer throw for the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He placed 17th with a toss that sailed 214–feet, 6–inches on his second attempt.

As a student-athlete, Williams broke Widener’s school record in the hammer throw with a mark of 216–5 at the 2014 ECAC Championships. He earned awards for his efforts both on the field and in the classroom. He was named a 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team selection as well as the 2015 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer of the Year and the 2015 Middle Atlantic Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Williams also earned NCAA All-America laurels

in the hammer throw and was the USTFCCCA Mideast Region Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year as a senior last spring.

Williams, who earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Widener, remains actively involved with Widener’s track & field program, most notably as mentor to Thomas Zamorski, ’16, this past year. Zamorski was named a 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team selection, the 2016 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer of the Year and the 2016 Middle Atlantic Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year in men’s track & field. He also garnered All-America laurels in the hammer throw.

Spotlight on Sports: Alumnus Tyler Williams Competes at U.S. Olympic Trials in Men’s Hammer Throw

Tyler Williams, ‘15, competes at the U.S. Olympic Trials at the

University of Oregon July 6.

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NoteworthyDr. Normajean Colby, assistant professor of nursing, presented “Interprofessional Education: An Exemplar of a Service Learning/Civic Engagement Collaboration between Teacher Candidates and Nursing Students” at the 2016 Summer Institute: Supporting Student Success through Undergraduate Research for New American Colleges and Universities. The Institute was held at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York.

Dr. Laura Dzurec, dean of the School of Nursing, was appointed as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing for 2016. Dzurec will be inducted into the 2016 class in the fall during the Academy’s annual policy conference in Washington, D.C.

Tonya M. Evans, a professor at Commonwealth Law, recently presented the article “Statutory Heirs Apparent?: Reclaiming Copyright in

the Age of Author-Controlled, Author-Benefiting Transfers” at the University of Washington Law School and Center for Advanced Study & Research on Innovation Policy during the annual Works-in-Progress Intellectual Property Colloquium. In addition, the article was recently accepted for publication by the West Virginia Law Review.

Janet Long, career liaison to the College of Arts and Sciences, and alumna Sophia Mitchell, ’15, presented “Career Counseling to Type: Factoring Extraversion, Introversion and Even ‘Ambiversion’ into the Career Development Equation” at the annual conference of the Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers, held June 22–24 in Philadelphia. Mitchell, who majored in criminal justice and psychology at Widener, participated in the university’s ‘Seekers’ career exploration program for liberal arts

students and strongly identified with the material Long provided on introversion and extraversion.

Robyn Meadows, a professor at Commonwealth Law, produced a sales and leases chart, an electronic textbook and course management system through Chartacourse. Meadows also worked with Commonwealth Law Associate Professor Palmer Lockard and Dauphin County Bar Executive Director Elizabeth Simcox to publish “Creating a Post-Graduate Incubator Program Through a Law School-Bar Association Partnership” in the Touro Journal of Experiential Learning.

Christopher Robinette, a professor at Commonwealth Law, has been appointed to Pinnacle Health’s Ethics Committee. Robinette is also an editor of the most recent update of the book Harper, James & Gray on Torts, published in July.

A Delaware Law School professor who is a frequent legal opinion contributor to multiple national online media outlets is diversifying his commentary to include a new column.

Professor John Culhane, the H. Albert Young Fellow in Constitutional Law, will write a parenting column for Slate. “Hey Daddy!” will run the third Tuesday of each month. Culhane, who has been writing law-related commentary pieces for Slate and Politico for years, as well as The Huffington Post, said he approached Slate editors with the idea for a monthly presence.

His writing typically touches on his areas of legal expertise: public health, the legal rights of same-sex couples, victim compensation in mass tragedies and torts like those associated with football concussions. He grew interested in establishing a regular feature where he writes about one topic. His style is conversational with humor where appropriate.

“Over the past few years, I’ve really enjoyed writing about the law for a broader audience. In this case, the topic is even broader—there will be some discussion of the law, I guess, but that’s not really the focus,” Culhane said. “It’s kind of exciting to be doing something like this.”

Culhane lives in Philadelphia with his spouse, David, and their twin 11–year–old daughters. He said he mulls his topic ideas and discusses them with David before he begins writing. David gets the first read of his work,

as Culhane sees him as more adept at setting appropriate boundaries for family privacy.

The new column will focus on the experiences of being a parent—and sometimes of being a parent who happens to be gay. His first installment, which he called a “soft launch” of the column—published before it was branded and officially rolled out—centered on the family’s attendance at a vigil in Philadelphia after the nightclub massacre in Orlando. The emotional experience compelled him to start the column earlier than scheduled.

Culhane said he isn’t going to stop writing about other topics. He’s currently talking with Politico about a piece on gun litigation—something he tracks nationally.

“I still have a lot of other interests, and those won’t disappear,” he said. “But, this should be fun.”

John Culhane: Professor, Pundit, Parent

John Culhane has a new column on

parenting.