Daily Brief

Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards 2024

Kutztown University presented the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards to six accomplished students Friday, April 5. Students who received awards were nominated by staff and faculty members for meeting one or more of the six areas of achievement: successfully completed research projects, high-quality original artwork, high-quality artistic performances (music, chorus, drama, etc.), original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields, noteworthy achievements in athletics and outstanding service to the KU community. Winners include (shown above, left-to-right): Christine Price, director of KU Women's Center and LGBTQ+ Resource Center (on behalf of Samantha Smith), Sarah Gatehouse, Chase Altemose, Aubrey Zegstroo, Michael Alberto, Maria Del Carmen Angeles-Molinelli, Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, University President.

2024 Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards

University Relations

Free Reading Fightin Phils Tickets

Are you interested in free general admission tickets for the 2024 baseball season to the Reading Fightin Phils? Tickets are only valid for the 2024 season and can also be used as a $6 discount off box seat tickets based on availability. Children under the age of four do not require a ticket. Please contact University Relations at 610-683-4114 or by email at ur@kutztown.edu by Friday, April 19, if interested.

University Relations

Open Hour with Provost

Faculty, staff and students are invited to drop by and chat with Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, during her open office hour at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, Old Main Concourse. Faculty and staff who would like to have a conversation, but for whom this time does not work, are welcome to contact the Office of the Provost at 610-683-4155 to schedule a time to meet.

Office of the Provost

Anne Imschweiler, Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs

Grammy-Nominated Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin

One of the most sought-after and revered saxophonists in the world, the charismatic and dynamic Lakecia Benjamin, fuses traditional conceptions of jazz, hip-hop and soul. See this amazing player, formidable composer and arranger at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, in Schaeffer Auditorium as the final performance of the 2023-24 KU Presents! Performing Artists Season. KU faculty and staff can access discounted tickets by logging in for tickets using their MyKU log-in credentials.

Tickets

KU Presents!

P-Card Training

Are you new to using a KU purchasing card or need a refresher on how to monitor and reconcile your P-card purchases? The Regional Procurement Office (RPO) will conduct a WORKS training 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 10. Please email Mary Vink at mvink@passhe.edu for the invite or if you have any questions. 

Mary Vink, RPO

AFSCME Local 2234 Member Meeting

Please plan on attending AFSCME Local 2234 monthly member meeting 5 p.m. Monday, April 15, 103 Academic Forum. Refreshments will be served.

Tish Manwiller, AFSCME Local 2234

You're Invited to an Indian Cultural Celebration

Join us for an Indian Cultural Celebration 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, Multicultural Center. All are welcome. From 5-6 p.m., local artist Mamta Kochhar, M.A., will lead an art workshop "Spring Festivities of India - Global Celebrations and Cultural Nuances" with mandala designs. There will be samosas and mango lassis to snack on and Bollywood music to listen to. From 6-7 p.m., there will be a throwing colors relay race Holi-style. Please make sure to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. We'll be using powdered colors that can wash off. We hope to see you there.

Engage

Angelica Mishra, Multicultural Center

Elder Care Workshop

Ann Barlet, Public Advocacy and Outreach Manager, Berks County Area Agency on Aging and Robert R. Kreitz, Attorney at Law with Kreitz and Gallen-Schutt, will present a workshop on elder care 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 18, 102 Academic Forum, or via Zoom (Meeting ID: 931 8410 7622, Passcode: 742349). This event is open to all faculty, staff and students. A box lunch is available to on-campus attendees. Please RSVP by noon Thursday, April 11, to pytleski@kutztown.edu to attend along with your choice of lunch:
- Bavarian Ham and Swiss on a Pretzel Roll.
- Chicken Caesar Wrap.
- Grilled Vegetable Wrap with Spicy Hummus.
This event is sponsored by Kutztown University Commission on the Status of Women.

Patricia Pytleski, Commission on the Status of Women

TIAA Representative On Campus

Our new TIAA representative will be on campus 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 119 Stratton. If you would like to make an appointment, please call 1-800-842-2252 or visit the link below. Thank you.

Schedule a Meeting

Jeanette Forster, Human Resources

Golden Bear Gallop

The Community Outreach Center is excited to announce our first-ever Golden Bear Gallop - a 5K that you can walk or run on the beautiful north side of KU's campus. KU faculty/staff cost is $20. All funds raised will be donated to the "Helping Paws Emergency Fund" to help current KU students in an emergent financial need. Please use the link below to sign up. For any questions or concerns, please email volunteer@kutztown.edu.

Tickets

Amanda Garcia, Community Outreach Center

Take Steps Toward a Longer, Healthier Life and Walk With Us

Incorporate purposeful walking into your daily routine. Every Wednesday in April, there will be one morning walk from 9-10 a.m. and one afternoon walk from 2-3 p.m. We will begin at the Health Center and then travel to the north side of campus. In case of rain, we will be at the Student Recreation Center. All are welcome. For more information, please call 610-683-4240; modifications are also available.

Frances C. Cortez Funk, Health and Wellness Services

The 17th Pirnot Lecture: “Benjamin Franklin’s Mathematics”

Paul C. Pasles, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics at Villanova University, will deliver the 17th Annual Thomas L. Pirnot Lecture in Mathematics 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 262 Boehm. Benjamin Franklin’s Mathematics will talk about centuries after the death of Benjamin Franklin, his mathematical discoveries continue to be cited in academic journals and books. Franklin was willing to apply basic mathematics to situations where only qualitative arguments had been admitted previously. How did a self-educated amateur scientist conceive of original concepts in such wide-ranging areas as demography, decision-making and most famously, the art of magic squares? This talk will examine Franklin’s self-education and early influences, contributions to quantitative thinking and his influence on others. This history of mathematics talk will be accessible to mathematicians, historians and anyone just interested in the topic.

M. McLoughlin, Mathematics

FDI Debate Competition

Millersville University will host the 11th annual PASSHE FDI debate competition and research conference Wednesday, April 10. Kutztown FDI debate team, The North Stars, has been preparing for this event with training by first-year doctoral student Daniel Sleiman (EdD in Transformative Teaching and Learning). Undergraduate students Mark-Handy Phanor (Political Science '26) and Damaiya Turner (Criminal Justice '27) will travel to Millersville Tuesday, April 9, with FDI Director Dr. Amber Pabon, FDI graduate assistant Sienna Sky (Arts Administration '26) and debate coach Mr. Sleiman for this prestigious event. Faculty, we kindly ask that you excuse the graduate and undergraduate students from any classes that coincide with this trip. Please forward any questions to fdouglass@kutztown.edu.

Frederick Douglass Institute

Sienna Sky, The Fredrick Douglass Institute

Starfish Workshops

Faculty and staff can sign up for 30-minute sessions to review Starfish functionality, learn about new features and ask questions. Users can choose from a list of available session times and topics. Sign up using this link or visit the Starfish website; the link to sign up is under "Starfish Faculty and Staff Resources."

Starfish

Nancy Brynildsen, Student Success and Academic Excellence