Daily Brief

KU Professor Writes Play; World Premiere Sept. 21 in Philadelphia

"COVID Queertet" is a new play from Kutztown University professor playwright, Dr. Deryl Johnson. The play explores the question of “Who controls your identity after your death?” The world premier is set to debut 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, Pa. Set during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the evening takes an ominous turn when four actors begin to examine the artistic works, identities and legacies of Oscar Wilde, Willa Cather, José Sarria and Kutztown, Pa. native Keith Haring. This DEI-themed play explores the contemporary LGBTQ+ issues of identity, suicide and practice of “outing” people. The show features works by Cather, who won the 1923 Pulitzer Prize for Literature and would have been 150 years old this year, Haring and Sarria, who once spoke at KU.

News and Media web page

University Relations

Corporal Amanda George Promoted to Criminal Investigator

Chief David Drezek is proud to announce the promotion of Corporal Amanda George to criminal investigator. Corporal George started at Kutztown University in August 2004, and was promoted to the rank of corporal in November 2007. Corporal George is the department's R.A.D. and field training coordinator. She will be assigned to the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Platoon. Please join our department in wishing Amanda all the best on her new position.

Public Safety and Police Services

Thank You from President Hawkinson

As we begin our first week of the 2023-24 academic year at Kutztown University, I want to express my appreciation to all members of our community. To our faculty who have prepared for their classes and have welcomed our students to the classroom; to all those involved in assisting with orientation, convocations and move-in weekend; to our physical plant members who, despite challenges, worked tirelessly to prepare our campus for the new year and made it look beautiful inside and outside our buildings; and to the countless others who made KU a welcoming place for our students. Congratulations on a job well done.

Kenneth S. Hawkinson, University President

Employee of the Month

Now is the time to submit nominations for the August 2023 Employee of the Month.

https://fs7.formsite.com/kutzuniv/EOM/index.html

Alexis Martin, Human Resources

Campus Tickets for KU Faculty and Staff

Use your KU login, create an account and access discounted tickets to KU Presents and other performances, plus receive four free tickets to each regular season home football game.

University Ticket web page

KU Box Office

10th Annual Reading Fightin' Phils LGBT PrideNight

Join KU at the 10th Annual Reading Fightin' Phils LGBT PrideNight: Reading Fightin Phils vs. Portland Sea Dogs at FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 5. The Reading Fightin Phils are a Minor League Baseball team based in Reading, Pa., playing in the Northeast Division of the Eastern League. 
- Faculty, staff and students can pick up free game tickets at the Boxwood House or at the MSU Information Desk.
- Bus departs MSU Parking Lot at 5:30 p.m. Limited bus seating available. If interested, register for the free bus on Engage. 
- Game time is at 6:45 p.m.

https://engage.kutztown.edu/event/9170884

Diane Biehl, LGBTQ+ Resource Center

Faculty Promotion Informational Meetings

This semester the University Promotion Committee (UPC) will offer three virtual informational sessions to discuss promotion related issues and address any concerns. The procedures and required documents for tenure and promotion have changed from previous years, so we strongly encourage any promotion candidate to attend this meeting, as well as department chairs and DPC chairs. The members of the University Tenure Committee will also be available. The meetings will be held on Zoom at https://kutztown.zoom.us/j/8962249170 on the following dates:
- 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14
- 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20
- 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12

Nicole Johnson, Special Education

Research Committee 2023-2024 Guidelines

The Research Committee provides funding to faculty and administrators to facilitate their research. The 2023-2024 guidelines are now available, please follow the link below for more information. A letter of intent must be submitted to Heather Arbuckle at arbuckle@kutztown.edu by Monday, Oct. 16 with the title of the proposal only. We require a letter of intent, so the office knows how many proposals to expect. Applications are due Monday, Oct. 30. Please note that there is $70,000 available for funding grants. The Research Committee will make awards in December.

https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/grants-and-sponsored-projects/research-committee.html

Heather Arbuckle, Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects

Call for Proposals for Gender and Sexual Minorities Conference

Call for proposals for the 2023 Gender and Sexual Minorities Conference: "Advocacy in Action." We cordially invite undergraduates, graduates, faculty, staff, activists and independent scholars to prepare presentations for the 7th annual Gender and Sexual Minorities Conference at Kutztown University Friday, Oct. 6. We encourage professionals from a wide variety of fields to submit a presentation proposal. Proposals are due Friday, Sept. 15. We are looking for presentations and workshops with specific learning outcomes focused on the topics of social justice, healthcare, education, academic research, politics and advocacy as it relates to the LGBT community. Please submit proposals through our Form on ENGAGE.

KU Engage web page

Diane Biehl, LGBTQ+ Resource Center