Site-Wide Activity

  • Embrace the Outdoors and Experience Adventure on Millersville University's Ropes Course!   As the sweet feeling of spring air approaches, it’s the perfect time to step outside and embark on a new adventure. The […]

  • Spring Cleaning and Decluttering for College Students Is your residence halls suites messy as a result of leaving and returning from spring break? Do you have extra clothing that you want […]

  • The Writing Center's Friendly FuedHey all you Writing Center Blog enthusiasts, we’re coming back at you with yet another installment. Today we will be diving deep i […]

  • Which Thesis Capstone Would Work Best for Your Research?Writing a thesis is an incredibly exciting experience in one’s graduate career, as it allows for one to further explore and research a f […]

  • ENWL Debut Era We’re kicking off our Taylor Swift Era by highlighting ENWL connections to her first album! Taylor’s first album shares her nam […]

  • Student band “Barkley Cove” enters NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest This past February, local student band Barkley Cove worked with Tell School of Music faculty to produce a submission for NPR’s Tiny D […]

  • 6 Tips for Organizing a Successful Conference at a University Venue 1. Choosing the Right Venue When planning a conference at a university venue, selecting the right location is crucial. […]

  • mgmille2 wrote a new post on the site Millersville News 4 days, 14 hours ago

    Millersville Set to Host 17th Annual Science Olympiad On Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., approximately 500 middle and high school students will gather at Millersville University’s Science Complex and Pucillo Gymnasium to compete in the 17th Annual Science Olympiad. The winners of this prestigious competition will have the opportunity to advance to the state tournament. Science Olympiad competitions resemble academic track meets, featuring 23 team events in each division (Division B for middle school, Division C for high school). Every year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the dynamic fields of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. Science Olympiad fosters broad participation by combining events from various disciplines, emphasizing active, hands-on group involvement. This collaborative approach brings together students, teachers, parents, principals and business leaders, uniting them in pursuit of a common goal. “Some of the events involve the construction of devices, like an electrochemical device to determine the concentration of salt in water or an autonomous robot that must navigate an obstacle course,” explains Dr. Daniel Albert, associate professor and chairperson of chemistry at the University. The event at Millersville is a regional competition for Division B and Division C. There are 14 teams competing in Division B and 25 teams competing in Division C. The top 7 teams from Division B and the top 6 teams from Division C advance to the state tournament at Penn State Altoona on April 27. “The event is only made possible through many volunteers,” says Albert. “Dr. Laura Ramos-Sepulveda, assistant professor in the biology department is the other main person at Millersville who makes this event possible. She coordinates more than 100 volunteers that consist of Millersville students, faculty and staff and community members including parents and coaches.” People wanting to experience what Science Olympiad is all about can stop by Pucillo gym between […] “Millersville Set to Host 17th Annual Science Olympiad”

  • What is Equity and Justice in Education? Interested in learning about equity and justice in education? The community will hear from three local experts and participate in engaging activities to learn about important issues facing the Lancaster community. The Engage for Change Community Forum is a part of the public series of events focused on equity and justice in education. The Engage for Change event series will take place on March 14 from 4 – 6 p.m. in the Student Memorial Center’s Reighard Multipurpose Room. The event is organized by Dr. Kerrie Farkas, professor of writing studies, and Tatiana Pashkova-Balkenhol, undergraduate research & instruction librarian. The forum aims to answer the question, ‘What is equity and justice in education?’ The Community Forum is free and welcomes MU and community members to discuss equity and justice issues affecting the local educational institutions. “Each featured presentation will be followed by a community engagement activity, which engages participants to grapple and dig deeper together into educational issues,” says Pashkova-Balkenhol. The event features notable guests such as Stacie Blake, CEO of the YWCA Lancaster; Keith Miles, superintendent of the School District of Lancaster; and Ty Bair, co-founder of Advantage Lancaster, Reynolds Middle School social studies teacher. “Students will have unique opportunities to share their lived educational experiences and listen to understand others,” says Pashkova-Balkenhol. “By attending the Forum, students will also benefit from identifying root causes of educational issues and creating collaborative writing partnerships to advocate for change to create equitable learning spaces in schools.” This event was started to generate robust, thought- and action-provoking representation of issues facing PA and Lancaster County education. “In the upcoming Engage for Change Journal issue, we are organizing a series of public events, including the Community Forum and Writing Workshops, ” says Pashkova-Balkenhol. “The Engage for Change Journal, which we co-edit, is a newly emerging community-based journal that aims to contribute to public knowledge and public engagement by harnessing the collaborative potential and expert knowledge of faculty, students and residents on social, political and economic issues affecting the Lancaster County region.” The Engage for Change journal writing workshops will focus on how to address equity and justice in education, held on Tuesdays, March 19, March 26 and April 2. The writing workshops will take place from 4 – 5:30 p.m. in McNairy Library, Room 104. “Motivated to generate discussions around current educational issues that could later be reflected in the upcoming journal issue, Dr. Farkas and I reached out to local experts to envision and plan the public series events,” says Pashkova-Balkenhol. “Our goals were to create an engaging environment that brings together MU and community members from diverse backgrounds to discuss the most pressing issues in equity and justice in education.” Pashkova-Balkenhol and Farkas initiated the Forum and partnered with the Carter Woodson Lecture coordinator, Dr. Caleb Corkery, to offer the series of public events focused on equity and justice in education to the MU and community audiences. “The Carter Woodson Lecture on Feb. 27 addressed the question ‘Why is equity in schools so difficult to address?’ says Pashkova-Balkenhol.” Pashkova-Balkenhol and Farkas created a format for the Forum that provokes thoughts and insights about educational issues through the featured presenters, and then allows attendees to discuss the issues and create partnerships around the community tables. The Journal is currently seeking collaborative submissions from faculty, students, and community members. For more information regarding journal submissions, click here. For those interested in registering for the Engage for Change Events, click here.     […] “What is Equity and Justice in Education?”

  • 6 Tips for Enhancing Your Mental Health Mental health is something that is brought to students’ attention. Realizing that you need to take a break, relax, and do more of what […]

  • Conference Tackles “Matters of Marginalization” The 11th Global Well-Being and Social Change Conference, Millersville University’s annual event that centers on examining social, economic and environmental injustices, will take place Friday, March 15. This year, the conference will focus on marginalization and will host a series of locally-based presenters. Each year, the annual conference provides a platform for experts to share their knowledge and training for agents of social change. It brings together faculty, students, staff and community practitioners across disciplines to discuss ways to advance global social justice and human rights. This year’s conference will focus on how to use a social justice advocacy approach to enhance global connectedness, as we navigate an evolving world and analyze the consequences of marginalizing certain populations. The keynote speaker, Vanessa Philbert, is the CEO of Community Action Partnership of Lancaster City. CAP is Lancaster County’s largest anti-poverty organization, committed to creating person-centered initiatives to support their continuing anti-poverty programs. Other notable speakers include Lancaster County Representative Ismail Smith Wade-El, Dr. Lara Willox, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Millersville University, Dr. Carrie Snyder, director of disability resources and services at Temple University and more. While each speaker will bring their own unique perspectives based on their varied professional experiences, they hope to challenge attendees to consider the actions they can take to inspire and lead efforts of local and global positive change. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. in Stayer Hall. University faculty, staff and students are all welcome and encouraged to attend, along with other community members. General admission is $40, while non-Millersville student admission is $10. Millersville University students can register at no cost. If interested, click here to register. For questions about the event, email karen […] “Conference Tackles “Matters of Marginalization””

  • New Penn State Health Clinic Near MU A newly relocated Penn State Health Medical Group practice near the campus of Millersville University is giving patients more convenient access to primary care in a brand-new facility. Penn State Health partnered with Student Lodging, Inc. to build a new outpatient clinic near Millersville University to serve the Millersville community and the surrounding region. On March 12, leaders from Penn State Health, Student Lodging, Inc., Millersville University and Highmark Health celebrated the opening of Penn State Health Medical Group – Millersville with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Student Lodging, Inc. is thrilled to partner with the Penn State Health Medical Group to build this state-of-the-art facility for the benefit of the Millersville Community. Through projects like this, Student Lodging, Inc. continues its long history of enhancing the Millersville University experience and strengthening our community,” said Geoffrey Beers, CEO, Student Lodging, Inc. Penn State Health Medical Group – Millersville, located next to the campus of Millersville University, provides primary care, sports medicine and on-site lab services. The new 11,000-square-foot building features 19 exam rooms, two specialty treatment rooms, ample parking and a student health suite. It is staffed with nearly two dozen providers and support staff relocated from the former Penn State Health Medical Group – Manor. Future plans include offering Millersville University students, faculty and staff convenient walk-in services through a separate, dedicated entrance. “The health of our students, faculty and staff is of utmost importance,” says Dr. Daniel A. Wubah, President of Millersville University. “Having a facility within walking distance that is accessible to the entire campus community will benefit both our students and employees.” This marks another step in the Penn State Health and Highmark long-term goal of ensuring that everyone in the communities it serves is within 10 minutes of a Penn State Health primary care provider, 20 minutes of its specialty care services and 30 minutes of a Penn State Health acute care hospital. Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center opened in 2022 and complements the health system’s other efforts to provide care for residents of Lancaster County close to where they live. “We’re excited to open our first outpatient clinic this close to a college campus,” said Ruth Gundermann, senior director for ambulatory services at Penn State Health. “Making it easier for students to access healthcare is part of the promise we made together with Highmark Health to bring our care closer to where our patients work, live and learn.” In December 2017, Highmark and Penn State Health announced a joint investment of $1 billion in the health and well-being of central Pennsylvanians to keep healt […] “New Penn State Health Clinic Near MU”

  • kmadas wrote a new post on the site Millersville News 6 days, 15 hours ago

    Kate Corcoran named Millersville University Director of Athletics After a nationwide search, Millersville University announced today that Kate Corcoran will be the next director of athletics. Corcoran comes to the ‘Ville from Cabrini University, where she served as vice president of athletics and student engagement. “Kate’s leadership experience in the areas of athletics and student engagement will benefit our student-athletes,” said Dr. Gail Gasparich, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Millersville. “Having an equal commitment to our students’ athletic endeavors and academic experiences will ensure our students benefit from all aspects of their college experience at Millersville University.” At Cabrini, Corcoran provided leadership in the areas of the student-athlete experience including residence life, student engagement and leadership, counseling and psychological services and health services. She also designed, implemented, managed and evaluated Cabrini’s 18 intercollegiate athletics programs and oversaw the budget. “I am excited and grateful to be joining Millersville University and leading Millersville Athletics,” said Corcoran. “My sincere thanks to President Wubah, Dr. Gasparich, Dr. Lynn Marquez and the entire search committee for trusting me with this role. Throughout the entire process, I was very impressed by the student-athletes, staff, coaches, and individuals I met at Millersville. Their commitment to each other, the student-athletes, and the passion they have for Millersville Athletics was palpable. I am excited to join the Marauder community and look forward to the journey working with the coaches and staff to provide a quality and successful student athlete experience.” Corcoran has been with Cabrini since 2016, when she started as senior associate director of athletics and senior women’s administrator. In 2021, she was named director of athletics and recreation and became vice president of athletics and student engagement in 2022. During her time at Cabrini, the men’s lacrosse program won the 2019 NCAA Division III Championship, and the department totaled 41 CSAC and Atlantic East Conference championships in six years. Eleven programs reached NCAA Tournament play. She successfully raised funds for several facility enhancement projects, and she launched the department’s first week of giving that has since topped its goal in each of the last three years. She has also served on numerous NCAA committees. “We will look to provide a quality student-athlete experience that includes striving for competitive and academic excellence,” said Corcoran. “Millersville Athletics is positioned to be successful not only in the PSAC but regionally and nationally, and my focus will be to further build on the success the Marauder community has achieved. The experience we provide will prepare our student-athletes for life after Millersville and set them up to be successful in their chosen career path. “As the director of athletics, I plan to be very visible and collaborative not only with our coaches, staff and student-athletes but across the entire campus as well,” said Corcoran. “I believe it is important to listen and interact with the community so we can better serve our student-athletes as we strive to push our department forward.” Before Cabrini, Corcoran was the assistant director of athletics at Rosemont College and before that was the senior women’s administrator, compliance officer and sports information director for Penn State University, Berks Campus. She started her career in collegiate sports as a basketball coach at Ursinus and later at Cabrini. Corcoran was a standout basketball player at DeSales University and a member of both the DeSales University and Middle Atlantic Conference halls of fame. Corcoran earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management/business administration from DeSales University and a master’s degree in business administration from Rosemont College. Corcoran will continue to direct Cabrini through the remainder of the athletic year and will officially begin as director of athletics at Millersville in the summer of 2024. Millersville Associate Director of Athletics Larry Earnesty will continue to serve as Millersville’s interim director of athletics during that time. “I want to personally thank Larry for graciously serving as our interim director of athletics,” said Gasparich. “Larry […] “Kate Corcoran named Millersville University Director of Athletics”

  • ENWL Enters Our Taylor Swift Era With the announcement of Taylor Swift’s upcoming album titled The Tortured Poets Department, the English and World Languages D […]

  • kmadas wrote a new post on the site Millersville News 1 week, 1 day ago

    Seeing Pink: Barbie, the Oscars & Online Discourse With the Oscars just around the corner, a discussion surrounding the Academy award show has started to stir. This March 10 will be the 96th Academy Awards. Since its beginning in 1929, there have been opinions and conversations about which motion picture nominees should be rewarded as winners in each category. Recently, there has been discourse regarding the nominations for the “Barbie” movie.    With the conversation around the upcoming award show, Dr. Amber Nicole Pfannenstiel, professor of English at Millersville University, joins the ongoing discussion about the Oscars and shares her thoughts on the Barbie movie discourse.   The Oscars are designed to officially recognize the cinematic excellence of films through the Academy of Motion Pictures, an organization of members who screen and vote in each award category.    “For the Oscars, votes are tallied, and the nominee with the most votes wins. A huge part of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Oscars is that only two members know the results – with a briefcase carrying the results, often handcuffed to one of the two knowing members being broadcast to build suspense within the show,” Pfannenstiel explains. “Saying that, I think there has been some important conversation in the last 10 years about which films, actors and directors are nominated and celebrated. A hashtag like #oscarssowhite is just one example of the pushback over the last decade to who is celebrated and who is visibly ignored by the Academy of Motion Pictures. There is a pattern with the Oscars celebrating white actors, actresses and directors who appeared in specific genres of films, telling specific types of stories.”   When the 2024 Oscars nominations were released, the internet was shocked to find that Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were not nominated for the Best Leading Actress and Best Director categories. The Barbie community was astounded as they believed this was unjust and went against the feminist message in the film. Pfannenstiel explains that the reason could be as simple as the film or acting didn’t fit the pattern of what is celebrated by voting members of the Academy of Motion Pictures.   “Barbie’s story of feminism told through popping colors and comedy really doesn’t fit the pattern at all. It was so unlikely for the film and Lead/Supporting Actors even to be nominated simply because it is a comedy. The feminism, poppy Barbie pink and high box office numbers most likely shifted how the Academy viewed the film, making nominations even less likely.”   With the Barbie movie left out of certain categories by Academy Award members, Pfannenstiel says it is likely that there will be fewer movies that tell stories such as Barbie’s. Stories are less likely to be told and funded if they do not perform well in the Academy Awards. This could mean that audiences of color may see less movie representation, and their lived experiences will be left out of the stories being told. Regarding “Barbie,” Pfannenstiel admits that “the Barbie snub highlights that bright, vibrant, upbeat stories that develop rich stories on complex topics might not be made in the future.”    Ryan Gosling, supporting actor to Robbie, publicly announced his disappointment in receiving an Oscar nomination while his female counterparts did not. While the internet praised Gosling for speaking out and defending the integrity of the movie, Pfannenstiel worries that his statement may have overshadowed America Ferrera, an actress of color, and her Oscar nomination, “I think Gosling had every right and responsibility to release a statement, and very rightly drew attention to Ferrera’s nomination. But I think he also drew attention away from Ferrera and how important her no […] “Seeing Pink: Barbie, the Oscars & Online Discourse”

  • Navigating Conference Parking and Transportation at Millersville University Locations   Hosting events at Millersville University locations offers numerous advantages from access to excellent facilities to a […]

  • kmadas wrote a new post on the site Millersville News 1 week, 4 days ago

    Sorority Celebrates 50th Anniversary Members past and present of Millersville’s Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Lambda Gamma chapter celebrated its 50th anniversary late this February to commemorate the original chartering date of Feb. 23, 1974. The University’s chapter made Millersville history as the first national African American sorority and the first national sorority chartered on campus. The festivities will continue throughout the year, including a reunion that will be hosted during Homecoming this September. As part of the celebration, the Deltas hosted an open event on the history of the sorority with a private reception and banquet that recognized the 10 charter members and Delta sorority sisters. They also held a free and public event that celebrated 50 years of membership, followed by “Paint the City Red,” where members donned the sorority’s signature colors – crimson and cream – and ended the night with a community service project at a local shelter for women. Delta Sigma Theta is a core chapter that shares membership between Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College, with F&M student Dejah Broadway serving as the current chapter president. Internationally, the sorority has a membership of over 300,000 and has more than 3,000 chapters worldwide with a focus on serving the community. The organization’s core values are scholarship, service, sisterhood and social action. Alumna Sandra Brown, charter member and the first president of the chapter, says that chartering the first National African American sorority was “a very new phenomenon,” in 1974. “Black fraternities and sororities did not exist at Millersville at the time,” she explains. “We sought a sorority that aimed to empower black female students with the support of our Millersville community to nurture academic excellence. We knew that membership in the sorority would provide students with guidance and support.” “The 50th anniversary is significant because it points to the fortitude of its membership across 50 years,” says Denise Chandler, a 1980 graduate and chapter advisory team. “It points to the commitment of countless women who have obtained membership and the years of service given to the Millersville community.” Some of the services the Millersville chapter of the sorority provided recently include clothing and school supply drives, forum and panel discussions, vendor fairs, interview skill sessions and more. To learn more about joining the sorority, interested students can attend the annual rush session. Initiates are required to provide evidence of public services and letters of recommendation. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. continues to have an active presence across both the Millersville and Franklin & Marshall campuses. For more information on the Lambda Gamma chapter, contact Broadway at dbroadwa@fandm.edu or follow them on Instagram at @lg_dst. Why join? “Sisterhood,” says Brown. “The sorority life provides opportunities to experience leadership inside sisterhood and out that teach about responsibility, communication and organization. Delta sorority can also benefit members pr […] “Sorority Celebrates 50th Anniversary”

  • kmadas wrote a new post on the site Millersville News 1 week, 4 days ago

    Celebrating Women's History Month at MU To celebrate Women’s History Month this March and International Women’s Day on March 8, Millersville University is set to host a series of events honoring the vital role women have played throughout history. Celebrations began at Millersville on March 1 with the First Friday performance, “Thunda N’ Mimosas: This One’s for the Girls,” a poetry showcase and open mic presented by Thunda Khatt in Steinman Hall. Millersville’s Title IX Office will host educational events for students, faculty and staff from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Memorial Center Atrium on the following dates: March 12: Learn about the women who influenced the creation of Title IX. March 19: Learn about Women’s History Month. March 26: Learn about influential women in history. On March 22, the President’s Commission on the Status of Women will host a free event for the public in Biemesderfer Hall at the Winter Visual Performing Arts Center. Free childcare will be provided for attendees by MU Early Childhood Organization. 5 to 7 p.m.: Shop womxn-owned businesses, connect with local community groups, and the first 300 guests will receive food from food trucks. 7 to 8:15 p.m.: Listen to Theodora Talks from Magisterial District Judge and 2016 alumna Jodie Richardson, County Commissioner Alice Yoder and Franklin & Marshall College’s Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Gretchel Hathaway. Performances by: The Imani African Dance Company, Ballet Folklorico by Elcy Reynoso and an acapella performance by Millersville student organization, Ville Harmonics. According to the National Women’s History Muesum, the recognition of Women’s History Month traces back to Santa Rosa, California, where the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women launched a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. This initiative, held during the week of March 8 to align with International Women’s Day, quickly gained momentum and the following year, communities across the nation began organizing their own events. By 1980, the movement garnered significant support which lead to a successful campaign for national recognition of the week. Beginning in 1995 and continuing until today, each president of the United States has issued a proclamation declaring March Women’s History Month. For a full list of events on and around campus to celebrate Women’s History Month, visit the Events Ca […] “Celebrating Women’s History Month at MU”

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