Cedar Crest College

"I chose to become a nurse because I love science, I love medicine, and I love helping others," says Genevieve Ashley '23, a senior in Cedar Crest College's School of Nursing. Genevieve was recently selected to receive an Award for Excellence as a Student Nurse from the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). She was among a group of nurses and health care professionals across the Lehigh Valley honored for their exceptional care - and one of only two students to receive an Award for Excellence as a Student Nurse. Genevieve accepted the award last month at the 2022 LVHN Friends of Nursing awards program at the Steel Stacks in Bethlehem. "Genevieve exemplifies what it means to be a transformational leader through her compassion for each and every client under her care, her active engagement in lecture, the peer mentorship she provides, her desire to learn more, and her passion for change," says Christine Batchelor, MSN, RN, CNE, who nominated Genevieve for the award. "She is a professional, collaborative, and productive team member within her personal community, on campus, in the School of Nursing, and in the health care facilities."

At the recent annual meeting of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists, three Cedar Crest students garnered awards for academic and research excellence. Recipients included: Megan Dunkle '23 - Recipient of George Neighbor Memorial Scholarship Nancy Lay '23 - Recipient of Peter De Forest Research Award for best undergraduate research poster Skyler Williams, MSFS second year student - Recipient of $2,500 Carol De Forest Memorial Research Grant. Congratulations to all!

A Lehigh Valley shelter will benefit from the consulting work of eleven Cedar Crest grad students. As part of their capstone course, students in the Master of Business (MBA) and Modular Master of Science (MMS) programs served as a consulting group this summer for the Sixth Street Shelter, an Allentown nonprofit providing short-term and long-term transitional housing programs for those experiencing homelessness. Over the six-week project, the group was able to give back to the local community, while getting valuable hands-on experience working with a real organization. The students provided marketing and operations recommendations for the organization with the goal of improving community awareness, donor engagement, the volunteer pipeline, and more. "My professional background has primarily been in the Medical Device and Biotech space," says John Nedick '22, who served as the team captain for the project and graduated from the MBA program in August. "[This project] provided me the opportunity to further explore areas of leadership and organizational change management and to use my business acumen to positively impact my community for the greater good of society. The friendships and networks created because of this experience will certainly pay dividends far into the future." Learn more about Cedar Crest College's MBA and MMS programs.

Rachel Rodriguez and Jordyn Miller, graduate students in the Integrative Exercise Science program, presented their research, "The Effect of Pre-Exercise Carbohydrate and Protein Ingestion on Repeated Sprint Times in a Group of Female College Track Athletes," at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in Orlando, FL, on October 9. The students also won an Outstanding Abstract award. The research study was conducted on the Cedar Crest College track athletes this past spring. Faculty involved in the oversight of the research included Dr. Dianne Babbitt, Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Health Sciences Department, and Tara Miltenberger.

The Art Department is pleased to announce the inclusion of works by Cedar Crest Art majors Mary Jo Scannell and Leanna Pittman in the juried exhibition The North American Hand Papermakers - 8th Collegiate Paper Art Triennial. Artwork for the triennial was selected from a total of 138 submissions from 83 students at 17 schools. This exhibition was juried by prominent paper artists and writers: Mina Takahashi, Editor of Hand Papermaking Magazine; Karen Kunc, Professor Emeritus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Erin Zona, Artistic Director, Women's Studio Workshop. The exhibition is on view at Cedar Crest College in the Center for Visual Research, Miller Building, until October 14. After leaving Cedar Crest College's Center for Visual Research the show will travel to the following locations: Evanston Art Center (Evanston, Illinois): January 14 - February 19, 2023 Morgan Conservatory (Cleveland, Ohio): June - July 2023 (final dates TBD) Lyndon House (Athens, Georgia): October 7, 2023 - January 13, 2024

Delphi is the college's honor society for undergraduate students. Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 at the end of their junior or senior year are recognized as members.

Delphi is the college's honor society for undergraduate students. Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 at the end of their junior or senior year are recognized as members.

On Thursday, December 9, the Education Department had six students present their thesis projects as part of the Master of Education in The Art of Teaching. The department would like to recognize the following: Veronica Bocian: Teacher Perspectives and Student Success Christina DeJesus: How is Student Behavior and Teachers' Perception Impacted by the Implementation of Trauma-Informed Schools on Children who have Experienced ACEs and Trauma? Amy Drabic: The Emotional Impact the STAR Testing Program has on Learning Support Students, Relating to Student Affect and Student Confidence Daniel Lugo: The Effects of Virtual Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Teachers and Students in Grades K-12 within the United States: A Systematic Review Fatima Somji: The Impact of Mindfulness on College Students' Cognitive, Mental, and Physical Health Zackery Wilson: Physical Activity and How it Influences Mental Health and SEL

The Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) has selected English major and Pitch senior editor Melissa Mahadeo '22 to be a reader for the 2022 Firecracker Awards for Independently Published Literature for the best books of fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry and the best literary magazines in the categories of debut and general excellence. CLMP is a national nonprofit organization that has supported the work of independent literary publishers for more than 50 years. https://www.clmp.org/programs-opportunities/firecracker/

On Friday, November 19, fifty students were inducted into the Zeta Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha), a national honor society for first-generation college students. The mission of the honor society, which was founded at Moravian College in 2018, is to encourage and reward academic excellence among first-generation college students pursuing a bachelor's degree at accredited institutions of higher learning. Tri-Alpha chapters provide members opportunities for personal growth, leadership and campus and community service.

This summer, graduate students in the business department's Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Modular Master of Science (MMS) program worked together to assess marketing and operations for Bloom, a volunteer-based non-profit that provides assistance to victims of sex trafficking in the Lehigh Valley. In addition to running several emergency shelters for women in the area, the Bloom organization has two retail locations that help generate revenue for the organization: My Sister's Closet in Bethlehem, and Bloom Creative Studio in Bangor. Two teams of students in the business department master's capstone, BUA 650 Integrated Practicum, met with representatives from Bloom to assess their retail operations and provide recommendations to improve the marketing and operational efficiency of each. The students gained valuable hands-on experience working for a crucial local advocacy organization while at the same time giving back service to the community. Team One worked with My Sister's Closet, led by Team Captain Adena Mertz, the team included Tiffany Crush, Valerie Downing, Kyle Elsasser, Andrea Mackiewicz, Karina Ruiz, and Breanna Young. Team Two worked with Bloom Creative Studio, led by Team Captain Daria Warner, the team included Samuel Ajayi, Elizabeth Gwynne, Erika Hanna, Brittany Mokshefsky, Lynn Staples, and Caitlyn Unger. Dr. Michael C. Zalot, assistant professor of business and the director of both graduate programs in the Business Department supervised the student teams. The teams each provided in-depth written recommendations as well as a formal online presentation to Bloom.

Amber Rose, G'21 was the lead author on a manuscript entitled "Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of Eight Aminoindanes: 2-AI, NM-2-AI, MEAI, MMAI, 4,5-MDAI, MDAI, 5-IAI, and Rasagiline." The manuscript was recently published in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, a leading peer-reviewed journal in analytical chemistry. The publication, which was the product of Rose's Master of Science in Forensic Science thesis, can be accessed via the following link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rcm.9207

Congratulations to Brianna Gregory '22, a senior in the forensic science program, who was awarded the Peter De Forest Research Award at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists held recently in Newport, RI. A panel of forensic science experts selected Gregory's presentation as the most outstanding presentation given at the conference by an undergraduate.

Breille Duncan '22, a senior mathematics major, recently had an article published in a peer-reviewed journal. The article, titled "Exceptional Totient Numbers," was published in the open-access journal INTEGERS: Electronic Journal of Combinatorics and Number Theory. You can access the article at http://math.colgate.edu/~integers/v87/v87.pdf.

Loren Williams, a student in the Master of Science in Forensic Science program, recently had a manuscript accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The manuscript titled "The Potential Use of Principal Component Analysis and Mahalanobis Distance in Handwriting Comparison" will be published in Problems of Forensic Science which has been published continuously since 1960 by the Polish Institute of Forensic Research. Problems of Forensic Science is one of the leading forensic science journals in eastern Europe. The article will be published in English and in Polish and will be freely available on-line on the journal's website.

The screen dance "the skin you're in" by Assistant Professor of Dance, Sarah Carlson, was presented at the Pennsylvania Dance Education Organization's virtual conference on June 22, 2021. The film was created this Spring and featured the artistry of Cedar Crest dancers Arline Almeter, Ashlyn Auriemma, Cassondra Daveler, Brenna Desborough, Megan Fink and Cindy Lozada. "the skin you're in" meditates upon the outer layer of the body, a permeable barrier called skin that comes in many textures & shades. Dancers were invited to reflect upon how their skin has contributed to their self-worth instilling a sense of privilege or oppression.

Congratulations to the following students for making the Dean's List for the spring 2021 semester. The Dean's List recognizes students who have earned a grade point average of 3.65 or higher in the academic semester.

Delphi is the college's honor society for undergraduate students. Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 at the end of their junior or senior year are recognized as members.

Cedar Crest College celebrated the Class of 2021 at its 151st Commencement Exercises on Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15. The ceremonies were held at the PPL Center in Downtown Allentown.

Zaria Berry, Kayla Bills, Kathleen Graham, Kristina Cagle, and Deva Leach were selected to participate in the 2021 NEW Leadership Pennsylvania Summer Institute through Chatham University's Pennsylvania Center for Women & Politics. NEW Leadership Pennsylvania is a program that provides college women with the knowledge and skills to become effective leaders in politics, public policy, and public service. This five-day program will introduce college students to women leaders who will share their insights on developing their leadership potential. To participate, the students were required to complete a campus application as well as a program application process. This year the event is taking place virtually.

The Education Department held their Presentation of Theses on Wednesday, May 5. Six Master of Education candidates presented their research. Sarah Dreisbach '21 (advised by Dr. Ivonne Miranda): Trauma-Informed Care in Schools Jessie Gomes '21 (advised by Dr. Jill Purdy): The Attitudes of Female Student-Athletes, and the Athletic Department Staff Members Towards Implementing a Sports Psychologist at a Division III Institution Mikaela Malofiy '21 (advised by Dr. Melissa Kamyab): Female Collegiate Sports Teams Grades In-Season Versus Out-of-Season Jessica Martin '21 (advised by Dr. Melissa Kamyab): The Impact of Instructional Coaching on Alternative Education School Personnel Perceptions of Students with Emotional Behavior Disorders in Remote Learning Contexts during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Amber C. Roatche '21 (advised by Dr. Ivonne Miranda): Post-Secondary Student Perceptions of Hybrid Instruction Laura Tominaj '21 (advised by Dr. Jill Purdy): Perceptions of 1st Generation College Students

The Lehigh Valley Society for Neuroscience recently hosted its 11th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference. Two students from Cedar Crest College gave oral presentations about their work. Senior Hannah Kemperman presented her thesis project in collaboration with Dr. Audrey Ettinger, Associate Professor of Biology, titled "The effect of antidepressants on stem cell neurogenesis in cichlid fish Rocio octofasciata". Junior Christina Scaffidi presented on "Testing the effects of anxiolytic drugs on Jack Dempsey cichlid behavior," also in collaboration with Dr. Ettinger. The conference ended with alumni career panels. Cedar Crest alumnae Karen Knecht 2000 (Senior Director of Education, Da Vinci Science Center), Tasha Cornish 2010 (Executive Director at Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc.), and Venesa Cuadrado 2016 (Quality Control Analyst, CAR-T Cell Therapy at Legend Biotech) served as panelists, while Dr. Audrey Ettinger moderated the panel on Education and Administration careers.

Dr. Megan E. Monahan, Assistant Professor of History, is pleased, privileged & proud to announce the recent launch this week of an exciting, innovative student-curated virtual museum exhibit, featuring items from the Marcia Lynn Walsh Alumnae Museum. Graduating senior Carlie Gausch, a double major in History and English, has been hard at work in a unique on-campus internship this past semester under Dr. Monahan's mentoring to create the exhibit entitled "Cedar Crest College Women in the '40s: Country, Camaraderie, and Celebration." This exhibit focuses on life for women during World War II and the years immediately after with artifacts carefully curated to tell the story of Cedar Crest College students. From clothing and purses to historical documents and photos from the time period, this exhibit uses hand-picked items to show what life was like during the 1940's. Congrats to Carlie & enjoy the exhibit! The exhibit can be viewed using this link: https://cccmuseum.wordpress.com/ Join the conversation with #CCCWomeninthe40s

Rabiya Bower, a Graduate student in the Master of Nutrition program has been awarded a position in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Diversity and Inclusion Leaders Program. In accordance with the Academy's strategic vision and mission, the Diversity and Inclusion Leaders Program supports active members from underrepresented groups within the nutrition and dietetics profession. Four leaders are selected to participate in a two-year leadership program and are provided mentorship, leadership training, and networking. For more information on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Diversity and Inclusion Leaders Program please visit https://www.eatrightpro.org/leadership/honors-and-awards/diversity-awards-and-grants/diversity-leaders-program-award

Sixteen Cedar Crest student-athletes were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society. Chi Alpha Sigma works with NCAA and NAIA member institutions to recognize outstanding college student-athletes for their successes both on the field of competition and in the classroom. To be eligible for Chi Alpha Sigma, student-athletes must be a junior and/or senior with a 3.4 or higher GPA and have earned a varsity letter. "I am so proud of our student-athletes and this is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes both on and off the field of play," said Dr. Allen G. Snook Jr., director of athletics, wellness, and recreation. "It is exciting to have an opportunity to recognize these achievements with their induction into Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athletic Honor Society."

On Saturday, April 24, three Cedar Crest College psychology majors presented their research at the 35th Annual LVAIC Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, which was hosted virtually by Lehigh University and DeSales University. These talks were based on year-long thesis research projects the students conducted: Hailey Harrell '22 (with Dr. James Scepansky, associate professor of psychology): "Effects of Article Primes and Photo Exposure on Body Image and Mood" Christina McElroy '21 (with Dr. Sharon Himmanen, assistant professor of psychology): "Perceptions of Personality Characteristics and Political Affiliation Based on Faces of Women" Mercury Waguespack '21 (with Dr. Sharon Himmanen, assistant professor of psychology): "The Influence of Exposure Time and Art Type on Empathetic Responses"

During the 33rd Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) Annual Scientific Sessions, senior nurse anesthesia Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) students Daniel Byorick, Jr., BSN, RN, CCRN, SRNA; Anthony Hernandez, BSN, RN, CCRN, SRNA; J. Matthew Lohman, MBA, BSN, RN, CCRN, SRNA; and Hakeem Sanou, BSN, RN, CCRN, SRNA were honored with a 3rd Place Award for their DNP Project poster "Efficacy of a Multimedia Educational Module on Best Practices of Anesthesia Patient Safety." This award is given by ENRS to recognize those making valuable contributions to nursing research.

Neha Haque '24 was awarded a Junior League of the Lehigh Valley STEM Scholarship in recognition for her strong academic record, supportive letter of recommendation and her interview on her interests in pursuing a STEM field for her future.

On May 4, seven Cedar Crest students were inducted into Cedar Crest College's Theta Chi chapter of Phi Epsilon Kappa. Phi Epsilon Kappa is a National Honorary Society and was founded in 1913. Cedar Crest inductees are pursuing Exercise Science as a major or minor, are members of the Exercise Science Club, and have earned a GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Lara Struckman, a senior public health student, recently passed the Certified Health Education Specialist exam and will receive the CHES credential upon graduation. The competency-based exam, administered by The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, measures the application and interpretation of knowledge in seven topic areas pertinent to health education specialists. Lara is the first Cedar Crest student to sit for the exam since the Health Sciences Department aligned the public health curriculum to meet eligibility requirements for the exam.