Fall - December 2020

Fall - December 2020 PDF cover

In This Issue

Karen L. Pennington '76, G'83, H’15 creates opportunities during a career in higher education. PLUS: Parenting during the pandemic has been "one wild ride" and a new Strategic Plan.

Class of 2020 Gateway Lightings This Year banner image Feature Dec 2020

Class of 2020 Gateway Lightings This Year

On most evenings, the Class of 2020 Gateway was lit in honor of our health care heroes. However, it was lit to celebrate various holidays and events throughout the year.

The President’s Business Council (PBC) 19th Annual Award Celebration banner image Alumni News Dec 2020

The President’s Business Council (PBC) 19th Annual Award Celebration

The President’s Business Council (PBC) 19th Annual Award Celebration honored Margaret “Maggie” Quinn Mariotti, Au.D., P’10, John R. Mariotti, D.M.D., ’75 and Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L., ’72, with the President’s Medal on Thursday, Oct. 8.

University Premieres Online Christmas Special banner image Alumni News Dec 2020

University Premieres Online Christmas Special

In an effort to bring the spirit of Scranton into as many homes and hearts as the internet would allow, the University produced an online Christmas special for its alumni, students, parents and friends to enjoy.

A Jes-u-lantern? banner image Alumni News Dec 2020

A Jes-u-lantern?

When the Office of Alumni Engagement challenged social media followers to submit a “Scrantastic” pumpkin for this year’s Pumpkin Carving Contest, Emily Johnson DeSarno ’14, G’14 did not disappoint.

Student-Athletes, Coaches Adjust to a Fall Without Competition banner image Athletics Dec 2020

Student-Athletes, Coaches Adjust to a Fall Without Competition

Coaches and student-athletes of all 23 of Scranton’s athletic teams have had to adjust to a harsh reality — the chances were very slim that they would be able to compete against another team for the fall 2020 semester.

University Publishes 2020-2025 Strategic Plan banner image Feature Dec 2020

University Publishes 2020-2025 Strategic Plan

“No doubt, the strategic plan we crafted together is lofty in its aspirations, and we launch it at a significant crossroads for higher education." - Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of The University of Scranton

Athletics Alumni Share Impacts of COVID-19 on Their Lives, Careers banner image Athletics Dec 2020

Athletics Alumni Share Impacts of COVID-19 on Their Lives, Careers

Throughout the fall, Scranton Athletics profiled five former student-athletes, detailing their journeys from Scranton to their respective communities across the country, along with the challenges they have been dealing with in the face of the pandemic.

Landmark Conference Announces Updates to Return to Play Protocol banner image Athletics Dec 2020

Landmark Conference Announces Updates to Return to Play Protocol

Leadership at The University of Scranton and the other seven institutions in the Landmark Conference continue to work tirelessly to develop a plan for a safe return to play for their collegiate sports programs during the spring semester.

Karen L. Pennington '76, G'83, H’15: Creating Opportunities for All Students banner image Alumni Profiles Cover Story Dec 2020

Karen L. Pennington '76, G'83, H’15: Creating Opportunities for All Students

In her 44-year career, Pennington has made it her mission to erase barriers to success for students. Now, she’s mentoring two fellow Royals who serve alongside her as vice presidents at Montclair State University.

Peter DeLong '14, G'15: Every Day is 'Bring Your Dog to Work Day' for OT Graduate banner image Alumni Profiles Dec 2020

Peter DeLong '14, G'15: Every Day is 'Bring Your Dog to Work Day' for OT Graduate

An occupational therapist alumnus and his trained assistance dog help patients with therapy and reduce anxiety along the way.

Parenting During the Pandemic Has Been ‘One Wild Ride’ banner image Feature Dec 2020

Parenting During the Pandemic Has Been ‘One Wild Ride’

Achieving balance in daily life as parents is difficult even in normal times, but stay-at-home orders, virtual schooling and even illness threw off any semblance of it in 2020.

A Learning Journey Toward Equity and Diversity banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

A Learning Journey Toward Equity and Diversity

This fall, the University community and its Scranton partners have taken several important steps in addressing racism and discrimination.

Biden Urges Graduates to Be Engaged Citizens at 1976 Commencement banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

Biden Urges Graduates to Be Engaged Citizens at 1976 Commencement

In 1976, then-U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. told the graduating class at The University of Scranton there was “a crisis in American leadership.”

Royals Vote banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

Royals Vote

The University helps guide students through the election season, partly through the Royals Vote initiative.

Graduate Students Advocate for Local Homeless and At-risk Youth banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

Graduate Students Advocate for Local Homeless and At-risk Youth

Graduate students in the clinical mental health counseling program recently started projects to advocate for at-risk groups as a part of their Professional Issues for Counselors course.

Expert Opinion: The Pandemic and What Can We Expect as We Head into 2021? banner image Feature Dec 2020

Expert Opinion: The Pandemic and What Can We Expect as We Head into 2021?

Hospital epidemiologist and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Penn (and Scranton alumnus) weighs in on how to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 through the holidays and what we can expect in the new year.

University Joins National First-Generation Celebration banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

University Joins National First-Generation Celebration

The University joined the National First-Generation College Celebration to recognize the University’s first-generation students, faculty, staff and alumni on Nov. 8.

Holiday Traditions Go Live banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

Holiday Traditions Go Live

Holiday Traditions Go Live

Alumni Tell Their Stories: How Learning a Language Can Change your Life banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

Alumni Tell Their Stories: How Learning a Language Can Change your Life

For many alumni of the University’s Department of World Languages and Cultures, their lives were forever changed after obtaining a major, minor or concentration in another language.

Two Students Qualify for National Forensics Tournament banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

Two Students Qualify for National Forensics Tournament

Four University students won medals at two competitive, collegiate forensic tournaments, which took place virtually in November.

National Nursing Licensure Pass Rate Tops 98 Percent banner image On the Commons Dec 2020

National Nursing Licensure Pass Rate Tops 98 Percent

The University of Scranton Nursing Program’s pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination for first-time test takers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree for 2019 was 98.72 percent.

Focus on Faculty banner image Focus on Faculty Dec 2020

Focus on Faculty

Read news and highlights about faculty from the fall 2020 semester.

ONE-ON-ONE with Michelle Gonzalez Maldonado, Ph.D., Dean of CAS banner image One-on-One Dec 2020

ONE-ON-ONE with Michelle Gonzalez Maldonado, Ph.D., Dean of CAS

Get to know Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., dean of CAS.

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