Magazine

SPRING 2019 More Than Green In class and on campus, sustainability grows and thrives.

The Music Man Only at Muhlenberg Senegal, Up Close Record executive Mike Alexander Campus traditions create One international student’s short- ’05 taps the Muhlenberg Network shared experiences term study abroad experience THANK YOU #MULEMENTUM The race for 3,000 participants in 30 hours kicked-off on November 14 at 18:48 (that was 6:48 p.m. EST). Thank you for Living the Tradition. , alumni,3 parents, students,017 faculty, staff and friends joined the #MULEMENTUM, with 90% of those gifts supporting The Muhlenberg Fund.

The Muhlenberg Fund supports all aspects of the student experience, from financial aid and integrative learning to experiential opportunities and career preparation. Thank you for participating in Muhlenberg College’s Sixth Annual Day of Giving. Your ongoing support provides the resources needed to continue the tradition of excellence and dedication to life-changing experiences.

give.muhlenberg.edu SPRING 2019 Magazine

FEATURES

Sustainability’s Roots 26 The Sound of Success 34 The Pull of Traditions 38 Dedicated individuals have worked Mike Alexander ‘05, who made These memorable practices— toward “greening” Muhlenberg for Billboard’s 40 Under 40 list last year, some of which have been part of more than a decade. Now that the entered the music business thanks to the College’s culture for decades— College is committed to a strategy help from a fellow Mule. create shared experiences that for even greater change, they want unite past, present and future everyone to get on board. Muhlenberg students.

Profiles Departments Alumni

Eunice Umubyeyi ’21 8 Letters to the Editor 3 Alumni News 44 Mickey Kober ’20 12 News & Notes 4, 5, 7, 16, 17 Class Fund Chair Directory 46 Erika Sutherland (Spanish) 15 Dawn Eilenberger ’79 20 Creators 6 Class Notes 47 Books in Brief 7 In Memoriam 53

From the Archives 10 Alumni Notebook 57

Remembrance 11

Mules on the Move 18

Faculty 22

Perspective 24

The Last Page 56

ON THE COVER Illustrator Tim Tomkinson, tasked with summarizing sustainability at the College, turned to a Muhlenberg icon—the statute of General Peter Muhlenberg— to show that sustainability has spread across the institution.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 1 From the Editors

“Sustainability’s Roots,” page 26, is brimming with facts and figures, dates and data, all about Muhlenberg’s continuing commitment to help solve the problems our planet is facing, in the College’s day-to-day operations and in how we educate our students.

I have my own facts and figures about what went into creating that feature: eight total hours of interviews with 15 different people, including six phone calls and eight in-person meetings. When I took on the assignment, I thought I’d interview Biology Professor Rich Niesenbaum, who directs Muhlenberg’s sustainability studies program, and College Sustainability Coordi- nator Kalyna Procyk and be more or less finished. Out of those two initial conversations came leads for students, alumni, faculty and staff I ought to talk to for a more complete picture, and that next round of interviews spawned even more leads, and…

Let’s just say, if it weren’t for deadlines and space limitations, I could have filled an entire Muhlenberg Maga- zine with this single story.

What struck me as the piece continued to grow was just how many people are instrumental collaborators in Muhlenberg’s sustainability efforts. That’s true within the sustainability studies academic program—which weaves in courses from more than 15 different disciplines—and in the institution as a whole. I couldn’t have interviewed fewer people and still captured the breadth of the College’s efforts, and I’m sure I’ll be hearing about all the things I left out. But having too much material is a good problem for a writer to have, especially when it all demonstrates the community’s commitment to working toward a better tomorrow.

Speaking of too much material: My colleague, Bill Keller, attempted to collect and summarize some of the many traditions that make the Muhlenberg experience a unique one (see “The Pull of Traditions,” page 38). Does it bring back fond (or funny) memories? Do you notice one he missed? Write to us at [email protected].

We also caught up with music executive Mike Alexander ’05, who landed on Billboard’s annual “40 Under 40 Top Young Power Players” list last year (“The Sound of Success,” page 34). He got started in the business thanks to an alum he met through the Career Center.

Meghan Kita Managing Editor

Magazine Staff Administration

Meghan Kita Bill Keller Brian Speer John I. Williams Jr., president Managing Editor Editor Executive Editor Rebekkah L. Brown ’99, vice president for advancement Brian Speer, vice president for communications Phelize Bristol ’19, Mike Falk, Jeremy Fuchs ’14, Bill Keller, Meghan Kita, Natalie Kulp Hand ’78 P’07, assistant vice president for alumni Susan Falciani Maldonado, A. Lanethea Mathews-Schultz, Brittany Risher, affairs and career services Kristine Yahna Todaro ’84 Contributing Writers Contact Managing Editor, Muhlenberg Magazine Brian Speer 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104-5586 Design and Art Direction [email protected] 484-664-3230 Tom Amico, Phelize Bristol ’19, Eric Gebele ’21, David Joel, Paul McEwan, Brian Mengini, Paul Pearson, Jeff Rudski Muhlenberg Magazine is published three times a year by the Contributing Photographers Muhlenberg College Office of Communications.

Tim Tomkinson, Colleen O’Hara Contributing Illustrators

2 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR |

Health Hazard perspectives are heard, welcomed a fellow alum in the “A Teller of Ales” and represented? story. I really enjoyed reading about I am the executive director of a In line with the story’s “simu- students’ experiences in the class- small academic and enrichment lation” of poverty, the majority of room—it almost made me feel like program located in the greater Hous- pictures of students of color in your I was back in the classroom again. ton area. It has recently come to magazine include those who are “Understanding Poverty” and its my attention that some of our teens playing sports. Why is equal weight descriptions of students’ volunteer are vaping on our campus. I made not being given to their academic work made me proud of current stu- your article “Tempting Fate” (Fall achievements in this magazine? dents and the work that the College 2018) available to our parents and This is a racial stereotype that puts into bettering the whole city students, as I believe it addresses the magazine, and potentially the and community. the potential dangers of vaping in a campus at large, is reinforcing. The And lastly, my very favorite part, clear, concise manner. literature and social media content as the president of EnAcT [Muhlen- Anne Trapani ’80 that Muhlenberg produces must berg’s Environmental Action Team] executive director, do better. With proper, ongoing and from 2005 to 2008, I am beaming Home Run Ministries deep equity and inclusion training with pride to read about the commit- for staff and students—especially ment to the environment carrying white staff and students—such over into Muhlenberg Magazine with microaggressions have the potential the awesome improvements that to be avoided. have been made to the magazine’s Ally Margolis ’11 production process. Social media informed me that Muhlenberg was Cheers to You awarded the second highest rating from the Association for the Ad- I thoroughly enjoyed the profile of vancement of Sustainability in High- Sam Calagione ’92 (“A Teller of Ales,” er Education [see page 17 to learn Fall 2018). I understand alumni piec- Problematic Piece more], and I’m ready to re-enroll just es can be a heavy lift as there are to be a part of the incredible things I recently read the magazine’s institutional considerations as well happening on campus! Keep up the piece “Understanding Poverty” (Fall as journalistic ones—a challenging great work. 2018) discussing the poverty sim- balance. However, you pulled it off, Jacy Good ’08 ulation that took place in Professor penning a story that one could find Bagley’s class. I finished this article in any well-respected consumer feeling deeply upset and concerned magazine—while also instilling Looks Good for Muhlenberg students who may confidence in parental readers that Just finished reading a copy of themselves be living at, near or be- they’ve sent their offspring to the the revamped Muhlenberg Mag- low the poverty line. For them, this is right place. azine. Congratulations to all for not a mere simulation; this is reality. James Devitt P’21 launching a readable, well-designed, What are Muhlenberg’s professors, managing director of public affairs, graphically appealing and informa- advisors, recruiters and overall New York University tive publication. campus community doing to support Ron Czajkowski ’71 students who themselves are grow- Green Journalism ing up in adverse circumstances? As I love the new layout and orga- the school takes steps to advance Correction: An obituary in the nization of the magazine—it kept racial, ethnic and socioeconomic Fall 2018 issue misspelled Albert me engaged the whole time and I diversity and inclusion on campus, Neumeyer’s name. We regret felt like I got a lot out of the stories. I what are its leaders—department the error. loved learning about the success of chairs, professors, recruitment officers, financial aid officers, com- munications and public relations Share your thoughts about stories in the magazine. Email your managers—doing to ensure that all letters to [email protected].

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 3 | NEWS & NOTES |

Muhlenberg Announces Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Campus Policy On August 15, Muhlenberg will “It’s so rewarding to see all my who are interested in quitting with become a smoke- and tobacco- efforts were not only valued but cessation programs. free campus. President Williams are going toward a positive change “We’re committed as a College to announced the change in February. on our campus,” says Kantor, providing a safe and healthy environ- The policy prohibits the use of who is now pursuing his master’s ment for our students, faculty, staff all smoke and tobacco products, in public health at the Boston and visitors,” says Chrysan Cronin, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes University School of Public Health. director and assitant professor of (including Juul) and smokeless tobacco, on College property. “We are proudly joining more than 2,000 colleges Greg Kantor ’18 conducted independent research during his and universities throughout the country that have time as a public health major at become smoke- and tobacco-free campuses.” Muhlenberg that showed broad community support for such a policy. Chrysan Cronin, assistant professor of public health He surveyed more than 500 students, faculty and staff, including plant “It really does go to show, at least public health, who leads a team of operations workers and Sodexo at Muhlenberg, that a small group faculty, staff and students in plan- employees. More than two-thirds of of people with a vision for how to ning the transition. “We are proudly respondents—including some who improve health can effect change.” joining more than 2,000 colleges and identified as smokers—said they were In the coming months, the College universities throughout the country in favor of a move toward a smoke- will offer education sessions and help that have become smoke- and tobac- and tobacco-free policy. connect members of the community co-free campuses.”—Meghan Kita

Author and Attorney Scott Turow to Speak at Muhlenberg’s 171st Commencement On Sunday, May and his most recent novel, Testimony, published in 2017. 19, Muhlenberg’s He’s also practiced law for more than 40 years. Class of 2019 and Turow will be one of four recipients of honorary their families will degrees at the Commencement ceremony. Joining him hear from Scott are Sarah Bloom Raskin, Dr. Alex Levin ’78 and Kaitlin Turow, who’s writ- Roig-DeBellis. Bloom Raskin, an attorney and Rubenstein ten 14 books (11 Fellow at Duke Law School, served as a member of the novels and three Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the United works of nonfiction) States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury under President that have sold more Barack Obama. Dr. Levin is chief of the Wills Eye Pediatric than 30 million Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics Service in Phila- copies. Among his delphia. Roig-DeBellis, a former teacher at Sandy Hook most popular works Elementary School, is a public speaker and founder of the

PHOTO BY DAVID JOEL DAVID BY PHOTO are One L: The Tur- nonprofit Classes4Classes, an “organization whose mis- bulent True Story of sion is to teach children the power of kindness and com- a First Year at Harvard Law School, Presumed Innocent (a passion through their ability to create positive change for novel that became a 1990 movie starring Harrison Ford) others.” —MK

4 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | NEWS & NOTES |

Trexler Library Hosts Expert Panel on Vaping Dozens of students, faculty, staff and commu- nity members came to February’s expert panel on vaping, the term used to describe the use of electronic cigarettes. In 2018, one in five high school students used e-cigarettes, with the most popular brand—Juul—approaching two-thirds of total market share. The panel took place less than a week after President John I. Williams Jr. informed the community that Muhlenberg’s cam- pus would be going smoke- and tobacco-free starting this August. The four panelists—Teaching and Learning Librarian Rachel Hamelers, Assistant Professor of Public Health Chrysan Cronin, Professor of PHOTO BY PAUL PEARSON PAUL BY PHOTO Psychology Jeff Rudski and Assistant Professor of Economics Lindsey Nagy—each spoke According to Assistant Professor of Public Health Chrysan Cronin (pic- on their areas of expertise before the group tured), e-cigarette use by high school students increased by 900 percent between 2011 and 2015 and by 78 percent just last year. took questions. There’s a lack of research on the health repercussions dustry, and in the last quarter of 2017, Juul alone reported of e-cigarettes, Hamelers said, possibly because they $150 million in sales. were originally marketed as medical devices to help smok- During the Q&A portion, one student asked whether ers quit. Cronin talked about what we do know: that vaping the College was concerned about a decline in admissions nicotine is highly addictive. “We’re not really sure how to due to the smoke- and tobacco-free policy. Cronin noted get them unaddicted,” Cronin said. “We don’t know if what that Muhlenberg would be joining more than 2,000 we use for tobacco cessation is going to be effective for colleges and universities with similar policies, and that vaping.” Rudski addressed how nicotine works on various those institutions had seen no effect on applications and brain circuits to lead to addiction, and Nagy wrapped up enrollment. “Think about this,” Cronin added. “Do we with data on the e-cigarette market: In the first quarter of want students to come to Muhlenberg because this is the 2011, the entire e-cigarette industry was a $25 million in- college where you can smoke and vape?” —MK

Muhlenberg Prepares to Launch Redesigned Website In early 2018, Muhlenberg contracted FastSpot, an award-winning firm that has worked with some of the nation’s premier institutions of higher education, to design the College’s new website using industry-leading best practices, accessibility standards and user experience guidelines. FastSpot and the College’s web redesign team met with both pro- spective students and members of the College community to distill the Muhlenberg experience—aiming to recreate and complement the unmis- takable feeling students get when they first step on campus. That work is yielding impressive results: The new site, employing a fully responsive design that works equally well on mobile and tradition- al devices, incorporates a strong emphasis on visual storytelling and student, alumni and faculty profiles. The incredible experiences, oppor- tunities and distinctions of Muhlenberg will be prominent from the new homepage (previewed at left) to each academic department. The launch of the new website is slated for mid to late April following a period of on campus testing. For updates on the development of the site, visit redesign.blogs.muhlenberg.edu. —Bill Keller

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 5 | CREATORS |

A Dynamic Duo In 2018, Max Kasler ’20, a music and Jewish studies double major, and Gwen Wilkie ’20, a music and theatre double major, wrote a collection of musical theatre pieces featuring queer characters. One of those songs, “Free to Be Me,” about a girl trying to come out to her mother, was accepted by and performed at the New York Musical Fes- tival in July and A Little New Music’s winter concert in Los Angeles in December. The song will make its international debut at a concert in Cape Town, South Africa, this fall. We asked Kasler and Wilkie about the experience of finding success within months of beginning their work together.

Muhlenberg Magazine What was the inspiration behind “Free to Be Me”? Gwen Wilkie That song was going to have a verse about a coming-out that ended really badly, and then someone else who had a coming-out that ended really well. They PEARSON PAUL BY PHOTO were going to talk about it and say, “It is worth it to express yourself and be who you really are, even if it risks losing a MK Then, I think I signed us up for [A Little New Music’s] part of what your life used to be.” We started writing the newsletter, which is why I got an email saying, “We’re good one first, and then it just continued. looking for submissions.” Both of us would love more Max Kasler It was supposed to be a duet, but then wound than anything to make it as musical theatre composers, up just being this one story. and so we’re thinking about, how do we get our names out there? MM How does that song connect to the other six you’ve written together so far? MM Why was your inclusion in A Little New Music’s Los MK All of our characters are queer in one way or another, Angeles concert a big deal? and our music is exploring all of the facets of love and GW A lot of the people who’ve shown their music there acceptance in the LGBTQ community. have become bigger names. One of the most popular is GW We think it’s really important to have this kind of rep- Pasek & Paul: They wrote Dear Evan Hansen and The

resentation, because there aren’t a lot of shows or songs Greatest Showman, and their stuff was performed there. BILL KELLER BY PHOTO that explore these people and their lives. MK We were definitely the youngest composers included. MK Our goal is to expand the repertoire of music for char- I was looking up the others and there were people with acters in the LGBTQ community, because a lot of people graduate degrees in musical theatre writing, composers involved with musical theatre identify as LGBTQ. for things like Sesame Street, people who have written multiple full-length musicals. MM How did you end up submitting your work for consid- eration in these concerts? MM How did the L.A. performance go? MK Somebody posted about the New York Music Festival MK One of our friends [Erin Tiffany ’17] went for us and in the Facebook group for the Fishbowl Collective [a group brought us back a program. [Kasler and Wilkie had just for alumni working in the arts] and one of our friends flown back to the east coast from a semester in London tagged us in it. They were looking for songs that represent when the show took place.] She said it was really well- storylines affecting the college-age-student generation. You received. She was sitting next to the producer of the could submit up to four songs, and we had three selected. event, and the producer was really excited that we had GW We both live in New Jersey, so we got to go to an found them. It’s very strange because we hadn’t even opening night party, meet the people who were singing been working together for a year, so to see all of these our songs, meet the directors and see the performance. things happen so quickly is exciting.

6 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | NEWS & NOTES |

Muhlenberg Receives $720K | | BOOKS IN BRIEF Gift from Stabler Foundation Rich Niesenbaum (Biology, The Stabler Foundation, which has been a partner of Sustainability Studies), the College since 2010, granted Muhlenberg $720,000 to- Joe Elliott (Art) ward the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Endowed Schol- In Exchange for Gold: The Legacy arship Fund. The figure was an increase from $480,000 and Sustainability of Artisinal and $560,000 in the previous two years respectively. Gold Mining in Las Juntas de The Fund assists students who might otherwise be unable to attend Muhlenberg due to financial con- Abangares, Costa Rica straints, as well as students whose families experience Common Ground Research an unforeseen financial crisis partway through their Networks, 102 pages time at Muhlenberg. The grant proposal highlighted Muhlenberg’s com- Through words and images, the co-authors document mitment to enrolling and retaining more low- and the historical and current-day environmental and moderate-income students through programs such as human implications of gold mining in this Costa Rican the American Talent Initiative, a group of 100 top-per- community while offering sustainable approaches to forming institutions committed to the collective goal meet the needs of those whose heritage and liveli- of enrolling 50,000 additional low- and moderate-in- hood come from this activity. come students by 2025. “Our current first-year class at Muhlenberg Col- lege is the strongest academically and most racially di- verse class in the College’s history. We also enrolled the Dr. Paul Zeitz ’84 highest number of first-generation and Pell-eligible Waging Justice: A Doctor’s Jour- students,” says Muhlenberg College President John I. ney to Speak Truth and Be Bold Williams Jr. “One of our strategic imperatives is to con- Balboa Press, 370 pages tinue to build and strengthen the College’s endowment to provide even greater access to academically qualified In this memoir, Zeitz shares his but financially disadvantaged students. We are truly journey for justice as a physician, grateful that the Stabler Foundation has recognized our activist and father. Over his career, commitment to this imperative with a substantial addi- Zeitz—who worked with the U.S. tion to their existing endowment.” —MK government on health programs, in Zambia fighting AIDS and as a successful activist— has tried to usher in a more just and peaceful world. Five Students Present Psychology Research at Meeting Jessica Cooperman (Religion The Eastern Psychological Association’s annual Studies, Jewish Studies) meeting, held February 28 through March 2 in New Making Judaism Safe for America: York City, included the presentation of five research World War I and the Origins of projects from Muhlenberg’s Department of Psychology. Religious Pluralism The meeting draws hundreds of psychology students NYU Press, 224 pages (undergraduate and graduate), faculty and staff from the region. Students Maggie Esposito ’19, Wenyan Cooperman examines how Feng ’19, Cateryna Kochan ’19, Nicole McGovern ’21 changes within the policies of the and Tongyao Su ’19 attended and presented, as did As- U.S. military created an environ- sistant Professor of Psychology Kenneth Michniewicz. ment in which Judaism gained acceptance as one of Co-authors not present included Elizabeth Castello ’19, the mainstream religions of the United States. Professor of Psychology Laura Edelman and Associate Professor of Psychology Stefanie Sinno.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 7 PHOTO BY PAUL M c EWAN PAUL BY PHOTO Immersive Learning International student Eunice Umubyeyi ’21 discovered an interest in Senegal at Muhlenberg and then traveled there as part of a short-term study-abroad course.

n January, the Muhlenberg Integrated Learning Abroad semester, the class got a brief overview of the history of I(MILA) course called Culture, Media and Social Move- French-speaking African countries, including Senegal. ments in Senegal went on its culminating 11-day journey “We learned about this group called Y’en a Marre: It’s to the west African country. For Eunice Umubyeyi ’21, a a group of young people who want to make Senegal bet- computer science major with a minor in French and fran- ter,” says Umubyeyi. (“Y’en a marre” is a French expres- cophone studies, the short-term study-abroad experience sion that means “fed up,” and McEwan describes the was a dream she didn’t realize she had until her second group as a “hip-hop-based social movement.”) “There’s semester at Muhlenberg. so much corruption going on in the government, and Umubyeyi, a SHE-CAN scholar from Rwanda, took Y’en a Marre came together and wanted to make things Introduction to Francophone Studies with Associate Pro- better for the country.” fessor of French Eileen McEwan last spring. Each student Around the same time, McEwan and her husband, Asso- had to choose a French-speaking country and follow the ciate Professor of Media & Communication Paul McEwan, current events there throughout the semester. Umubyeyi were holding an information session for their Senegal MILA chose Senegal because her high-school counselor had course, which Eileen encouraged Umubyeyi to attend. studied there and spoken highly of it. Near the end of the When Umubyeyi learned that the class’s final project would

8 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | STUDENT STANDOUTS |

involve collaborating with members of Y’en a Marre in per- son, she decided she had to be part of it. To help make that happen, she worked as a summer tour guide at Muhlen- berg and started a GoFundMe campaign. The Office of Global Education also offered her support from the Peyton Helm Study Abroad Fund and the David Amdur Fund. During the fall semester, Umubyeyi and her eight classmates took a deep dive into the history, culture and politics of Senegal, so that by the time they arrived in Dakar on January 2, they were primed with a semester’s worth of background knowledge. Umubyeyi, though, had something else: the ability to communicate fluently. She grew up speak- ing French, which meant she was able to direct taxi drivers, haggle with street vendors and bond with her host family. “We had dinner together at the table and would spend hours and hours talking,” she says, noting that many of her classmates were only able to exchange a few words with their hosts. “I feel like I made so many more connections and deeper connections with the people in Senegal, and I learned more.” Umubyeyi was also better able to connect with the people who drew her to the country in the first place: the PHOTO BY PAUL M c EWAN PAUL BY PHOTO members of Y’en a Marre. The class spent time shooting a music video for two of the group’s members and had a con- Above: Umubyeyi taking part in a tour of Dakar. versation with one of its founders, a man named Thiat. “He Below: Professor Paul McEwan and Zachary Gor- wanted us to be a part of the group and help us understand don-Sandweiss ’21 shoot a scene for a music video for why he’s doing what he’s doing,” Umubyeyi says. “It was local rappers Aroo and Zending Klam Saaba. just so great, the passion that he has for what he’s doing.” And, the trip afforded her an opportunity to see her home country in a new light. “When I’m here in the U.S., people say, ‘Tell me about Rwanda, tell me about the genocide.’ That’s the only thing,” she says. “In Senegal, people were like, ‘Rwanda, it’s so clean and so peaceful. Tell me about the president.’ They take it as a role model country. It made me so proud, and I appreciated my coun- try even more.” Thiat was especially interested—to the point where he was taking notes. “To have someone in front of him from Rwanda who could talk about the experience there, that was gold,” Paul says. “He teaches us a lot, and this was a ERIC GEBELE ’21 BY PHOTO chance for him to get something in return.” That discussion was one of many highlights from what Umubyeyi describes as “the very best trip I’ve ever had.” She said learning about the country for a semester before traveling there made the experience so much more rich and rewarding: “You are aware of things that are happening there, and all that’s missing is for you to experience it.” —MK

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 9 | FROM THE ARCHIVES | Cover Art: Muhlenberg Festival of the Arts Program, 1965

Muhlenberg’s Festival of the Arts, an initiative (1968), Preservation Hall Jazz Band (1972) and meant to enhance “the intellectual and cultural B.B. King (1973). life of the Muhlenberg College community,” began in the spring of 1965. This Student The last Festival of the Arts took place in Council-run program had the explicit goal of 1983; financial constraints and low atten- engaging student participation, “encouraging dance caused its demise, but its legacy of more interest in cultural pursuits and [eliciting] cultural enrichment lives on. The Festival the latent talent on campus.” There were of the Arts served as a precursor to current competitions in five areas—music, poetry, theatre and dance programming and to the art, short stories and dramatic readings—in triannual Living Writers series, which brought addition to programs by invited artists. The first poet Ada Limón, playwright Marina Carr and Festival featured novelist Philip Roth; other novelist Zadie Smith, among others, to cam- high-profile guests included Robert Rauschen- pus last fall. berg (1968), Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1968), Tom Wolfe (1969 and 1974), Susan Sontag (1974), If you have items of interest to the John Hawkes (1976), Allen Ginsberg (1979) Muhlenberg archives, please contact and Joyce Carol Oates (1981). Significant [email protected] musical guests included Simon and Garfunkel

10 | Muhlenberg Magazine fall 2018 | REMEMBRANCE |

An Exemplar of Excellence Patti Mittleman of Philadelphia, Her role as a mentor helped define callings Pennsylvania, died on November 23, 2018. and set career trajectories; a significant number Upon her retirement in the summer of 2013, of individuals whose lives she touched have Mittleman had served as Hillel director and made careers in advocacy, including a number Jewish chaplain at Muhlenberg College for more of alumni who hold positions in nonprofit than 25 years. leadership, in Hillel chapters and in other During her years of service, Muhlenberg roles that promote the development of Jewish saw incredible growth in its Jewish student student life at colleges and universities around population. In 1999, Hillel International the world. recognized Mittleman for her efforts by granting Mittleman was the 2006 recipient of the her the Exemplar of Excellence Award, which Chairman’s Award, the College’s highest honor honors those whose passion and devotion to the for a staff member, and the recipient of a 2008 Jewish campus community set a standard for all Alumni Achievement Award for Distinguished Hillel professionals to emulate. and Exceptional Service to the College by a Under Mittleman’s leadership, Hillel grew Friend. In 2008, she was awarded the Ally of to become one of the most active student organizations on campus Under Mittleman’s leadership, Hillel grew and Muhlenberg became to become one of the most active student the first small liberal arts college to achieve Hillel organizations on campus and Muhlenberg became Foundation status for its program in 2006. the first small liberal arts college to achieve Hillel Mittleman served Foundation status for its program. as an advocate for the needs of the College’s growing Jewish population; during her time at the Year Award from the American Israel Public Muhlenberg, the College received a number of Affairs Committee. transformative gifts to support Jewish student Mittleman’s advocacy stretched far life, including a gift from Lisa and Michael beyond the doors of Hillel and her role as Leffell P’10 P’13 that greatly contributed to Jewish chaplain. From her early years on the renovation and expansion of the building campus, she served as a fierce champion that had served as the Hillel center on campus for underrepresented voices on campus. In since 2000. The building, dedicated as the 1998, Mittleman helped launch and advise Leffell Center for Jewish Student Life in 2016, RIBBON Project (Remembering, Informing, now includes a dedicated sanctuary; a kosher Breaking Barriers, Outreach NOW!), a student kitchen to complement the two kosher facilities group dedicated to educating the Muhlenberg in Seegers Union; office spaces, classrooms and community on issues involving HIV and AIDS, a student lounge; and a Shabbat Dining Room and helped form the College’s Gay-Straight with seating for more than 300. Alliance (known today as S.Qu.Ad, Students In countless conversations, Mittleman for Queer Advocacy). She was a driving force encouraged people to “be their own Jewish,” behind the development of the College’s Muslim focusing more on the values present in Judaic Student Association, a testament to her belief teachings than strict adherence to a particular that students of any faith tradition should feel faith tradition. She was known as a stalwart welcome at Muhlenberg. —BK defender of causes and rights—a person who stood firm in the face of opposition—but it was always clear the actions she took were in the best interests of the students in her care.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 11 Personally Speaking... PHOTO BY TOM AMICO TOM BY PHOTO

12 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 Mickey Kober ’20 Finance, Havertown, Pennsylvania

He’s an inside linebacker on the football team, which was co-champion of the Centennial Conference and advanced to the 2018 NCAA Division III Quarterfinals… “We didn’t want the season to end, because we knew we had something special going. We’d never played the big-name teams in Division III football, but there was always a thought in the back of our minds like, ‘Why not us?’ We put in the work. We have great coaches that are going to get us ready. It’s just whether we’re going to make the play or not.”

...though they weren’t sure they’d make the tournament at all. “My freshman year, we went 9 and 1, and it wasn’t good enough. This team had the same record, but I think we played in a more dominant fashion. We were one of the last teams in [via an at-large bid]. As soon as we found out, everyone was hugging each other and jumping around. It was like Christmas morning.”

He came to Muhlenberg to play for the late head coach Mike “Duke” Donnelly. “My high school offensive line coach [Mike Nolan ’09] was a Muhlenberg alum. He knew I wanted to play for a good defense at the next level, and he thought Muhlenberg would be a good fit. So, I did my over- night here, and once I met Coach Donnelly, I knew I wanted to play for him. Coach Milne and Coach Da- vid, our head coach and defensive coordinator, have done a great job keeping Duke alive. They provide a perfect balance of seriousness and having fun. Practice is the best two hours of my day, every day.”

He’ll travel with the team to Italy for a spring game in May, but it won’t be the first time he’s gone abroad for athletics. “I used to play Gaelic football. Think of a soccer goal with field goal posts coming up above it: If you hit it between the posts, it’s one point, but if you hit it in the goal that has a goalie, it’s three points. Every four steps you have to bounce or kick the ball. I played in the under-16 and under-14 all-Ireland Final. I also went to Bulgaria to wrestle. We stayed in their Junior Olympic Village and went to their sports school. It’s broken up so second period can be wrestling class, fifth period can be gymnastics, seventh period can be weightlifting and in between can be the educational classes. It’s a totally different way of living than the United States.”

He works as a strength and conditioning assistant in the Life Sports Center. “I’m excited to get back in the weight room and help develop the younger athletes to be bigger, faster, stronger and just get them where they need to be so they can excel. Sometimes it takes that year in the weight room to be able to compete at the college level. I take a lot of pride in being their friend. I know they can confide in me when they need something. It’s like I have a bunch of little brothers here.”

Muhlenberg helped him find a major he’s passionate about... “Going into college, I couldn’t tell you what I wanted to do. Finance just clicked for me. I found myself, one Saturday afternoon, reading a Wall Street Journal article. And I’m like, ‘Hey, this is the first time I’ve done work outside of class that wasn’t necessary.’”

...and his student-athlete roommates help each other stay on track, academically. “You get done practicing, you want to go to bed, but it’s like, nope! You take a shower, refocus. All my roommates do very well in school. They know when I’m slacking, and they’re right there to tell me, ‘Hey, get it back into gear.’ And I do the same with them. I live with six other football players and one wrestler. Six of us are from around the same area. The other two are from Maryland, but they fit right in. And they’re Eagles fans, so what more could you want?” —MK

Muhlenberg Magazine fall 2018 | 13 Celebration of Dance Dance and media & communication double major Nadia Ureña ‘19 performs during the 2019 edition of Master Choreographers, an annual showcase of original work by renowned guest artists and dance faculty. After the afternoon performance on Saturday, February 9, Muhlenberg students, faculty and alumni gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Muhlenberg’s Department of Dance. PHOTO BY BRIAN MENGINI BRIAN BY PHOTO

14 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | FACULTY FOCUS |

Applied Knowledge Associate Professor of Spanish Erika M. Sutherland teaches students interpretation skills that they use in service-learning work with community partners.

onight, the six students in Spanish Interpreting are ex- ers is high. As such, the course is not just about the how of Tperiencing one benefit of the small class size: There interpreting, but also about the why: the politics behind in- are more tamales than there are students. Ana Lopez ’21 terpreting services (or the lack of them) and behind students gets to take home the three leftovers from the batch the engaging with their community in this way. The constraints evening’s visitor, Hilda González, brought to share. González is in Ettinger 205 to talk about tamales, a traditional Mexican dish. Speaking in Spanish, she discusses when they’d be served and the different ways they might be prepared and filled. Some stu- dents jot down notes; some stare at the floor, deep in concentration. Every few minutes, Associate Professor of Spanish Erika M. Sutherland asks the students to repeat back what they just heard, some- times in English and sometimes in Spanish. This week, they’re practicing their memory, a critical skill for interpreters. At the end of class, Sutherland pre- views next week’s lesson: learning to interrupt peo- ple in a way that’s not offensive, to break down their speech into translatable chunks. Sutherland has been teaching interpretation to high-level Spanish students at Muhlenberg for 15 PEARSON PAUL BY PHOTO years. The class, which meets for two hours each week, begins with a group reflection on the previous week’s of the academic calendar can present a challenge for local experience. Then, a Spanish-speaking guest from the com- partners, Sutherland says: “Their work goes 12 months a munity comes, and students practice specific skills and year, so it’s hard for them to get specific assistance for just hone their communicative capacity in the safe space of the three months.” For this reason, she has worked hard to de- classroom. The sessions get progressively more challeng- velop and cultivate relationships with the organizations that ing, in terms of subject matter and understandability. For welcome Muhlenberg students into their work. example, Sutherland recounts working with one guest to In addition to teaching, Sutherland does medical inter- stage a mock interview for an immigration benefit. Another preting, and she works with Lehigh County to train poll guest had dentures that affected the way she spoke. interpreters: She trained 87, including some Muhlenberg The course also requires 40 hours of service-learning students, before the 2018 midterms, and she’ll next hold work. The first opportunity this semester is to interpret the Spanish Interpreting class to coincide with the fall 2020 during parent-teacher conferences at an Allentown School presidential elections. District elementary school. The most skilled interpreters can When they graduate, Sutherland says, Muhlenberg end up working as medians in an immigration law office. Spanish students often report wishing they had more op- “As college professors, we are trained to be gentle as portunities to use the language in real life—but there are we correct our students or redirect mistakes, but when plenty of such opportunities in the Lehigh Valley. She hopes students are out in the community, people will be much more students will overcome the intimidation factor and more blunt about errors or points where comprehension is learn to apply their Spanish knowledge in this way. “This limited,” Sutherland says. “What I want to cultivate in the is one of our classes that gets its hooks into students,” she classroom is, ‘This is your space to make mistakes. We’ll says. “Once a student feels that, ‘I could do this. I see the keep pushing you and molding you to get the confidence.’” need for it, the desperate need for it. I am bilingual. I can Because almost 50 percent of the Lehigh Valley’s popula- bring those interests and skills together in this really ex- tion is Hispanic, Sutherland says, the demand for interpret- traordinary way.’” —MK

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 15 | NEWS & NOTES |

Diversity Conference Brings Liberal-Arts Leaders Expanding and Welcoming a Diverse Professoriate, a conference funded by a Mellon Presidential Grant awarded to President John I. Williams Jr. (at left, leading a panel discussion), took place November 9 and 10 in Moyer Hall. Conference attendees included administrators, faculty and staff from 17 liberal arts institutions including Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College and Franklin & Marshall College. “I have been to countless meetings promising to diversify the professoriate, but Expanding and Welcoming a Diverse Professoriate stands out for its focus, its detail and its message of hope,” says Kiernan Mathews, executive director and principal investigator at the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education

PHOTO BY PAUL PEARSON PAUL BY PHOTO (COACHE) at Harvard Graduate School of Education, who spoke at the conference. PHOTO BY PHELIZE BRISTOL ’19 PHELIZE BRISTOL BY PHOTO Students Join Civic Engagement Training on Martin Luther King Jr. Day ‘BErg CHANGE, an interactive civic engagement training tor for the event, is an organizer who had most recently workshop, took place January 21 as part of Muhlenberg’s served as co-director of Showing Up for Racial Justice Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming. Hosted by the (SURJ), where she worked to undermine support for white Office of Community Engagement and the Office of Multi- supremacy. She had previously worked with organizations cultural Life, the day-long workshop gave students the op- such as GetEQUAL, the New Organizing Institute and Ide- portunity to build skills in multiple methods of democratic alist.org, the latter of which enabled her to train and sup- engagement, including community organizing, advocacy, port college students at hundreds of campuses across the lobbying and direct service. Heather Cronk, the facilita- country. —Phelize Bristol ’19

16 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | NEWS & NOTES |

Muhlenberg Receives Gold Rating for Sustainability Muhlenberg in the Media The College earned a STARS Gold rating in January in recognition of its The Wescoe School’s efforts to enroll veterans received national sustainability achievements from the coverage in a piece by New York Times columnist David Leonhardt. Association for the Advancement of The College was also ranked #5 by U.S. News & World Report, in its Sustainability in Higher Education Best Colleges for Veterans, National Liberal Arts Colleges, for top- (AASHE). Muhlenberg is the only Le- ranked institutions that participate in federal initiatives to help veterans high Valley institution to receive such and active-duty service members pay for college degrees. a high designation. STARS, AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment CBS Sports Network featured a 10-minute segment on former & Rating System, measures and en- football head coach Mike Donnelly. courages sustainability in all aspects The video profile focused on the legacy of “Duke,” both in the sport of higher education. With more than and in the lives of those he coached during his 41-year career. 800 participants in 30 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the Professor of Political Science Chris Borick and Muhlenberg’s most widely recognized framework Institute of Public Opinion were mentioned or featured in in the world for publicly reporting numerous national media outlets including The Washington Post, comprehensive information related San Francisco Chronicle, Bloomberg, Politico, Newsweek, The to the sustainability performance of Philadelphia Inquirer, The Guardian and BBC News North America. a college or university. To learn more Borick and the 25 students in his Campaigns and Elections class were about sustainability at Muhlenberg, interviewed on campus by a BBC World News film crew about the see page 26. midterm elections.

Muhlenberg was cited and Michele Moser Deegan, professor of political science, was quoted by The Philadelphia Inquirer in the article “Voting on Campus.” Faculty Members Receive College students often have difficulty getting to polling sites, but Muhlen- Tenure and Earn Promotions berg students vote right on campus, thanks to professors, staff and students who developed a relationship with the county election board. Muhlenberg’s newest tenured faculty members are Erika Bagley Jeff Pooley, associate professor of media & communication, co- (psychology), Ben Carter (sociology authored an opinion piece in The Washington Post. and anthropology) and Lindsey Nagy “When Historians Traffic in Fake News” analyzed CBS’s broadcast of Or- (economics). The three were granted son Welles’s adaptation of The War of the Worlds on its 80th anniversary. tenure and promoted to associate professor at the February meeting of Broadway World featured four blog entries by Muhlenberg the Board of Trustees. At the Board’s students last fall. October meeting, Associate Provost Kiana Holmes ’22 wrote “Opening Red Doors at Muhlenberg” and “BA for Faculty & Diversity Initiatives Programs are Good and Here’s Why” and Ellen Powers ’21 wrote “Jour- Brooke Vick was granted tenure neying into Brigadoon as an Assistant Director” and “The Education of and Susan Kahlenberg ’93 of media Theatre Scholarship.” & communication was promoted to professor. Newsweek interviewed Peter Saenger, a Muhlenberg ornithologist and president of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. He spoke about the large flock of crows that has been spotted roosting in the region.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 17 PHOTO BY TOM AMICO TOM BY PHOTO Football Makes History The Mules season for the record books includes first “Elite Eight” appearance.

On a chilly mid-November afternoon, moments after con at home on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, send- Muhlenberg had thumped Moravian 53-7 to win the Sodexo ing Muhlenberg to the NCAA quarterfinals—the “Elite Trophy and a share of its 10th Centennial Conference cham- Eight”—for the first time. pionship, the team’s attention shifted to the following day: A loss to mighty Mount Union ended the magical season “Selection Sunday” for the Division III NCAA Tournament. with a record of 11-2, but not before the Mules received Head football coach Nate Milne addressed the players. national recognition. They finished in the top 10 in both “We’re going to watch the selection show tomorrow,” Division III polls for the first time since 2008. he said. “I don’t know if we’re going to get in or not, but Of course, it was more than brotherhood that got the there’s nobody I’d rather find out with than you guys.” Mules through two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. There Milne’s decision, that the team should experience the was talent, and lots of it. Defensive end Frankie Feaster uncertainty—and the eventual disappointment or ela- ’20 was a first-team All-American and the Centennial tion—together, spoke to the sense of closeness that has defensive player of the year; his 7.5 tackles for loss in the been a trademark of the program. It is immediately appar- Randolph-Macon game were the most by any NCAA foot- ent to prospective Mule football players when they visit ball player at any level in 2018. Tight end Ryan Curtiss ’20 campus, and it stays with them throughout their four years. earned All-America honors in each of his first two years “One word: brotherhood,” says tight end Dawid Kowal as a Mule. Then there are players like defensive back Nick ’19 when asked what attracted him to Muhlenberg. “The Sirico ’21, who wasn’t even a starter but became Muhlen- group of guys we play with, I wouldn’t trade for anything berg’s postseason hero when he returned interceptions for else.” Adds quarterback Matt Gibbon ’19: “The atmosphere touchdowns in both NCAA wins, including one with 35.7 surrounding the team is unmatched because you will never seconds left to win the Delaware Valley game. see a closer group of guys.” None of the aforementioned players are seniors, sug- The guys got a little closer after Selection Sunday. Not gesting a bright future and the potential for more success- only did the Mules get in, they advanced farther than any ful seasons to come. Of all the things the brothers on the other team in program history. A 20-13 win at Delaware Muhlenberg football team do together, there is one they Valley was followed by a 35-6 defeat of Randolph-Ma- love more than anything else: winning. —Mike Falk

18 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | MULES ON THE MOVE |

Standout Senior Leaves MULE ROUND-UP

Wrestling Winning Legacy In CROSS COUNTRY, Abby Dalton ’22 became the first Muhlenberg freshman, male or fe- male, to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The Mules have had at least one athlete qualify for the national meet 14 straight years...Led by all-time assists leader Abby Dalton ’22 Shannon Hubert ’19 and NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient Kelly The year before Gennaro Cerminara ’19 enrolled, the Tornetta ’19, VOLLEYBALL received votes in the Muhlenberg wrestling team won only two bouts at the NCAA national poll early in the season and reached the 20- East Regional. The year before that, the Mules sent only two win mark for the fifth time in the last six seasons... wrestlers to the Centennial Conference Championships. FIELD HOCKEY erased an 0-4 start with a 1-0 up- “I kind of knew what I was getting myself into in that set of fifth-ranked Franklin & Marshall College and sense,” he says. “The biggest thing for me was knowing went on to finish 8-2 in the Centennial Conference, that even if I didn’t reach the pinnacle of individual suc- earning a playoff berth cess, I would help set up the team for success for years for the fifth time in the and years to come.” last six years. The Mules Cerminara made good on the former and really good on defeated Dickinson Col- the latter. A two-time Centennial Conference champion at lege in the first round 197 pounds, he finished his career with a record of 89-34 before falling in double and tied the program record of 50 career pins. He missed overtime in the semis... qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships by one Casarah Morales ’20 point in a regional semifinal. earned all-region honors As for the team, under the leadership of Head Coach Ja- for the third straight sea- son McLean ’01 (Muhlenberg’s first All-American in wres- son in WOMEN’S SOC- tling), the Mules came in fourth at the CC Championships, CER, while men’s soccer Casarah Morales ’20 just four points out of second place, and sixth at the NCAA earned a regional ranking during the year...Corrin regional, ahead of such established programs as State Ferrizzi ’22 won the gold medal in the triple jump and University of New York (SUNY) College at Cortland, SUNY a silver medal in the long jump at the CC INDOOR Brockport, SUNY Oswego and Ursinus College. TRACK & FIELD Championships, becoming just the And the team should only continue to get better. Cermina- third Muhlenberg female to medal in both. Zach Lill ra, the nephew of Muhlenberg Trustee Emeritus Joan Triano ’21 broke a 17-year-old school record in the pole vault ’61, is the only member not expected to return next season. and earned silver at the CC meet...WOMEN’S BAS- Cerminara combined with Dylan Schwartz ’20 and Jim- KETBALL qualified for the CC playoffs for the 25th my Fratantoni ’19 (a redshirt junior) to give the Mules three time in the league’s 26-year history. Sara Dilly ’19, the CC gold medalists for the first time since 2007. Fratantoni CC defensive player of the year, headed a defense and Austin Sherman ’20 also narrowly missed qualifying that set a school record for fewest points per game for nationals. Fifteen different Mules, six of them freshmen, allowed...Dan Gaines ’22 was named CC rookie of the placed at a tournament during the 2018-19 season. year after leading MEN’S BASKETBALL in points, “I think that was the reason I wasn’t super upset on the steals and field-goal percentage. Muhlenberg broke bus ride home or after my last match,” says Cerminara, whose the school record for three-pointers in a season and record-tying pin came in his final match. “Even though it’s was in contention for a playoff berth on the final day over, just knowing that I contributed to something that will of the season. stand the test of time—that’s the biggest thing.” —MF

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 19 | ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT | PHOTO BY TOM AMICO TOM BY PHOTO

20 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT |

A Career in Service Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Dawn Eilenberger ’79 closes out a 35-year governement career.

ven when she was growing up in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Dawn Eilenberger E’79 felt drawn to the law. “I always liked politics, and I thought that, with a law degree, there would be a lot of different jobs I could do,” she says. When she asked a family friend who was a judge, “Where should I go to undergrad if I want to be a lawyer?” he recommended Muhlenberg. Between the judge’s endorsement (he was James Marsh ’50 P’84) and her visit to campus, Eilenberger was sold on the College. Eilenberger, who graduated with a double major in history and political science, went straight to the University of Virginia School of Law—where she says she felt better pre- pared than many of her classmates—before embarking on a 35-year career in government. As a summer intern in the Central Intelligence Agency during law school, Eilenberger was immediately drawn in by the varied nature of the legal work at the agency: It’s not all secret stuff and Homeland-esque investigations. She went on to work in the CIA Office of General Counsel, offering legal guidance on operational missions. She served in its administrative law division, dealing with appropriations and ethics. She was the CIA’s director of equal employment, as well as the director of finance. “I’m one of those people who, after getting comfortable in a job, asks, okay, what’s the next challenge?” Eilenberger says of her multiple roles. In 2005, Eilenberger moved on to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which collects and analyzes intelligence imagery from satellites, airborne platforms and other sources. She worked in numerous capacities there, serving as its director of interna- tional affairs and its inspector general. Roles throughout her career involved dealing with Congress and sitting in on meetings of the National Security Council. She made the leap to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in 2014; its former leader, James Clapper, recruited her to manage policy and strategy. She served as the deputy director of national intelligence from April 2017 until her retirement last September. “It was a really great job to end my career on, because it focused on integrat- ing the intelligence community’s activities and ensuring we could share information with all of our intelligence, law enforcement, homeland security and international partners,” she says. “The job let me draw on everything I learned over the course of my career.” In retirement, she’s looking forward to pursuing more scholarly endeavors, including perhaps writing a history article on the intelligence community. Now that she’s no longer traveling as frequently, she hopes to engage more with Muhlenberg students and alumni. Eilenberger looks back on her time at the College fondly. Not only was she able to play field hockey, basketball and softball—“I couldn’t have done that at a large school. I’m not that talented,” she jokes—she also built a strong foundation for her illustrious intelligence career. “The educational background at Muhlenberg gives you diverse skills so that you’re not pigeon-holed into one career field,” she says. “I got to do a lot of very different jobs.” —Jeremy Fuchs ’14

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 21 | FACULTY | Voice Faculty Member Wins Grammy; Three Others Nominated

The winner of the 2019 Best Choral Perfor- been nominated in the past or who’ve mance Grammy was The Crossing, an ensemble done enough work to be considered that part-time Voice Lecturer Alexandra Porter is experts—so a nomination itself is a part of, for McLoskey: Zealot Canticles. “I actually high honor. Jackson cites Muhlen- found out about the win from a friend who was berg’s proximity to both Philadel- also on the Zealot Canticles album—she posted phia and New York City, which about it on social media,” Porter says. “It is an are hubs of choral music in the exciting win for the ensemble, and for the com- United States, as an advantage poser Lansing McCloskey. I’m very proud to have when it comes to attracting tal- been part of the process and grateful that I can ented faculty and providing op- follow my passions as a career.” portunities to students. Of the five nominated works in the category, “For us all to be nominated in two others were also tied to members of the Col- the category of Best Choral Perfor- lege community: Director of Choral and Vocal mance, it shows that we are out Studies and Assistant Professor of Music Chris- and doing quality work in our topher Jackson and part-time Voice Lecturer field, that we have a variety Fiona Gillespie were nominated as part of the of experiences and flexi- Skylark Vocal Ensemble for Seven Words From bility and creativity in the The Cross and part-time Voice Lecturer Jessi- instruction provided to ca Beebe was nominated as part of the Clarion our students,” Jackson Choir for Kastalsky: Memory Eternal. says. “In addition to being Nominees are selected by experts in the trained soloists, we are work- field—musicians from all over the world who’ve ing at the top of the field of choral music.” —MK

Why I Study ... medicine and gender Assistant Professor of History Jacqueline Antonovich

After high school, decided to start my life rian of medicine and gender. My I went straight to over again, and part work looks at the intersections of community college. of that was getting my politics and medicine and gender, I was a first-genera- bachelor’s degree. I and the ways in which medical tion college student, enrolled in a local state ideas—about women’s bodies, working full time college and decided to mainly—translate into political and living on my major in history, which policy and how that has a history. own, and it took me I’d always liked. The And that all grew very organical- more than two years more I studied it, the ly from the work I did on female to graduate with my more I realized that delinquency, starting as an under- associate’s degree in because of these early graduate. All of my challenges as a general studies. Then, I got mar- experiences I’d had—being mar- first-generation, non-traditional ried, had a kid and stopped going to ried, being a mother, going through student not only make me a better school. Life just took over. all of these challenges as a young historian, they make me commit- The marriage that I was in was woman—I was really interested in ted to guiding all students here at very abusive. After I’d gone through women’s history. Muhlenberg—especially those who a divorce, I took my kid and moved I still consider myself a women’s faced the same challenges I did as from California to Colorado. I historian, but I’m mainly a histo- an undergrad.

22 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 Ice, Ice Baby Snow, rain, ice, sun, shorts, repeat. Professor of Psychology Jeff Rudski captured this image of an ice-encrusted campus in late February. Predictably, the next day was 52 degrees with sunny skies and all of the ice and snow had receded. PHOTO BY TOM WEISHAAR TOM BY PHOTO

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 23 | PERSPECTIVE |

Midterm Evaluation Women gained significant ground in the last election—but is it fair to describe 2018 as another “Year of the Woman”? By A. Lanethea Mathews-Schultz

The term “Year of the Woman” was first sexual harassment and violence and inspired coined to describe the 1992 elections, in which women to seek political office through cam- Americans elected more women to Congress paigns that emphasized these issues. In 1991, than ever before. Nationally, 24 women won anger over the treatment of Anita Hill inspired seats in the U.S. House of Representatives that women like Patty Murray and Diane Feinstein year, and four were elected to the U.S. Senate to run for federal office. In 2018, according to (increasing women’s representation in that data that I collected with Muhlenberg students chamber from one). The 1992 election also Taylor Garrison ’20 and Emma Lewis ’19, more marked the start of slow but ongoing improve- than half of female candidates running for ments in the number of women with roles in federal office campaigned on messages linked our national political institutions, with repre- to women’s issues, including ending gender sentation increasing by a small degree in each violence. Voters echoed these concerns in exit subsequent congressional session. polls, with more than 50 percent saying that The sharp gains for women in 2018 mean electing women to office is important and that that the most recent election resembles 1992 sexual harassment is a serious problem facing more than the years in between. The 116th our nation. Congress, which convened on January 3, 2019, These events are a critical backdrop, but they includes 102 women in the House and 25 in the do not, on their own, explain why record num- Senate and is the most diverse legislative rep- bers of women entered Congress in 1992 and resentation in our nation’s history. Among the 2018. Another key factor is that, in both years, re- 47 women of color are the first Native American cord numbers of women ran for Congress. When women (Sharice Davids of Wisconsin, also the women run for office, they raise just as much second openly lesbian member of Congress, and money and win just as frequently as men do. Deb Haaland of New Mexico), the first Muslim Importantly, both 1992 and 2018 were char- women (Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, also the first acterized by historic numbers of incumbents Somali-American member, and Rashida Tlaib declining to seek re-election, creating increased of Michigan, the first Palestinian-American political opportunities in the form of open woman to serve) and the youngest woman ever seats—a significant incentive for new candi- elected to the House (New York’s Alexandria Oc- dates to emerge. asio-Cortez is 29). Nancy Pelosi also reclaimed Perhaps surprisingly, women’s electoral her title as the nation’s only woman to serve as success in 1992 and 2018 cannot be explained the Speaker of the House of Representatives. by the emergence of a solid voting bloc of What explains the new “Year of the Wom- women voters supporting female candidates. an,” and what are the likely consequences? Voters have complex identities and interests The parallels between 1992 and 2018 are that cannot be reduced to gender alone. Party hard to miss. Gender and women’s issues were attachments are a much stronger explanation particularly salient in both elections, fueled of voters’ decisions at the polls. Only 6 percent in part by eerily similar high-profile hearings of Republican women, for example, voted for into alleged sexual misconduct on the part of a Democratic House candidate on Election Day Supreme Court nominees. These events—along 2018. Conversely, 3 percent of Democratic wom- with the Women’s March and the #MeToo en voted for the Republican candidate. movement—highlighted the pervasiveness of Women did benefit from the success of the

24 | Muhlenberg Magazine fall 2018 | PERSPECTIVE |

The women serving in today’s Congress hold diverse, even divergent, interests. They are poised to bring fresh perspectives to our political institutions, conveying insight from their own varied experiences as teachers, journalists, veterans, community activists, farmers, lawyers and small business owners.

Democratic party, however. The vast majority of “Year of the Wom- women in the new Congress—17 of the Senate’s an” reaches across 25 and 89 of the House’s 102 women—are Dem- racial, ethnic and ocrats. Clearly, Democrats had the competitive religious lines, edge in 2018 for a host of reasons, including as well as those dissatisfaction with the Trump administration defined by sexu- and record-breaking fundraising, factors that ality and gender fueled increases in voter turnout. The 2018 elec- identity. The tions increased Democratic women’s presence women serving in office—not so for Republican women, whose in today’s Con- numbers decreased. It’s not too far-fetched to gress hold diverse, suggest that 2018 was the political “Year of the even divergent, Democratic Woman.” interests. They are It’s important to recognize that women’s poised to bring fresh representation still falls far short of anything perspectives to our close to parity. Internationally, the U.S. ranks political institu- ILLUSTRATION BY COLLEEN O’HARA somewhere in the neighborhood of 103 out of tions, conveying insight from their own varied 187 nations when it comes to women’s repre- experiences as teachers, journalists, veterans, sentation (not much to boast about). Moreover, community activists, farmers, lawyers and the mere inclusion of women is no guarantee small business owners. that Congress will embark on the kind of legis- Serving together, the largest ever class of lative change that gender equality requires: for congresswomen convey a message about the example, ensuring women’s economic well-be- value of an inclusive democracy, lending greater ing and access to health care, reducing gen- legitimacy to our representative institutions. der-based forms of violence and redistributing And by signaling that elections are no longer a care work in ways that reduce the costs of being “man’s game,” these high profile officeholders a woman in American society. These are not easy make it possible for other women—especially tasks to achieve, especially in a hyper-partisan, young women—to see themselves as political polarized environment. actors, setting the stage for another “Year of the Perhaps the more important transformative Woman” in our not-too-distant future. potential is the power of newly elected women A. Lanethea Mathews-Schultz is professor and to serve as role models for others. The political chair of political science.

Muhlenberg Magazine fall 2018 | 25 Sustainability’s Sustainability’s Roots By Meghan Kita

Dedicated individuals have worked toward “greening” Muhlenberg for more than a de- cade. Now that the College is committed to a strategy for even greater change, they want everyone to get on board.

uhlenberg’s Plant Operations building houses two massive boilers, each about the size of a small RV. Not long ago, they would run from Mwhen the weather turned cold (in late September or early October) until it got warm again (usually in April), creating steam that ran through un- derground pipes to heat campus buildings. The boilers, which replaced their coal-fired predecessors in 1965, burned oil, then natural gas. The workers in charge of maintaining the metal monstrosities had to yell to hear one another. Now, even in winter, the boilers sit silent, collecting dust. In 2018, the Col- lege completed a three-year, $6.5 million project that replaced this centralized steam system with natural-gas-powered boilers in each building. Those are at least 93 percent efficient—the old system was somewhere in the 70s—and the conversion allows the College to monitor each building’s natural gas usage. Every building also has an electricity meter, and nearly every building has a water meter. “You can have sustainability objectives, like to reduce your carbon foot- print, but you have to be able to measure it,” says Professor of Biology Rich Niesenbaum, director of the College’s interdisciplinary program in sustain- ability studies. “Now, we’re in a place to do that.”

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 27 Quiet, behind-the-scenes efforts Muhlenberg’s commitment to sustain- tainability Strategic Plan. Its 16 main to increase sustainability at Muhlen- ability is unmistakable. goals are divided into five catego- berg, such as the gradual silencing of The plan defines sustainability as ries—Curriculum and Co-Curricular the central steam plant, have been on- “meeting the needs of the present Integration, Buildings and Grounds, going for at least the past 15 years. The without compromising the ability of Food and Dining, Energy and Climate absence of noise hasn’t been inten- future generations to meet their own and Planning and Administration— tional; the faculty, staff and students needs.” To meet the present needs of that provide a useful framework to dedicated to change have been busy a community like Muhlenberg’s, you discuss where the College is now as enacting it, often without much fan- have to know what those needs are— well as where it plans to go. fare or publicity. But the architects of all of them. That’s why the President’s these efforts at Muhlenberg—Niesen- Committee on Sustainability includes Curriculum and baum, Sustainability Coordinator students, alumni, professors, admin- Co-Curricular Kalyna Procyk, Chief Business Officer istrators, plant operations staff, din- & Treasurer Kent Dyer and the 12 other ing services staff, communications Integration members of the President’s Committee staff and housing and residence life Muhlenberg’s interdisciplinary mi- on Sustainability—are entering a new staff. The group started by going after nor in environmental studies was re- era, with support from President John what Niesenbaum calls “low-hanging designed in collaboration with a group I. Williams Jr. And they want everyone fruit,” things like more efficient light- of faculty and renamed “sustainability to know about it and join them. ing and improvements to recycling. studies” when Niesenbaum became di- This year, for the first time, Muhlen- As the College saved energy and mon- rector in 2007. The reason the program berg earned a Gold certification from ey and received positive feedback, the needs to be interdisciplinary—with the Association for the Advancement committee was empowered and en- equal focus on the environmental, eco- of Sustainability in Higher Education couraged to do more. nomic and social factors that must be (AASHE), the only Lehigh Valley insti- “The sustainability committee has considered to achieve sustainability— tution to receive that level of recogni- been working very doggedly and very is because “protecting nature without tion at press time. In February, faculty diligently to keep moving things for- considering the needs of our own spe- approved a proposal to add a major and ward,” Procyk says. cies never works,” Niesenbaum says. revise the existing minor in sustain- When President Williams first met He gives the example of a hypothetical ability studies in response to the rapid with the group in 2016 and heard biological reserve: If it’s created in such growth of this interdisciplinary aca- of their efforts, he said, “You guys a way that it causes the quality of life for demic field and increasing student and are doing amazing work, but there the humans living in and around the re- prospective-student demand. And, last doesn’t seem to be a well-structured serve to decline, it will fail. May, President Williams approved a strategy behind what you’re doing,” Another obstacle to achieving sus- 20-page Sustainability Strategic Plan. Niesenbaum recalls. That conversa- tainability is guilt paralysis: “Students Part of that plan involves making sure tion inspired the creation of the Sus- are taught that these are desperate

Sustained Sustainability: A Timeline of Muhlenberg’s Efforts

1995 2005 2008 Muhlenberg Recycling Program Students Found EnAcT First Sustainability Is Initiated The Environmental Action Coordinator Is Hired Team’s mission “is to spread 2003 environmental awareness and New Science Building Earns Silver Greening Committee Forms cultivate ecological literacy LEED Certification Students, faculty and staff while actively taking part in the organize with support from ecological betterment of the 2009 then-President Randy Helm. campus, local and global Solar Panels Are Installed on communities.” Seegers Union Students of Associate Physics Professor Jane Flood build the 3.2 kW solar photovoltaic system.

28 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 times as we are confronted with what including options from English, seem like insurmountable problems, philosophy, anthropology, his- and this can be crippling,” Niesen- tory and religion. Students will baum says. “My approach has been be able to declare sustainabil- to teach students that they can solve ity studies as a major this fall. these problems, whether through “The endorsement of a the action of individuals, through new major in sustainability innovation or through policy or studies by the Muhlenberg social movements.” faculty not only puts the College What that looks like de- on the cutting edge of sustainability pends an individual student’s education, but because the new ma- interest—one might gravitate jor emphasizes connections among toward entrepreneurial solu- disparate disciplinary perspectives tions, another toward polit- in order to empower students to rec- ical activism and another ognize and solve problems, it also toward environmental ed- reaffirms our broader commitment ucation. (See “Advocacy in to integrative learning and the liberal Action,” page 32, to learn arts,” Niesenbaum says. how alumni are creating change.) But a Natalie Warhit ’19, a current crucial skill all students in the program self-designed sustainability studies learn is how to communicate about and philosophy double major, says sustainability issues in a productive areas of overlap in shared values.” she’s excited for the new program: way. Research shows that listening and There’s been demand for a major in “It’s similar to the major I made and finding common ground are both nec- sustainability studies: nine students, some of the ones my friends have cre- essary to effect positive change. including three currently at Muhlen- ated as well,” she says. “I feel good “Starting a conversation by call- berg, have self-designed sustain- that we might have been showing the ing somebody a climate denier shuts ability-related majors, and two more College that this kind of major is what down the conversation immediately,” have proposals in the works. Because incoming students want.” Niesenbaum says. “How you have that of this—plus increasing interest from The Sustainability Strategic Plan conversation, whether it’s about cli- prospective students, and the pro- includes a roadmap to introduce all mate change or social justice issues, is gram’s emphasis on integrative learn- Muhlenberg students to the tenets of to first listen, to hear how somebody ing—Muhlenberg has responded by sustainability, regardless of their field who’s different from you feels about creating one. Fifteen academic pro- of study. Within the next two years, the subject, to get an understanding of grams are represented on the list of sustainability will become part of conflicting imperatives and to find the courses that count towards the major, first-year student orientation. Start- »

“Green Team” Begins Recycling 2011 2012 Move-In Waste Green Roof Is Installed on Seegers Sustainable-Living-Themed “Tree Union Addition House” Is Established Community Garden and Rain Rich Niesenbaum’s students plant It’s on the same block of Chew Street Gardens Are Established the vegetation; in 2014, students as the Community Garden and the install equipment to measure the Community Garden House (both 2010 effectiveness of the roof’s insulation established in 2009). “Just Tap It” Program Launches properties and runoff abatement. Fifty water bottle filling stations are Solar Hot Water System Is Installed installed on campus. Bottled water on Memorial Hall sales drop 92 percent. It heats the building’s pool and domestic hot water.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 29 ing this semester, instructors of landfills. He also coordinates with the universally required Founda- the College’s recycling and trash tions for Student Success course are companies and speaks to classes spending at least one class session on the topic. introducing students to the concept “If you corrupt the recy- of sustainability. cling, it gets thrown out,” “Now it’s not just a small Bolton says. Plastic bags, for ex- group of dedicated students, ample, can get stuck in recycling faculty and staff, but every sin- machinery. If a load of recycling gle student that will have the clearly contains items that aren’t opportunity to be exposed to recyclable, the entire load may be the wave of the future in terms discarded—a little-known reality of sustainable living and to in- that he wants to make sure members corporate sustainable habits and of the Muhlenberg community under- values into their own lives,” Pro- stand. “When in doubt, throw it out,” cyk says. Capital Projects Manager Dave Rabold. he adds. “We make sure the architect and the Plant operations staffers have also Buildings and contractor get the details right. That collaborated with students to install Grounds way, what we build lasts, and if it lasts, a solar hot-water heater on the sus- it’s sustainable.” tainability-themed Muhlenberg Inde- This category is where the Sustain- Renovating or repurposing exist- pendent Living Experience (M.I.L.E.) ability Strategic Plan intersects with ing buildings, when possible, is even house, the Tree House, and have the Campus Master Plan. Within the more sustainable. Rabold cites the East shown Niesenbaum’s students how to next three years, the College intends to Hall renovation, which wrapped up five insulate windows. break ground on an addition to Seegers years ago and included efficiency im- “The culture in plant operations is to Union, a new academic building and a provements such as new windows and interact with students and faculty, and new residential/retail space. The sus- better-insulated walls and ceilings. It we recognize their expertise, so they tainability plan calls for those and all was built in 1903, “and now it’s ready bring a lot to the table,” Niesenbaum building projects to follow green stan- for the next 100 years,” Rabold says. says. “At larger institutions, opera- dards in their design, construction, More than 80 percent of the waste from tions departments and offices of cam- operation and maintenance, and for that project was recycled. pus sustainability are often separated byproducts, when possible, to be re- Director of Plant Operations Jim from the academic part of the institu- used or recycled. Bolton tracks the College’s recycling tions, but here, we have our students “We call buildings we construct and efforts. Last year, Muhlenberg diverted working directly with plant operations design here ‘forever buildings,’” says more than 12 tons of scrap metal from leadership and staff. That is what’s re-

« Sustained Sustainability: A Timeline of Muhlenberg’s Efforts

2013 2014 2015 Muhlenberg Receives Bronze Sustainability Internship Program Is Muhlenberg Receives AASHE STARS AASHE Rating Created Silver Rating AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Students work on carbon inventory, The College is specially honored for its Assessment & Rating System (STARS) behavior-change campaigns, energy extensive water conservation efforts. provides a way to track institutions’ competitions and more. commitments to sustainability. 2016 Grounds to Grounds Coffee Launch of President’s Committee on Muhlenberg Wins Green Campus Composting Program Begins Sustainability of the Year Award Muhlenberg begins composting President John I. Williams Jr. rebrands The Delaware Valley Green Building coffee grounds on campus. the Greening Committee to better Council honors the College for reflect its mission. its efforts.

30 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 ally unique at Muhlenberg: the broad Washington, banning their use stakeholder collaboration when it and Starbucks announcing a two- comes to campus sustainability year plan to phase them out—and and sustainability education.” Stark had to scramble for a new supplier due to a shortage of the Food and Dining paper straws he first bought. Still, he says, “Straws are More examples of collaboration can kind of a symbolic thing for be found in Muhlenberg Dining, which plastics. They’re a small part of employs three sustainability interns a huge problem.” Straws make each semester. Warhit began interning up just 0.025 percent of the plas- there during her sophomore year. tic pollution in the ocean. That’s “I’m really interested in the inter- why Muhlenberg Dining intro- sectionality between the environmen- duced ‘Berg to Go containers—reus- tal movement and animal rights,” she able clamshells for food—in the Wood says. “I want to educate people on the Dining Commons in 2013, and why negative environmental effects of an- Stark introduced a pilot program imal agriculture.” And, promoting to include reusable to-go cups meatless options is one of the most this semester. He hopes to see a immediate Food and Dining priorities reduction in the 30,000 dispos- in the Sustainability Strategic Plan. able cups (often accompanied by Last fall, Warhit worked with her compostable plastic lids) the dining supervisor, Operations Manager Peter Stark’s own passion project is the hall goes through monthly. Stark, on National Vegan Month and elimination of single-use plastics. His The biggest sustainability chal- Meatless Monday programming. An interest began when he saw the story lenge, he says, is finding a local com- event right before finals last semester of Scottish elementary school students mercial composter that can accept the offered free samples of the Wood Din- who, after cleaning thousands of plas- bulk of Muhlenberg’s food waste. (Cof- ing Commons’ vegan sweet pea burgers tic straws off an uninhabited island, fee grounds from Java Joe and the Gen- on pumpkin rolls. lobbied their village to ban them by eral’s Quarters have been composted “Within 15 minutes, we had gone the end of 2017. Muhlenberg followed on site since 2014.) Currently, waste is through 50 to 75 sample portions,” their lead, switching from wrapped turned into a compostable pulp that is Stark says. “The interns who were co- plastic straws to dispensers with un- then incinerated for energy. ordinating the effort are very passion- wrapped paper straws for the spring “Energy generation is better than a ate about it and were able to encourage 2018 semester. In July, plastic straws landfill,” he says, “but not as good as people to try new things.” made national news—with Seattle, reusing, reducing or composting.”

Tree Campus USA Certification 2018 smartphone-based program Is Awarded to Muhlenberg Center for Ethics Event Series that is open to the entire Its commitment to effective urban Addresses Climate Change Allentown community. forest management and dedication to “The Ethics of the Anthropocene: conservation is recognized. Crisis Earth” includes lectures on 2019 environmental history, ecological Muhlenberg Receives AASHE STARS 2017 grief, animal agriculture and other Gold Rating President Williams Signs Higher Ed environmental topics. Carbon Pricing Endorsement Faculty Approves Major in He’s one of 50 leaders asking Launch of Muhlenberg Bike Sustainability Studies legislators to enact a carbon tax. Share Program The College launches this

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 31 Advocacy in Action Alumni working in sustainability discuss how they’re moving the needle in the real world.

STEVE EPTING ’09 LIZ SCHMITT ’07 Watershed Scientist at Senior Outreach the U.S. Environmental Coordinator at the Union of Protection Agency Concerned Scientists “I work with states and “If we care about the planet, Native American tribes to we have to go beyond what manage polluted runoff that our individual impact is to enters water bodies. This make bigger changes at the is a non-regulatory EPA national policy level or state program, which means we’re asking landowners to policy levels. My day-to-day involves thinking about voluntarily adopt practices that protect water quality. strategic ways to convince members of Congress to For this reason, our success hinges on building do the right thing on a certain policy or issue.” partnerships. That’s what resonates with me: engaging communities to help them understand why we should care about and protect water resources.” CHAD SCHWARTZ ’16 Director of Science and Education at the Lehigh SARA IMPERIALE ’10 Gap Nature Center Senior Attorney at “Conservation and the Natural Resources sustainability depend on Defense Council getting everyone involved. “At Muhlenberg, I learned to There’s a lot more to it than think about environmental protecting land and water. burdens and benefits, To foster a broad support for conservation, nature and which communities needs to be accessible to all communities, from the REBECCA GREENFIELD FOR NRDC REBECCA disproportionately face dirty inner city to the mountains.” air, unsafe water and limited access to green space and fresh food. That framing shapes what I do now. My role is to be a resource to grassroots ALY TROMBITAS ’14 advocates who are pursuing environmental justice Garden Manager & for their community.” Educator for The Sylvia Center “It’s empowering to show NICOLE KARSCH ’16 people how to grow their own Regional Organizing food. The amount of energy Director for NextGen that it takes to get food to a America source is just outrageous. “Young people overwhelmingly To have food in your backyard, or to be aware of acknowledge climate science food being grown in your community that you and support climate solutions, have access to, that’s a really good way to be an so by registering young people environmental steward.” and turning them out to vote, we are pushing forward the ability of our elected Read more about these alumni online at officials to address climate issues.” muhlenberg.edu/greenalumni.

32 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 Energy and down, that money goes back into the Climate fund until the investment has been repaid. And then after that, we’ll get And when it comes to energy into some of the longer-term proj- use, less is better than more. ects that may not be as quick to pay That’s why the Sustainabil- off.” Some of those projects include ity Strategic Plan includes replacing aging mechanical systems efficiency-related goals and upgrading cooling towers. such as swapping 10 “That’s the sustainability of sus- percent of all low-ef- tainability,” Niesenbaum says of the ficiency lighting for fund. “That’s how you keep it going.” LEDs each year (a the Baker Center for the Students have been active in re- process that began Arts and in downtown questing that the College consider in 2010) and con- Allentown, with more sustainability when deciding how its verting the last eight of the in the works, and the endowment is invested. Of the $270 60+ M.I.L.E. and faculty/staff bikes have built-in million endowment, $150 million is in houses from oil to natural gas locks that keep them equity, and $10 million of that is cur- (a process that began in 2011). secure anywhere. rently invested in two Environmental, In 2018, those houses all got “This is an ex- Social and Governance (ESG) Funds: digital thermostats that plant cellent way for the one that includes fossil fuel compa- operations can monitor from College to facilitate nies and one that does not. The Sus- their central usage dashboard. This students reducing their tainability Strategic Plan keeps the decision was, in part, a practical one— personal carbon footprints,” door open on this ongoing conversa- students leaving for break can no lon- Procyk says. “Instead of driving down- tion, with a plan in the next two years ger shut off their heat entirely, which town, driving to the store, they can to continue exploring investment op- had caused damage to the homes in just grab a bike and go do it. So, they tions “that are more consistent with the past. But also, students can learn can lower their carbon footprint and sustainability objectives.” to program the thermostats so they’re engage with the community. Plus, it’s “Millennials have been surveyed, using less energy overnight or when better for your health.” they’re out of the house, and the Col- and the majority of them are inter- ested in, when they get things like lege can collect data on heat use that Planning and can help students shape their habits. 401Ks and are able to invest mon- “We see the M.I.L.E. houses as a Administration ey, looking at doing it in a socially huge opportunity for students to learn Sustainable decision-making of- just, sustainable, meaningful way,” how to live more sustainably before ten generates more benefits than just Niesenbaum says. “So that’s an op- they get out into the real world,” says a lower carbon footprint. Efficien- portunity for the College.” Procyk. “It’s really important to give cy saves money, and some efficiency And with all this opportunity comes students the chance to change their upgrades are eligible for rebates. For another: to shout from the green and/ own behavior.” example, the College spent $22,000 or solar-panel-covered rooftops exact- Students who want to get around to purchase the aforementioned dig- ly what the College is doing in terms of more sustainably can use their College ital thermostats, and $18,000 of that sustainability. The Sustainability Stra- ID to ride Lehigh and Northampton money—82 percent of the up-front tegic Plan calls for signage highlighting Transportation Authority buses for free cost—came back in rebates from sustainable improvements, incorpora- (new this semester, and also available UGI Utilities. tion of sustainability into campus tours to faculty and staff) or try the on-cam- As part of the Sustainability Strate- and updated information on the College pus bike share, launched in partnership gic Plan, Dyer set up a Green Revolving website and in College publications— with the Allentown Parking Authority Fund that allows the College to invest which starts with this story. in October. Anyone in the communi- in energy savings projects and then put “We have made sustainability a ty can use the bike share, which runs the money saved on utilities in the fund priority at Muhlenberg, but we need through the Zagster app and costs $15 to repay the investment. to outwardly own it, both in the ways annually for students, faculty and staff “We’re going for the easier proj- that we communicate about our insti- and $25 annually for everyone else. ects at first, with quicker paybacks,” tution and in our actions,” Niesen- There are currently docking stations by Dyer says. “When the utility bills go baum says.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 33 The SSound of Success

34 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 or three of his years at Muhlenberg, Mike Alexander ’05 worked in the ad- missions office, interacting with prospective students and their parents. FHis supervisor, Melissa Falk ’92, the dean of admissions and financial aid, noticed he often mumbled. “I told him, ‘You have to speak louder and clearer. You have a lot of good ideas that need to be shared, and if someone doesn’t hear you or understand you, it’s lost,’” she says. “I didn’t want others to miss what he had to say.” Alexander’s professional peers recently recognized his good ideas in a big way: In October, Billboard named Alexander to its annual “40 Under 40 Top Young Power Players” list. But for Alexander, the executive vice president of international marketing for Universal Music Group’s East Coast labels (Republic Records, Island Records and Def Jam Recordings), one of the best things about being on the list is the number. “It’s great. It announces to the world that I’m still under 40,” he jokes. Those who know Alexander, however, aren’t surprised—by his success or his humility. “I told him, ‘I’m so proud of you!’” says Falk, who’s stayed in contact with Al- exander since his graduation. “He said, ‘It’s not a big deal.’ And I said, ‘Yes it is!’” Alexander acknowledges this, but adds that he didn’t do it on his own. “It’s an honor to be recognized alongside a lot of other amazing executives in the busi- ness,” he says. “I could not do what I do without the amazing team that I have behind me. They are family. And the success we have, we accomplish together.”

One of Billboard’s 40 Under 40, Mike Alexander ’05 found his way to the music business thanks to a fellow Mule. The Sound of Success By Brittany Risher

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 35 sense of family also played a role in Alexander coming Taub-Pervizpour, however, noticed Alexander’s focus and Ato Muhlenberg. After Falk stopped at his high school ability to connect concepts from class to their real-world ap- during his junior year, he decided to visit campus. Imme- plications. “He always had an example to share, and he had diately, he knew Muhlenberg was his top choice. “I knew I so many street smarts about media,” she says. “For many wanted a liberal arts school, and I looked everywhere. I re- students who want to study media & communication, it’s member walking around campus, and there was something challenging because it really turns our familiar ways of look- about it that felt like home,” he says. “Leaving home was ing at media inside and out. We try to help students look at scary, but I felt like I could see myself living there, having media with fresh eyes. Mike did that really, really well.” a life there. When you go to college, you are really saying, She also challenged Alexander, who earned a C in her ‘This is going to be my home for the next four years.’” class. “It was a wake-up call,” he says. “OK, this is what you However, Alexander felt he didn’t have the grades to be want to study and get your degree in? Then you need to be accepted, so he did everything he could to get in. In addi- better and you need to work harder.” tion to applying early decision, he also visited campus multi- ple times and interviewed with an admissions counselor. nother woman—Justine Flax ’05, his college girlfriend His strategy worked. As a first-year student without a Aturned wife, with whom he has two children—also major in mind, he decided to take various classes to see helped shape Alexander’s career path. During their sopho- what interested him most. And because of his passion for more year, Flax told him that he needed to get an internship, music, the media & communication courses stood out. His because that would help him get a job when he graduated. first class, Media and Society, taught by current Dean for So Alexander went to the Career Center and began flipping Digital Learning Lora Taub-Pervizpour, opened his eyes to through a binder of alumni. how media affects people. “I really enjoyed the idea of so- “I had no clue where I was going to get an internship,” cial sciences and at the same time, I was taking classes in Alexander says. But he came upon the name of Tom Simon music,” Alexander says. “I found a way to combine things I ’01, who worked for Universal Music Group. “I thought, ‘I was passionate about and really customize my education to love music, and working at a record label sounds cool,’” what I wanted it to be. I really loved it, but I still didn’t know says Alexander, who cold-called Simon. He headed to New what I was going to do with my life after graduation.” York City the next day for an interview in the same building

36 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 where he’s now worked for more than 13 years. anywhere else. This is my work family,” Alexander says. “In a “I have a soft spot for the home team,” Simon says. “Be- business that is not 9 to 5, that is a lifestyle, and that requires cause he was from Muhlenberg, I knew he was a smart guy.” traveling and being away from your family a lot, it makes it a During the internship, Alexander’s work ethic and pas- little easier when you are able to get up every day, go to work sion for the industry stood out. “About a month in, I thought, and travel the world with people you genuinely like.” ‘If he doesn’t get a job in this space, the music industry will His employees and past bosses say Alexander truly have missed out,’” Simon says. More than that, he stayed treats colleagues like family and promotes collaboration. level-headed. “We had four people in the international “Even as a student leader on campus, he was good department with all this responsibility. On top of that, the in- about expressing gratitude and making people feel valued,” dustry didn’t pay well in the beginning. I was a constant ball Falk says. “[The music industry] is really fast-paced and of stress,” Simon says. “Mike was calming and approached demanding with weird hours. He creates a positive work things in a way that de-stressed me. He’d say, ‘Let me help environment and empowers people. He appreciates them.” you get this done.’” “I’ve watched him with his team, and he cares about For Alexander, that experience plus another internship what they are doing. He has this leadership quality that peo- with the same team his junior year solidified what he want- ple want to get behind,” says Simon, adding that observing ed to do for his career. “During those internships, I realized Alexander taught him to speak more about “us” and “we” I could have the opportunity to be part of something that rather than “I” and “me”. “There is no better feeling than meeting an artist at the very beginning of their career, and then being a part of developing them into superstardom. There is no better feeling. You are helping someone fulfill their dreams with a front-row seat.”

I love—music—and play a major role in helping to shape And just as Simon opened the door to the music industry other people’s careers,” he says. “There is no better feeling for Alexander, Alexander helps current students and alumni. than meeting an artist at the very beginning of their career, “Mike is very committed to extending internship opportu- and then being a part of developing them into superstar- nities to Muhlenberg students that were extended to him dom. There is no better feeling. You are helping someone when he was a student,” Taub-Pervizpour says. fulfill their dreams with a front-row seat.” In addition to speaking at Alumni Week every April, he has hired three alumni. “Whether they’re interns or we’re hiring lexander began as an assistant at Universal in 2005 them full-time, you know you’re going to get somebody who` Aand worked his way up to his current position. “We is ambitious, passionate and dedicated to whatever they are handle all the marketing, publicity and sales for our artists doing,” Alexander says. He also answers emails and phone signed here outside of the United States,” he explains while calls from students that faculty or Career Center staffers sitting in his office, where photos of the musicians he works send his way because they want to be in the music industry. with—including Justin Bieber, Post Malone, The Weeknd, “Having the opportunity to help students in any way I can Shawn Mendes and Ariana Grande—line the walls. “A lot or just talk to somebody or mentor somebody, it’s fun. I enjoy of them I’ve been with since the beginning of my career. it,” he says. “Muhlenberg was a big family. The friends that I In a lot of ways, we grew up in the business together,” he made there, I’m still close with many of them today. It’s great says. “Those relationships are so important to me. I know to still have that connection with Lora Taub and Melissa Falk, them on a work basis, but I also have strong friendships both of whom I have tremendous respect for and care a lot with many of them. When you travel around the world with about. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I’m very someone for years, experiencing new things together, you fortunate to still be friends with them so many years later.” develop a very special bond.” Today, Falk and Alexander laugh about the mumbling “Mike is personable, and the artists latch onto that,” incident, and he even credits working in the admissions Simon adds. office for teaching him many of the skills that are important Just as important—if not more so—is his relationship with for business. “Communication—being able to talk to people his team. “I’ve worked with most of the people in this depart- and create relationships—that all came out of the admis- ment for the better part of 15 years. I can’t imagine being sions office,” he says, without mumbling a word.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 37 THE PULL OF TRADITIONS These memorable practices—some of which have been part of the College’s culture for decades—create shared experiences that unite past, present and future Muhlenberg students.

This photo from the Ciarla archives shows the Class of 1952, sophomores at the time, battling the class of 1953 in a game of tug of war. First-year students rest easy: The tradition of pitting incoming students against upperclassmen in feats of strength is not one that stood the test of time.

38 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 THE PULL OF TRADITIONS These memorable practices—some of which have been part of the College’s culture for decades—create shared experiences that unite past, present and future Muhlenberg students. BY BILL KELLER

sk a student about the moment they knew that Muhlenberg was the college for them, and you’ll hear many answers: Athe friendliness of campus, the interest that faculty showed in them during campus tours, the personal attention of admissions counselors, the beauty of the College Green. Ask a student about the moments and memories that stand out from their time at Muhlenberg, however, and you’ll likely hear about one (or a few) of the College’s traditions. Traditions come and go over time, but whether these events started organically or were carefully planned, one thing is certain: Muhlenberg wouldn’t be the same without them.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 39 Signing the Matriculation Ledger Each summer, June Advising brings incoming students and their families to campus as prepa- ration for their first semester at Muhlen- berg. These one-day visits allow students to meet their faculty advisors, explore campus and register for their first classes. It’s also an op- portunity to add their names to the College’s matriculation ledger, a ceremonial step towards the start of a Muhlen- berg education. Students and their parents attend an after- noon reception at the President’s house where members of the incoming class sign their names and commit to joining the Muhlenberg community. Sedehi Diversity Project Created by students in 2006, the Sedehi Diversity Project is named for founder Desirée Sedehi ’08 and is an Candle-lighting at integral part of Orientation weekend. This documentary Orientation and theatre piece begins production months before the incom- ing class arrives on campus: The cast conducts confidential Baccalaureate interviews with members of the College community that Each Orientation, students gather on the lawn out- span issues of race, gender, privilege, income, sexuality, side of Haas College Center to celebrate the start of their self-expression and what it means to be part of a diverse college experience. As individuals arrive, they’re handed campus. The resulting exchanges begin to take shape as an unlit candle that is soon brought to life through an act the basis for a script, with interviewers taking on the roles of community. President Williams lights the initial candle of campus community members, as well as sharing their and then lights the candles of alumni in attendance before own perspectives as Muhlenberg students. Rather than act the flame is passed along to the first-year students. As the as a statement of belief for the campus, this often-con- light passes from candle to candle, from student to stu- troversial production is designed to start conversations dent, the College’s “front lawn” is soon aglow. around difficult topics using authentic voices. That intimate moment is echoed four years later when The resulting performances target several distinct students gather for Baccalaureate, an interfaith service audiences: Orientation Leaders, who will help lead group that precedes Commencement weekend activities for discussions around the different views presented; incoming graduating students and their families. As students once students, exposed to life away from home for the first time; again pass light to adjacent peers, they are reminded that College employees, who learn about the dialogue occurring Commencement signals both a beginning and an end. The on campus; and casts of previous years, students and alum- flickering candles held by graduating students serve as the ni alike, who are guests at a special reunion performance. perfect bookend tribute to a four-year experience—and the start of a celebration of what comes next.

40 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 Sack Day “Movement Workshop for Dancers and Actors” may not ring a bell for most Muhlenberg students, but if you mention one of the class’s performances—Sack Attack, known as “Sack Day”—eyes will light up in recognition. On one day towards the end of each semester, students take to heart the lessons learned from Lecturer of Dance Susan Creitz in an act of public performance. A bustling Seegers Union is suddenly inundated by colorful amorphous sacks that follow Creitz and respond to the raps of a drumstick on her handheld gong. Stretchable fabric sacks obscure faces and identities, requiring performers to use the concepts of shape, time, mo- tion, texture and space to elicit emotion and communicate nonverbally. Creitz developed the course in the late 1980s, predating the College’s dance program, as a way for dancers and actors to expand ranges of ex- pression and build students’ ability to improvise. Over time, she found that the public performance took on a life of its own, with each class excited to continue the tradition they’d experienced as onlookers. The anonymity provided by the sacks changes the dynamic of dance for both audience and performer, requiring each to leave behind a known comfort zone and explore trust and spontaneity in a public setting.

Jefferson Field Day Each May on the last Friday of the spring semester before finals week begins, hundreds of Jefferson Elemen- tary students flood onto Muhlenberg’s campus to play and interact with dozens of the College’s students, faculty and staff. This year marks the 28th annual Jefferson Field Day, an event coordinated by the Office of Community Engage- ment as a yearly celebration of the relationship between the two organizations and a reminder of the College’s commitment to engage in deep, meaningful partnerships with our Allentown neighbors. Activities span the outdoor fields and the Life Sports Center and include races, obstacle courses and games of skill and chance. Located just a few miles from campus, Jefferson has long served as one of the College’s most enduring community partners, with near-weekly interac- A Cappella Fest tions between the school and Muhlenberg’s athletic teams, after-school programs and courses that embrace commu- Muhlenberg’s 110+ student organizations provide an nity-engaged learning experiences. opportunity to engage in passions, hobbies and interests of all kinds. For the vocally inspired, the College’s six a cappella groups cover an entire spectrum of sound. That joyous noise reaches a crescendo during A Cappella Fest, an event held each April that brings together Muhlenberg’s best singers from the Dynamics, InAcchord, The Girls Next Door, AcaFellas, Chaimonics and Noteworthy, as well as special guests from other colleges and universities. Ticket proceeds benefit a local nonprofit organization, including frequent recipient and community partner, the Allentown School District Foundation.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 41 FINALS TRADITIONS Late-night Breakfast Muhlenberg’s Wood Dining Commons offers incredible food (as evidenced by frequent placement on The Princeton Finals Scream Relieve a little of your finals-week stress Review’s Best Campus Food list) and a while breaking every library’s number-one place to connect with friends in an atmo- rule (that is: shh!). On the first evening of finals, sphere unlike any other on campus. When finals Tina Hertel, director of Trexler Memorial Library, leads week approaches, the College community raises the bar, a 30-second “stress scream.” The scream may last less and faculty, staff and alumni host a late-night breakfast than a minute, but the shared moment of solidarity—and for students. Attendees enjoy a free meal from 10 p.m. to much-needed levity—brings together students and the midnight—and may even catch sight of President Williams faculty and staff who support them during one of the most flipping omelets. demanding weeks of the year.

SENIOR WEEK TRADITIONS Senior Class Bell Tower Tours The Senior Class Connections Campaign is an initiative led by members of the graduating class and Advancement staff. Each year, campaign representatives set a challenge for their peers to make a gift that matches their class year. Those who meet or exceed that figure—$20.19 this year—receive a guided tour of the David A. Miller Bell Tower atop Haas College Center during Senior Week. From there, above the tops of Muhlenberg’s mighty red oak and elm trees, views span the College grounds and Allentown’s West End.

Senior Ball Senior Week is full of activities, events and celebra- tions —and the most extravagant of those festivities is Senior Ball, held the Wednesday before Commencement. This formal dinner and dance takes place at The Wood- lands Resort in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Students travel north, often on the College-provided shuttle, for an evening with friends and a few of their staff mentors acting as chaperones. Photos document the gowns and suits worn by the graduating class, and a multicourse dinner is served to the tables of 10 close friends. At the end of the evening, students return via shuttle or retire to their rooms to recover or continue the revelry. In just a few short days, four years as a Muhlenberg student will come to an end.

42 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 MORE TRADITIONS Library Forts Battle of the Chefs Thanks to the support of Muhlenberg’s Student Gov- This annual event pits Muhlenberg’s dining team ernment Association, Trexler Memorial Library is open against chefs from DeSales University, Lehigh and staffed with librarians 24 hours a day during finals University, Moravian College and Northampton week, giving students unfettered access to a quiet space for Community College in a culinary competition. study and preparation. Some students take full advantage of the opportunity: It’s not unusual to see makeshift forts, constructed of couch cushions and blankets brought from 100/50 Days student rooms, acting as impromptu caves where scholar- Student activities and housing & residence life ship continues uninterrupted by passers-by. staff plan off-campus festivities for 100 and 50 days before graduation.

Trick or Treat in the Halls Each Halloween, the residents of Prosser, Walz, Brown and Taylor Halls host an (early) evening of trick-or-treating for children of employees and neighbors of the College.

Candlelight Carols On the first weekend of Advent, Egner Memorial Chapel hosts musical and dance performances featuring carolers from the Chamber Singers and College Choir accompanied by College ensembles.

Welcome Back BBQ As move-in weekend draws to a close and Muhlenberg students, faculty and staff prepare to begin another academic year, the campus community gathers for an Champagne Brunch open-air barbeque. This casual event directly precedes College orientations are whirlwind affairs. For students the formal start of the semester—Opening Convocation. departing home for the first time, the flurry of forms to fill out, meetings to attend, locations to memorize and people to meet can seem daunting. Knowing how chaotic this ex- Holi Celebration perience can be, Muhlenberg Orientation Leaders schedule Holi is a Hindu festival that heralds the arrival of spring a moment for reflection into the bustle of the day. First- and the triumph of good over evil in a celebration of year students fill out reflection cards—a brief message to color and joy. At Muhlenberg, performances by Top their future selves—that are sealed and stored until their Naach, the College’s Bollywood dance troupe, precede last week on campus four years later. the throwing of colored powders that soon adorn the The senior class gathers for Champagne Brunch the faces, clothes and bodies of all participants. Friday before Commencement. Assistant Vice President of Alumni Affairs and Career Services Natalie Hand ’78 P’07 addresses the student body and asks them to open those Scotty Wood Weekend notes they wrote four years prior. Tears and laughter flow A November block of on-campus sports tournaments— freely as students read their self-addressed messages (and wrestling and men’s and women’s basketball—is find the occasional $20 bill gifted to their future self) and named after Muhlenberg’s original dining services think back to their first days on Muhlenberg’s campus. provider, Milton W. “Scotty” Wood.

Share your memories of Muhlenberg traditions with us by sending them to [email protected].

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 43 ALUMNI NEWS

From the Alumni Board President NEWSMAKERS My fellow alumni and friends,

As I complete my fourth and final year as president of the Alumni Board, and THE REV. ERIC SHAFER ’72 previously as its secretary, I look back on what we’ve accomplished with great Shafer is senior pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, pride. These exceptional accomplishments were California. The church is the site of a made possible with the support and involvement of shelter for local homeless students, the other Alumni Board officers and members. which is run by a nonprofit group composed of students from the Uni- The Career Services Committee recognized the versity of California, Los Angeles. That roadblock that existed for students who wanted group—Students 4 Students—was to gain experience through internships with non- featured on PBS SoCal in Decem- profit organizations or small businesses that were ber. Referring to the organization’s either unpaid or underpaid and established the founder, Louis Tse, in the segment, highly competitive Alumni Board Career Internship Shafer said, “He went to 50 places of Scholarship program. These stipends provide worship and got a no and this was the needed support to students for summer internships. 51st.” He went on: “Our 10 residents come after class, they come into the Our Alumni Achievement Awards Committee annually identifies shelter, they relax, they study, they graduates making outstanding and significant contributions in their have a meal together that is provided professions or the College community and honors them at An Evening of by more volunteers and then they have Distinction during Alumni Weekend. If you’ve never joined us for this event, I a safe place to sleep.” In January, CBS Sunday Morning also ran a story about would encourage you to attend one in the future to learn about some of the the student shelter. amazing things our alumni have accomplished.

Focused on outreach and engagement, the Alumni Engagement Committee JASON HAUPTMAN ’01 works closely with the Office of Alumni Affairs. At Alumni Weekend, members A few years ago, Kira Iaconetti, now of this committee, along with representatives from the Young Alumni 19, began having small episodes of epilepsy when she sang or heard mu- Council, are on campus to welcome alumni and raise awareness among the sic. An MRI revealed a marble-sized Muhlenberg community of the critical work of these two groups. mass in the right temporal lobe of her brain that triggered seizures when The Development Committee helped restructure the class fund chair she listened to or performed music. program by conducting interviews with current class fund chairs and testing Hauptman, a pediatric neurosurgeon a platform that facilitates their communication with classmates. This work is at Seattle Children’s Hospital, pro- invaluable to the Office of Advancement’s fundraising efforts. posed surgery to remove the tumor and suggested an “awake craniotomy” The Alumni Board manages the Alumni Trust Fund, which offers financial in which Iaconetti would have to sing support for innovative, high-quality projects and initiatives that provide a so he could map out areas of her brain direct benefit to students, alumni and the College. Recent grants awarded to protect. It was the first surgery of its include the digitization of the student newspaper (The Muhlenberg Weekly) kind at the hospital. The story caught and the yearbook (Ciarla), a student lounge in the new addition to East Hall, the attention of CBS News, CNN, NBC’s the Alumni Board Legacy Student Scholarship, charging stations in the Today Show, Inside Edition, Forbes, GQ lounge and the development of an app that guides users in a historical HuffPost and People. “Our focus was walking tour of the campus. not only on taking care of the tumor but making [Iaconetti’s] life better,” Each spring the application process is open for any alumni interested in Hauptman told People. “We wanted to exploring serving as board members. I invite you to visit the Alumni Board preserve the things she cares about, page on MuhlenbergConnect.com for information about the Board, its like her passion for pursuing a career in musical theater.” mission and members and the application process.

Stephen Hart ’76

44 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 THAW 2019

Robyn Duda ’04 Helps Bring First Student-Run THAW to Campus On January 17, Muhlenberg’s Toast Heard Around the World (THAW) included, for the first time, a student event planned by current students. More than 300 attendees came to the Seegers Union Event Space for food, drinks, music, circus perform- ers, giveaways and even an indoor ice-skating rink. A team of 10 students from a seminar series, The Experience

Experiment, planned the event with AMICO TOM BY PHOTOS crucial help from a professional: Robyn At Student THAW, an indoor ice-skating rink drew a crowd, and Bree Booth ’19 and Duda ’04, an event strategy and design Ayanna Costley ’19 donned feather boas for a photo. professional who lives in Philadelphia. She volunteered her time through the Jordan P’19, who donated Muhlen- offer. I was hooked.” She adds, “A lib- Career Center to offer a 10-week se- berg-branded Moscow Mule mugs for eral arts education provides a perfect ries on event design and management the first 100 guests to arrive. Duda, combination of skills for a career in and drove up to campus on Thursday who planned the largest student-run events because you need to know a evenings to instruct the students. They event on campus during her time at little bit about everything.” partnered with the Office of Student Muhlenberg, says, “My experience To learn more about the student-run Affairs to execute the event and coor- was memorable, inspiring and a sneak THAW, visit muhlenberg.edu/student- dinated with William P’19 and Kirsten peak of what a career in events could THAW2019. THAW By the Numbers 6 160+ 83 1,300+ Annual THAWs Locations hosted Alumni volunteers Alumni and students who have taken place THAW events in 2019 planned group events toasted Muhlenberg

Maya Spitalnik ’12 (on left holding banner) and her co-teacher Muhlenberg alumni celebrated THAW from campus to Seattle Aliza Borker ’17 celebrate THAW in their Muhlenberg-themed (above) and beyond. classroom at the Success Academy in New York City.

SAVE THE DATE: January 16, 2020 is the next THAW celebration. For more photos of this year’s event, visit muhlenbergconnect.com/thaw.

Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 | 45 The Last Page

A Social-Savvy Squirrel Learn what makes Muhlenberg’s most famous rodent tick—and tweet. Interview by Meghan Kita

ate last year, a tweet went viral. It read, “1. did you Lattend a college with squirrels on campus 2. did people assert that your school’s squirrels were, in some way, different from most squirrels.” At press time, it had more than 42,000 retweets and 265,000 likes. One of those retweets came from @MuhlenSquirrel, who describes himself in his bio as a “kind and gentle advocate for the Muhlenberg Squirrel Community.” Considering his regular activity on social media—he’s tweeted more than 1,800 times since joining in April 2016—we’d assert that yes, Muhlenberg Squirrel is different from most squirrels. We caught up with him (via DM, of course) in late January. MM What does your day-to-day routine look like? MS A typical winter day is hanging out in the nest, curled Muhlenberg Magazine Tell us about yourself. up in a ball, napping. I watch a lot of Netflix. Have you seen Muhlenberg Squirrel I am an eastern grey squirrel, aka Grace and Frankie? It’s hilarious. I keep up with current Sciurus carolinensis. I was born in spring 2013. I must have events via the Squirrel News Network or, for a different fallen out of my nest as a pup, and I was adopted by a nice perspective, Fox Squirrel News. human on Leh Street who nursed me back to health. That is where I picked up humanese. I settled on campus and MM You’ve tweeted that your “survival secret is coffee.” Do the rest is history. I am not a talking squirrel; we don’t you prefer to get it from Java Joe, the GQ or elsewhere? have the vocal apparatus for that. A talking squirrel—that MS Are you aware Seegers Union has a strict no-rodents would be ridiculous! I am pretty good at typing on phones. policy? As if rodents are some sort of filthy vermin. Mostly I Fortunately, humans lose their phones pretty frequently, so use my Squireurig and make my own. I am always finding one to use. MM What do you think our readers can learn from you? MM What are you trying to accomplish, and would MS Humans are always very stressed. Needlessly so. This you ever consider taking your message to other social- week it’s going to be 5 degrees, yet we survive in a ball of media platforms? twigs and leaves 40 feet up in a tree. You’ll be fine. So take MS My objective is to advocate for the squirrel community, stock of how lucky most of you are, and smile a little. provide you with a squirrel’s eye view of campus and introduce you to some of the beautiful things often overlooked by beings with busy lives. I might consider Instagram. Twitter seems more conversational. Twitter is, unfortunately, drowning in your politics to the point where it’s unpleasant. As a squirrel, I am better off staying out of those arguments.

56 | Muhlenberg Magazine spring 2019 ALUMNI NOTEBOOK

Save the Date Get Involved

Commencement/Discussions with Classes of 2010-19: YAC WANTS YOU Honorary Degree Recipients Young Alumni Council (YAC) members serve as May 18-19, 2019 volunteer liaisons between young alumni and the greater muhlenberg.edu/commencement Muhlenberg community. In the last year, YAC has: » Welcomed the Class of 2022 during Orientation Alumni Travel 2019 » Worked with the Alumni Board to engage 358 Land Journeys alumni during Alumni Weekend 2018 Ireland: Westport, May 21-29, 2019 » Learned about the importance of giving back by Imperial Splendors of Russia, September 4-13, 2019 participating in philanthropy training Apulia: Undiscovered Italy, October 23-31, 2019 » Recorded the Council’s highest #MULEMENTUM muhlenbergconnect.com/alumnitravel participation rate » Assembled 545 finals care packages for the Class Alumni Weekend 2019 of 2022 September 20-22, 2019 We’ll be hosting Homecoming and Reunion MAKE A DIFFERENCE. JOIN YAC TODAY. celebrations for class years ending in 4 and 9. For more information, contact Melissa Bodnar ’13 Email [email protected] to volunteer for at [email protected] or check out your class’s Reunion committee. muhlenbergconnect.com/volunteer.

The Muhlenberg Network: Did You Know? Add Some ’Berg Spirit Career Center staff conducted more than 220 alumni career coaching appointments last year as part of its to Your Social Event! summer Career-Center-To-Go program. The next time you plan a get-together Contact us at any stage of your career. with Muhlenberg friends, let us know and we will send you a ’Berg Box. More than 300 alumni volunteered to host students at their work, network with students or post Contact the Office of Alumni Affairs online at internship or job opportunities. muhlenbergconnect.com/bergbox and tell Contact us to get involved with assisting students. us the occasion, date and number of people attending, and we will customize a free box of Muhlenberg swag to fit your event. Be sure to More than 2,000 alumni are sharing advice with 500+ send us your attendee list and photos from your students on themuhlenbergnetwork.com. special occasion! Contact us to be a mentor or a shadow host or to provide internship opportunities.

GET CONNECTED themuhlenbergnetwork.com or on the iMuhlenberg app NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEHIGH VALLEY, PA 2400 Chew Street Allentown, PA 18104-5585 PERMIT NO. 759

The Sound Muhlenberg’s alumni network helped Mike Alexander ’05, one of Billboard’s 40 Under 40 Top Young Power of Success Players, get started in the music industry. Now, Alexander is an active part of that network. p.34