Campus News Feed http://www.ga.psu.edu/ en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 02:43:38 EST RedDot CMS Photos from spring commencement held on May 4 http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34077.htm students at graduation

Penn State Greater Allegheny’s spring 2013 commencement was held on Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. in the Wunderley Gymnasium on the campus.

Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter presided as diplomas were conferred to students receiving baccalaureate and associate degrees. President and CEO of MARC USA, Michele Fabrizi, was the keynote speaker.

Under Fabrizi’s helm, MARC USA, one of the nation’s largest independent advertising agencies, has become known for its ability to forge powerful, motivating emotional connections between brands and customers across all channels. She joined MARC USA in 1982 and moved rapidly up the ranks. In 2003, she was named President & CEO of the nationwide advertising division, the post she holds today. Prior to this, as President and Chief Executive Officer of MARC USA’s Pittsburgh headquarters, she oversaw unprecedented growth culminating in a 200% increase in billings in her first two years.

Fabrizi is respected as a leading professional in her field, and Adweek magazine cited her as one of the outstanding women in advertising. With her talent as a leader and manager, she also fostered the growth of MARC USA’s employee-centered culture, which was cited as one of the top ten in the nation by the Principal Financial Group.

Fabrizi serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, where she led the development of the new regional brand and the marketing efforts for Pittsburgh’s 250th Anniversary. She also serves on the Executive Committee and Board of the United Way of Allegheny County and was the first woman to chair the annual fundraising campaign. Fabrizi chairs the Boards of Directors of both the Pittsburgh Opera and the Andy Warhol Museum. She is also a Trustee of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.

Her contributions to her profession and the community have been recognized with numerous awards. Her honors include Pennsylvania Department of Commerce Fifty Best Women in Business, Carlow University Women of Spirit, Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce Athena Award, Ernst & Young Western PA Entrepreneur of Year Finalist, YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh Tribute to Women – Communications and Girl Scouts of SW Pennsylvania Woman of Distinction – Professional.

]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 13:36:00 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34077.htm Penn State Greater Allegheny celebrates 30th annual Honors Convocation http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34036.htm

Penn State Greater Allegheny held its 30th annual Honors Convocation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Wunderley Gymnasium on campus. Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter presided. Nearly 100 Penn State Greater Allegheny students received awards for academic achievement and leadership.

Each year, scholarships are awarded in a number of categories, such as academic achievement, honors and scholars, National Honor Society in Psychology, Psi Chi, and the Chancellor’s Literary Awards, which are selected by the chancellor to represent the best from among the literary and visual arts produced at the campus by either full- or part-time students.

Other named scholarships and campus awards cover a broad range of criteria for each respective honor, such as the John W. Beatty Memorial Scholarship, Kalich Family Student Leadership Award, and the Rhodes Student Leadership Award, which recognizes academic achievement and community service by an undergraduate student at Greater Allegheny.

In addition, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Alumni Society awarded scholarships from its endowed fund.

]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:46:31 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34036.htm ABSENCE: A Celebration of the Arts to be held on April 24 http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34030.htm artisitc photo of woman gazing
Rui Chu, A Fixed Glaze

ABSENCE: Penn State Greater Allegheny's Literary & Visual Art Review announces its 2013 “Celebration of the Arts: A Reading & Reception for Volume 15,” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, in the Ostermayer Room of the Student Community Center, with a 6 p.m. kickoff  by the Campus Band.

The event will feature the best literary and visual art produced by members of the campus community during the past year. The event also will celebrate the arts with live performances from the campus choir and drama club, and scenes from the spring theatre production, "Merlin in the Middle … of the King Arthur Legend," which takes place at 7:30 p.m. from April 25 - 27, in the FCC Theatre. The eighth annual Chancellor’s Prizes for the Best Literary and Visual Art will be presented by Chancellor Curtiss Porter. This event is free and open to the public. Complementary copies of this year's issue, Volume 15, will be available in print for the first time, featuring twenty pages of full-color art and a special section dedicated to this year’s Teaching International themes, the Celtic Nations and Water.

Published by the student-operated Penn State Greater Allegheny Press, ABSENCE is a high-quality literary and visual arts review for the Greater Allegheny and surrounding community. The review’s goal is to provide all full- and part-time students, faculty, staff and alumni with a shared venue for their creative endeavors, and to generate interest in the arts. ABSENCE also prepares students for careers in academia, publishing and journalism, and document design -- both paper and digital -- while offering opportunities for students to earn Penn State credit for editorial work. Several student editors have gone on to careers in publishing and academia.

The student editors led by Editor-in-Chief Courtney Handlovitch, invited faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the campus to submit their poetry, short fiction and nonfiction, essays, photography, visual art, etc. for consideration. A “blind submission” process is used by the student editorial board to evaluate each work. All student submissions were eligible for consideration for the Chancellor’s Prizes, which were established in 2006 to promote the growth of an active creative community in and around Penn State Greater Allegheny.

“ABSENCE is a great place for artists, whether budding or more experienced, to submit their creative work, and to have it permanently displayed. The students on the editorial staff have worked hard to produce a quality issue,” said Clifford Manlove, associate professor of English and ABSENCE faculty adviser since 2002. He added, “This year’s art is exceptional, too. We are looking forward to a great reception for the unveiling of the review.”

]]> Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:09:45 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34030.htm Campus partners with Silkscreen Asian-American Film Festival http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34028.htm
Penn State Greater Allegheny, for the fifth year, is a proud sponsor of the Silkscreen Asian American film festival. The eighth annual festival will be held May 10-19 at various Pittsburgh Filmmaker locations, showcasing films and filmmakers with origins in India, Japan, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Iran and more.

Greater Allegheny Director of Academic Affairs Margaret Signorella said, “We are proud to partner with this unique organization. We encourage our students and faculty to foster a promotion of greater awareness and understanding of world issues and international trends. The Silkscreen festival is a great way to celebrate diversity and helps students to develop an appreciation of different cultures.”

According to their website, Silk Screen was created in June 2005, with the goals of including educating communities about Asian and Asian American history, culture, experiences, and issues, fostering understanding across lines of race, ethnicity, religion, age, and region, and sustaining growth and encouraging excellence in Asian American culture.

Some of this year's films include "Asura" from Japan, "Nightmare" from China, "Present Tense" from Turkey, and many more. 

 

]]> Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:38:08 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34028.htm Professor Montecinos receives Excellence in Teaching Award http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34024.htm Montecinos photo
Dr. Verónica Montecinos, professor of sociology at Penn State Greater Allegheny, has received the Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching.  She also was named a 2013 Penn State Teaching Fellow. 

According to a news release from the Penn State Alumni Association, the award was established in 1988 to honor distinguished teaching and provides encouragement and incentive for excellence in teaching. Recipients are expected to share their talents and expertise with others throughout the University system during the year following the award presentation.

Montecinos joined the campus faculty in 1990. She also has served as discipline coordinator for the Social Sciences and Education for Penn State's 14 campuses and is the International programs coordinator at Penn State Greater Allegheny. Montecinos's research has focused on democratization, technocracy and public policy, the history of economics and economic ideas in Latin America, and gender politics. She is the author of "Economists, Politics and the State: Chile 1959-1994" and co-editor of "Economists in the Americas." Montecinos earned her undergraduate degree from the Catholic University in Chile. She holds masters of arts degrees in sociology and political science and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Montecinos’s teaching emphasizes the importance of internationalizing the curriculum. Nearly 10 years ago, she initiated the Teaching International program at Penn State Greater Allegheny. This multidisciplinary initiative aims at strengthening the intellectual climate of the campus, educating students about trends of global significance through the study of various countries and world regions. This program has developed into a model of global education based on course lectures, class projects, student research, public debates, service learning activities, theater productions, films and guest lectures.
 
]]> Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:20:55 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34024.htm Campus commemorates International Women's Day & World Water Day, March 28, 2013 http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34018.htm
The Teaching International program at Penn State Greater Allegheny will commemorate International Women’s Day and World Water Day with a series of presentations by faculty and students at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, in the Ostermayer Room, Student Community Center. The event is open to the public and light refreshments will be provided.

Presentations will include the following:

• "Bully!: Teddy Roosevelt, Conservation, and Masculinity," Doug Charles, assistant professor of history
• "Responsibility Without Respect: Tanzanian Women Farmers,” Penn State Greater Allegheny student Ambre Vailes-Macarie
• "A Reenactment of Tea at the Treedome," Penn State Greater Allegheny drama students: Courtney L. Handlovitch, Mike Mattis, Brandi Telli, Tim Tolbert, Raven Moore, Brianna Toth, and Lauren Pruitt
• "Thinking about how we think about women," Liz Mazur, associate professor of psychology and  Ellie Higgins, associate professor of English
• "Sanitary pads and education:  What's the connection?," Penn State Greater Allegheny student Sara Davis
• Poetry Reading, Milli Mickle, associate professor of English
   o “Diving into the wreck,” Adrienne Rich
   o “From the house of yernaja,” Audre Lorde
   o “Fifteen haiku for Toni Morrison,” by Sonia Sanchez
• "Gender and the Dual Water/Sanitation Crisis," Verónica Montecinos, professor of sociology
• “A Model of a Squat Toilet," Eric Lipsky, assistant professor of engineering, with Penn State Greater Allegheny students Jared Reesman and Nathan Ferraro

According to UNWater.org, the website of the United Nations coordination mechanism for all water-related issues, World Water Day is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of fresh water and advocating for the sustainable management of fresh water resources.  Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of fresh water. The 2013 World Water Day was dedicated to “water cooperation.”

International Women’s Day has been observed since the early 1900s.  Annually on March 8, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities, and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades, and more.  The theme of International Women’s Day 2013 is the Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum.

The Teaching International program at Penn State Greater Allegheny has been in place since 2004.  Its goal is to educate students about world trends by studying different regions and issues of global importance. This year's focus is on the Celtic Nations and water. More than 20 faculty and staff members are cooperating to explore and reflect on various aspects of the history, culture, and economic, social, and political reality of this region. Course lectures, student research projects, public debates, service learning activities, theater productions, films, and guest lectures will be used to spread knowledge about this area of the world. Teaching International is a partner with the Greener Allegheny initiative and the Honors Program to bring lectures, films, and other activities on globalization and sustainability to the campus.

]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:38:16 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34018.htm Spring theatre production to present 'Merlin in the Middle' April 25-April 27 http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34008.htm photo of Merlin with a hawk flying above his head in the woods
TIERRA DE LEYENDAS: El Mago Merlín
As part of this year’s Teaching International focus on the Celtic nations, professor of theatre arts Jay Breckenridge’s Theatre 208 class will present "Merlin in the Middle: Of the King Arthur Legend" at 7:30 p.m. April 25 to 27, in the Fitness and Cultural Center. The working script includes the appearance of a Druid Chorus to take the audience back in time to the sixth and seventh centuries, when the events of Arthur's and Merlin’s story "really" took place. 

According to Breckenridge, “There are very few historical ‘facts’ in the story of Arthur -- he was more a literary hero than an historical one.  Nearly everything in the legend was made up centuries after his mention in Welsh poetry as possibly a battle hero of the Celts in their warfare with invading Saxons in Britain around 600 A.D. The most notable fabricators of the legend, later in the Middle Ages, are Geoffrey of Monmouth, Sir Thomas Malory (whose "Le Morte d’Arthur" is the most famous version) and Chrétien de Troyes. The campus play draws on many subsequent retellings, as well.”

In the Penn State Greater Allegheny version of the legend, the somewhat-more-historical Merlin presides over several conflicts in Arthur's household: Arthur is plotting strategy and trying to unite the Celtic clans for a great battle with the encroaching Saxons at Badon Hill; Guinevere wants Arthur to be declared high king first and is anxious for the arrival of the big Round Table, which is being sent as her dowry by her father; Morgan le Fay (Arthur's evil half-sister) is plotting magically and politically to undermine Arthur; Merlin's attentions to his apprentice wizard (the beautiful young Nimue) are not sitting well with Merlin's wife, Gwendolena; and the braggart soldier Lancelot is bribing Merlin's apprentice bard, Taliesin, to make up songs praising Lancelot's imaginary heroic exploits.

As they converse and contend, Merlin creates magical "flashbacks" to fill in more details, assisted by the Druid Chorus as “flashback” characters.

The production is free and open to the public.
 

]]> Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:38:10 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34008.htm Professor's new book explores link between punk, higher education http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34007.htm punkademics-hires

Penn State Greater Allegheny Assistant Professor of Communications Zack Furness recently published a book, "Punkademics."

"Punkademics" is a collection of essays about punk and higher education, all of which were written by college professors, and a few graduate students, who hail from the punk scene.  Furness said, “Having spent the better part of the last 15 years immersed in both punk culture and academia, I've found that there's an interesting overlap between these two worlds and I was interested in hearing about what others had to say about this seemingly odd juxtaposition.”

When asked why he chose punk music, as opposed to, say, rock or another genre, Furness answered, “My interests in punk go well beyond the music, despite the fact that I still play in bands and go to shows.  Put simply, getting involved in some of punk's splintered subcultures is what initially sparked my interests in politics, independent publishing, and the process of thinking critically about media and popular culture.  In short, it's what set me on the path to become a teacher, a writer and a political dissident.”

A book description on Amazon.com states, “In the 30 years since Dick Hebdige published Subculture: The Meaning of Style, the seemingly antithetical worlds of punk rock and academia have converged in some rather interesting, if not peculiar, ways. A once marginal subculture documented in homemade 'zines and three chord songs has become fodder for dozens of scholarly articles, books, Ph.D. dissertations, and conversations amongst well-mannered conference panelists. At the same time, the academic ranks have been increasingly infiltrated by professors and graduate students whose educations began not in the classroom, but in the lyric sheets of seven-inch records and the cramped confines of all-ages shows. 'Punkademics' explores these varied intersections by giving voice to some of the people who arguably best understand the odd bedfellows of punk and academia. In addition to being one of the first edited collections of scholarly work on punk, it is a timely book that features original essays, interviews, and select reprints from notable writers, musicians, visual artists, and emerging talents who actively cut & paste the boundaries between punk culture, politics, and higher education.”

Furness plans to use exerpts from the book in his classes.  “I primarily teach courses in media studies, so I will likely use a few of the chapters in my lesson plans. There are some interesting and very teachable essays about the intersections of music, politics and culture that are ideal for any of my communications classes,” he said.

This June, Furness will be taking part in a panel on punk music and identity at the 2013 "Console-ing Passions" conference in England, and he’s hoping to start the process of editing a book (tentatively) called More Than a Scene: The Spaces, Places, and Cartographies of Punk. “Most of my academic work, including my first book, One Less Car, has been focused around the politics of transportation and car culture, so doing a book on the cultural geography of punk is merely another way to expand my interest in urban spaces and places. In fact, my next big research project is going to be investigating the cultural politics of gentrification in Pittsburgh,” said Furness, adding,  “But then again, I'm a rather unorthodox researcher and I don't like to pigeonhole myself.  For example, I'm currently co-editing the first collection of critical/cultural scholarship on the National Football League, which will be published by Temple University Press later this year.”

Clearly, Furness has a lot of enthusiasm about both his book projects and teaching.  He tells students to enjoy their work as well. His advice? “Get up, get into it, get involved.”

Zack Furness is an assistant professor of communications at Penn State University, Greater Allegheny and author of the book, "One Less Car: Bicycling and the Politics of Automobility" (Temple University Press, 2010). He also is editor of Punkademics (Minor Compositions / Autonomedia, 2012), co-editor of "The NFL: Critical/Cultural Perspectives" (Temple University Press, 2013), and contributor to several edited collections, journals, and nonacademic publications including Bitch, Souciant, and Punk Planet. Furness was a longtime editor and contributor to Bad Subjects, one of the pioneering publications on the Internet, and has played in punk bands since 1997.  He currently sings in BARONS, a punk band based in Pittsburgh, Pa.  "Punkademics" was recently reviewed by the Los Angeles Review of Books.

 

]]> Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:47:50 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/34007.htm Advising Day is March 12 http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33990.htm Mascot in classroom with students

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 is Advising Day.  Please join the academic advisers in the Student Community Center (SCC) during Common Period, 12:15pm - 1:30pm. 

Summer and Fall 2013 scheduling is underway.  This is the perfect time to touch base with your academic adviser and to begin reviewing your plans for summer and/or fall. 

Advising tables will be located in the dining area, on the concourse, and in the Traina Room.  Computers, on which you can access eLion, will also be available in the Traina Room.

Snacks will be available too!

We look forward to seeing you in the SCC on Tuesday.
]]> Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:48:05 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33990.htm Greater Allegheny to hold off-campus housing fair http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33970.htm For Sale sign in front of house

Penn State Greater Allegheny’s Office of Student Affairs will hold its fourth annual Off-Campus Housing Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

Local property owners who currently make housing options available for Penn State Greater Allegheny students will be available to showcase their properties and talk with students about the availability of off-campus housing. The program will run from noon until 2 p.m. in the Concourse area of the Student Community Center.

Students considering off-campus living for the 2013-14 academic year will be able to meet directly with and interview current property owners, ask for specific information about their properties and make appointments to visit properties, compare properties and see what is the most affordable option, and be certain they secure housing for the fall of 2013.

For more information, contact Glenn J. Beech, director of student affairs, at 412-675-9163 or gxb2@psu.edu.

]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:16:21 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33970.htm Campus plans for THON, a 46 hr dance marathon to raise funds for cancer http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33969.htm crowd at dance marathon, THON
Two Penn State Greater Allegheny students will dance in the University’s annual dance marathon, THON, from Feb. 15 to 17, at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. The dancers will attempt to stay on their feet for 46 hours.

Dancers are Julia Qualiotto, a junior business management major, and Andrew Pricener, a sophomore business management major.

The campus is also holding a late-night THON bowling event. The community is invited to attend the event, which will be held at North Versailles Bowl from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Feb. 9. Cost is $20 per person.

THON began in 1973, when dancers raised just more than $2,000. Today, it is the largest student-run philanthropy effort in the nation. The event has raised more than $89 million for The Four Diamonds Fund, which supports childhood cancer research.

To donate to THON on behalf of the Greater Allegheny campus, contact Joseph Edmiston, director of development, at 412-675-9048. For more about the history of THON, visit http://www.thon.org.
]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:06:22 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33969.htm High school seniors, "Be a Penn State Student for a Day" http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33957.htm Lion with sign 'meet me at Greater Allegheny'

Penn State Greater Allegheny admissions department will hold a special event for prospective students called "Be a Penn State Student for a Day."  High school seniors are encouraged to live the life of a Penn Stater for a day.  Students will shadow a current Penn State student as they attend a college class, tour the campus, and eat lunch in the dining hall. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., meeting in the Frable Building, Room 119.  Students must register in advance and may choose between two dates: Jan. 29 or Feb. 5.

The event will be held in the Frable Building, located on the Penn State Greater Allegheny campus at 4000 University Drive, McKeesport, Pa.

For more information or to register, call (412) 675-9010 or email psuga@psu.edu

]]> Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:01:13 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33957.htm Michael Vicaro to speak on Hunger Striking http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33958.htm Vicaro_smaller

Starving for Speech: Hunger Striking as Political Speech from Northern Ireland to Guantanamo Bay

Presented by Michael Vicaro, an Instructor of Communications at Penn State Greater Allegheny, on Thursday, January 24th at 12:15 p.m. in the Ostermayer Room in the Student Community Center. His research focuses on communicative interaction in hostile environments. He is currently completing a doctoral dissertation at the University of Pittsburgh on detention and interrogation policy in the Global War on Terrorism. His work has been published in the journal Rhetoric & Public Affairs.

 ]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:18:24 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33958.htm Make a Grant Project teaches students to make a difference http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33950.htm Students in Penn State Greater Allegheny’s Psychology 479 (Psychology of Gender) course recently learned how they can help address a global problem related to gender. The class, taught by associate professor Elizabeth Mazur, first wrote persuasive papers about important social problems related to gender. In the papers, they each identified a gender-related problem such as women’s illiteracy in developing countries, fistulas in African women, international sexual trafficking or gay rights in the United States. They presented arguments for its importance, discussed solutions and argued for a charitable organization as most effective in addressing the problem. Students also researched the organization for financial accountability and transparency.

Students gave three-minute presentations on their chosen topics. They each donated at least $5 to a class-grant fund, which Mazur matched. The class then voted for the organization that they felt had the most convincing action plan for helping its particular issue. The funds, totaling $160, were donated to Camfed (Campaign for Female Education), a non-profit organization that educates girls and supports young women to help tackle poverty in rural sub-Saharan communities. Kimberly Owens, a senior majoring in psychology, said, “Camfed assists girls from their primary schooling years through adulthood with becoming productive members of society. This means they give back to the next generation and thereby create a positive cycle of success.”

The class also voted to submit the donation in honor of Margaret Signorella, director of Academic Affairs and professor of psychology and women's studies, for her contribution to their education on campus, especially in terms of going above and beyond for her students and advisees.

“I chose Dr. Signorella for two reasons; one is her research that focuses on gender stereotyping and single sex education,” Owens said. “The second, my personal reason, is that she has been so encouraging and helpful to me during my time here at Penn State Greater Allegheny. She had confidence in me when I did not. She has been a wonderful influence and the best academic adviser anyone could possibly have. I have no doubt that she has had similar influence on other students and she should she should be recognized for her dedication.”

Mazur said, “The students’ reactions to the grant assignment, especially to the oral presentation competition, were very positive. Students were excited that the class would actually help address a problem related to women or gender.” Many students commented that the assignment opened their eyes to areas of the world and types of oppression of which they had previously been unaware.

]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:18:38 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33950.htm Annual Blue and White Scholarship Luncheon to feature young alums http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33946.htm lion with sunglasses

Penn State Greater Allegheny will host its annual Blue and White Scholarship Luncheon on Sunday, January 20.  The event brings together donors with incoming scholarship recipients and their families.  Two recent alumni, who started their Penn State careers at Greater Allegheny and who were Blue and White scholarship recipients, will be the featured speakers at the event.

Marie Popovich (December 2012 graduate) who will begin a position with Price Waterhouse Coopers as an international accountant on the 21st of January will offer her perspective on preparing for a career.  Marie had the opportunity to prepare for this position while studying abroad in England.  Matthew Boyko, Class of 2010, is an engineer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.  Matt, who was a member of the Blue Band while at University Park, always likes to share his story of the Penn State network in action.  When he went for his interview with PennDot, he met with a panel of 3 interviewers; 2 of whom were Penn State engineering graduates.

Lou Anne Caligiuri, director of admissions and financial aid, reports that this event is especially meaningful as it brings all constituencies of the Greater Allegheny community together to honor some outstanding entering students.  "With donors and alumni, as well as faculty, staff, and current students joining in the celebration, our new students and their families have the opportunity to really experience the community that is Greater Allegheny."

]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:16:25 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33946.htm Greater Allegheny graduates honored at fall commencement http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33938.htm smiling femal graduate

Penn State Greater Allegheny conducted its fall 2012 commencement on Dec. 20 in the Wunderely Gymnasium. Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter conferred degrees on the graduates. Keynote speaker was Dara Ware Allen, PhD, Chief Operating Officer of Leadership Pittsburgh (LPI). 

]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:27:22 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33938.htm Alumnus Frank talks marketing during English degree series http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33929.htm Rich_Frank_is_the_Marketing_Creative_Director_for_AccuWeather._jpg
Richard Frank, marketing creative director for AccuWeather, was one of the career speakers for English majors.

 Rich Frank, marketing creative director for AccuWeather, was the most recent speaker in a series of talks at Penn State Greater Allegheny aimed at showing English majors the vast array of career choices available to them.

In his current role, he is responsible for the external branding and advertising efforts of the weather media company, which reaches more than 750 million users worldwide each day. 

Previously, Frank was the director of advertising and new media for the Baltimore Orioles, where he still consults for the team. Prior to working with the Orioles, Rich spent 12 years working in the advertising industry, first as a copy writer and account executive, before becoming a vice president, associate creative director at MGH, Baltimore’s largest ad agency. His work has been recognized with more than 100 national awards including the American Advertising Federation’s Addy Award as well as honors from Adweek, the National Sports Forum and Print Magazine.

Frank graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in English and lives in State College with his wife and three children. For more information on majoring in English at Penn State, contact MaryEllen Higgins, associate professor of English, at 412-675-9461 or mxh68@psu.edu.

]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 17:51:47 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33929.htm Teaching International examines global sanitation issues http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33928.htm speaker in front of crowd
The day’s keynote speaker was Ian Lipsky, an engineer with vast international experience, who talked about "Toilet Innovations for the Developing World."

 

The current sanitation crisis, which according to the World Health Organization affects 2.5 billion people worldwide, was the focus of a recent event at Penn State Greater Allegheny. The occasion was inspired by a yearly event held in several countries to mark World Toilet Day on Nov. 19. According to Worldtoiletday.org, this international day of action aims to break the taboo around toilets and draw attention to the global sanitation challenge.
 
The day’s keynote speaker was Ian Lipsky, an engineer with vast international experience, who talked about "Toilet Innovations for the Developing World."

The multidisciplinary program also included a series of academic and artistic presentations by campus students and faculty. Presentations included poetry reading by English professor Mildred Mickle, who read "To the Pay Toilet" by Marge Piercy, "Toilets" by T.S. Eliot, and "The Great Palaces of Versailles" by Rita Dove; a dramatic reading of Taro Gomi’s book "Everyone Poops" by the Student Drama Club; and singing by the Penn State Greater A Cappella Melody Lions, who performed "The Water is Wide" and "O Shenandoah." In addition, instructors in chemistry, engineering and communication addressed the scientific, technological and political aspects of sanitation. The campus nurse covered the multiple health impacts of sanitation deficits.

Informational posters and maps raised awareness about the magnitude and geographical contours of the sanitation crisis. A full-scale model of a squat toilet, common in many areas of the developing world, was on display.

This event was part of the Teaching International Program at Penn State Greater Allegheny, in place since 2004, the goal of which is to educate students about world trends by studying different regions and issues of global importance. This year's focus is on the Celtic Nations. More than 20 faculty and staff members are cooperating to explore and reflect on various aspects of the history, culture, and economic, social, and political reality of this region. Course lectures, student research projects, public debates, service learning activities, theater productions, films and guest lectures will be used to spread knowledge about this area of the world. Teaching International is a partner with the Greener Allegheny initiative and the Honors Program to bring lectures, films, and other activities on globalization and sustainability to the campus.
 
]]> Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:57:32 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33928.htm Continuing education to offer CPA series in spring 2013 http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33925.htm Penn State Greater Allegheny Continuing Education will be offering a 40-hour Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Continuing Education Series beginning January 7, 2013. 

This series will be offered at three convenient locations Pittsburgh Inn and Suites on Banksville Road in Pittsburgh, Crowne Plaza on Fort Couch Road in the South Hills, and Holiday Inn on Mosside Blvd. in Monroeville each week for thirteen weeks, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., enabling participants to earn 40 CPEs and .4 CEUs. 

For additional infromation, call 412-675-9040 or you can register online for these courses.

]]> Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:53:18 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33925.htm Recruit Day caps-off successful week in athletics http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33924.htm Over 40 prospective recruits, encompassing all nine athletic programs, descended on the Greater Allegheny campus this past weekend for the Recruit Day event.  Athletes in attendance were treated with a meet-and-greet with their sports’ coaches, and were able to participate in a Q&A session with current Greater Allegheny student-athletes.

The event was the pinnacle of the Greater Allegheny athletics schedule this week, as the wrestling, and both women’s and men’s basketball teams combined to pick up three victories in the seven day span. 

The wrestling team defeated PSUAC rival, Penn State Beaver 30-12, using pins from Genkie Stoutamire and Andre Ellis. 

Women’s basketball picked up two wins this week, including a thrilling, 64-60 victory over Westmoreland Community College; they also defeated Penn State Worthington Scranton 73-59.  Christina Floyd earned her fourth double-double of the season in Saturday’s win over Scranton, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

Men’s basketball suffered two tough defeats, but still produced strong individual performances: Aaron Byrd scored 11 points and accumulated 14 rebounds in the loss to Worthington-Scranton, with Jeremy McMunn adding 13. 

]]> Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:41:27 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33924.htm Dara Ware Allen of Leadership Pittsburgh spoke at fall commencement http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33923.htm Dara Ware Allen

Penn State Greater Allegheny will hosted its fall commencement on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. in Wunderley Gymnasium. Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter, Ph.D. presided as baccalaureate degree candidates are honored.

Keynote speaker was Dara Ware Allen, the first Chief Operating Officer of Leadership Pittsburgh (LPI).  Allen previously served as the Executive Director of YouthWorks and as Director of Penn State’s Educational Opportunity Centers of Southwestern PA.  Allen has served on the Pittsburgh Public School Board as the representative of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl as well as on numerous other local boards and steering committees.

Allen is a graduate of Leadership Development Initiative (Class V) and Leadership Pittsburgh (Class XXVIII).  She is also a founding member of the Urban League Young Professionals of Pittsburgh, was named a “40 Under 40” award winner in 2002, sponsored by Pittsburgh Magazine and Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project, and recently was recognized as one of the New Pittsburgh Couriers’ “Women of Excellence.”  A graduate of Pittsburgh Public Schools and Spelman College, Allen also holds a doctoral degree in Workforce Education and Development from Penn State. 

]]> Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:21:34 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33923.htm Alumni society hosted twenty fourth annual Breakfast with Santa http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33922.htm group photo with santa claus

The Penn State Greater Allegheny Alumni Society sponsored its 24th annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m. in the campus’ Student Community Center. The society hosted 100 disadvantaged children from the Mon Valley area.

 

The event included activities and entertainment throughout the morning. Children enjoyed a delicious breakfast, a visit with Santa, candy, and plenty of holiday magic.  Each child selected a present and enjoyed the magic of the day.

 

 

 

 

]]> Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:12:43 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33922.htm Examining global sanitation issues on World Toilet Day http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33911.htm World Toilet Day program November 15 at 12:15 p.m.

On Thursday November 15, at 12:15 p.m. in the Student Community Center, the Teaching International program is sponsoring a series of presentatons around the global challenges to provide sanitation.

Keynote Speaker: Ian Lipsky, "Toilet Innovations for the Developing World"

Mr. Lipsky earned degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (Latin American Studies) and The Cooper Union (Civil/Mechanical Engineering).

He did his graduate work at Cornell University (Biological and Environmental Engineering).

Dr. Mildred Mickle: Poetry Reading

·         "To the Pay Toilet" by Marge Piercy

·         "Toilets" by T.S. Eliot

·         "The Great Palaces of Versailles" by Rita Dove

 

Student Drama Club: A dramatic reading of the book, Everybody Poops

 Tim Tolbert, Erick Tall, Raven Moore, Brittany Boucher, Collin Warren

 Lauren Pruitt, Kate Monezis, Brandi Telli, Mike Mattis, Courtney Handlovitch

  

Dr. Megan Nagel:  "Reinventing the Toilet: How Technology Can Improve Sanitation around the World"

 

Dr. Eric Lipsky:  "Where to Go When Not In Rome? Learning about Toilet Diversity"

 

Dr. Kurt Torell:  World Sanitation Crisis -- Posters

 

Dr. Doretta Whalen, Director Penn State Greater A Cappella Melody Lions medley "The Water Is Wide" and "O Shenandoah" (arr. Dr Doretta Whalen)

               Brittany Boucher, Weng Choong Chan, Courtney Handlovitch, Danisha Holcomb, Keith Jenkins,
               Michael Mattis, Christina Moriarty, Marc Shively - acoustic guitar, Timothy Tolbert - vocal soloist, Yi Wen

 

Laurie Ventura, R.N., Campus Nurse/Health Coordinator: “Hygiene + Sanitation = Life”

 

Prof. Michael Vicaro: “Shit Speaks: Political Struggles over the Meaning of the Body”

 

Dr. Verónica Montecinos: “Sanitation and Gender”

 

Video: "Imagine No Toilet." Uploaded by Michael Malz on Nov 21, 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yf7T1fq1Gc

]]> Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:36:36 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33911.htm Ninth annual All That's Jazz benefit raises more than $105K http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33910.htm AMy_and_Dave_on_stage_with_students_and_Craig_W.__2012
Title sponsors of the All That's Jazz Scholarship benefit Amy and Dave Michaliszyn, right, kicked off the reverse auction with former Pittsburgh Steeler Craig Wolfley, and students Maria Marroquin and Michael Monezis.

Legacy" was the theme of the ninth annual All That’s Jazz Student Scholarship event, held Oct. 27 at Penn State Greater Allegheny. And a legacy was definitely provided – in the amount of $105,528, which will be added to the campus’ student scholarship fund.

Penn State Greater Allegheny Chancellor Curtiss Porter explained that now, more than ever before, there is a real need for scholarship funding, with more than 91 percent of students requiring financial aid. Students Maria Marroquin from Washington, D.C., and Michael Monezis from McKeesport, Pa., demonstrated that need, thanking the crowd of advisory board members, alumni, faculty, staff and friends. Both receive scholarship funds, and would not be able to attend college without a little help from the donors in the room.

Amy Michaliszyn, title sponsor of the event spoke to the crowd of nearly 200 and remembered fondly her days at Penn State Greater Allegheny, where she met her then-future husband, Dave. She talked of some days having only enough money to choose between eating lunch or riding the bus home. Through their generosity to Penn State, the Michaliszyns are helping to make sure that students today do not have to make that choice. They made the lead gift in the reverse auction. In the reverse auction, funds are raised specifically for student materials such as books and laptops. The roles are reversed and prices decrease over time. As the price comes down, more and more people offer bids. All bids are winners, and more students receive assistance.

Amy Michaliszyn also had the idea to develop a “backpack” campaign, where donors could fund the price of a backpack filled with common school supplies, approximately $200, or they could pick and choose items to “buy” to help fill a back pack.

The night’s feature was, of course, live jazz music. This year’s entertainment served as a tribute to the "Legacy of Jazz." Jazz legend Benny Benack Jr. and his bandmates led the show. Throughout the performance, individual band members were replaced by new musicians, eventually showcasing Benny Benack III, recent and youngest ever winner of the International Trumpet Guild Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition, along with his quintet representing the new young lions of jazz, direct from New York City.

Nancy Seifert watched the evening’s event unfold on the very stage named in memory of her late husband, William. As the entertainment and decorations underwriter, Seifert was closely involved, with David Pellow, entertainment co-chairman, in selecting the musicians for the event. She also oversaw the design of the decor, provided by Vital Signs and the floral arrangements by Bill Chisnell Productions. Chisnell created a symbolic tree featuring the names of legendary jazz players. Vital Signs decorations included a Walk of Fame with musicians’ names on stars. A slide show was also played featuring previous All That’s Jazz performers and local jazz legends.

Also providing assistance to Clifford Wise, president of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board, were Bill Flanagan, master of ceremonies; Nancy Traina and Amy Michaliszyn, Capital Campaign Committee co-chairwomen; and special guests broadcaster Bill Hillgrove and former Pittsburgh Steeler Craig Wolfley.

The event encompasses many levels of sponsorship. In addition to the sponsors mentioned above, patrons included Mark R. Gruskin, Margaret L. Signorella, Specialty Steel Products Inc. and UPMC McKeesport. A host of ambassadors, supporters, contributors and friends also donated to the worthy cause.

Plans are already underway for the 10th anniversary All That’s Jazz Scholarship Benefit scheduled for next year. For more information on how donations can help Penn State Greater Allegheny students, contact Director of Development Joe Edmiston at jre14@psu.edu or 412-675-9047.

]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:41:47 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33910.htm Careers in Advertising and Marketing http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33907.htm On Thursday, October 25 at 12:15 p.m., Richard Frank will talk to students about careers in advertising and marketing in Frable 119.

A Penn State English major, Rich Frank has been Director of Advertising and New Media for the Baltimore Orioles. In his six seasons with the Orioles, Rich was the leader of the Major League Baseball team’s external branding, marketing and advertising – including TV, radio, print, outdoor, and online campaigns – as well as the team’s official website and social media efforts. He is now living closer to his hometown, where he is the Marketing Creative Director at AccuWeather.

Please join us to learn more about how to pursue this exciting career--plus, free pizza!

]]> Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:30:52 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33907.htm Teaching International speaker on contributions of Irish- and African-Americans http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33914.htm On Tuesday Oct 9 during common period Dr. Bernard Hegarty will be speaking on "From Dublin and the Delta: How Irish-Americans and African-Americans Built Our Country

Dr. Hegerty received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, where he is a Senior Lecturer in the History Department. He is a British and Modern European historian by profession, and he teaches a course on The Irish in America. He has done research in Ireland, and he will be teaching there this summer. Dr. Hagerty's current writing projects are on democracy and public opinion in Europe and the United States. He has been known, on occasion, to play and sing both the blues and Irish music.

]]> Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:33:55 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33914.htm Celtic Art workshop http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33901.htm Artist Mary Collins will present a Celtic art workshop on Thursday October 4 from 12:15-1:30 p.m. in Ostermayer Lab Room 309.

Participants in this workshop will learn about Celtic art and have the opportunity to create ink drawings. Materials will be provided. Pre-registration is not necessary.

Collins received her BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. She is currently an instructor at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

This program is sponsored by Teaching International, which began in 2004 to promote greater awareness of global trends and civic engagement and to broaden students' understanding of intercultural and international issues. This year's focus on the Celtic Nations, defined as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Isle of Man, and Cornwall. The accompanying theme for the year is water, which not only is related to sustainability issues, but to broader themes such as human rights.

 

]]> Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:27:28 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33901.htm Students meet with the Roberto Clemente family at commemorative event http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33902.htm STudent-athletes with Clemente Family
Victor Monroig, student-athlete; Jonathan Reyes, student-athlete; Athletic Director Jim Chester; Roberto Clemente Jr.; Vera Clemente; Luis Clemente; Jose Pablo Bonilla, student-athlete; Brian Colon, student-athlete; Coach Joe Ranalli

 

Penn State Greater Allegheny students from Puerto Rico who play on the campus' baseball team, along with Jim Chester, athletic director and head baseball coach, had an opportunity to meet with members of Roberto Clemente's family at PNC Park. The 40th anniversary of Clemente's 3,000th base hit in Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh was commemorated during a pregame ceremony with Vera Clemente, widow of Roberto Clemente, and his sons Roberto Jr., Luis and Enrique.

A private meeting with the Clemente family was arranged prior to the game through Jim Chester and the Roberto Clemente Foundation, Chester visited Puerto Rico last year to recruit students and had an opportunity to meet several students that were interested in studying at the Greater Allegheny campus and to play baseball.

"Roberto Clemente means so much to the city of Pittsburgh, but nothing compares to what he means to the people of Puerto Rico. The opportunity for these young men to meet the Clemente family will be a memory they will cherish forever," said Chester.

]]> Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:43:17 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33902.htm Greater Allegheny celebrates Day of Giving http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33897.htm Logo of The Pgh Foundation

Penn State Greater Allegheny will participate in the fourth annual Day of Giving on Oct. 3.  All charitable donations made to Penn State Greater Allegheny through http://www.pittsburghgives.org on the Day of Giving will be matched with a portion of The Pittsburgh Foundation's $750,000 matching pool. Greater Allegheny donors may designate their gift to one or more of the activities listed below:

-- The ninth annual All That's Jazz Scholarship fundraiser, scheduled for Oct. 27, which will benefit student scholarships;

-- For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students, which has a goal to raise $5 million at Penn State Greater Allegheny in support for scholarships, co-curricular activities and professorial scholarship by June 2014;

-- The Sam Zabec Trustee Matching Scholarship, honoring retired instructor Sam Zabec;

-- Greater Allegheny's international study programs, which expose students to the larger world in which they will soon emerge as leaders; and

-- The Absence Literary Magazine, showcasing the creative side of our students, alumni, faculty and staff.

Support of these activities will allow Penn State Greater Allegheny to continue to be a positive influence in the lives of students and the growth of the region. Gifts made at any time during the Day of Giving will leverage the additional support for the campus, but gifts can be made through this portal at any time.

For additional information or if you have questions, contact Joseph Edmiston, director of development, at 412-675-9047 or jre14@psu.edu.  
 

]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:09:50 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33897.htm Ninth 'All That's Jazz' fundraising event to feature Craig Wolfley http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33896.htm Craig Wolfley smiling
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Craig Wolfley lends his support to raising funds at the Ninth Annual All That's Jazz Benefit on Oct. 27.

A great jazz legacy will be celebrated with former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Craig Wolfley lending his support to raising funds for student scholarships at the ninth annual "All That's Jazz" fundraiser at Penn State Greater Allegheny, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27.

The event will be held at the Penn State Greater Allegheny Student Community Center, 4000 University Drive, McKeesport. All proceeds will be added to the Penn State Greater Allegheny Scholarship Fund, so guests will be contributing to students' success as they dine, dance and enjoy the jazz.

For the fourth consecutive year, Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board member Bill Flanagan will serve as emcee.

Wolfley will provide entertainment, insight and humor during the reverse auction and live auction portions of the evening. Wolfley played for 10 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was recently selected as a member of the Steelers All-Century Team, voted by fans as a “team” of the best players to ever wear a Steelers uniform. He is heard weekly as a sports commentator on the WDVE 102.5 FM morning show.

This year’s theme is "Legacy," focusing on “the old meeting the new.” The menu will include both old favorites and new gourmet cuisine.

The evening’s featured entertainment is jazz music. Jazz legend Benny Benack Jr. and his band mates will lead the show. Throughout the performance, individual band members will be replaced by new musicians, eventually showcasing Benny Benack III, recent and youngest ever winner of the International Trumpet Guild Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition, along with his quintet representing the new young lions of jazz, direct from New York City

“The vast majority, 91 percent, of students at Penn State Greater Allegheny are eligible for student aid," said Penn State Greater Allegheny Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter. "In these tough economic times, scholarship funds are increasingly important to our students and their families. The funds raised at 'All That’s Jazz' can make the difference between students staying in college or having to make some hard decisions about their futures."

Since 2004, "All That’s Jazz" has raised nearly $500,000 for the Penn State Greater Allegheny Scholarship Fund.

Event chair Clifford Wise, president of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board, and the "All That’s Jazz" committee are planning an evening of classic jazz, delicious food, a live auction, a silent theme auction, and the popular Blue and White mystery auction. Auction items will include a week’s stay at Kiawah Island and an autographed Franco Harris football.

Penn State alumnus Skip Dreibelbis and Edward “Ed” Plachecki of True Blue Auctions in State College, Pa., will provide live auction services at this year’s event. This is the third consecutive year that Dreibelbis has auctioneered at the event.

The public is invited to join in the festivities to help support student scholarships. Tickets are $100 each or ten for $900. Information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities can be obtained by calling 412-675-9048.

]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:57:58 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33896.htm Eric Lipsky, engineering faculty, part of steelworker sculpture team http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33862.htm Giant steelworkers sculpture to be installed on the South Side of Pittsburgh
Giant steelworkers sculpture will be installed on the South Side of Pittsburgh

Steel artifacts that have been transformed into sculptures of steelworkers are set to make their way to their new home on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Eric Lipsky, assistant professor in engineering at Penn State Greater Allegheny, was a participating artist and consulting engineer on the project.

According to Lipsky, the 20-foot-tall sculptures have taken more than 15 years to build, and are made out of ties from the Hot Metal bridge and scrap from a vanished steel mill, both in Pittsburgh. They will make the journey from the LTV Coke Plant in Hazelwood, Pa., to their permanent home in the South Side Riverfront Park, Pittsburgh, this week, with plans for completion in time for an unveiling on Labor Day, Sept. 3.

Lipsky helped with the structural analysis, modeling the entire sculpture in CAD (Computer Aided Design) software. “The model has been used to help with the layout, evaluating the design of the supporting pad, and transporting the structures. I also used the project for a couple of class projects with my students,” said Lipsky.

The sculpture, titled "The Workers," honors the region's workers -- past, present and future. Created by 21 artists of the Pittsburgh Industrial Arts Co-Op (IAC), these figures are a testament to the collaborations and unions that have, and continue to, forge the region.

The installation is being supported by PJ Dick Corporation, Pittsburgh; and Century Steel Erectors, Dravosburg, Pa. The project was originally commissioned and funded by the City of Pittsburgh, the Department of City Planning and the Heinz Endowments. The IAC is a collective Pittsburgh-based group of regional artists who have been facilitating and executing collaborative public-arts projects for more than a decade.

]]> Sun, 23 Sep 2012 09:32:30 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33862.htm MaryEllen Higgins, associate professor of English, discusses new book on WBEZ http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33861.htm MaryEllen Higgins, associate professor of English
MaryEllen Higgins, associate professor of English, announces release of her new book, "Hollywood's Africa after 1994."

MaryEllen Higgins, associate professor of English at Penn State Greater Allegheny, was recently interviewed about her forthcoming book, "Hollywood’s Africa after 1994," on the radio station WBEZ in Chicago.

Milos Stehlik, host of the series “World View,” discussed the myth of Africa as portrayed by Hollywood in the post-apartheid era, and conducted the interview with Higgins, in cooperation with WQED's studio in Pittsburgh.

Higgins’s book investigates Hollywood’s colonial film legacy in the post-apartheid era and contemplates what’s changed in how the West represents Africa. The book is slated for release in November 2012.

The interview can be heard on the WBEZ radio website.

Higgins is also the coauthor of "The Historical Dictionary of French Cinema." Her publications include articles and book chapters in "Research in African Literatures," "Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature," "African Literature Today, Journal of Commonwealth Literature," "Perspectives on African Literatures at the Millennium," and "Broadening the Horizon: Critical Introductions to Amma Darko."

]]> Sun, 26 Aug 2012 09:16:22 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33861.htm Teaching International to focus on Celtic Nations and Water in 2012-2013 http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33887.htm Teaching International began in 2004 to promote greater awareness of global trends and civic engagement and to broaden students' understanding of intercultural and international issues. This academic year the focus is on the Celtic Nations, which we are defining as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Isle of Man, and Cornwall.

We recommend the term "nation" when referring to these six "official" regions/islands. It is a useful term because it is tied to notions of ethnicity, culture, and geography rather than political status. Several nations can exist within a single country, or can span national borders (as is the case with Ireland).

The term "country" denotes a "sovereign" status that only the Republic of Ireland enjoys (excluding N. Ireland). The other five nations have some degree of "home rule," but are not independent.

The preferred pronunciation of Celtic is with a hard C (i.e., like a K), although this issue continues to be debated. In general, however, the soft-C pronunciation (i.e., like an S) seems to be reserved for sports teams and the more academic venues use the hard-K (see, for example, "Is it 'keltic' or 'seltic'?").

The accompanying theme for the year is water, which not only is related to sustainability issues, but to broader themes such as human rights.

]]> Sun, 23 Sep 2012 08:28:57 EST http://www.ga.psu.edu//Information/News/33887.htm