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Valley Views

from The Valley Magazine: Spring 2023

from The Valley Magazine: Spring 2023, page 18

Service Work/ Lacrosse Saves

(l. to r.) Ellen Zern ’26, Isaac Sider ’26, Renee Lavigne ’26, Bemi Ogunwusi ’26, Angeles Magana-Espinoza ’26, and Lannah Ulrich ’27

Nursing Facility Opens in August

LVC’s Nursing & Interdisciplinary Health Education Facility will open in August for the new academic year. The facility will house the College’s new nursing program, which launched in the fall 2022 semester.

Opportunities remain to support this project. Consider supporting a named space, contributing toward equipment needs, or directing a gift to support our nursing students.

Contact the Office of Advancement at 717-867-6325 or advancement@lvc.edu to learn more.

Fulbright Top Producing Institution, Again

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs named LVC a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for Students for the fourth time in seven years in February. This recognition is given to the U.S. colleges and universities that received the highest number of applicants selected for the 2022–23 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Lexi Kerstetter ’21 (Taiwan), Robbie Moul ’22 (Hungary), and Julia Resele ’22 (Spain) were named Fulbright Finalists for the academic year 2022–23. Six LVC applicants are under consideration as semi-finalists for 2023–24.

Pride of The Valley Leads London Parade

Ninety members of The Pride of The Valley Marching Band, joined by 12 alumni, performed in London’s New Year’s Parade on Jan. 1. The Pride was selected to lead the 36th annual Parade and Festival. They also performed at Parliament Square under the direction of Dr. Christopher Heffner, co-chair and associate professor of music, who has directed The Pride for the past 16 years.

Jacob McGovern ’24 (Alto Saxophone) premiered his original composition with the saxophone quartet, Quarter for 4 Earthling Saxophonists—mvmt. I Genesis, at St. John’s Smith Square. Anna Heitman ’24 (baritone saxophone), Jackson Bruce ’24 (soprano saxophone), and Andrew Surotchak ’23 (tenor saxophone) rounded out the debut quartet.

Dr. Clark Named Fish Distinguished Chair

Dr. Treva Clark, chair of accounting, business, and economics; international business; and director of graduate programs in business, was named Eugene C. Fish Distinguished Chair of Business.

Clark joined the LVC faculty in 2010 with specializations in international business and marketing after a successful career in global business development in the computer/technology industry. In 2019, she became department chair, and in 2021 she was promoted to director of graduate programs in business and was named the Eugene C. Fish Distinguished Chair of Business.

Faculty Publications

**Maternidades puertorriqueñas: esclavitud colonialismo y diáspora en el arte y la literatura**

Dr. Ivette Guzmán Zavala, professor of Spanish, book, Maternidades puertorriqueñas: esclavitud colonialismo y diáspora en el arte y la literatura, Instituto Internacional de Literatura Iberoamericana, University of Pittsburgh

**NATO, the U.S. and Cold War 2.0: Evolution of the Transatlantic Alliance and Collective Defense**

Dr. Chris J. Dolan, director of the master of science program in Intelligence and Security Studies and professor of political science, book, NATO, the U.S., and Cold War 2.0: Evolution of the Transatlantic Alliance and Collective Defense, University of Toronto Press/ Peter Lang

**Transnational Migration, Diasporas and Political Action**

Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair of languages and professor of Spanish, chapter, “Mercedes Gallagher de Parks and the Changing Role of Peruvian Women in the Early 20th Century,” in Transnational Migration, Diasporas and Political Action, Cambridge Scholars Publishing

**(l. to r.) Dr. Felicia Brown-Haywood, Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW, and President James M. MacLaren**

Dialogue on Race

Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, joined President James M. MacLaren for a dialogue about Race at LVC and on college campuses on Jan. 24.

Lassiter is a nationally recognized expert in the field of American Race Relations. Dr. Felicia Brown-Haywood, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence, facilitated the conversation.

Dr. Pitonyak ’08 Part of $1.95 Million Department Of Energy Grant

Dr. Daniel Pitonyak ’08, assistant professor of physics, is among a group of scientists selected to receive a nearly $2 million five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The research group, SURGE (SatURated GluE) Topical Theory Collaboration, comprises scientists from 16 colleges, universities, and national laboratories who will use the grant to develop calculations and a framework for discovering and exploring a saturated state of gluons. These elementary particles hold together everything we see. Pitonyak also received a National Science Foundation grant in 2020 for his theoretical nuclear physics research.

**(l. to r.) Kodee Bair ’21, D’23, Dr. Robert Creath, Morgan Martin ’21, M’22**

Lewis Lab Partners on $1.5 Million DOD Grant

The LVC Lewis Human Performance Lab is partnering with Penn State Health and Penn State Engineering to research ways to identify postrecovery injury risks using micro-Doppler radar technology. The research team was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to see if micro-Doppler radar, the same kind of radar law enforcement uses, can help clinicians assess minute movement deficiencies invisible to traditional assessment methods.

Dr. Robert Creath, associate professor of exercise science and director of LVC’s Lewis Human Performance Lab, is overseeing the project along with personnel from Penn State Health, including Dr. Cayce Onks, assistant professor of Family and Community Medicine and Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Dr. Jennifer Nyland, assistant professor in the Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, and Dr. Terrence Murphy, professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Dr. Ram Narayanan, a professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the director of Penn State’s Center for Radar Engineering, Science, and Technology, is also a team member. Creath is working on the project with several LVC student researchers through the four-year grant.

Inclusivity Mosaic Mural Dedicated

The community dedicated “Quilted Cultures,” an Inclusivity Mosaic Mural, in the Mund College Center on Feb. 16. The mural—made possible by student artists; the Division of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusive Excellence; creative arts faculty; and community artist Michaelanne Helms—celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion at LVC. The Collaborative Partners were Allan Newsome ’07 (trustee) and his wife, Ashton Lattimore, Dr. Felicia Brown-Haywood (vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence), Dr. Grant D. Taylor (director of creative arts), and Mike Mumper, (director of facilities).

Vazquez-Lopez ’18 Earns Merck Research Award

Andres Vazquez-Lopez ’18, a Ph.D. candidate in organic chemistry at Temple University, received a 2022 Merck Research Award for Underrepresented Chemists of Color. He previously had been named a Corteve Scholar and Dow Chemical Scholar. Vazquez-Lopez conducted student-faculty research with Dr. Tim Peelen, associate professor of chemistry, while an LVC undergraduate.

Dr. Morell’s Album Named a Top Jazz Recording

Associate professor of music (composition and theory) Dr. Justin Morell’s recent album, Exit Music for Intelligent Life on Earth (Sonic Frenzy Records), was named among the All About Jazz top recordings of 2022. Reviewer Dan McClenaghan noted, “Guitarist Justin Morell has teamed with Drummer Mark Ferber to construct an important set of sounds addressing climate change and global warming with a science fiction-like exit of the Earth to escape these problems.”

ATHLETICS

Athletics Berger ’23 and Griffin ’22, M’23 Compete in NCAAs

Jordan Berger ’23 and Noah Griffin ’22, M’23 competed in the NCAA Division III National Cross Country Championships in East Lansing, Mich., on Nov. 19. The Dutchmen fought through the elements, running on a snow-covered 800-meter course, finishing #238 and #278, respectively. The duo qualified for nationals after Griffin placed 12th and Berger 15th at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships, which earned them All-Region recognition.

Lauren Bunke ’22, D’24 (women’s cross country) also earned All-Region honors after finishing 29th at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. She previously earned All-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) honors after finishing 12th at the MAC Championships. Coyla Bartholomew ’26 also earned All-Mac recognition and was named MAC Rookie of the Year after her 15th-place finish. Autumn Garges ’26 (#29) rounded out The Valley’s trio of All-MAC honorees.

Bartholomew is the sixth woman’s MAC Rookie of the Year for cross country that James O’Brien ’07, M’16, head men’s and women’s coach, has guided. He also coached on men’s MAC Rookie of the Year.

Esports Wins Three Championships

Three Esports teams won NECC Championships in December. In Rocket League, the varsity team defeated Howard Community College (Md.) in the Challengers Division in the final for the second consecutive semester, and the junior varsity squad defeated Defiance College (Ohio) in the Navigators Division final for the program’s second championship. LVC’s Valorant team, the #2 seed, upset #1 seed Florida Gulf Coast University to earn the program’s first NECC Challengers Gulf Coast Championship. The victory elevated the Valorant team to the highest division, where they’ll compete against NCAA DI schools like Ohio State University, Purdue University, and the University of Kentucky.

Seven Named All-Conference

Seven members of the Dutchmen football squad, which once again defeated Albright College to earn all students extra time off before Thanksgiving break, were named to the All-Middle Atlantic Conference Football Team. Ian Murhon ’23, Walker Klinger ’23, and Jacob Phillips ’24 were named to the second team. Tim Ervey ’22, D’24, Noah Caldani ’24, Erik Williams ’24, and Logan Grauer ’22 were honorable mentions.

Six Named Scholars of Distinction

Six field hockey team members were honored by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) as 2023 Scholars of Distinction in February: Madison Blakeslee ’24 (exercise science), Rebecca Lane ’25 (early childhood education), Sarah Leidich ’23 (communication sciences & disorders), Sara Miller ’25 (accounting), Gwendolyn Sears ’26 (communication sciences & disorders), and Hannah Shirey ’22 (English). The Scholars of Distinction Program recognizes student-athletes with a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2022–23 academic year. All six Dutchmen and seven of their teammates were named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad the previous week.

Prex ’26 Named Rookie of the Year

Nathan Prex ’26 became the second consecutive men’s soccer team member named Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth Rookie of the Year. Peter Foerster ’22 and Aaron Wetzel ’25, the 2021 MAC Rookie of the Year, were All-Conference Second Team selections.

Grauer ’22 Selected All-Region

Logan Grauer ’22, wide receiver and special teams, was selected to the D3football.com All-Region 1 Team. He had an impressive year on special teams, with three blocked kicks and two returns on blocked kicks. He scored a touchdown at Misericordia on a blocked punt and returned a field goal he blocked 63 yards down to the three-yard line. Grauer earned All-America honors in 2019.

Seven Named to AllSportsmanship Team

Athletes from seven teams were named to the Fall Middle Atlantic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Sam Rothstein ’26 (men’s cross country), Autumn Garges ’26 (women’s cross country), Hannah Shirey ’22 (field hockey), Ben Siegfried ’22, M’23 (football), Zach Snider ’22 (men’s soccer), Amelia Mantione ’22 (women’s soccer), and Julia Rill ’22 (women’s volleyball). The honorees were selected by head coaches and student-athletes from their respective teams.

**(l. to r.) Dr. Matthew Silvis, Dr. Shauntey James, Dr. T Horning, John Lawn, and TaLisa Ramos-Watts**

Symposium Hits 10th Anniversary

The keynote event for LVC’s 10th annual Symposium on Inclusive Excellence, Preparation for 21st Century Careers and Communities, featured a panel of industry representatives speaking about the value of diversity, equity, intercultural competence, and inclusion education from an employer and career perspective on Feb. 9. Dr. Shauntey James, Ph.D., J.D., assistant professor of criminal justice, Penn State Harrisburg; TaLisa Ramos-Watts, MSW, LSW, CCTP-I, former special assistant to the secretary of education, PA Department of Education; John Lawn, president, chief executive officer, and chair of the board, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts; and Dr. Matthew Silvis, medical director of primary care sports medicine, vice chair of clinical operations of family and community medicine, and professor of family and community medicine and orthopaedics and rehabilitation, Penn State Health were the panelists. Dr. T Horning, LVC executive director of the Breen Center for Career and Professional Development, moderated the keynote session.

Four Grow Through DiMatteo-Holsinger Fund

Wendie DiMatteo Holsinger, an LVC trustee, and her husband, Steven Holsinger, established the Steven J. and Wendie DiMatteo Holsinger Immersive Experience Fund to help students with reasonable costs associated with an internship. Four current seniors benefitted from the fund in 2021–22: Rachel Helt ’23 (The Wetlands Institute, Diamond Terrapin Conservation Program, Stone Harbor, N.J.); Olivia Magneson ’23 (American Society of Physicists in Medicine Summer Undergraduate Fellowship, Harvard Medical School/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Mass.); Daelyn Stabler ’23 (Animal Collections, National Aviary, Pittsburgh, Pa.); and Benjamin Smith ’23 (Forest and Natural Resources Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.).

Dr. Guzmán-Zavala a Who’s Who in Latino Pennsylvania

Dr. Ivette Guzmán-Zavala, professor of Spanish, was honored among the 2022 POWER 100 Who’s Who in Latino Pennsylvania on Sept. 30. Guzmán-Zavala was recognized in the Education/Research/Academia— Architects of Dreams category. “This list of Latinas and Latinos represents diverse individuals making valuable contributions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Guzmán-Zavala also was an invited speaker for the PA Latino Convention, where she was recognized as one of the POWER 100.

Stabler ’23 Wins STEM Award

Daelyn Stabler ’23, biology, became the third LVC student recognized by the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts Women of Impact: Celebrating Women in STEM Awards Program in the past four years. Stabler received the Marion C. Alexander Rising Star Award on Sept. 21. She joined Julianna Koehl ’21, chemistry (2019) and Fatima Madondo ’22, neuroscience and chemistry minor (2020), as award recipients. Koehl is a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at Cornell University, and Madondo is an M.D. candidate at Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine.

**(l. to r.) Luis Hernandez ’26, Inchon Allie ’25, President James M. MacLaren, Angelo Bracero ’23, Denise Colon Olivencia ’24, and Yonaira Seguinot ’23**

LVEP Golf Tourney in June

The 34th Annual Lebanon Valley Education Partnership (LVEP) Golf Tournament is on Friday, June 23, at Fairview Golf Course this year. Please join us for the 1 p.m. shotgun start to help support the success of our LVEP students. Visit www.lvc.edu/lvep34 or contact Carol Brashear at brashear@lvc.edu or 717-8676218 for additional information regarding sponsorship opportunities or to register.

This article is from:

The Valley Magazine: Spring 2023

by Lebanon Valley College