Noteworthy

School of Engineering Professor Mark A. Nicosia has received the Faculty Institutional Leadership Award. It recognizes a record of leading initiatives that further the university’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives.

Nicosia has championed the university’s vision through his involvement on campus.   He has served on the Faculty Council Executive Committee for the past six years—the past four years as faculty chair and two years prior as chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee. Nicosia has been a remarkable leader during the COVID-19 pandemic. While serving on the Provost Council and the Crisis Management Team, and chairing the Executive Committee of Faculty Council, he worked closely with the faculty and administration on policies and procedures that directly impacted our students. Nicosia has an exceptional ability to listen and hear concerns expressed by faculty, staff, and administrators and is intentional and thoughtful in any decision-making process. Nicosia is the ideal scholar and campus leader to elevate Widener’s institutional agility and focus on strategy. 

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College of Arts & Sciences Associate Professor Jayne M. Thompson has received the Faculty Award for Civic Engagement, which recognizes sustained outstanding contributions to Widener’s civic engagement mission through her teaching and research.

Thompson began her community engagement in the City of Chester 25 years ago and has helped numerous Widener students deepen their understanding of social responsibility and advance their critical consciousness through civic engagement. Community is a central theme in Thompson’s teaching, service activities, professional development, political and civic engagement, volunteerism, and home life. From her work with the Chester School District; Chester Made; Chester Cultural Corridor; Widener University’s service-learning, Bonner Leaders, and Periclean Faculty Leadership programs; and multiple service sites, to her role on the Mayor’s Advisory Council at Chester City Hall, Thompson’s work supports vibrant, healthy communities. Widener students have been central to her collaborations on projects and workshops in schools, prisons, juvenile detention centers, senior centers, churches, the Chester Cultural Corridor, literacy centers, and homeless shelters. Thompson exemplifies and elevates Widener’s commitment to civic engagement, and she has changed the lives of many people in vulnerable groups.

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The Widener University Student Nurses' Association (WUSNA) was awarded the Chapter Excellence Award from the Student Nurses' Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) during the organization's annual convention. The Chapter Excellence Award is SNAP's most prestigious award that recognizes a nursing program for its achievements and contributions to the field. Led by undergraduate nursing students, WUSNA provides opportunities for students to become intellectually engaged in events with their local school chapter, their community, and at the state level.

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Widener has reported outstanding outcomes to the National Association of Colleges and Employers for our undergraduate class of 2021. 

Ninety five percent of graduates achieved their intended career goals (employment, graduate education, or military/other service) within six months of graduating, a four percent increase over the class of 2020. Mean starting salary was $59,285 and the median starting salary was $60,320.

We offer congratulations to everyone in the Office of Career Design and Development, along with all the faculty and staff who contribute to our students’ successes. 

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The Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA), one of the largest and most active branches of the American Counseling Association, will honor Susan P. Schaming, LPC, associate professor and director of Graduate Counselor Education and Home School Visitor Programs, with its David W. Hall Advocacy Award. The honor recognizes an individual or individuals who have promoted the profession of counseling through advocacy and leadership. Schaming was appointed to a PCA anti-racism task force in 2020 in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and Black Lives Matter.  It is that work she will be recognized for when she receives the award and makes remarks at the PCA 2021 annual conference in King of Prussia on November 13. 

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Politics and COVID-19 have shaken the United States to its core and have sparked national debates over race relations, police brutality, as well as the right to bear arms in any situation. Wayne Riddle, a nursing science doctoral student and adjunct professor, published an article calling for action and advocacy from nurses and other medical professionals to end the gun violence epidemic. In his article published in the May issue of Nursing Forum, Wayne describes how those who work within the healthcare field  and care for patients suffering from either COVID-19 or gun violence must raise awareness and advocate for legislation to increase the public’s safety and well-being.

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Kristin Davies, a nursing science doctoral student, was selected for a special grant funding from the Foundation of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. The $1,000 grant will fund her research proposal on Incorporation of Social Determinants of Health in Associate Degree Nursing Programs. Davies is expected to receive the award at the OADN 2021 Town Hall and Awards in November.

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Associate Professor Justin Sitron in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies was elected president-elect of the Society of Scientific Study of Sexuality. The Society of Scientific Study of Sexuality is dedicated to advancing knowledge of sexuality and communicating scientifically based sexuality research. They value human welfare and hope to reduce the ignorance and prejudice around sexuality.

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Members of the Widener community gathered to dedicate the Army ROTC Center to Gen. John H. Tilelli Jr., a 1963 graduate of Pennsylvania Military College and member of the Widener Board of Trustees. Tilelli served five years as board chair before stepping down from that leadership role last year. The event drew alumni from the Pennsylvania Military College, members of the Board of Trustees, university leadership, faculty, staff and cadets in the Dauntless Battalion, Widener's ROTC cohort comprised of more than 100 cadets who are enrolled at Widener and seven other regional colleges and universities.
 
In his remarks, Tilelli noted, "as I accept this honor, I do it not for myself, but for the thousands of American sons and daughters who carried me forward on their shoulders to be where I am today.”
 
“The soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are the less than 1 percent of Americans who are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice…to keep America free. And in my mind’s eye they’re America’s best," Tilelli said.
 
A retired four-star general, Tilelli served two tours of duty in Vietnam and commanded the First Calvary Division during the 1991 Gulf War. A generous supporter of the university, Tilelli established the Tilelli Annual Endowed Leadership Scholarship at Widener, which benefits a veteran or member of the ROTC Dauntless Battalion, as well as the Tilelli Leadership Fellowship Endowment.

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Catherine Safran, assistant professor of biology, co-authored an article in the journal Advances in Physiology Education that highlights the challenges and the successes of teaching physiology labs online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article, Physiology labs during a pandemic: What did we learn?, proved that online networks fostered safe spaces for trust and provide support for instructors. Additionally, it showed how much of a drastic change it was for both students and faculty to adjust to learning online instead of in-person, especially for those who have to either teach or learn in a laboratory setting.

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Susan P. Schaming, associate professor and director of Graduate Counselor Education and Home School Visitor Programs, presented at the American Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisor's biennial Conference in Atlanta, GA. Her presentation titled "A multicultural course responds to racism and discrimination: An imperative for academicians and clinicians," offered a comprehensive course development plan for multiculturalism in counselor education. In addition, the tools for exploring bias and values that potentially lead to behaviors that marginalize groups, and strategies to analyze any institutional program practices that are influenced by cultural norms was discussed.

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Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Babal Eslami, Associate Professor Kamran Fouladi, and engineering alumnus Thomas May published an article titled, “Optimization of 3D printer enclosure environment” in The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology. The article explains their study of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental testing that was used to optimize 3D printing.

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A faculty-student research team published findings on the limits of microscopic research. Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Babak Eslami and student-researcher Dylan Caputo published an article in a special issue of Advances in Surface Modification of the Materials explaining how Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is used to measure different types of material properties, including mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. The findings may provide an alternative way to understand how the material’s elasticity without having to physically test the theory with a hands-on experiment. As the article demonstrates, this technique used with AFM is beneficial as the technology gives scientists a way to understand the material’s properties without increasing the risk of losing important measurements to either humidity or artificial dissipations.

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Professor Lori Simons, practicum and internship coordinator of the psychology department, will give the keynote presentation at the International Conference on Education and Educational Psychology. The conference will be held remotely Oct. 6-8. 

Simon’s presentation is titled “A Developmental Approach for Infusing Career-Related Issues in an Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum: COVID-19 Impacts on Student Learning.” 

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An interdisciplinary team of faculty and alumni published a study on the properties of phenylboronic acid in water. Professor Ismail Kul, Associate Professor Krishna Bhat, Associate Professor Shirley Fischer-Drowos, chair of the chemistry department, and Alyssa Knox, a chemical engineering alumna, co-published the article in the Journal of Solution Chemistry. The study aimed to determine if acid-water solutions have directions after being exposed to different temperatures.

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The Chronicle of Higher Education has named Widener University a 2021 “Great College to Work For” after the university took honors in four categories based on feedback submitted through a survey of 196 colleges and universities. The higher education trade publication released the survey results today in its 14th-annual report, which stands as one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country.

Of the 70 institutions that achieved recognition for specific best practices and policies, only 46 were four-year colleges or universities. Widener was one of only three Pennsylvania institutions to make the list and has been recognized three of the last four years. The categories included:

• Confidence in Senior Leadership, honoring institutions where senior leadership is recognized by faculty and staff as capable and credible.
• Faculty Experience, honoring institutions where faculty report positive employment experiences including support for service and research, balance of teaching, and advancement and promotion opportunities.  
• Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, honoring institutions that are demonstrating commitment to diversity, as reported by faculty and staff based on their individual experiences and the impact of institutional policies and procedures. 
• Shared Governance, honoring workplaces where faculty members are appropriately involved in decisions related to academic programs.  

“We are delighted to see Widener included on this distinguished national list, and are particularly proud to be honored in the Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging category, which is new this year,” President Julie E. Wollman said. “This honor recognizes our commitment to a welcoming work environment where everyone has a voice and all are valued for the diverse contributions they make to our community. It also reflects that Widener is a place where faculty are supported and encouraged, where they are actively engaged, and where senior leadership is recognized for having the knowledge, skills and experience for institutional success.

“Our employees impress me every day through their commitment to our students and to providing them an excellent experience,” she continued. “Our faculty generously share their time, guided research opportunities, and their networks, to put our students on the inside track to career success. Our staff consistently put student needs first. Widener employees are the university’s greatest asset.” 

Board of Trustees President Paul Beideman said the vote of confidence in senior leadership – awarded for two consecutive years – was especially outstanding, given the ongoing challenges of managing the institution during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Widener emphasizes collaboration in its processes and operations, and teams work together with shared values,” Beideman said. “For example, the university’s pandemic response plans have evolved as circumstances have changed with COVID-19 and variants, but Widener’s management team has continuously sought input from all constituencies with the safety and well-being of the university community as its guide. Together, they think critically as they weigh future strategies.

“The Board of Trustees is united in its dedication to Widener and we are proud to see the university recognized as a Great College to Work For,” Beideman added. “This honor is based on faculty and staff surveys, which tell us we have committed and engaged employees – the kind of employees who bring their best to work every day, and provide an exceptional student experience.”

The Chronicle’s survey results were based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional questionnaire that captured employment data and workplace policies, and an anonymous survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. Employee feedback was the primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition. Widener had a strong employee response rate to the survey, and it exceeded the national response rate. 

“I am not surprised our faculty and staff felt compelled to share their opinions through this survey, even while many of them were working remotely during the pandemic,” Wollman said. “They care deeply about the university and they work hard to support the success of our students and of their colleagues.. People here know they can share thoughts and ideas and contribute to positive change. When they do that, they help make Widener an even better place to work.”

Great Colleges to Work For is one of the largest and most comprehensive workplace studies in higher education. The Chronicle worked with ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm to administer the survey and analyze the results. 

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Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services Justin Sitron and alum Li Lock '19 recently published an article, titled Sexological Worldview Development Explained by the Development Model of Intercultural Sensitivity, in the American Journal of Sexuality Education.

Sexological worldview is the lens through which someone sees and makes meaning of the sexual world around them. Their research explored whether the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) explains the stages of someone’s sexological worldview development across a continuum of dualist to relativist perspectives and ways of interacting with others who are similar or different.

Sitron, an associate professor, interviewed 30 sexuality professionals and students in the US and found that the participants’ sexological worldview development could be explained using the DMIS framework.

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The university proudly welcomed alumnus Dexter Hamilton ’83 to the Board of Trustees. Hamilton is a prominent Philadelphia attorney who grew up in Philadelphia and spent much time in Chester and currently serves as counsel to Chester-based clients. An experienced trial attorney, Hamilton practices in the areas of commercial litigation, construction litigation, products liability, and toxic tort litigation. In the past several years, he has tried cases to verdict including commercial matters and catastrophic injury cases. He has been lead counsel in complex matters in state and federal courts across the country. He also serves as general counsel for a local health system.

In addition, he serves as general counsel for the African American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ, and DE, and as a judge pro tempore for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where he presides at settlement conferences. He is a member of the board of the Lawyers Club of Philadelphia and previously served on the board of directors of the Bethesda Project, an organization that serves the chronically homeless. He was appointed by the mayor of Philadelphia to serve on the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.

Hamilton joined the board along with Student Trustee Ijjae Hill '23 '25. Hill, a double major in visual and performing arts and pre-physical therapy who plans to pursue a doctorate of physical therapy, is active in the university community and in the Chester community, where she has pursued her passion for health equity. Read more about Hill in this Q&A. 

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The Journal of Black Studies published an article co-authored by Janelle L. West, associate dean of graduate and continuing studies, on the impact of the racial climate on Black students’ choice to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The study was designed to understand to what extent, if any, did the racial climate under Donald Trump’s presidency influence Black students' choice to enroll in HBCUs. The study findings, which provided data from interviews with 80 Black students who were engaged in the college search process in 2016 to 2018, offers empirical evidence that indicate that the racial climate under President Trump played a salient role in participants’ selection of HBCUs.

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When COVID-19 paused study abroad experiences, a group of Widener students decided to use the money they had raised for their travels to support the Widener Child Development Center (CDC). Members of the Class of 2021, who were part of the Presidential Service Corps / Bonner Leaders Program, recently donated $500 to the CDC, which used the funds to purchase outdoor play supplies. 

Associate Dean of Students Catherine Feminella said the now-alumni turned an unfortunate situation regarding travel into a positive opportunity “to serve the local kids in our very own backyard. It was a really timely and serendipitous opportunity for students.” 

The CDC was revamping their outdoor space and needed new equipment. Joseph Matassino, Widener’s director of sponsored research and foundation relations, alerted the students to the need and they jumped at the chance to help, said Feminella.

The CDC used the donation to purchase an inflatable bounce house, balls, hula hoops, and more. 

“The kids are loving it, and it definitely feels like the whole yard is being utilized now,” said Essence Allen-Presley, director of the CDC. “This donation came out of the blue and we really appreciated that.”

Located on campus, the CDC provides childcare, preschool, and kindergarten services for the community. Widener students, from the education program and other academic areas, gain field experience at the center.

PSC Bonner Leaders commit to serving 250 hours of internship-level community service each year, earning an annual $5,000 scholarship in the process. They also participate in customized, experiential learning opportunities designed to make them stand out as civic leaders, social justice agents and active global citizens.

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