Pulling Back the Curtain on the UNcommon Man - Bloomsburg University
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W I NTE R 20 22
Pulling Back the
Curtain on the
UNcommon Man
Page 16
ALSO INSIDE
Broadcast
Opportunity
Confer Gift Creates
Center for Broadcast
Education
Page 12
GOAL!
Women’s Soccer Repeats
PSAC Championship
Page 27
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
bloomu.edu
1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear BU Family,
We are pleased to bring you the Winter 2022
edition of Bloomsburg: The University Magazine.
In December, I had the honor of presiding over
the Fall Commencement ceremonies, which
were held in person with the full gamut of pomp
and circumstance for the first time since winter
2019. To see the joy of our graduates and their
families and supporters after years of hard work
is always gratifying, and I look forward to learning
of their future successes. I am grateful to our
faculty for their work in preparing our students to
reach this milestone and our staff for everything
they do in preparation for the celebration.
In this issue, we get to pull back the curtain on
our university’s most generous benefactor, Steph
Pettit. I have known Steph for several years now,
and I look forward to you getting to know him on
a deeper level. And I hope you find inspiration in
his unique perspective and drive. We are eternally
grateful to Steph and his wife, Allie, for what they
do for Husky students and student-athletes.
The Winter issue also features a story about
a recently announced gift from radio legend
Kerby Confer, which will dramatically impact
President Bashar Hanna several programs of study, especially media and
journalism. Kerby has hosted his Radio Talent
Institute at BU for several years to benefit our students and many others. His gift will support the creation of a
state-of-the-art media center for aspiring students interested in radio, video, podcasts, live streaming, and other
forms of broadcasting careers. We also look back at the early days of the radio station on campus and celebrate
WHSK’s bright future.
Our faculty spotlight features College of Education associate professor Beth Rogowsky. Beth is co-author of
Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn, which is making waves in
the teaching world. More than 7,500 copies have been sold in the first six months of its release.
This issue also highlights our women’s soccer team, which won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title
and was recognized for its great sportsmanship. While I am proud of our champions on the field, the recognition
gained for being honorable competitors is even more meaningful.
And whether it is being kind to a fellow competitor or a fellow individual, I urge everyone to live and be inspired by
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s messages of peace, hope, and love. And there is no shortage of inspirational words that
mean as much today as they did when first spoken more than a half-century ago.
Please stay healthy in 2022 and go Huskies!
Sincerely,
Bashar W. Hanna, President
FALL COMMENCEMENT 2021
1
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
2
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
FALL COMMENCEMENT 2021
Winter 2022
10 12 15
16 27 31
Contents
5 COMMON GROUND 16 PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON
10 SMART TEACHING
THE UNCOMMON MAN
12 BROADCAST OPPORTUNITY 23 HUSKY NOTES
15 MOONROOF MAKES A MARK 27 ATHLETICS: A VIEW FROM THE TOP
ON THE INDIE-POP SCENE 31 THEN AND NOW: THE EVOLUTION TO A UNIVERSITY
Connect with us
bloomu.edu
Pennsylvania’s State System Chancellor, Executive Editor Bloomsburg: The University Magazine is published three times
of Higher Education State System of Jennifer Umberger a year for alumni, students’ families, and friends of the university
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
Board of Governors Higher Education Back issues may be found at bloomu.edu/magazine.
Cynthia D. Shapira, Chair Daniel Greenstein Co-Editors
David M. Maser, Vice Chair Eric Foster Address comments and questions to:
Samuel H. Smith, Vice Chair Bloomsburg University Tom McGuire Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Robert W. Bogle Council of Trustees Arts and Administration Building
Representative Tim Briggs Judge Mary Jane Bowes, Chair Designer 400 East Second Street
Tanya I. Garcia, Designee for Nancy Vasta, Vice Chair Kerry Lord Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301
Secretary of Education Noe Ortega Dr. Brian O’Donnell, Secretary
William “Bill” Gindlesperger Amy Brayford Sports Email address: magazine@bloomu.edu
Allison Jones, Designee for Edward Edwards Information
Governor Tom Wolf Duane Greenly Mary Raskob Visit Bloomsburg University on the web at bloomu.edu.
Senator Scott Martin Daniel Klingerman
Marian D. Moskowitz John E. Wetzel Contributing Bloomsburg University is an AA/EEO institution and is accessible to disabled
Secretary of Education Noe Ortega Raymond Zaborney Writers persons. Bloomsburg University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
Representative Brad Roae Julia Burcin, Student Trustee Thomas Schaeffer ’02 religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry,
Alexander C. Roberts Andrea O’Neill ’06 disability, or veteran status in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of
Senator Judith L. Schwank President, the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
Zakariya Scott Bloomsburg University Cover Photo Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
Larry C. Skinner Bashar W. Hanna Amy Chapman 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies.
Skylar Walder
Neil R. Weaver © Bloomsburg University 2022
Governor Tom Wolf
Janet L. Yeomans 3
Integration Update
On July 1, 2022, we officially integrate Bloomsburg, Lock From humble beginnings, our universities have evolved
Haven, and Mansfield universities creating a student-centered, and adapted over the years to meet the needs of students.
academic powerhouse that will grow opportunities while 2022 brings the next evolution of our universities, and we’re
honoring local campus traditions. excited about the bright future ahead of us.
Many months of planning — with important input from As we continue on this path, it is critically important that
students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members— we develop how our integration story is told, and we
are helping us boldly reimagine public higher education and are pleased to unveil our first short-form explanation of
develop a best-in-class learning experience for all students. integration (below).
The Power of Three What Won’t Change Functional Area Leadership
The integration of Bloomsburg, Lock Our footprint: No campus is closing, We continue to be laser-focused on
Haven, and Mansfield universities is a and we will deliver robust residential creating a leadership structure that will
bold investment in the communities experiences. Students will have a home best serve the needs of our students
and people of Pennsylvania. Our mission campus and will not be required to travel and position all of us – students,
is to expand high-quality, affordable between campuses for daily classes. faculty, and staff – for optimal success.
academic opportunities and support a
vibrant on-campus student experience. Our collective brand will maintain our As previously announced, the
names, colors, mascots, and local traditions. integrated institution will consist of
Powerful ideas start here, carried by The integrated university’s name will be five distinct divisions: Academic Affairs,
dynamic stories and voices, resulting used as a secondary element for Middle Enrollment Management, Finance and
in empowered students. Together, we States and accreditation purposes and Administration, Student Success and
provide financially responsible degree announced this spring. Campus Life, and Advancement. Deans
options that maximize experiential and Department Chairs in Academic
learning, career preparation, and Our athletic brands: Each campus Affairs were announced by the Provosts
efficient time to degree completion. will retain a full complement of NCAA and APSCUF in early November.
programs and we are working to
We’re honoring our history by confirm this path in the spring.
preserving the founding principles
of each campus and continuing as Our academic mission: Students will be
pillars of our communities, supporting able to complete the programs they start;
students and our neighbors alike. it is our academic contract with them.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
We’re investing in today by answering Our commitment to a world-class
the greatest challenges facing higher education: Real-time technology will
education: accessibility, cost, quality, support new collaborative learning
and relevance through the combined environments while program-based You can learn more
strength of our storied institutions. field study, semester residency, or
other multi-campus experiences will
about the integration
We’re building a powerful tomorrow be developed. plans by visiting
by boldly changing the trajectory of www.bloomu.edu/integration.
public higher education to position Our commitment to generous alumni
ourselves for growth and meet economic and donors: Foundations and alumni
and workforce development needs in our associations remain separate. Donors
region, across Pennsylvania and beyond. may still designate funds to support
programs or a campus/campuses of
That’s the power of three. their choosing.
4
COMMON GROUND
Northeast Triad Selected
for Gates Foundation
Transformation Program
Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities contradictions, hold ourselves accountable, and strengthen
were among 15 institutions selected by the American our skills for our historically underrepresented populations.”
Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
to participate in the newly launched Transformation The TAC cohort approach involves peer-to-peer learning
Accelerator Cohort (TAC). The program, funded by the across institutions via in-person and online Student
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is designed to help Success Academies. Participants will have access to
institutions eliminate race, ethnicity, and income as resources, such as online modules and webinars, and
predictors of student success. receive support from experts in data analytics, equity,
student success, advising, institutional transformation,
In addition to the Northeast triad, the inaugural cohort — and strategic and systems planning.
selected through a highly competitive application process —
comprises the following AASCU institutions: Albany State “This effort aligns perfectly with the mission of our system
University (Ga.), California State University—Fresno, Central of public universities — closing achievement gaps and
Connecticut State University, College of Staten Island ensuring every student has the opportunity to enroll, persist,
CUNY, Metropolitan State University of Denver, SUNY and graduate,” said Dan Greenstein, PASSHE chancellor.
College at Oswego, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, “We have a responsibility to every one of our students from
Texas A&M Kingsville, Prairie View A&M University (Texas), every part of the Commonwealth, and we are lucky to have
Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M University—San institutions like Mansfield, Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven
Antonio, University of Hawaii at Hilo, University of Maryland that have already made such incredible strides in promoting
Eastern Shore, and William Paterson University (N.J.). equitable outcomes for all our students. I look forward to
The selected institutions serve 120,525 students, with an seeing the work that results from this partnership.”
average Pell eligibility of 48 percent.
“It is an honor to be one of just 15 institutions nationwide to
be selected for this impactful and important program that
focuses specifically on parity in student outcomes for Black,
Latinx, Indigenous, and low-income students,” said Bashar
Hanna, president of Bloomsburg University and interim
president of both Lock Haven and Mansfield universities.
“The Transformation Accelerator Cohort will serve as a
catalyst in continuing to advance practices and policies to
ensure our campuses are places of welcome and courage,
where every student, especially those of any difference, are
embraced and supported. Their success is pivotal to the
success of our campuses as well as our nation’s success.”
The two-year, team-based learning program accelerates
institutional transformation by providing customized Offering a Helping Hand for Tech
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
support for making data-informed decisions grounded in
students’ realities. Campus leaders will learn best practices Students from the Zeigler College of Business held a
to close equity gaps and achieve student success goals for free two-hour technology training session for older
underrepresented students. adults in November. Pi Omega Pi, a business education
national honor society, and Beta Gamma Sigma, an
“The values and principles that the TAC espouses will help international business honor society, hosted the event.
our campus communities grow and be better at understanding In all, 15 older adults were present and assisted by
a student experience that may be different than our own,” five students (Katie Trainello, Sydney Moyer, Kimberly
said Diana Rogers-Adkinson, BU provost and senior vice Speece, Andrew McNeal Jr. and Rachel Clouser) and
president for academic affairs. “It will also show that we three faculty members (Christina Force, Jeremy Jeffery
need to view learning through an intersectional lens and to and Scott Mehall). Shown are Rachel Clouser (standing),
understand the needs of all student populations and more a senior finance major, working with Eva Moyer and
responsibly identify inequities. Finally, this program will Sally Chamberlain.
challenge us to understand our biases, identify our
5
COMMON GROUND news on campus
Giving Businesses a Boost
ZEIGLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS LAUNCHES CONSULTING PRACTICE
Businesses and nonprofits in the Allentown area, according to Shawver. marketing, accounting, finance, and
region can now get expert guidance Professors from marketing, accounting, management issues, helping them with
from Zeigler Business Consulting, a information technology, finance, contemporary problems such as supply
multidisciplinary practice launched by management, and other areas will chain management and information
the Zeigler College of Business that provide tiered service levels, allowing technology.
offers the services of BU professors. area businesses to access skilled “This is a win for both our local
“This program will yield multiple consulting services to help them businesses and our students,” said
collaborations between university reach the next level. BU Provost and Senior Vice President
professors and local businesses in an “As businesses contend with the new Diana Rogers-Adkinson. “Our faculty
overall effort to enhance the local landscape brought on by the pandemic will utilize their vast expertise to
economy and provide meaningful and other economic conditions, fresh help businesses be successful
learning experiences for students,” said thinking and approaches can help them and simultaneously provide rich
Todd Shawver, Zeigler College dean. survive and thrive,” Shawver says. experiential learning experiences for
The consulting service has already begun our students. It will lead to both short-
Businesses and nonprofits can purchase term and long-term results for the
working with a client business in the ZBC consulting packages to address community.”
International Business Students Place Fourth
BU’s Global Business Association took fourth place at the
2021 San Diego State University-CUIBE (The Consortium
for Undergraduate International Business Education)
International Business Case Competition in October.
Students Kirna Cabrera, Ashley Davis, Glenn Klinger, and
Maranda Plunkett, presented their strategic analysis and
recommendations on the case “EMMA Safety Footwear
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
(A): Designing a Circular Shoe.” The case touched on critical
issues in various business functions in the global environment,
including supply chain management, human resource
management, marketing, finance, technology, and sustainability.
The BU team poses with their awards. Maranda Plunkett,
The judges applauded the team for their effective use of
Glenn Klinger, Ashley Davis, Kirna Cabrera, Lam Nguyen
the case data, clear identification of key issues, and quality
(BU team adviser), and John Putman, director of international
of recommendation and implementation. They were also
business at San Diego State University.
impressed with the quality of the team’s presentation.
“We came to this competition knowing that it was extremely
challenging since all participating teams came from great said Lam Nguyen, chair of the Department of Management
schools. However, our students have showcased their and International Business and the team’s adviser. The
impressive knowledge in international business, analytical team was also coached by Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau, associate
and problem-solving skills, and above all, excellent teamwork,” professor of management and international business.
6
COMMON GROUND
Paid Internships,
Guaranteed
Students majoring in professional
sales and marketing will have access
to a guaranteed paid internship
with Paychex, Inc. starting in the
fall of 2022. BU is the first school
that Paychex is partnering with for
guaranteed paid internships.
Paychex, Inc. is a leading provider of
integrated human capital management
solutions for payroll, benefits, human
resources, and insurance services.
The company services more than “Paychex has been very supportive of forward to more. Multiple departments
700,000 clients in the United States our marketing and professional sales at Paychex worked together to gain
and Europe and is the largest human program,” said Favia. “They want to approval on the internship program,
resources company for small to be the employer of choice, and this and it will open many doors for
medium-sized businesses. is a big step in that direction.” Bloomsburg students.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for Barr, district sales manager for BU was first named among the top
our students in professional sales and Paychex’s Allentown office, has been North American schools in 2015 by
marketing,” said BU President Bashar impressed with BU’s students. the Sales Education Foundation’s
Hanna. “Many thanks to Dr. Monica Favia (SEF) listing of the best universities
(chair of the Department of Marketing “The Paychex-BU partnership started offering professional sales education.
and Professional Sales) and Scott years ago with the sales competition BU is one of only five Pennsylvania
Barr of Paychex for putting together and just grew from there,” said Barr. institutions included in the listing.
this first-of-its-kind program. It will “I was immediately impressed with SEF recognizes institutions for
provide our students real-world job the quality of students that Professor elevating the sales profession
experience in a very competitive field.” Favia was turning out, and through my through university education.
many contacts with them, found that
The internships will begin as online they were truly “field ready.” We have
experiences but will transition to a been fortunate to hire a number of the
hybrid model later. graduates of this program and look
Faculty Hone Online Teaching Skills
More than 60 faculty members were recognized for earning required them to learn about and implement new
a nationally recognized teaching credential co-endorsed by evidence-based teaching practices in their courses and
the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) reflect on the experience. Aligned with the latest research in
and the American Council on Education (ACE). cognition and adult learning, ACUE’s courses address over
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
200 evidence-based teaching practices, covering how to
Faculty demonstrated their commitment to student success design an effective course, establish a productive learning
by completing a year-long course on Effective Online Teaching environment, use active learning techniques, promote
Practices to equip them with the instructional skills shown higher order thinking and conduct assessments to inform
to promote student motivation, learning and persistence. instruction and promote learning.
“Congratulations to our faculty who have earned this Faculty will continue to learn about pedagogy and
teaching credential from the ACUE,” said BU President receive career-long support through ACUE’s Community
Bashar Hanna. “This program fits perfectly with BU’s of Professional Practice, which provides access to
continued efforts to focus on student success. Earning this member forums, expert webinars, biweekly newsletters,
credential affirms our faculty’s commitment to our students.” the ‘Q’ Blog, and “office hours” with leading scholars in
To earn their Certificate in Effective College Instruction, college instruction.
faculty members completed a 25-module course that
7
COMMON GROUND news on campus
Forging a Path for Student Success
BU PARTNERS WITH LEHIGH CARBON
Graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC)
will be guaranteed admission and have a chance to earn
a scholarship to BU thanks to a new transfer agreement
signed by the two institutions.
Students must complete at least 30 credits at LCCC, then
apply for admission to BU. They must then graduate with an
associate degree in any of LCCC’s majors.
Under the agreement, LCCC graduates will enter BU with
at least junior standing in a comparable parallel major.
They are also guaranteed a renewable transfer scholarship
based on their academic performance. Depending on the
student’s grade point average, these transfer scholarships
are valued between $1,500 and $3,000 annually at
Bloomsburg. Students must maintain an overall GPA of at
least 2.50 and be enrolled full-time to remain eligible.
“We are delighted to collaborate with our colleagues at
Lehigh Carbon Community College to provide students
from LCCC seamless matriculation to Bloomsburg and
provide students with a guaranteed renewable transfer From left: Diana Rogers-Adkinson, Bloomsburg University
scholarship,” said BU President Bashar Hanna. “BU is provost and senior vice-president; Ann Bieber, Lehigh Carbon
committed to working with community college partners Community College president; Bashar Hanna, Bloomsburg
to ensure students have the best path to success. This University president; Larissa Verta, LCCC vice president for
agreement is another example of partnerships in action.” academic services and student success.
Engaged WITH U.S. CYBER COMMAND NETWORK
The Department of Mathematics and Digital Sciences has “We are honored to be part of this prestigious group of
been selected by the U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) institutions to join the U.S. Cyber Command Academic
as one of 84 colleges and universities to be part of its new Engagement Network,” said BU President Bashar Hanna.
Academic Engagement Network (AEN). “By collaborating with CYBERCOM we can cultivate a
strong cyber security workforce to help mitigate and
“Cyber Command’s goal for the AEN is to strengthen our successfully manage the threats to our nation.”
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
relationships and communication with these participating
institutions,” said CYBERCOM’s executive director David Diane Barrett, associate professor of mathematical and
Frederick. “This will improve and sustain our efforts to meet digital sciences, will coordinate the partnership.
cyberspace educational requirements and workforce needs.”
“One of our goals is to engage and inspire students to consider
The command will use the AEN to support and enhance careers in Department of Defense, both in the military and as
four primary lines of effort: future workforce, applied civilians,” said Barrett. “We want to broaden awareness of
cyber research, applied analytics, and strategic issues. some great internship programs that Cyber Command runs,
With its academic partners, it can shape the nation’s cyber as does the service commands.”
workforce while supporting the command’s mission. For
the AEN, strong partnerships are vital to remain agile and “We also hope to expand partnerships with academia
ready in the cyber domain. The AEN extends partnerships to build better relationships and take advantage of the
to institutions through collaboration and access to deep expertise in academia about our adversaries’ cyber
CYBERCOM through scheduled events and engagements. strategies and organizations,” said Barrett.
8COMMON GROUND
A ‘Shoppe’ to
Help Students
Succeed
Students from BU’s Act 101 program added that over the fall semester, 182 In addition to providing a variety of
now have a place on campus now students in the state’s equal opportunity items, the Basic Needs Shoppe also
have a place on campus where they program used the shop. serves cooking demonstrations,
can grab clothing, food, and culturally- education on housing and food and
relevant personal care items. Located “Having a lot of the stuff that we got basic needs insecurity, as well as
in the Greenly Center, the Basic Needs here just helps us out a lot, whether it’s information on the Supplemental
Shoppe features non-perishable food shampoos, or conditioners, especially Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
items, hair care products, and even new for textured hair because it is harder to and assistance in applying for the
dress clothes for students who would find,” said sophomore Destiny Martinez. program.
be going out on job interviews. Student Iyonna Ben-Oduro agreed. For more information or to support
“If your basic needs are met, you’re “I have coarse hair, so when they the Basic Needs Shoppe contact Ralph
able to perform better, you’re able to came here with the more cultural hair Godbolt at rgodbolt@bloomu.edu.
do better,” said Ralph Godbolt, BU’s products and skin products, it pretty
director of access and success. Godbolt much made me feel a lot better.”
Chemistry Student Earns Research Awards
Senior Helena Eby has won a Society The award goes to approximately also examined how chemical changes
of Toxicology (SOT) Undergraduate 12 students per year and this year to PPAR-Beta/Delta activators can alter
Research Award to be presented at the Eby is the only awardee from a public, the anti-cancer effects. Eby has been
2022 SOT Conference in San Diego primarily undergraduate institution. instrumental in mentoring new students
from March 27-31. Other 2022 award winners attend to the lab group. Eby and Borland are
Duke, Rutgers, North Carolina State, preparing the work for publication in
Louisville, Kansas, Johns Hopkins, a toxicology or cancer-related peer-
Case Western, Oregon State and reviewed scientific journal.
Washington University in St. Louis.
“Quite honestly, if you told me told four
Eby has been conducting research in the years ago when I started college that
lab of American Society of Biochemistry
I would be working with melanoma
& Molecular Biology Education Fellow
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
cancer, I would not believe it,” said
Michael Borland, professor of chemistry
Eby. “For a long time, it was a goal of
and biochemistry, since the spring
mine to partake in research of some
2021 semester. The research is funded
by a PASSHE Faculty Professional kind. I just was not sure how to get
Development grant. involved. I am very grateful that Dr.
Borland offered me a chance to join
Eby’s work studies how a cellular receptor, his lab because I have learned so much
called PPAR-Beta/Delta, can be targeted and gained amazing opportunities.”
as a potential malignant melanoma
therapeutic. She uses pharmaceutical “I plan to attend graduate school in
activators of PPAR-Beta/Delta and the fall. My long-term goals involve
cutting-edge laboratory techniques medical school; however, I am not
at BU to study cancer cell growth ready to give up research just yet. My
and tumor formation. Her studies have plan is to pursue both an M.D. and Ph.D.”
9COMMON GROUND news on campus
“Growing up, I worked in our family’s child care center,
and I learned early on that organizing toddlers for a
picture can be a lot like herding cats,” says Beth
Rogowsky, Ed.D. “After high school, I went on to
college at BU (’96/’01M). Becoming a teacher was a
natural fit, given all my hands-on training with the
little ones.”
Before returning to BU, where she is an associate
professor of teaching and learning, Rogowsky taught
for more than a decade in rural and urban middle
school classrooms and completed a three-year post-
doc fellowship in neuroscience at Rutgers University.
The combination of hands-on teaching experience
and scientific research made her the perfect co-author for
the book, Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical
Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn,
which is making waves in the teaching world. It’s
sold more than 7,500 copies in the first six months
of its release, ranks ninth on Amazon’s list of inclusive
education books, and is being translated into eight
languages.
“We need to start basing our teaching on the science
of learning. Unfortunately, teacher education text-
books don’t typically include the neuroscience of
what makes effective teaching, and if they do, they
make sweeping generalizations that offer little insight.
Likewise, most neuroscientists are not directly applying
their research to education. There remains a
disconnect—until now,” says Rogowsky, a Danville,
Pa., native and first-generation college student.
Uncommon Sense Teaching changes that. The
book was written over a two-year period with
neuroscientist Terrence Sejnowski and engineer
SMART
Barbara Oakley, who teach the massive open online
course, Learning How to Learn, with over 3 million
enrolled. The co-authors met in late 2018, began
writing in 2019, and devoted the fall of 2020 to
TEACHING
editing. For the final three semesters of the process,
Rogowsky used the book draft in her classes and
got feedback from her students.
“There are a lot of trends in education that aren’t
Professor Co-Authors Book valid,” says Rogowsky. “Too many bells and whistles
don’t work. Hands-on doesn’t necessarily mean
on the Science of Learning minds-on. Active learning is about the pathways
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
neurons take in your brain. Honestly, it has nothing to
By Eric Foster do with arts and crafts projects or excessive time on
low-level regurgitating of basic facts and definitions.”
What does work?
As an educator, Beth Rogowsky
“Direct instruction,” says Rogowsky, “the teacher
is a veteran. And today, her presenting to the class for short periods of time.
Coupled with guided practice and immediate feedback.
Otherwise, students may repeat the same mistakes.
expertise is making a global For students to improve, they need the teacher’s
feedback. When you look at how the brain works,
impact on education. we need repetition. That takes time. Time with
built-in deliberate practice. We call it ‘drill to skill.’”
10COMMON GROUND
Teacher of the Year
By Tom McGuire
Stephanie Gardner
has been named
the 2021 Teacher
Educator of the Year
by the Pennsylvania
Association of
Colleges and Teacher
Educators (PAC-TE).
The statewide award,
PAC-TE’s most
prestigious, is based
on faculty teaching,
scholarship, and
service.
“To be honored with
this award through
an organization I
am grateful to be
a part of is a very
humbling feeling and a moment that I will not forget,”
says Gardner, assistant professor of exceptionality
programs in the College of Education. “I have been
actively involved in PAC-TE for the last eight years and
It’s an instructional strategy that will be familiar to any greatly value all of the opportunities my involvement
athlete or musician — fields where coaches and teachers has opened up to me in building relationships with
rely on repeated drills to build “muscle memory.” The colleagues, advocating for our teacher preparation
same principle works for academic subjects … repetition programs, and collaborating with key stakeholders
strengthens connections between neural links in the at the state level.”
brain. Those strengthened neural connections mean that
information becomes readily accessible when needed. At BU, Gardner earned the Provost’s Award for
Excellence in Research/Scholarly Activity; was the
“My BU students’ feedback helped make the book clear McDowell Institute Faculty Fellowship recipient
and relatable,” says Rogowsky. “This is the book that I wish (2019-2021); and was named the Vicki and John
I had when I began my teaching career, but it couldn’t have Mihalik Faculty Fellow in 2020 (a two-year
been written in the 1990s because we needed to tap into appointment). In the community, she is the lead
the most recent neuroscience that wasn’t even available or faculty adviser of the Trinity Learning Community
known about in some cases until just a few years ago.” student organization, which supports adults with
disabilities living in Bloomsburg.
But even non-teachers can find the book useful. “It’s a
book about learning. There are strategies you can use to Gardner credits her mother for inspiring her to become
help yourself learn and to help your children learn.” a teacher. “My mom has been a pivotal influence as
to why I am in the field of special education. She is a
Rather than publish it as an expensive textbook, the trio graduate of BU, having gone through her undergraduate
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
opted to go through the challenging process of selling program in special education as a nontraditional
the concept to a leading mass-market publisher, Penguin student with two young children. Growing up, I saw
Random House, so it would be affordable and accessible. her persevere to achieve her dream. Her involvement
And today, the development of the internet means that as a therapeutic horseback riding instructor and as a
the lessons of the book can also be found online as a homebound instruction special educator made me
MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) on Coursera.org realize that I wanted to find my place in this world,
with over 10,000 enrolled. “The MOOC is where the book supporting and advocating for individuals with special
really comes to life,” says Rogowsky. needs. My mom is one of the most selfless, accepting,
and joy-filled people I know, and a true educator at
“Back in the ’90s when I was sitting in the seats of McCormick
heart.”
as an undergrad, I dreamed I would make a difference to the
field of education. I just had no idea that dream would lead to
all this.”
11Artist rendering of remodeled space.
CONFER GIFT WILL CREATE A HUB FOR BROADCAST EDUCATION
By Eric Foster, Thomas Schaeffer, and Tom McGuire
As a teenager in his hometown of Williamsport, Kerby Confer would station that wasn’t even on the air yet
lie awake at night listening through the crackle and hiss of faraway and did what you did in those days to
get a job. And that was to keep hanging
stations on his transistor radio, hoping one day to be that voice on the around until they said, ‘Kid, get lost or
other end of the mic. “I was dreaming I would be on the air, and with empty the wastebaskets.’ And I did for
no idea and no money for college. Just my grandmother’s intuition a year until they went live, and they
gave me a minimum wage job for a
and encouragement that I could do whatever I thought I could do.” buck an hour.”
Sixty-five years later, Confer, a legend scope since its inception, is one of Confer’s time listening to the radio was
in the radio industry, is focusing his Bloomsburg’s largest majors and has well-spent. On air, his talent found larger
creative energy to create a new legacy outgrown its current space. This gift and larger audiences, moving into
with a $5.3 million gift to the BU will also fund new scholarships to help progressively larger markets, including
Foundation designed to support and recruit and retain students across the Harrisburg, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre,
inspire the next generation of students region interested in pursuing careers and Syracuse.
to become professionals in the in the media and journalism industry.
By his twenties, he was on the airwaves
broadcasting industry. “This is an extraordinary gift from in the Baltimore-Washington markets
A portion of the gift will create a state- Kerby that will help us provide access for WCAO Radio and WBAL-TV in
of-the-art media center for students to value-added experiential learning Baltimore and WDCA-TV in Washington,
aspiring to achieve success in the fields opportunities for all students,” says D.C. His was the first integrated TV
of radio, video, podcasts, livestreaming, BU President Bashar Hanna. “We talk dance show in America, which inspired
and other forms of broadcasting. In about what helps BU stand out to pro- movie and Broadway productions of
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
recognition of the impact this gift will spective students in terms of preparing “Hairspray,” and hosted major stars
have on the university, BU will name them for success after graduation, and including the Beatles, the Rolling
the new facility the Kerby Confer this is an amazing example of what Stones, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes,
Media Center. that looks like as we move forward. and James Brown.
The Confer Media Center, to be located I can’t thank Kerby enough for his
In the late ’60s and ’70s, Confer began
in the soon-to-be renovated McCormick commitment to helping us bring that
managing then purchasing radio stations
Center for Human Services, will include vision to life.”
and turning them into market leaders.
a fully renovated radio station, TV studio, “In my day, the way that you got into
“In those days, there were 1,500 radio
newsroom, and interactive collaboration radio was you either got a college
stations in the United States total,”
space where students and faculty can education and some credentials, or
says Confer, who was inducted into
actively share ideas and experiences. you just hung around trying to be
the Pennsylvania Broadcasters Hall
The media and journalism program, noticed,” says Confer of his youth. “I
of Fame in 2003. “Today, there are
having more than doubled in size and started hanging around a new radio
15,000 radio stations in the United
12“People will knock on the door of one
of my radio stations, and they will ask
how to get on the air? And we’ll ask,
what are your credentials? And they’ll
say I made this tape. They really don’t
have any credentials. They want to be
on the radio. They want to be on the
air. They want to connect. They want
to communicate. They don’t know
how to put all of it together.”
“From becoming an on-air personality
to selling advertisements, I had to
learn it all,” says Confer. “What hasn’t
changed today is these students will
Long-time friends Kerby and Judy Confer on the right and Steve and Kathy Kirk
still have to learn all those things to
on the left on a recent trip to Italy.
be successful. What has changed is
we can make it easier for them to do
that by giving them a head start. That’s
States, and I am very blessed to say I concept, but Kathy asked, “what’s the what I want to provide.”
own 80 of them. My daughter owns 50 mnemonic device?” and told Confer
of them, the majority of which are in to close his eyes while she did a “And that’s what started me, eight years
Pennsylvania.” Mickey Mouse voice to demonstrate. ago, thinking if there’s any legacy I’m
The problem was the Beaver had no capable of leaving, it’s going to be to
The secret to Confer’s success is his create a radio talent institute and bring
deep understanding of how personal mnemonic device. So Confer came up
with the idea of a talking Frog. all the best of my people and the crème
radio is. “It’s the original social media. de la crème of the other broadcasters,
There’s real-time interaction with the And then she asked, “what are the primarily in the northeast. Basically,
audience. Radio is my real-life connection names of the cast members? It’s a open doors for these students.”
to what Flip Wilson called ‘the church theme park on the radio, the DJ names
of what’s happening now.’” are the cast members. For example, Tad Since making his first gift to BU in 2013
Pole and Polly Wog.” to establish the Confer Radio Talent
He also became a master of branding. Institute, Confer has grown his support
“I started realizing that graphic branding “It was a life-changing and career- each year, continually increasing access
and call letters were important. There changing experience for me,” says Confer. to professional experiences for students
were some radio stations that for some “They are our best friends. This summer entering the radio and broadcasting
reason, people remember better.” we will go on our 35th trip with them.” industry. He has made gifts to create
“In 1978 in Little Rock, Arkansas, I took With radio providing so many life-changing scholarships, fund a faculty fellowship,
over a bankrupt station. The area never opportunities for Confer, he had a vision upgrade equipment, and rebrand BU’s
had a country format on the FM dial. of helping a new generation of students student radio station – personally
The call letters, KSSN, spelled kissing. access the same opportunities.
I married it up to a lipstick imprint and
to introduce the station had bumper
stickers made, ‘I’m KSSN in my car’ Kerby Confer meets with students
with the lipstick imprint. We went from in the campus radio station, WHSK,
a 0 to 22 share in the first year.” in 2019. Shown with Confer are
He repeated the success at numerous from left: Nassir Bryant, Molly
stations around the country, including Nesselrodt, and Catherine Rose.
WBVR, The Beaver, in Bowling Green,
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
Ky., and WFRG, 96 Frog, in Utica, N.Y.
In the mid-80s, a two-week African safari
with his new wife and stepson would lead
Confer to take his radio branding strategy
to an even higher level. The Confer family
was partnered with Steve and Kathy Kirk.
Steve was head of audio-animatronics
and Kathy head Imagineer for Walt Disney.
“I’m a Disney-phile. I’d been collecting
original cels from animated movies
for about five years at that point,” says
Confer, who shared stories of his radio
career. The Kirk’s loved the Beaver station
13Confer gift continued…
purchasing the new station call letters setting in which our students will learn thing. Wow. The very first moment
of WHSK-Home of the Huskies. His and grow shows how dedicated he is I saw the plan, I said yes.”
latest gift brings his total contributions to their success.” “I’m extremely excited. The geographic
to more than $6.1 million. “Nothing would have happened without location and the integration of
“The evolution of Kerby’s involvement the intuition of Dr. Jim Brown, who was Bloomsburg University with Lock
here at BU and his commitment to the driving force to bring the institute to Haven and Mansfield. These are the
engaging with our students has been Bloomsburg, which I will be forever areas where my daughter and I grew
immensely valuable to their education,” grateful,” says Confer. “Then Dr. Hanna up, and these are the areas that we
says James Brown, BU’s Dean of the came along and had a vision. Maybe know and love and cherish.”
College of Liberal Arts. “For him to take we could be the Northcentral “As the Beatles wrote and sang, it’s
that commitment to an even higher level Pennsylvania hub for media. I looked been ‘a long and winding road.’ We’ve
and provide this type of professional around and said, nobody has such a got a lot of road ahead of us.”
S M A L L S T A T I O N “We were over the moon excited to be
going FM and have new equipment to
learn on,” says Fickes, who now owns
a television production company. “Most
of all we were excited to be the first
alternative music station in the county.
We didn’t want to be like any other
radio station in the area. At the time
By Tom McGuire we went on the air, the bands that
were new and up coming were: Velvet
The history of radio at Bloomsburg Underground, U2, REM, The Smiths,
University dates back to the 1970s, The Cure, and so many others. We had
starting with WBSC-AM 640 before the two brilliant music directors, Frank
university was granted an FM license in Minishak and Eric Kehs who in my
1985 when WBUQ-FM, 91.1, debuted. opinion could have programmed any
In 2019, the station changed call letters of the big city alternative radio stations.”
to WHSK with the assistance of Kerby In the early years of the station,
Confer. “WHSK because the mascot of the student staff was very active at
the station is the Husky,” says Confer. campus events.
“Husky 91 or 91 the Husky, there are
“One year we entered a “float” (a pickup
so many great graphic and mnemonic
truck with speakers) in the Homecoming
possibilities.” “By working at the station, I obtained parade with the theme of Ferris
The 1970s WBSC was a low-power my third class broadcasters license which Bueller’s Day Off,” says Ted Hodgins ’89.
radio transmission that used the AC was needed to work on the air at the “We also did a live broadcast from the
electrical system of a building to time. WBSC also gave me the chance Renaissance Jamboree in downtown
broadcast an AM signal to lower to learn how to use a control board, Bloomsburg with a live interview with
campus and a few surrounding blocks. plan my show, play some awesome then-President Harry Ausprich.
The station broadcast to the campus music and develop on-air rapport with
listeners (my fellow Huskies!) There “WBUQ also did live broadcasts of many
from the second floor of Kehr Union
was a large album library, a production sporting events including football, men’s
and featured a staff of about 20 students
room, and lots of room for creativity.” and women’s basketball and wrestling
before going off the air in 1986.
events; all with student announcers
Gene “Stosh” Stachcak ’80 was one of Seidel later worked at ROCK 107 (WEZX) and producers,” Hodgins says. “These
in Scranton and then WHTF, 92.7 in
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
the station announcers in the early days. were all great hands-on experiences.”
Harrisburg/Lancaster/York for close to
“I got involved because I wasn’t doing 20 years where she was both promotions Music, of course, was the big draw for
so well as a math major and really al- and music director. The Pennsylvania students to join the staff.
ways wanted to be on the radio,” says Association of Broadcasters recognized Students like Christina (Chuck)
Staschak. “Because of WBSC, I had a her in the late ’90s for commercials Samtmann ’90, took advantage of
31-year career in radio working she voiced. While no longer in radio a chance to be a DJ and spent three
in the Poconos, the Lehigh Valley, full time, she does independent voice years at the station. “During my shows
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Philadelphia.” work from her home studio. I played classic and alternative rock
For Carol Seidel ’84, who also had a In 1985, 16 years after applying for a music,” says Samtmann. “My friend
distinguished broadcasting career, the 600-watt FM license, the school was Jen Glancy would join me for my
station felt big time despite its low power. granted a frequency, 91.1. Dan Fickes classic rock show. We had a ball.”
“I did a show, “Bloomsburg’s Best Rock,” ’85 M’86 was the station’s first general Today WHSK can be heard on the web
a few nights each week,” says Seidel. manager. through www.bloomu.edu/whsk.
14MOONROOF
Makes a Mark
in Indie-Pop
Music Scene
By Eric Foster
It can pay to sing in the shower.
Philadelphia indie-pop band Moonroof
owes its start to Dave Kim ’16 singing
in the shower of Luzerne Hall in
September of his freshmen year.
The sound attracted the attention
of drummer Dan Rendine ’16. “Dan
knocked on my door and told me he’d
been in a band in high school,” recalls
Kim, who was already roommates
with bassist Kevin Randolph ’16.
“We started jamming in the lounge,”
says Rendine. Jams became gigs as a
group called The Big Picture,
performing at open mics and parties.
At BU, theatre major Kim was a
member of the Husky Singers, mass
communications major Randolph From left: Danny Walsh, Kevin
worked in the Kehr Union setting up Randolph ’16, Dan Rendine ’16
events, and exercise science major and Dave Kim ’16.
Rendine took lessons with BU’s
percussion professor Gifford Howarth.
After graduation, the band stayed debuted as the No. 2 alternative album marketing with more than 220,000
together, renamed itself Moonroof, behind ColdPlay and No. 6 overall on views.
and began penning upbeat, indie- the Apple iTunes Top 200.
pop tunes ripe with hooks. Hooks “We take a lot of time to make our
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
that have earned radio play on “We’re a band that loves to sing about singles pop out,” says Rendine. “Now
Philadelphia-area radio stations Alt the theme of love, we try to be catchy you need to have visuals. The music
104.5 and WXPN, 3 million streams and danceable. But a lot of the lyrics and the visuals come together to
on Spotify alone, and allowed the are about how it doesn’t work out,” make the song more memorable.”
group to share the stage with indie says Kim, who notes the writing
heavyweights The Lumineers, Death process is very collaborative. “Kevin “We’re excited to keep growing, and
Cab for Cutie, and Grouplove. uses his basslines as a melody. Dan’s we wouldn’t be where we are without
drums work with basslines. Lyrics Bloomsburg,” says Randolph. “We can’t
They’ve been busy through the COVID-19 come last.” Recording works similarly, wait to come back and play in Bloom.”
pandemic, signing with Free Dive with drums and bass going down first
Records in October of 2020, releasing and working up to the vocals. The Bloomsburg community will have
four singles, “First,” “Vanilla,” “Sweatshirt,” a chance to see Moonroof live when
and “Bored and Numb.” Their EP “Dream YouTube videos, regularly featuring they play the Renaissance Jamboree
State” dropped this past October and BU swag, are a big part of the band’s on April 30.
15
15Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
16
PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON
By Tom McGuireTake a drive through Tampa at 5 a.m., and gaze upward to the
Bank of America building’s 31st floor. You’ll see the lights from
Clean Earth Systems Inc. already blazing. Company CEO Steph
Pettit ’89 is reviewing invoices, answering emails, and preparing
for the next challenge today’s economy will throw at him. It’s a
work ethic that has enabled Pettit to become BU’s largest donor
ever — with gifts totaling more than $12.5 million.
But Pettit is more than just a shrewd businessman. He’s a son,
husband, father, and mentor. He’s an inventor, workout fanatic,
music lover, and hockey player. He’s as comfortable discussing
supply chain issues with his suppliers as he is hanging out at
home watching television with his wife, Allie.
That disciplined yet humorous, fun-loving personality is what
makes Steph Pettit an uncommon man.
GROWING UP
One of five children of Sue and Howard
Pettit, Steph was born in Florida, moved
to Ohio at age 6, then to Middletown, N.J.
But he wasn’t the “cool kid” you’d imagine
him to be in elementary school.
“My given name is Stephan, but my
parents always called me Steph when I
was younger,” says Pettit. “When I started
school, I told my classmates my name
was Steph. That didn’t go over well, and
I was teased quite a bit for having a ‘girl’s’
name. At that point, I asked my mother to
call me Steve so the teasing would stop.”
And “Steve” he remained throughout
elementary school before he reverted
to Steph in high school.
At his wedding reception last June, his
new bride couldn’t figure out why some Academically, Steph began as an economics
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
of Steph’s friends from elementary school major but realized the “fun” factor wasn’t
were calling her husband ‘Steve.” there.
“I didn’t know about the history of “Steve” “It was too dry,” laughs Steph. “Some of
until our wedding day,” Allie says. “It my buddies told me about mass
caught me by surprise.” communications and the wide range of
Pettit gravitated to sports, playing football, skills you could develop. So I switched
baseball, and basketball at Middletown South majors, although I still took many business
High School. But football was his true calling classes.” It proved to be a wise decision.
because of the physical nature of the sport. After graduating, he took a job at Earnest
“I could have gone to an Ivy League school, & Julio Gallo Wines in Orlando and later
but when I came to visit BU, I fell in love Tampa, but his upward movement in the
with the place.” company slowed after three years.
17THE EARLY DAYS
“I was working at Earnest and Julio Gallo Wines, and suddenly
things changed for the worse, and I knew it was time to
leave,” Pettit says. “A former teammate at BU asked me to
go in with him on a company (Clean Earth Systems) selling
boxes for hazardous waste. After a year, he wanted out,
figuring the business had only five years left in its life cycle
and wasn’t a million-dollar idea. We’re nearing our 30th
year, so I made the right call staying with it. Not bad for a
poor kid from Jersey.”
Early on, Pettit’s sales skills saved Clean Earth.
“My first year, I knew nothing about environmental products,”
Pettit says. “I was a sales guy and was good at it. By myself,
I sold $550,000 worth of products. I lacked real knowledge
of what I was selling, didn’t understand whom I was selling
to, or know much about the industry. Those first three or
four years, I had just one item on our inventory list. Now
our product line features 200 plus packages.
“When I look back, I’ve been fortunate that I made all the
right moves,” continues Pettit. “Educated guesses paid off.
But my luckiest break was that none of the companies
buying our product failed. If they did, we would have gone
under, too.”
GROWING THE BUSINESS
A company selling just one item has the life span of a As his staff reaches the office, Pettit goes in the opposite
snowball on the equator. Steph knew his product line direction to a workout facility a few blocks from the office
had to expand for Clean Earth to endure and grow. or to a quieter gym near his home. While walking into
either of the workout facilities, Steph greets everyone by
“I’m left brain, right brain,” says Steph. “There’s the analytical
name and with a smile. Seamlessly he shares a story about
side and then my creative side. If I walk into a room and see
each person he sees.
a package, my brain immediately begins wondering can I
make that into a hazardous waste container.” “Exercise is my stress relief,” says Pettit speaking effortlessly
as he pounds away on a treadmill. “I never stopped working
“The first-ever corrugated hazmat drum was one of my
out after college. It’s not about having big muscles any-
best inventions. It was so different from anything anyone
more. Now I stretch, use the treadmill
else had done,” Pettit continues. “It
to build endurance and speed, and
took eight years of off-and-on work to I’ve never seen anyone use weights for toning my muscles. I
perfect it. We then had to get the U.S.
Department of Transportation to ap- live life to the fullest like also dropped some weight going from
a high of 240 pounds when I played
prove it. The approval came six months
before the Ebola outbreak hit. We were
he does. He may have nice football at BU down to a range of 195
to 205.”
the only company with this kind of things, but he is simple,
product, so the timing was perfect. “Per week, I work out four to six times
Our plant in Tennessee couldn’t make down to earth, and will and will play two days of hockey,” says
the containers fast enough. I, and
some of our team members from here,
go out of his way to help Pettit. “I’m in the Over-50 league now
since some of the young guys take
went there to help. It was a crazy time.” someone less fortunate. things a bit too seriously. They don’t
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022
realize I have to go to work the next day.”
His story is the true
STRESS RELIEF After a 60- to 90-minute workout,
Owning and operating a business is
American dream story. he’s in his SUV for the short drive
home to clean up, then back to the
never easy. During a pandemic, the
— CATHY MOORE office by 11 a.m. While the compa-
stresses multiply by a factor of a hundred.
ny could function without his direct
An outlet for that stress is essential.
guidance, he stays on top of what’s
“I am in the office by 4:30 a.m. and go work out by 8 or happening. This day a meeting with representatives
8:30 a.m.,” says Pettit. “I can accomplish as much in four of International Paper highlights his morning schedule.
hours as I would in five or six during the day because the Supply chain and transportation issues at a facility in Virginia
phone is not ringing, no one is sending follow-up emails, are snarling production. By the close of the hour-long meeting,
or needing to speak with me,” says Pettit. everyone is satisfied that the issues can be overcome.
18You can also read
