Noteworthy

Monique Chabot, associate professor of occupational therapy, competed in the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Inventors Showcase, an event is designed to host inventors from across the nation to showcase their ingenuity as they share their products and services. Chabot's submission featured an assistive device known as a telescoping electronic reacher which she invented as part of her doctoral studies. The device was chosen for the Audience Choice award.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/occupational-therapy-professor-wins-award-assistive-device

Widener University congratulates Anthony Pluretti, executive director of campus safety, on being named Campus Safety director of the year.

The award program administered by Campus Safety magazine recognizes the best and brightest executives in hospital, university and school security, law enforcement and emergency management. Pluretti received the award for the university category at the Campus Safety Conference in Bethesda, Maryland this month. 

“I feel incredibly fortunate to lead Widener’s talented and dedicated Campus Safety team, and I am gratified and humbled by this award,” Pluretti said. 

Pluretti joined Widener University in February 2020, and instituted a customer-centric approach to the position. He leads a department of 75 and has encouraged Widener officers to approach their work with students, employees and visitors by making it the best possible experience for all involved. He has built trust across Widener’s three campuses as he has emphasized engagement between Campus Safety and the constituencies it serves.

He has also strengthened department morale, building pride with new uniforms, name patches, and regular social media introductions of staff. He seeks staff input on new initiatives and uses a motivational leadership model that encourages officers in the department to assess their personal goals and career trajectories. 

Pluretti has also positively impacted relations between the university and local law enforcement, and relationships between the university and people in neighborhoods surrounding Widener’s main campus in Chester, Pa., which are populated with students and local residents. His work also includes management of Widener’s campuses in Wilmington, Delaware and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
 

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Janet Long, executive director of Career Design & Development, has been named to a two-year term as co-chair of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Liberal Arts Affinity Group.

NACE is the leading professional association for more than 13,000 higher education career services and industry recruiting partners. With more than 300 members nationwide, the Liberal Arts Affinity Group coordinates programming that showcases best practices in career readiness and employment market awareness for liberal arts students.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/career-design-development-executive-director-earns-nace-appointment

Associate Dean Alicia Kelly has been named interim dean of Delaware Law School. The temporary appointment begins July 1. 

Kelly will fill the vacancy created by the departure of Dean Rodney A. Smolla, while the university searches for a permanent successor. She is currently associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law, and has previously served as associate dean for faculty development and strategic initiatives. Kelly also serves as a co-director of the school’s Family Health Law & Policy Institute, which is dedicated to public education and service. She teaches and writes in the areas of family law, property law and elder law. Innovation in legal education is another area of her expertise, and she has co-authored two textbooks drawing on best practices in legal education. 

Kelly has served on the steering committee for Delaware ERA Now, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women’s status through education and anti-discrimination advocacy. She also co-directs Wills For Heroes, a volunteer organization that trains legal professionals and provides estate planning documents at no cost for police, firefighters and other first responders in Delaware. Kelly serves on the executive board of the Association of American Law Schools section on Family and Juvenile law as well as the Elder Law section, and is a past Family Law Section chair. She is also a part of the Delaware Family Court Enhancement Project team, working to improve the legal system to better serve survivors of domestic violence and their children. Prior to her work in academia, Kelly was in private practice concentrating on complex domestic relations and general civil litigation.

“Alicia’s many years of leadership at the law school make her ideal interim dean. She enjoys widespread confidence among the faculty and staff and is committed to student success,” Widener Provost Andrew A. Workman said, in announcing Kelly’s interim role. “I look forward to working with her and continuing to build on the law school’s momentum.”

A member of the Delaware Law faculty since 2001, Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree from Temple University, and her juris doctor and LL.M. in legal education from Temple’s James E. Beasley School of Law, where she was the Abraham L. Freedman Fellow.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/alicia-kelly-named-interim-dean-delaware-law-school

A team of biomedical engineering students participated in the Undergraduate Design Competition hosted by 2022 SB3C: Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. The purpose of the competition is to showcase the undergraduates' design work, give students an opportunity to describe their work, and provide a chance to meet professionals in the bioengineering field. The Widener team, led by faculty advisor Ria Mazumder, assistant teaching professor, was one of six finalists chosen from the pool of applicants to present their work during a special podium presentation at the conference.

(L-R): Amelia Wellmon, Mason Klaus, Sean Blade, and Jessica Guarino.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/biomedical-engineering-students-present-undergraduate-design-competition

Faculty members from the School of Business Administration have had an article published in the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants’ Journal of Accountancy.

Professor Joseph Hargadon, associate professor Irfan Safdar, instructor Stephanie Wendling, and assistant professor Katie Whang co-authored an article titled “Tax Advice for Clients who Day-Trade Stocks.”

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/sba-faculty-publish-journal-article

Widener students and faculty visited Stetser Elementary School to participate in their annual end-of-the-year garden harvest. The gardening program, developed by professor Bruce Grant, is a place-based program which aims to improve the academic performance of Stetser students in science and promote social engagement in their school community.

The program has engaged Widener students as part of Grant’s academic service learning enhanced courses with the goal of providing students with meaningful work and sustainable community development opportunities.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-faculty-and-students-join-stetser-elementary-garden-harvest 

Jeff Lolli, professor in the School of Business Administration, has been named the 2022 recipient of the Faculty Collegiality Award from the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE).

This award is presented to one faculty ICHRIE member who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to fostering collegiality among their peers through a high level of team building and collaborative and constructive support of peers in their teaching, scholarship, and service both on and off campus.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/business-professor-wins-faculty-collegiality-award

Assistant Teaching Professor Catherine Safran was invited to present a workshop at the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society’s Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Safran presented her experience working with Peer-Learning Assistants at Widener in anatomy and physiology lectures and labs.

This annual conference is attended by anatomy and physiology instructors from around the world.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/faculty-presents-workshop-peer-learning-annual-conference

Widener University President Julie E. Wollman presented the William David Eckard Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to Denise DeRosa, Circulation/reserves assistant at Wolfgram Memorial Library, and Fred Dohrmann, director of physical education and Widener women’s softball coach.

Denise DeRosa has been a dedicated member of the library staff for 12 years and plays an integral role in ensuring that everyone at Widener has a positive learning experience.

Fred Dohrmann is known for his involvement well beyond the classroom and the playing field and will always step in to help wherever he can with campus activities.

The annual William David Eckard Jr. Award recognized two longstanding employees for their above and beyond commitment and outstanding service to the Widener community. The award was established by former president William David Eckard III to honor his father.

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The Widener Community Nursing Clinic earned a Gold Rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Quality Standards Program. This is the third consecutive year that the clinic has received this national recognition for its continued delivery of high-quality and reliable pro bono health care. 

Congratulations to Ellen Boyda, clinic director, and the nursing student and alumni volunteers whose commitment to providing essential services help to maintain both individual and community health.  

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-community-nursing-clinic-earns-gold-rating-quality-care

Members of the Widener community participated in this year's Next Step: From Freedom to Equity Walk-A-Thon and Health Fair hosted by the Black Doctors Consortium and the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity. The event drew supporters to the two-mile march up Broad Street in North Philadelphia to bring awareness to local racial health disparities. Rhonda Hazell, associate professor and coordinator of clinical anatomy, organized the Widener team and was joined by Katie Hershede, vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff, Anali Falcon '23, Lori Felker, director of the Institute for Physician Assistant Education, Ijjae Hill '25, Jill Black, associate dean of College of Health & Human Services and director of Institute for Physical Therapy, and Colleen Chancler, assistant professor. 

(Photo left to right: Katie Hershede, Anali Falcon, Rhonda Hazell, Lori Felker, Ijjae Hill, Jill Black, and Colleen Chancler.)

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-shows-support-black-doctors-consortium-walk-thon

Vice President for Enrollment Joseph Howard has been announced as a member of the undergraduate enrollment advisory board for RNL (Ruffalo Noel Levitz). Howard’s contributions are helping the firm better understand and address the greatest enrollment challenges facing colleges and universities today. He is one of 15 nationally recognized thought leaders and university officials tapped to share insights in areas such as student search and engagement, financial aid management, student retention and completion and strategic enrollment planning. 

RNL is the leading provider of higher education enrollment, student success, and fundraising solutions, serving more than 1,900 colleges and universities.

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Widener University’s undergraduate elementary education program as received an A+ rating in elementary mathematics from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ). The report analyzed over 1,100 teaching programs and recognized 79 as A+ programs.

The data examined the performance of teacher preparation programs across the country in preparing future teachers to teach elementary mathematics. The analysis evaluates programs for their coverage of both the key mathematics content that elementary teachers need, as well as how to teach those concepts.

Widener met 100 percent of recommended instructional hours across all the mathematics content topics and pedagogy that were part of the analysis to achieve the A+ rating.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/wideners-undergraduate-elementary-mathematics-education-received-nctq

The Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP), in collaboration with Widener’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has been chosen to receive the 2022 Program Excellence Award from the National Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP). 

This award is given to a program or individual who showcases exemplary performance in the areas of compliance assistance, sustainability, advocacy, and collaboration particularly with creating resources, promoting policy advancements, and establishing new partnerships. 

EMAP, overseen by Jeremy Hancher, was nominated by this award by their partners at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for their work providing free, confidential assistance on environmental issues to small businesses. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/environmental-management-assistance-program-wins-excellence-award

Widener University’s ROTC program celebrated its 2022 Commissioning Ceremony in Alumni Auditorium on Wednesday, May 18 with 22 cadets taking the oath of office as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

Four Widener students were among the cadets commissioned. The group of 22 hailed from three area universities and all trained through the Dauntless Battalion unit at Widener, where they engaged in the hands-on, intense military training that has prepared them for successful careers. Family members pinned the new rank to their dress uniforms, and each officer shared a silver dollar with the individual they selected to give them their first salute – a military tradition.

The four officers who earned their undergraduate degrees from Widener last week, and the military careers for which they prepared, included:

• Arlie Cesarone, nurse corps officer.
• Noah Davis, armor officer.
• Memphis Martin, nurse corps officer. She was commissioned as a distinguished military graduate and also received the commissioning saber – a point of honor that recognized her leadership.
• Bryanna Ortiz, military intelligence officer.

The program speaker was Major General Patrick J. Donahoe, commanding general of the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia. He advised the new officers to maintain their physical fitness, increase their professional knowledge and broaden their horizons intellectually. And, he acknowledged their decisions to focus on serving the country at a challenging time when much of the nation is focused on self.

“Thank you for taking the challenge to lead,” he said. “Lead well. You are well prepared to do so.”

Photo shows from left, Army Second Lieutenants Memphis Martin, Bryanna Ortiz, Arlie Cesarone, and Noah Davis.

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Lombuso S. Khoza, executive director of the Center for Civic and Global Engagement, has been named to SAI’s Academic Advisory Board. The mission of the California-based SAI study abroad provider partner is to provide students and faculty with academic and cultural learning experiences abroad, with the goal of promoting global awareness, professional development, and social responsibility.
 
SAI’s Academic Advisory Board members are experienced international education professionals who offer insights and guidance to help the organization meet the academic needs of students. 

The Center for Civic and Global Engagement can be contacted at ccge@widener.edu for travel abroad inquiries (study abroad, faculty-led, and study away).

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/center-civic-and-global-engagement-executive-director-named-sai-academic-advisory-board

Brenda Kucirka, associate professor of nursing, was named a top nurse in the region by Main Line Today. Kucirka was named in the publication's 2022 Excellence in Nursing Awards, an annual recognition that asks nurses in the main line and western suburbs to cast votes for their peers in a variety of specialties. A 2013 graduate of Widener's doctoral nursing science program, Kucirka was honored for her excellence in nursing education. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/nursing-professor-receives-excellence-nursing-award-main-line-today

Catherine Safran, assistant teaching professor of biology, and her collaborators have had their article, "Osteocytic Pericellular Matrix (PCM): Accelerated Degradation under In Vivo Loading and Unloading Conditions Using a Novel Imaging Approach," published in Genes, a peer-reviewed journal covering genetics and genomics. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/biology-professor-published-genetics-journal

Colleen Chancler, assistant professor in the Institute for Physical Therapy Education, is the recipient of the Lucy Blair Service Award from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a professional organization representing physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy. This award honors Chancler for her exceptional contributions to APTA.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/physical-therapy-professor-honored-service-reward