Noteworthy

Lisa Grimm has been named dean of Widener University’s College of Arts & Sciences effective July 1, following the retirement of David Leaman, who has served as dean of the college since 2018. 

Grimm is a respected educator and leader in the field of psychology. She comes to Widener from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where she has served in many roles since 2009, including as a member of the faculty, associate dean, and, most recently, interim dean of TCNJ’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences. In her role as interim dean, Grimm has led nearly 100 faculty and staff and over 2,000 students across ten departments and many additional interdisciplinary programs. 

Grimm is an accomplished teacher and scholar with a commitment to civic and global engagement, community-engaged learning, and mentorship. Her notable projects include serving as co-chair for the Humanities and Social Sciences Committee Against Anti-Black Racism and working closely with TCNJ’s Center for Global Engagement to support integrating global learning into coursework.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Grimm to Widener to lead the College of Arts & Sciences,” said Provost Andrew Workman. “Arts & Sciences is so deeply engrained in the education of every student regardless of major, and Dr. Grimm brings with her a proven track record of leadership and commitment to belonging that will help to enhance opportunities for students. Her experience with creating new, interdisciplinary programs, and her dedication to being not only an educator- but a mentor- makes her a great fit to help the university continue to grow and provide the best experience for students.”

“I am excited to join the talented faculty and staff of the College of Arts & Sciences. It is abundantly clear that they are a strong community focused on student belonging and helping students achieve their goals. I look forward to working together to build on the strong foundation of student success inside and outside of the classroom,” said Grimm. 

As a cognitive psychologist Grimm’s scholarship on structure and content of mental representations is highly regarded and she often collaborates with students on publications and conference presentations. She received her PhD from the University of Texas, where she also completed her post-doctoral fellowship. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/lisa-grimm-named-dean-widener-universitys-college-arts-sciences
 

The Delaware County Women’s Commission honored Chief Diversity Officer Michelle “Micki” Meekins-Davis with a Woman of Achievement Award at the commission’s awards celebrating Women’s History Month.

Meekins-Davis was one of three women honored under the theme “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” for her dedication to championing these principles within Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The awards recognize honorees for their invaluable accomplishments and contributions toward bettering the lives and opportunities of all women, and for their tireless advocacy for a future in which women can achieve their full potential, free from barriers and discrimination. 

Meekins-Davis has been a part of Widener for over three decades, after starting as a part-time departmental assistant and rising to become the university’s inaugural full-time chief diversity officer. Along the way, she has served in various roles, such as the founding director of the Multicultural Student Affairs Office, where she supported and mentored students from underrepresented backgrounds. She developed innovative and effective programs, such as the 1821 Experience Pre-Orientation Program and the Pride Mentoring Program. She contributed to the university’s Common Ground Initiative by bringing DiversiTEA gatherings to Widener, where conversations have fostered a sense of belonging and a culture of respect.

Meekins-Davis is a member of Widener President Stacey Robertson’s leadership team. Robertson introduced her at the awards event.

“Micki is the perfect embodiment of this honor,” she said. “She has dedicated her life and career to creating a more just and equitable society, and her work has touched thousands of lives in Delaware County and beyond.”

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/node/31515/
 

The University Relations department won six “Cuppie” awards from the annual CUPRAP conference. CUPRAP, or the College and University Public Relations and Associated Professionals, presents the awards for creative excellence in marketing and communications. The competition drew more than 400 entries this year from colleges and universities predominately located in the northeast.

The department won:

• Gold, for the Family Connections quarterly e-newsletter for families of undergraduate students.
• Gold, for the Widener Pride families website.
• Silver, for the pre-move-in-shopping-advice video shot at Target and shared on social media.
• Silver, for the admit packet prepared for parents of admitted undergraduates.
• Silver, for the public relations campaign built around the 2023 President for a Day event.
• Honorable mention, for the Pride 101 social media campaign videos.
• Honorable mention, for an OPED co-authored by President Stacey Robertson and Ursinus College President Robyn Hannigan.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/university-relations-wins-awards-cuprap-conference 

Beatriz Urraca, professor of Spanish and chair of modern languages, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar. Urraca will travel to Argentina to pursue her project, which will explore “how Latin American cinema integrates different knowledge systems into western discussions of sustainability and the environment.”

Urraca will also spend time teaching a graduate seminar course at the National University of Central Buenos Aires (UNICEN), and establishing relationships between their institution and Widener. In addition to teaching students, Urraca will also hold workshops for UNICEN faculty with sustainability as a focus, and pave the pathway for collaboration between Argentinian faculty, researchers, and students.  

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/spanish-faculty-named-fulbright-scholar
 

Widener Executive Chef Matthew Clarke has brought home silver in the 2024 Aramark Culinary Excellence (ACE) competition for the mid-Atlantic region of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality.

Clarke competed against 13 chefs representing institutions in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, in a timed competition using duck as the main protein in their recipes.

Clarke took first place in the 2023 competition and went on to represent the region at the national Aramark Collegiate Hospitality Competition, where he took home a bronze medal.

In addition to overseeing the roughly 1,000 meals a day being served in the Pride Café, Clarke also runs the cooking for catered university events.

Share Link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/executive-chef-cooks-second-place-culinary-competition

The 2024 Beideman Visiting Scholar Program featured vibrant discussions about the importance and impact of relationship building. This year's program welcomed Peter Felten (pictured), Leo Lambert, and Oscar Miranda Tapia, three of the authors of "Connections Are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education." The visiting scholars spent the day on Widener's Chester campus leading interactive discussions with students, faculty, and staff about how relationships are a key element of student learning, well-being, and success.

During the keynote presentation in Founders Hall, the authors provided both statistical and anecdotal evidence demonstrating the value of a relationship rich higher education experience. According to the authors, institutions of higher education can better serve and prepare their students for long-term success by shifting away from the transactional interactions and focus instead on fostering meaningful and intentional relationships within the community. The presentation led to the discovery of how the Widener community can build additional relationship-rich experiences for its students and further advance its commitment to belonging and inclusion.

The Beideman Visiting Scholar Program brings world-class speakers and scholars to the Widener campus on an annual basis to stimulate discussions on current and pertinent theories and practices related to leadership development and the effective exercise of leadership. The Beideman Visiting Scholars Program is made possible by a generous gift from Paul and Caroline Beideman. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/beideman-visiting-scholars-detail-importance-relationship-rich-education 

Jimmy Wynes was named the Delaware Valley College Hockey Conference (DVCHC) American Division Offensive Player of the Year. The men’s DVCHC consists of twenty-four teams split into three divisions. Wynes, a junior finance major and economics minor, is a forward and has played on the Widener men’s ice hockey club team for the past three years.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-club-hockey-player-named-offensive-player-year-regional-conference

Loyd Bastin, associate dean of science and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has been chosen as the first-ever recipient of the Teaching Green Fellowship by the Green Chemistry Institute at the American Chemical Society. Bastin will be honored at the upcoming 28th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering (GC&E) Conference.  

This award recognizes innovation and creativity in the development of curriculum materials with green chemistry and sustainability topics as a focus, and that prepares students for future careers where they can address global challenges.

Throughout his time at Widener, Bastin strives to incorporate political advocacy and activism into his courses, specifically as it pertains to environmental topics. This award will help provide funding for Bastin and students working with him to assist in their work, as well as travel expenses to attend GC&E Conferences.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/chemistry-faculty-awarded-inaugural-teaching-green-fellowship-green-chemistry-institute

Nursing Associate Professor Banibrata Roy authored a research article in the journal Pharmacy Education to determine the leadership skills needed amongst pharmacists in different work settings and in different parts of the world. The article titled, "Results from a global pharmacy leadership needs assessment: Opportunities to advance pharmacy leadership," finds that skills should be carefully considered for career development and advancement while providing leadership training in pharmacy education.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/nursing-professor-publishes-research-article-pharmacy-leadership 

Professor and Chair of Chemistry Shirley Fischer-Drowos has been elected to the executive board for the Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS), the second largest international conference of analytical chemists. With over 1000 attendees annually, the symposium features vendor exhibits and poster presentations covering the latest in pharmaceuticals, environmental science, forensics, and more.

Fischer-Drowos has served on the symposium board for a number of years in various roles. In her new executive board role as Secretary, she can continue to help organize and execute the symposium annually along with other board members and sponsoring organizations. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/chemistry-faculty-named-executive-board-eastern-analytical-symposium

Zora Wolfe, associate dean of the College of Health & Human Services and interim director for the Center for Education, has published a chapter in "First-Gen Docs: Personal, Political, and Intellectual Perspectives from the First-Generation Doctoral Experience.” This newly release is the third volume in The Doctoral Journey in Education series of books.

Wolfe’s chapter, titled “Program Supports for First-Generation Education Doctoral Students: A Faculty Perspective,” gives her personal insight into working with first-generation doctoral students pursuing a degree in the field of education.

This book serves to highlight the determination and resilience of the first-generation doctoral student population. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/faculty-publishes-book-chapter-first-generation-doctoral-students

In a recent symposium held in Philadelphia, four law professors and a law alumna explored the right to a clean environment through the lenses of state and federal courts. The event, presented by the Journal of Constitutional Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, featured the following participants:

• Delaware Law Professor Erin Daly moderated the panel "Environmentalism: the History, the Source of Law, and the Future."
• Assistant Professor Quinn Yeargain of Commonwealth Law School presented "Against Environmental Rights" as part of the panel "Litigating Constitutional Environmentalism: Current Realities and Future Considerations."
• Delaware Law Professor James May and John Dernbach, emeritus professor of law and former director of the Environmental Law Sustainability Center at Commonwealth Law School, both spoke on the panel titled "Green Amendment Movement: Pennsylvania Roots and Nationwide Reach." May discussed the pursuit of climate rights at the state level in the U.S., while Dernbach examined judicial decisions under the environmental rights amendments to explain their contribution to environmental protection.
• Delaware Law alumna Maya van Rossum ’94, the Delaware Riverkeeper and founder of Green Amendments for the Generations, also participated on the panel with May and Dernbach.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/node/31334

Robert Buckley Jr. ’81, a School of Business Administration graduate, returned to the Chester campus to give a presentation on his role leading the I-95 rebuild. Buckley is president of Buckley & Company, Inc., the primary company that oversaw the record-setting rebuild of the collapsed interstate highway in the summer of 2023. Moderated by Engineering Dean Pamela McCauley, Buckley presented alongside Archie Filshill, CEO at Aero Aggregates of North America, whose company produced the ultra-lightweight aggregates that was used to fill the rebuild. The conversation recounted the hands-on contributions of Buckley & Company and the transformative power of collaboration between local industries and city, state, and federal government partners. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/robert-buckley-jr-81-presents-rebuilding-i-95-twelve-days-june

Watch the Full Presentation Here

Widener University Athletics received an honorable mention for the 2024 NCAA Minority Opportunities Athletic Association Award for Diversity and Inclusion. Widener was chosen as a top performer out of eighty submissions spanning all three NCAA divisions.

“It is humbling to be recognized for the work being done for our student athletes and staff, not only within athletics, but the entire Widener campus,” said Jack Schafer, director of athletics. “To be represented among the top institutions that are taking initiative in this work for their student athletes is something to be proud of.”

The award recognizes schools who demonstrate excellence in initiatives, policies, and practices that embrace diversity and inclusion across the athletic community. The selection committee commended Widener for the university’s “intentional efforts to foster inclusive environments for student athletes, coaches, and administrators,” as well as Widener’s commitment to student athlete mental health and wellbeing demonstrated through efforts such as the H.U.B. and Check Up from the Neck Up.

Associate Director of Athletics Larissa Gillespie said collaborating with campus partners has been rewarding.

“We have been able to advocate for mental health awareness, provide resources and educational opportunities for our student-athletes and staff,” she said.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-athletics-recognized-ncaa-diversity-and-inclusion
 

Nancy Laplante, professor of nursing, co-authored a new textbook geared toward preparing nursing students for the Next-Generation NCLEX exam. The textbook, "Clinical Nursing Skills & Techniques, 11th Edition," provides clear, step-by-step guidelines to more than 200 basic, intermediate, and advanced skills. With more than 1,200 full-color illustrations, a nursing process framework, and a focus on evidence-based practice, this manual helps students learn to think critically, ask the right questions at the right time, and make timely decisions. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/nursing-professor-co-authors-textbook

Lauren McCarthy '25 has been elected president of the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP), a non-profit organization and constituent of the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA), representing nursing students throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. McCarthy was elected during the 2023 SNAP Convention after previously serving as the organization's secretary/treasurer. As president, McCarthy oversees a number of executive-level responsibilities including representing SNAP at at the annual NSNA convention and other professional organizations and supporting local chapter affiliates. McCarthy will serve as president for one term.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/nursing-student-elected-president-state-nursing-student-organization

Professor of Chemical Engineering Sachin Patil, together with a team of international collaborators from Imperial College London in the United Kingdom and the Cancer Research Center in Marseille, France, published a paper in the Journal of Advanced Research titled, “Inactive-enriched machine-learning models exploiting patent data improve structure-based virtual screening for PDL1 dimerizers.” The paper presented novel PDL1-specific machine-learning scoring functions as a powerful drug design tool for detecting small-molecule PD1/PDL1 inhibitors, forming the basis for developing novel cancer immunotherapies with better patient outcomes and milder side effects.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/engineering-professor-and-international-collaborators-publish-artificial-intelligence-enabled-cancer 

Widener University is pleased to share outstanding news about the accomplishments of our May 2023 graduates in the six months since they earned their undergraduate degrees. Each year, the university surveys the most recent graduates and reports the data to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Highlights include:

•    Graduates who achieved a positive career outcome, which includes direct employment, graduate education or military service, was 96 percent, holding steady with the accomplishments of our 2022 graduates despite a softening in the overall labor market.
•    Their mean starting salary was $72,912, up from $70,987 with May 2022 graduates.
•    Their median starting salary was $78,000, up from $72,800 with May 2022 graduates.

Widener graduates have begun rewarding careers at a wide variety of workplaces, big and small. Some of the most recognizable employer names included Deloitte, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Army, Oracle, the Peace Corps, Independence Blue Cross, Siemens, Vanguard, KPMG, and the Philadelphia Union.

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Katelyn Sheesley '21 donned the cover of Inside Pennsylvania Magazine as one of the young residents named to publication's "30 Under 30" list. A graduate of Widener's accelerated bachelor of nursing (ABSN) program on the Harrisburg campus, Sheesley's work as a critical care nurse and nurse educator at Evangelical Community Hospital earned her recognition in the Susquehanna Valley-based publication. 

Read the full feature on Katelyn Sheesley (page 24).

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/nursing-alumna-named-30-under-30-list-inside-pa

The School of Business Administration (SBA) hosted over 225 area high school students on Widener’s Chester campus for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Delaware County Leadership Conference.

Students from eight high schools across Delaware County gathered for a day of Widener faculty-led workshops covering topics such as the basics of banking, sales and marketing, artificial intelligence, leadership and communication, and more.

In addition, students competed for prized in events judged by Widener students, alumni, staff, and industry partners. Overall, students earned awards in 55 categories, and the top students will move on to compete at the state level. This was the first time the competitions were held in person since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was everything we say the SBA is – hands-on, engaged, real world, future looking, and industry aligned,” said Donna McCloskey, associate dean for undergraduate programs in SBA. “It was a great day to be a part of the pride!”

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