Marywood To Present Advocacy and Social Justice Day Marywood University will highlight the theme “Raise Your Voice, Shape Your Future” during events at this year’s Advocacy and Social Justice Day, Wednesday, November 5, on Marywood’s campus. Co-organizers of the event are Amy Fotta, director of community service and social justice, and Monica Law, Ph.D., director of the School of Business and Global Innovation. Featured public events include a panel session with highlights of the documentary, Making NEPA Home, featuring stories of resilience, unity, and cultural diversity, in the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life at 1 p.m. The panelists will include Kara Washington, WVIA; Julie Schumacher-Cohen, University of Scranton; and Ushu Mukelo, Congolese Community of Scranton. At 3 p.m., there will be a re-dedication and celebration of the Mother Theresa Maxis IHM Center, named in honor of the co-founder of the IHM Congregation. The event will feature a conversation with Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, and Lisa A. Lori, J.D., Marywood President, will give a presentation about the vision for the Center. There will be a Feed a Friend Food Drive challenge kick-off held on campus, as well as a social justice art display in the Kresge Gallery at the Insalaco Center for Studio Arts. Throughout the day, the campus community can participate in social justice discussion circles and tours of the campus green house and flex farm hydroponics system. A clothing swap also will be held. For more information about Advocacy and Social Justice Day at Marywood University, contact Amy Fotta at amfotta@marywood.edu or call 570-348-6211, extension 4593.
Marywood Explores Global Initiatives in Colombia Recently, Marywood University representatives visited Medellín and Bogota, Colombia, to expand Marywood’s global initiatives and explore program development and recruitment in the country. Representatives included Jessica A. Quintana Hess, assistant dean of global initiatives & programs, and Chris Speicher, Ph.D., associate professor of business. Hess conducted recruitment events, including independent school visits, potential university partner site visits, and the EducationUSA Bogota series, while Dr. Speicher presented at Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (Region 9) conference. Jointly, they conducted a series of meetings at the university’s current International Programs partner, Universidad EAN, in Bogota, Colombia, to review proposals for program expansion and development. The trip culminated with a special lecture about design thinking, hosted by Marywood University and presented by Dr. Speicher. For more information about Marywood’s Global Initiatives, visit: marywood.edu/life-at-mu/student-experience/global.
Marywood University Nursing Program Earns Perfect Pass Rate Graduates achieve 100% on national licensure exam for third straight year. Marywood University’s nursing program was notified that its 2025 graduating class achieved a perfect 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), well exceeding the year-to-date national average of 87 percent for first-time U.S.-educated nursing candidates. The NCLEX is the world’s premier licensure exam and uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT) technology to deliver the exam, ensuring a valid and reliable measurement of nursing competence. Marywood’s 2025 nursing graduates, pictured here, have achieved a 100 percent pass rate for first-time test takers on the NCLEX licensure exam. This is the third consecutive year that Marywood nursing graduates have attained this outstanding achievement, exceeding the national average. This is the third consecutive year that Marywood nursing graduates have achieved a perfect pass rate within one year of graduation. “Our nursing graduates’ achievement of a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX nursing exam for the third consecutive year is a testament to their dedication, resilience, and exceptional preparation,” said Dr. Theresa Tulaney, chair of Marywood University’s nursing program. “We are committed to empowering our students to excel in their nursing careers while making a meaningful difference and providing their patients with an exceptional standard of care.” Marywood University further expanded its deep commitment to health sciences, including nursing, when it opened the Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion last year. “This perfect pass rate for our nurses, coupled with the 100 percent overall pass rate for our physician assistants, demonstrates that Marywood University consistently produces top graduates in health sciences, who score well above the national average,” said Shelby Yeager, Dean of the College of Health Sciences. “We’re tremendously proud of our graduates and continuously strive to maintain that standard of excellence through the academic and clinical rigor of our health sciences programs.” For additional information about Marywood University’s nursing degree programs, click here.
Marywood University To Host Trumpet Masterclass Renowned Musician Dr. Langston J. Fitzgerald III Will Be Featured Marywood University’s Trumpet Studio will host a guest artist and masterclass on Saturday, October 11, 1 PM, with Dr. Langston J. Fitzgerald, III. This event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Marian Chapel at the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life on Marywood’s campus. Dr. Fitzgerald, professor emeritus of trumpet at Penn State University, is a renowned musician, who played trumpet for more than three decades with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Fitzgerald also was a trumpet faculty member at the Peabody Conservatory of Music for 15 years. To learn more about Marywood’s Music, Theatre, and Dance programs, visit: marywood.edu/mtd.
Marywood University Announces Fall 2025 Performance Schedule Marywood University’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department is raising the curtain on their Fall 2025 performance season, showcasing everything from the timeless power of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard to the vibrant sounds of wind symphonies, string ensembles, and an inspiring opera workshop. With performances that highlight both student artistry and faculty mentorship, this season promises to fill the stage with passion, talent, and creativity—offering the campus and community alike a chance to experience the transformative power of live performance. The Cherry Orchard (October 2, 3, 4, 7:30 p.m. – October 5, 2 p.m. Sette LaVerghetta Auditorium) is Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece, and the last play he wrote before his death, The Cherry Orchard is simultaneously a comedy, a tragedy, realism, and absurdism. It is about the most delicate and intimate of human feelings and experiences, the sometimes-farcical nature of life, and how a changing society manifests in concrete changes in the lives of individuals and families. Admission: $15/adults and $10/students. Admission to major ensemble performances: Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Jazz Ambassadors is $10/adults and $5/students. The remainder of the schedule is free and open to the public. Featured concerts include: The Orchestra Concert – (October 18, 7:30 p.m., Sette-LaVerghetta Auditorium) will allow their audience the opportunity to experience the power and beauty of Romantic-era masterpieces with the Marywood University Symphony Orchestra, featuring Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 and Farrenc’s Overture No. 2—performed by passionate student and community musicians who simply love making music! The Northeastern Youth Wind Ensemble Concert (October 19, 3:00 p.m., Sette-LaVerghetta Auditorium) is affiliated with American Youth Ensembles, offering middle and high school musicians an opportunity to perform with other student instrumentalists who simply enjoy making music. They will perform a variety of repertoire ranging from traditional (transcriptions, marches and works of serious and artistic merit) to cutting-edge contemporary composition and music from popular media venues. The Percussion Ensemble Concert (November 9, 7:30 p.m., Sette-LaVerghetta Auditorium) is a concert of chamber music performed by the Marywood University Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Steven Mathiesen. Program features include works by Nathan Daughtrey, Joel Smales, an arrangement of music by Aaron Copland. The concert is free and open to the public. The Faculty Recital (November 15, 7:00 p.m., Marian Chapel) will feature professional performers on the faculty of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance will share the stage in a recital of instrumental and vocal solos and ensembles. The Tutti Concert (November 16, 2:00 p.m., Sette LaVerghetta Auditorium) founded at Marywood University in 2016, is an innovative adaptive program that combines music therapy and music education to create an enriching musical journey for individuals with unique learning styles. Our free concert at celebrates the achievements of our students who have learned new instruments, developed musicianship skills, and formed lasting friendships. The Wind Symphony Concert (November 16, 4:30 p.m., Sette LaVerghetta Auditorium) continues their tradition of presenting classic, yet entertaining works for the wind band. This season’s concert features transcriptions for band by Piazzolla, Verdi and Elgar as well band chestnuts by Ralph Vaughn Williams and Clifton Williams. Join us Sunday for a concert that is sure to inspire. The Jazz Ambassadors Concert (November 21, 8:00 p.m., Marian Chapel) will feature an evening of iconic blues, funk, and swing. This concert highlights the timeless spirit of mid-century jazz with dynamic arrangements, smooth style, and remarkable technique—rooted in a profound dedication to the blues. The String Ensemble Concert (November 24, 7:00 p.m., Marian Chapel) will feature a captivating program featuring Christopher Wilson’s rarely heard Suite for Strings—a true gem of the repertoire—paired with an arrangement of Gershwin’s tender Lullaby. Join us for this free performance. The Opera Workshop Performance (December 1, 7:00 p.m., Sette-LaVerghetta Center) will be a culmination of a semester-long study of excerpts from various operas, the Opera Workshop performance will feature 17 students in fully staged renditions of ensembles by Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Copland, and others. The Evening of Strings Concert (December 3, 7:30 p.m., Marian Chapel) Marywood string students take center stage in this end-of-semester showcase, performing a wide range of solo works. The Guitar Ensemble Concert (December 4, 5:00 p.m., Marian Chapel) is happy to present their Holiday Concert – Meditating, Grooving, and Celebrating!This year’s program offers a festive journey through different moods and styles—meditating with Gabriel Fauré’s graceful Pavane, grooving with a vibrant Brazilian minimalist work by Paulo Porto Alegre, and celebrating the season with beloved traditional holiday songs. Together, these pieces create a program that blends reflection, rhythm, and joy, capturing the spirit of the year’s end in music The Chamber Singers Christmas Concert (December 7, 2:00 p.m., Marian Chapel) will feature sacred and secular music by Cipriano de Rore, Josef Rheinberger, Michael Joncas, René Clausen, Jonathan Rathbone, and others. The performance will include several familiar and original carols. The String Project Concert (December 8, 6:30 p.m., Sette-LaVerghetta Center) rings in the season with a festive Holiday Gala Concert, showcasing students ages 4–18 performing in string orchestras and class ensembles. For additional information about the Chamber Series and other performances at Marywood University, please visit marywood.edu/mtd/events, or call (570) 348-6268.
Marywood University’s PA Graduates Achieve Overall Perfect Pass Rate Marywood University’s Physician Assistant Program was recently notified that it has achieved an overall perfect pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), the national certifying examination given to graduating physician assistants. This exam must be passed to be eligible for licensure in all 50 states. Marywood’s 2025 graduating Physician Assistant class is pictured following the program’s annual white coat ceremony. Marywood’s PA Program has had an overall perfect pass rate on the national certifying exam (PANCE) for five consecutive years The program’s overall pass rate of 100 percent, which it has held for five consecutive years, includes a first-time pass rate of 98 percent for its most recent graduating class. The national mean pass rate is 92 percent. The overall PANCE pass rate includes all exam attempts, while the first-time pass rate only counts the successful attempts by candidates who took the exam for the first time. The overall pass rate is typically higher than the first-time pass rate, because this statistic accounts for all testing attempts, including retakes. “This overall perfect pass rate on the PANCE for our physician assistants, coupled with the 100 percent pass rate on NCLEX for our nurses, demonstrates that Marywood University consistently produces top graduates in health sciences, who score well above the national average,” said Shelby Yeager, Dean of the College of Health Sciences. “We’re tremendously proud of our graduates and continuously strive to maintain that standard of excellence through the academic and clinical rigor of our health sciences programs.” Marywood University further expanded its deep commitment to health sciences, including physician assistants, when it opened the Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion last year. Physician Assistants are licensed medical professionals who work under the supervision of licensed physicians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for physician assistants is projected to grow 20 percent by 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. As demand for healthcare services grows, physician assistants will be needed to provide care to patients. For additional information about Marywood University’s Physician Assistant Program, please visit marywood.edu/physician-assistant-masters-degree.
Marywood University Offering Free Mental Health Screenings October 9, 2025, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Marywood University’s Psychological Services Center According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2021), 8.3% of adults experience a major depressive episode. The World Health Organization (2019) estimates that 280 million people of all ages suffer from depression worldwide. Screening for depression and other mood disorders provides individuals and families with the opportunity to identify warning signs early and to connect with appropriate treatment. It is important to note that symptoms can look different across and within cultures. National Depression Screening Day, set for October 9, 2025, serves as a supportive community initiative to connect the public with mental health resources. Through this program, free depression screenings are offered at Marywood’s Psychological Services Center, located in the McGowan Center on the university’s campus. The screenings will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each screening lasts approximately 15 minutes. Early recognition and treatment of depression provide the best opportunity for recovery. The screenings offered at Marywood University’s Psychological Services Center are free, confidential, brief, and require no appointment or commitment. Although the screenings are not diagnostic, they do provide valuable insight. Additionally, screenings can help to identify symptoms associated with depression or other mood disorders and clarify if help may be needed. For questions about depression screenings or other mental health concerns, please contact Marywood’s Psychological Services Center at (570) 348-6269. Written by: Kelsey Herrity and Ethan Warner, student therapists at Marywood University.
Marywood University Proudly Presents Lenape/Delaware Leader Curtis Zunigha As Speaker Event Is Being Co-sponsored by Marywood and the University of Scranton Curtis Zunigha (Lenape/Delaware) will present “Remembrance & Continuance: The Spirit of Lenapehoking” on Monday, October 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m., in the Latour Room, Nazareth Student Center, on the campus of Marywood University. The program is free and open to the public and is being co-sponsored by Marywood University and the University of Scranton. Zunigha is an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians in Oklahoma, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He will discuss the return of the Lenape descendants to their original homeland, where he and other contemporary Lenape leaders from Delaware Tribal Nations are forming community partnerships that bring Indigenous knowledge to the area’s history and environmental advocacy. Zunigha is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Lenape Center based in Manhattan, N.Y. The Lenape Center’s mission is continuing Lenapehoking, the original homeland, in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, through community, culture, and the arts. As Director of Agriculture for Lenape Center, Zunigha has initiated a Lenape Seed Garden Project in his home community in Oklahoma. The project will grow ancestral varieties of corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, gourds, and tobacco. A specialist in Delaware/Lenape culture, language, and traditional practices, Zunigha has 35 years of experience in tribal government & administration, community development, telecommunications, and cultural preservation. He also has presented locally at the University of Scranton and at The Greenhouse Project in Nay Aug Park.
Marywood University Earns “Best Value” Recognition Among NEPA Colleges Marywood University continues to offer the “Best Value” among Northeast Pennsylvania universities, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges ranking. Moving up four places to #14 on the Regional Universities (North) rankings for “Best Value,” Marywood continues to demonstrate its exceptional affordability and academic excellence as the top regional four-year private university included in this category. According to U.S. News, the “Best Value” ranking considers a school’s academic quality—the higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included. U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically. In the “Best Colleges for Veterans” (Regional Universities North category), Marywood is ranked at #29. Marywood has consistently placed in the top 30 institutions for this category year over year. According to U.S. News, this designation includes the top-ranked schools in the 2026 Best Colleges rankings that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees. Marywood University also had a solid showing at #61 (tie) in its overall position on the “Best Regional Universities North” list, which includes institutions from seven states. Marywood is one of only four local universities to attain placement on this list, and the second highest ranked, demonstrating its enduring quality as a higher education provider in the region. Additionally, Marywood placed in the top 100 for Top Performers on Social Mobility, ranking at #88 (tie) overall. Marywood is the only local university to place in the top 100 for this category. This includes institutions that are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants. The social mobility ranking also includes borrower debt and college graduates earning more than high school graduates. Click here for additional information regarding Marywood University’s rankings in U.S. News & World Report
Marywood University Alum, Frank Kelleher, Selected as Judge for Miss America Pageant Marywood University Alumnus, Trustee, and Scranton native, Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR Southeast Properties, recently served as a judge for the Miss America Competition, one of the nation’s most iconic and celebrated events. Kelleher was chosen for the prestigious role based on his professional expertise, leadership, and longstanding record of excellence. “This is an extraordinary honor for Frank, and it reflects the influence and achievement of Marywood graduates on national stages,” said Lisa Lori, J.D., President of Marywood University. “Frank’s career and commitment to leadership embody the values of confidence, service, and excellence that define a Marywood education.” In addition to his role as a Miss America judge, Kelleher is one of the most visible executives in American motorsports. As President of Daytona International Speedway—the “World Center of Racing”—he directs operations for the DAYTONA 500, Rolex 24, Daytona 200, Daytona Supercross, and North America’s largest rock music festival, Welcome to Rockville. He also oversees Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway, the latter set to host NASCAR’s Championship Weekend in 2026. A lifelong racer and two-time World Karting Association Champion, Kelleher earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Marywood University and continues to give back as a member of the University’s Board. He resides in Ormond Beach, Florida, with his wife, Lauren, and their two children.
