Faculty/Staff Activities

Millersville University’s faculty and staff have been busy. Here are a few of their accomplishments, certifications, awards and speaking engagements.

Dr. Jill Craven, professor of English & World Languages, partnered with Professor Emeritus Dr. Cheryl Desmond to secure approvals for Millersville faculty and students to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 69th Session in New York City. This marks the third time students have participated in the CSW conference. Eight students accompanied Craven, Desmond, and Dr. Wanja Ogongi to the conference, which was held over Spring Break. In addition, Craven was invited by UN Women to present at the “Push Forward Dialogues: Impactful Practices in Pushing Forward for Rights, Equality, and Justice in the Context of Beijing+30 and Beyond” session on March 14.

Bryan Cummins, a police sergeant with Millersville University Police, and Philip Watson, a residential area director with University Housing who served in the National Guard or Reserve, were among the 4,000+ law enforcement officers from across the country who assisted with the Presidential Inauguration. Lancaster County has sent a contingent for at least the last 24 years. Agencies are reimbursed for all costs, including overtime.

Meghan Dinges, director of advancement information services, recently obtained a new certification: CASE Standards Contributor 2024 from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Dr. Oliver Dreon, professor and coordinator of the Master of Education program in assessment, curriculum, and teaching, was the keynote speaker at Lancaster Education Foundation’s Education Impact Breakfast on March 27. His presentation was titled “AI is here. Is your district ready?”

Dr. Duane Hagelgans, professor in the Center for Disaster Research and Education, recently gave the keynote address to the Rotary Club of Lancaster on “What is Terrorism?”

Paul Hill, director of environmental health & safety, graduated from the FEMA Emergency Management Basic Academy in December. It included 120 hours of classroom instruction and 57 hours of independent study. In addition, Hill completed the process to become a Certified ADA Coordinator through the University of Missouri and the Great Plains ADA Center, part of the ADA National Network. As director of environmental health & safety, Hill serves as the University’s ADA Coordinator.

Dr. Stacey Irwin, professor of communications, has published a new book, Survey of Media: Screens, Sounds, and Synergies.”  The book details how technology is folded into the cultural process of the contemporary media experience.

Janet Kacskos, APR, Fellow PRSA, director of communication, and Dr. Duane Hagelgans, professor in the Center for Disaster Research and Education, presented “It’s Noisy, What’s Important” to the Central PA Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. They spoke at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center on Feb. 27.

Kelsey Madas, director of content development, and Marissa Farmer, graduate assistant in University Communications & Marketing, recently received a Keystone Award from the Public Relations Society of America. The Central PA PRSA Chapter held their awards ceremony in Enola on Jan. 14. The pair were honored for their work leveraging the University’s TikTok account to improve student recruitment and engagement.