Noteworthy

Widener President Stacey Robertson was recently a panelist at the “Breakfast with Brian” event, “Leading Through Change: Insights and Perspectives from Dynamic Leaders” in center city Philadelphia. She was one of four remarkable leaders invited to the conversation. Others included Lisa Hughes, publisher and CEO of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Angela Val, president and CEO of VISIT PHILADELPHIA, and P. Sue Perotty, president and CEO of Tower Health. 

The conversation examined the difficulties of taking over a leadership role in the midst of a global pandemic, and lessons learned. Leaders shared their perspectives on how to lead through change, with a focus on successful strategies in their industries.

Robertson highlighted Widener’s culture of belonging, and how it supports student well-being. “Sometimes it's just a matter of one person, one connection, one place where you feel safe,” she said.
 

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Lauren Shermer, professor of criminal justice, has been named the new Widener University Program Director for Project Pericles effective January 2024. Project Pericles is a national consortium of 29 member colleges and universities that promotes civic engagement in higher education of which Widener has been a member for nearly two decades.

Shermer looks forward to growing Project Pericles engagement with faculty, staff, students, and community partners. She was named a Periclean Faculty Leader in 2021 and has presented at two Project Pericles conferences held in the last year. Shermer brings a deep commitment to civic engagement to this role.

This role was formerly held by Associate Dean of Social Sciences James Vike, who has been a leading member of Project Pericles at Widener since 2005. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/lauren-shermer-named-new-widener-university-program-director-project-pericles
 

Mark Nicosia, vice provost for Academic Affairs and Strategy and professor of engineering, was a featured speaker during a panel discussion at the 2023 World Dysphagia Summit. The summit was hosted by the Dysphagia Research Society (DRS) in affiliation with the European Society for Swallowing Disorders, the Japanese Society for Dysphagia Rehabilitation, and the Latin America Society for Dysphagia. 

Nicosia, who also serves as president of the DRS, is an expert in dysphagia which is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. The summit was held on World Swallowing Day to increase worldwide awareness among health care professionals as well as the public to increase knowledge about normal swallowing and swallowing disorders, their causes, early detection, complications and management.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/engineering-faculty-presents-2023-world-dysphagia-summit

Jeremy Hancher, adjunct professor in the School of Business Administration and EMAP Program Manager for the Widener Small Business Development Center, has been invited to serve as a member on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Act Advisory Committee for a two-year term.

The committee consists of government figures, industry professionals, and academics who are experts in the environmental and sustainability fields and can advise the EPA on issues related to implementing the Clean Air Act Amendments. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/business-faculty-named-epas-clean-air-act-advisory-committee

Members of the Widener community gathered recently on the university’s Chester campus to celebrate the dedication of Julie E. Wollman Hall. Named in honor of Widener’s 10th president, Wollman Hall solidifies the president emerita’s legacy and celebrates her commitment to bolstering the university’s health science programs. 

“Widener is an institution that I love and I am deeply honored to be recognized with my name on a building on this campus,” said Wollman. “I am honored that the building is one that highlights one of my areas of focus while I was here at the university. This structure represents years of campus-wide commitment and collaboration to develop graduate programs in the health sciences, meet the needs of the local community through interprofessional experiential learning for students, and prepare those students to serve a diverse range of clients.”

Wollman’s six-and-a-half-year tenure was marked by a commitment to expanding the university’s health science footprint. Her strategic leadship positioned the university to build upon its existing roster of top-ranked health and human service programs and expanded its mission of providing community-focused, holistic, and culturally inclusive care. Under Wollman’s leadership, the School of Health and Human Service Professions transitioned into the College of Health and Human Services and the university launched its occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and nutrition science graduate programs. These efforts led to an increase in graduate enrollment, diversified the interprofessional learning environment for students, and strengthened the pipeline of health care professionals in the region.  

The dedication event welcomed Widener students, faculty, staff, and alumni and featured remarks by Paul Beideman ’79, chair of the Board of Trustees, and President Stacey Robertson. Beideman, who became board chair during Wollman’s administration, reflected on Wollman’s innovative leadership and her tremendous impact on the university.

“Among the many successes of Julie’s presidency was her recognition of the need and demand for health science programs and her focus on growing the number of health science programs offered at Widener,” said Beideman. “Julie did so much for Widener.  She led a bold and innovative planning process that resulted in our dynamic strategy of Agility Experienced which is incredibly flexible and responsive to the shifting higher education landscape.”

Robertson celebrated Wollman’s work to position Widener and its students for success, particularly in the ever-evolving healthcare field.

“This is the place on our campus that exemplifies what it means to be part of the Pride,” said Robertson. “It is where theory meets practice, where the academy meets our community, where – in this fully student-run space, leaders are grown and nurtured, where the walls between disciplines are broken down, and where patients are the center of everything. It is very fitting that this excellent work takes place in Wollman Hall.”

Formally known as Melrose Hall, Wollman Hall is located on Melrose Avenue between 17th and 18th Streets. In 2019, the building underwent a complete renovation to revamp the entire interior to feature interactive patient rooms, flexible classroom space, and interdisciplinary workspaces designed to facilitate collaboration across disciplines. The state-of-the-art facility is also home to the university’s Chester Community Clinic and the Speech-Language Pathology Clinic which provide cost-effective health and wellness services to residents. The student-led clinics work in tandem to deliver holistic treatment plans to clients while simultaneously preparing students to work interprofessionally in a clinical setting. 
 
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Vicki L. Brown, distinguished university professor, was honored by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) for her scholarly contributions to the organization and the overall civil engineering community. Brown, who has served on School of Engineering's faculty for more than four decades, received the 2023 Delmar L. Bloem Distinguished Service Award which celebrates noteworthy work on ACI technical committees. The award was given at the 2023 ACI Concrete Convention in California and recognized Brown “for outstanding leadership of ACI Subcommittee 440-H, FRP-Reinforced Concrete.”

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/engineering-professor-honored-distinguished-service-and-leadership

Widener University, in partnership with America 250 PA Delco and Delaware County Libraries, hosted Patrick Spero, author and director of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, on campus as part of the ongoing Revolutionary Reads initiative. 

Spero poke about his book, “Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West,1765-1776,” which shares the untold story of rebellion on the American frontier which helped to spark the American Revolution. Provost Andrew Workman facilitated the discussion.

Happening through 2026, Revolutionary Reads is a multi-year initiative leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Assistant Professor of History Jordan Smith represents Widener in this initiative and helps to bring these author events to campus.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-hosts-author-patrick-spero-second-annual-revolutionary-reads-event

Widener honored faculty members for their high distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching. Various faculty were awarded at the ceremony, held Thursday, October 19 in Lathem Hall.

“The professors who were honored at our annual awards ceremony continuously display commitment to teaching, civic engagement, meaningful research, remarkable leadership, and cutting-edge innovation. They are highly valued colleagues and represent core values for which Widener stands," said Provost Andrew Workman. 

The awards included:

• The Distinguished University Professor Award honors faculty members of high distinction at the University who also demonstrate the institution is committed to recognizing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service throughout faculty members’ careers. This year's recipients were College of Health and Human Services Professor, Stephen E. Kauffman as well as College of Arts and Sciences Professor, Alexis A. Nagengast.
• College of Arts and Sciences Professor Dana Olanoff was awarded with the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is given to a faculty member who has exemplified a history of teaching at the highest level of distinction. It is endowed by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, a Philadelphia-based foundation that provides grants to institutions of higher education for the promotion of excellence in teaching.
• The Faculty Award for Civic Engagement serves to recognize the outstanding contributions that faculty members have made in accordance with Widener’s civic engagement mission, as well as solidifying Widener students’ understanding of their social responsibilities, and the impact of their disciplinary learning. This year's recipients included faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences: Associate Professor Angela M. Corbo, Professor J. Wesley Leckrone, and Associate Dean of Social Science and Professor James E. Vike.
• College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Michael Toneff was awarded the Outstanding Researcher Award. This award gives recognition to a faculty member who has participated in research and scholarship nationally or internationally, and made a significant contribution through their research, while advancing their profession or discipline as well as the university’s mission and vision.
• The Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching Award highlights an individual who has designed, implemented, and assessed an innovative or experimental teaching and learning project. This award was presented to College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Janice Krumm.
• The Faculty Institutional Leadership Award recognizes a record of leading initiatives that further the university’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives. This year’s award recipients were College of Health and Human Services Associate Professor Marina Barnett, who is also interim assistant provost for civic engagement, and College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Bretton Alvare.
  
  Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-commends-faculty-2023-awards-event

Widener faculty recently took 20 students to New York City as part of the urban excursions grant program, which allows faculty to take students on daylong trips to a metropolitan area to allow for deeper engagement and hands-on experiences as they relate to course material. 

Led by YuFeng Mao, associate professor of history, Beatriz Urraca, chair of modern languages, and Stephen Madigosky, chair of environmental science and sustainability, students visited popular New York City stops such as the Natural History Museum, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times Square, and Koreatown. The trip also coincided with the date of the 2023 New York City Marathon, where students were able to watch and cheer on runners. 

In addition to experiencing the iconic New York sites, students were also exposed to the diverse culinary culture of the city by trying Latin American food, Dim Sum, and Korean shaved ice and coffee. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-students-visit-new-york-city-urban-excursions-trip

Widener University’s Physics Department hosted members the Southeast Pennsylvania Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) on campus for their fall 2023 meeting. 

Organized by Assistant Professor of Physics Alice Du, the event was full of guest speakers and presentations covering topics such as student engagement, professional development for teachers, and hot topics in the physics industry. Martin Melhus, assistant professor of physics, presented “Numerical Integration of Trajectories at a Student Level.”

The AAPT hosted an additional event in collaboration with the Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers in which Paul Baker, assistant professor of physics, shared work he completed as a member of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) and the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA). 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-hosts-aapt-members-fall-meeting-physics-faculty-share-research

Biomedical engineering students Marina Walsh, Benjamin Aon, Hatice Emanet, Cheyenne Miller and Chiamaka Oduah attended the SB3C 2023 Summer Bioengineering, Biomechanics and Biotransport Conference in Vail, Colorado to showcase their research focused on developing a pulse oximeter for nursing simulation mannequins to be used by Widener nursing students. The team, along with faculty advisor Ria Mazumder, interim chair of biomedical engineering and associate teaching professor, were one of six teams chosen to present their research at the conference's Undergraduate Design Project Competition in Rehabilitation and Assistive Devices. Their work earned third place in the national competition. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/biomedical-engineering-students-ranked-nationally-undergraduate-research-competition

Jill Borin, librarian and head of archives and distinctive collections, Kayla Van Osten, affiliate librarian and assistant archivist, and Kristina Dorsett, affiliate librarian, presented a poster at the Pennsylvania Library Association’s (PaLA) 2023 Conference. 

The trio presented a poster, titled “I Did That: Student Scholarship in Academic Libraries,” which showcased the scholarly work of Widener graduate and undergraduate students from the 2022 academic year. They shared a selection of works from across schools and departments, covering topics such as student mental health, better living through technology, and sexual healing. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/library-staff-present-student-scholarship-pala-conference

Maria Pinho, assistant professor of strategic management, will present at both the US Northeast and US Southeast Chapter Conferences of the Academy of International Business (AIB). 

Pinho and co-presenters will share their works “Agility & Resilience in Emerging Market Multinationals: Integrating two faces of the Same Coin,” and “The Role of Multinational Enterprises in Addressing Societal Tensions: A Review of Business-Society Frameworks.”

For more than 60 years, AIB has been a leader in bringing international business scholars and professionals together to share ideas. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/business-faculty-presents-two-aib-conferences

Widener’s Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) program offers undergraduate students hands-on, faculty-mentored research experience over the summer. Months of hard work led to the annual SURCA Symposium where students present their findings to the community, as well as a panel of volunteer judges. 

The winners of the 2023 SURCA Symposium are: 

Biochemistry: Emily McHenry (Mentors: Robert Mishur & Michael Toneff)
Developing a procedure for the metabolic profiling of cancerous cells

Biology & Environmental Science: Evelyn Peyton (Mentor: David Coughlin)
Comparing summer acclimation studies during summer months between hatchery brook trout and wild brook trout

Chemistry & Chemical Engineering: Christina McCullough (Mentor: Dipendu Saha)
Conversion of Styrofoam to activated carbon

Engineering & Computer Science A: Ryan Mendenhall (Mentor: Babak Eslami)
Experimental investigation on effect of temperature on FDM 3D printing polymers: towards 4D printing

Engineering & Computer Science B: Fran DiPietro (Mentor: Aylin Acun)
Examining senescence in artificially aged induced pluripotent stem cell(iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes

Engineering & Computer Science C: Alyson Fornes (Mentor: Daniel Roozbahani)
AI-driven cardiovascular disease forecasting platform

Humanities: Zoe Sweet (Mentor: Jayne Thompson)
Prison reform: Little Scandinavia

Social Science, Social Work, and Business A: Shane Landue (Mentor: Wei Gao)
Robo-advisor returns: startup vs traditional

Social Science, Social Work, and Business B: Brooke Morales & Adriana Moreta (Mentor: Robin Goldberg-Glen)
Intergenerational relationships: SURCA and career development in Social Work

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/2023-surca-symposium-winners-announced

Students, faculty and staff gathered for a memorial ceremony recently in tribute to the donors who selflessly chose to donate their bodies after death to science, and in turn helped educate Widener health sciences students learning in the university’s state-of-the-art clinical anatomy lab. 

“It is a selfless contribution that enables so many to encounter their first patient, develop a deep appreciation for the human body and a lifelong respect for donors and their families,” said Kaitlin Irby, who moderated the program held in Alumni Auditorium.

The event featured tribute remarks from eight students spanning the physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology disciplines, as well as musical reflections and a spiritual dance. 

“You were the most influential teacher of human anatomy we will ever have. The framework we have of the human body was derived from the experience learning every crevice of yours,” physical therapy student Alonzo Strickland said during his tribute remarks. “We will always draw upon our experience taking apart the dead because it was by carefully disassembling a human body that we acquired the foundation to one day build another one back together.”

Between 15,000 and 20,000 people donate their bodies to science annually in the United States for medical research and education. At Widener, students learn the age, occupation and cause of death of the confidential donors they are assigned for their research. The university received 10 donors for the first clinical anatomy lab semester experience. 

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First-year nursing students Melvasia Fitzpatrick, Raheim Grant, and Sakyra Sar-Tuch, have bene chosen as recipients of The Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation’s Healthcare Scholars award. The scholarship covers tuition and educational expenses of students interested in pursuing a bachelor of science or associate degree in nursing. A total of 35 students in Pennsylvania were honored at an awards reception held in August. 

This award is given in an effort to increase representation and diversify the nursing profession. The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education finds that patients are better served by healthcare providers of the same background. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/three-first-year-nursing-students-receive-ibx-foundation-scholarship

Widener’s Business Analytics Major has been recognized by BestColleges as one of the top ten business statistics programs in the United States. While often offered as a graduate degree, Widener’s School of Business Administrations offers a bachelor’s level degree in business analytics. 

Widener is recognized for exceptional academic standards and emphasis on student success. Since 2014, BestColleges has been providing college rankings in a number of areas.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/wideners-business-analytics-program-recognized-nationwide-ranking 

Assistant Professor of history Jordan Smith has received the Wayne D. Rasmussen Award from the Agricultural History Society for his article “The Native of this Island: Processes of Invention in Early Barbados.” This award recognizes an outstanding article on agricultural history that is published in a journal other than Agricultural History.

In the article, which was published in the Fall 2022 “Sugar and Slaves at Fifty” special issue of Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Smith explores the contributions of indigenous people and enslaved Africans in the production of rum in the seventeenth century. The article demonstrates that, while officials of the time claimed that rum was native to the island of Barbados, those contributing to the production used their own cultural assumptions to adapt new ingredients and methods to create something new.  

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/history-faculty-recognized-agricultural-history-society

Professor of Accounting Joseph Hargadon has co-authored an article published in the August 2023 issue of Strategic Finance. The article, entitled “Dual CMA and CPA Certification: A Winning Combination,” defines a nine-step plan for accounting students to pass the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam while still a student, and the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam within six months of their graduation. 

Hargadon’s co-authors include former Widener faculty members Lori Fuller and Peter Ohelers. Strategic Finance is the leading journal of The Institute of Management Accountants.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/current-and-former-accounting-faculty-co-author-new-journal-article

Widener’s School of Nursing has been named a top 10 best nursing school in Philadelphia by The College Application, who provides rankings and advice on many topics relevant to current and incoming college students. 

Widener is recognized as 10th on the list, which is compiled using program offerings, NCLEX-RN pass rates, alumni salary data, student ratings, and more as considerations. Widener’s simulation lab is noted in this recognition as it allows students to get hands-on training in many real-world scenarios. 

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