University of Scranton Among Highest-Ranked Catholic Universities, Per Niche The University of Scranton’s status as one of America’s best colleges has been confirmed in numerous publications, including Niche, which placed Scranton on more than a dozen of its rankings of colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and nationwide. Scranton’s highest rankings include a pair of top-50 national placements in Best Catholic Colleges (No. 25 of 158) and Best College Food (No. 38 of 1,355). In addition to the national rankings, Scranton is No. 2 in the state in both categories. Additionally, Scranton is ranked No. 79 out of 710 colleges in the U.S. with no application fee. In Pennsylvania, Scranton ranks fourth. The University earned numerous other top-15 rankings in Pennsylvania: No. 7, Best Colleges for Communications No. 8, Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance No. 10, Best College Campuses No. 15, Colleges with the Best Student Life No. 15, Top Private Universities No. 15, Best Colleges for Nursing The University of Scranton also ranks No. 1 in Best Colleges in Scranton Area, while appearing in the top 25% in Pennsylvania in categories including Best Colleges, Best Colleges for Education, Best Test-Optional Colleges, Best College Dorms, Colleges with the Best Academics, Colleges with the Best Professors, Best Colleges for Biology and Best Value Colleges. Touting more than 500,000 college reviews from students and an algorithm that draws from a variety of vetted sources, Niche says it applies rigorous checks of its data to ensure accurate rankings. “Our rankings are built on a powerful combination of trusted data and honest feedback from real students on campus,” Niche said on its website. Founded in 1888, The University of Scranton is a Catholic and Jesuit university with more than 70 majors and more than 40 graduate programs housed in its three colleges (the Kania School of Management, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Leahy College of Health Sciences). Scranton has recently been recognized in national rankings from U.S. News and World Report, TIME Magazine and The Princeton Review. The most recent First Destination Survey by the Roche Family Center for Career Development revealed success rates of 99% and 100% for Scranton’s undergraduate and graduate members of the Class of 2024.
University of Scranton, Scranton-Led NASA Grant To Bring Space Science To Communities Nationwide Funded through NASA’s Science Activation (SciAct) program as a cooperative agreement, the University has been entrusted with a nearly $5.5 million grant to lead a space education and citizen science initiative focused on space weather and amateur radio. The project aims to bring scientific discovery out of research laboratories and into schools, libraries, museums and communities across the nation. Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., associate professor of physics and engineering, will serve as the principal investigator of the project, titled “Discovering the SPARC: Space Physics Through Amateur Radio Connections.” Collaborating institutions include the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Space Science Institute, MIT Haystack Observatory, University of Alabama and New Jersey Institute of Technology with Kera Collective as the external evaluator. The grant totals $5,495,781 and will be administered as a five-year agreement through 2031. “This is an extremely competitive and significant grant,” Dr. Frissell said. “SciAct is a premier program in which NASA gives its science back to the very people who fund this work — the American people. Not only does this award recognize The University of Scranton as a national leader in the field of space weather and citizen science, but it also gives us a unique opportunity to partner with NASA and other SciAct grantees in a way that will magnify our ability to have a meaningful impact.” The project’s centerpiece is the creation of “Discovery Stations,” which will be located at public venues and will allow visitors to see real-time space weather data. Individuals will be able to learn how solar activity affects communications. Additionally, the grant will fund the deployment of approximately 85 Citizen Science Space Weather Monitors throughout the country. These stations will collect data on radio signals and ionospheric conditions, contributing observations to a national research network while also serving as education tools for the public. Also, the ARRL Teachers Institute will provide educators with curriculum materials that will connect classroom lessons to live NASA data. Beyond the programs and technology being developed, the initiative is designed to support a self-sustaining network of teachers, amateur radio operators, citizen scientists and community partners who will have access to NASA science long after the initial funding period ends. For Dr. Frissell, one of the most important aspects of the award is the opportunity to collaborate with other organizations. Together, they will make NASA science more accessible to the public, developing new ideas and approaches that extend far beyond what any one institution could accomplish on its own. “We will be innovating and collaborating with teams across the SciAct portfolio,” he said. “I can only imagine the great things that will come of this.”
University of Scranton’s Presidential Scholars Program Permanently Endowed The University of Scranton’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, which sponsors one of the University’s most ambitious and prestigious scholarship initiatives, is now fully endowed with permanent support. Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, made the announcement recently at the 25th annual President’s Medal Gala at Pier Sixty in Manhattan. The total amount of gifts and pledges comes to $30.2 million, Father Marina said. The event was first held in 2002 to establish and fully fund the endowment, among other goals. The University’s Presidential Scholars Program awards four-year, full-tuition scholarships to incoming first-year students with outstanding high school records and notable community involvement. “At its core, the Presidential Scholars Program is about expanding access to education,” Father Marina said. “Consistent with our Catholic and Jesuit mission, we believe that gifted and motivated students should have the opportunity to pursue an outstanding education regardless of their financial means. By securing a full endowment of this program, the University and its benefactors have invested in future generations whose young men and women will continue to have access to a life-changing education that forms the whole person.” The milestone was achieved through the collective generosity of thousands of donors over the past 24 years. Since its inception, the program has supported hundreds of students. “Each of the nine Presidential Scholars in the Class of 2027 came to Scranton with their own interests, goals and dreams,” Jillian DelBalso ’27 said at Thursday’s gala on behalf of the Class of 2027 Presidential Scholars. “Our experiences may not have all looked the same, but we share something important. Someone believed in what we could become before we even had the chance to fully discover it for ourselves. That is what the Presidential Scholarship does. It doesn’t just invest in a student’s education. It invests in their future.” The President’s Medal, presented at the gala to individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields while demonstrating extraordinary compassion for others, was awarded to Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss. The Weisses’ lifetime of philanthropy has included significant gifts that helped construct Weiss Hall, Weiss Field and the creation of the Robert and Marilyn Weiss Pediatric Low Vision Research and Training Suite.
University of Scranton, Historic 25th U.S. Conference on Disability Set for October 7 The University of Scranton’s U.S. Conference on Disability will celebrate a major milestone on Wednesday, Oct. 7, commemorating a quarter-century of advocacy, education and leadership dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. This year’s conference theme, “25 Years of Progress: Honoring the Legacy of Edward R. Leahy, Jr.,” will focus on disability inclusion and careers, as well as transforming barriers into opportunities. Founded through the generosity and vision of Edward and Patricia Leahy and inspired by their son, Edward R. Leahy, Jr., the conference has become one of the nation’s longest-running university-based forums on disability issues. The conference has created a space where educators, health care professionals, policymakers, students, families and advocates can share ideas and research to better the lives of individuals with disabilities. Among those who will speak at the event, hosted on campus at the DeNaples Center, are: 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. — Former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who currently serves The University of Scranton as its Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service. 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. — Mason Ameri, Ph.D., professor of professional practice at Rutgers University. 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. — Kerry Magro, Ed.D., best-selling author and speaker. 1 to 2:30 p.m. — Kathy West-Evans and John Evans, founders of Abilities United Consulting. 3 to 4:30 p.m. — Rebecca Alexander, award-winning author and disability rights advocate. The daylong event begins with registration and a continental breakfast from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. and concludes at about 4:30 p.m. It is presented by The University of Scranton, the Leahy College of Health Sciences and the Edward R. Leahy, Jr., Endowment. For more information, visit the conference’s webpage.
A.I. Ethics Conference Returning to the University of Scranton in 2027 The second Confronting the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence conference will be held at the University of Scranton on Thursday, April 29, through Saturday, May 1, 2027. A mixer and keynote lecture will kick things off on Thursday, followed by a full day of presentations, a second keynote lecture and a banquet on Friday; and a half day of presentations and plenary session on Saturday. University officials hope to build on last year’s strong showing, in which attendees represented about 50 organizations from 18 states and Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom. “Last year’s conference demonstrated that there is a real appetite for serious, interdisciplinary conversation about the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence,” said Dr. George Aulisio, dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library and conference co-planner. “We welcomed more than 100 participants from across the United States and internationally, representing an extraordinary range of disciplines and professions.” Dr. Aulisio added that the conference strives to be “a space where scholars and professionals can engage these questions thoughtfully and across disciplinary boundaries.” Organizers of last year’s inaugural event said the interest in the conference showed that across academics, business, healthcare, law and policy and countless other fields, there is a desire to better understand artificial intelligence and its applications. “Artificial intelligence is reshaping our schools, our hospitals, our legal systems, our entire lives,” said Daniel R. Marenda, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and conference co-planner. “But at its core, this technology is a reflection of the humans who build it and of the society we live in. “How do we ensure these tools serve human dignity rather than diminish it? Last year’s conference took on this question directly. Our speakers spanned topics from healthcare to self-actualization, philosophy to physics; from AI doctors, to AI actors, AI tutors and AI students. I’m looking forward to seeing what topics this year’s speakers confront and how our understanding of this ever-changing technology continues to evolve.” Registration is now open. Proposal submissions are welcome and will close on Nov. 6.
Economist Nicholas Bloom To Deliver Henry George Lecture at University of Scranton Nicholas Bloom, Ph.D., the William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University, will deliver The University of Scranton’s 40th Henry George Lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. Dr. Bloom’s lecture, “How Working from Home Reshaped America,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public. Dr. Bloom is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading economists studying productivity, management practices, technological change, remote work and innovation. His research has transformed the understanding of how management quality influences firm performance and economic growth. It has provided influential evidence on the effects of hybrid and remote work on organizations and employees. His work has been widely cited by policymakers, business leaders and researchers around the world. Dr. Bloom earned his Ph.D. in Economics from University College London and joined Stanford University’s Department of Economics after faculty appointments at the London School of Economics and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. He is a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), a fellow of the Econometric Society and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research has appeared in many of the profession’s leading journals, including the American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economic Studies and Management Science. He has received numerous honors for his research contributions and is widely recognized for pioneering large-scale studies examining management practices across countries, as well as the economics of working from home. Considered the preeminent public lecture series on economics in northeastern Pennsylvania, the Henry George Lecture Series is presented by The University of Scranton’s Department of Economics, Finance and International Business and the University’s chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international honor society in economics. Previous Henry George lecturers include 13 Nobel Prize winners in Economics: Philippe Aghion (2025), Daron Acemoglu (2024), David Card (2021) Paul Romer (2018), Robert Shiller (2013), Tom Sargent (2011), Peter Diamond (2010), Paul Krugman (2008), Joseph Stiglitz (2001), George Akerlof (2001), Amartya Sen (1998), Robert Lucas (1995) and Robert Solow (1987). The lecture series is named in honor of 19th-century American economist and social reformer Henry George and is supported financially through a grant from the Progress and Poverty Institute. For more information about the Henry George Lecture, call 570-941-4209 or email pamela.turbessi@scranton.edu.
Performance Music at University of Scranton Presents “Baroque or Bust!” as Fall Season Opener Performance Music at The University of Scranton will welcome violinist Aisslinn Nosky and cellist Caroline Nicolas on Friday, September 18, when they present a recital entitled “Baroque or Bust!” The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton. Admission is free. The concert is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Hailed as “superb” by The New York Times and “a fearsomely powerful musician” by The Toronto Star, Nosky has served as soloist and director with ensembles around the world, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Holland Baroque, the Victoria Symphony, the Hamilton Philharmonic and the New World Symphony. In 2011, Nosky was appointed concertmaster of the Grammy-winning Handel and Haydn Society, founded in 1815 and one of the world’s longest continuously performing musical organizations. Nosky has recorded the complete Haydn and Mozart violin concerti with H&H on the CORO label. A passionate educator, Nosky has been on faculty at Amherst Early Music Festival, the International Baroque Institute of Longy, Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, Mount Holyoke College and The Banff Centre. She has given masterclasses, workshops and performances at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the New England Conservatory of Music, Codarts Rotterdam and The Juilliard School. Canadian cellist and viol player Nicolas enjoys an international career performing repertoire spanning the Middle Ages to the 21st century. Acclaimed as “a bright new gamba star” by The Strad Magazine, she performs with leading ensembles across Europe and North America, including The English Concert, Philharmonia Baroque, Kammerorchester Basel, Ars Lyrica Houston, Pacific MusicWorks and New World Symphony. She recently completed her tenure as Music Director of New Baroque Orchestra and now serves as Artistic Director of Ars Poetica. A dedicated educator, she has taught at Yale University, the Peabody Conservatory, the University of Victoria and the University of Washington, and she has led workshops for organizations including the Viola da Gamba Society of America and the Port Townsend Early Music Workshop. Her students have gone on to study at leading conservatories across North America and Europe, and she has been featured in Early Music America for her work on historical bowing techniques. For further information on the concert (or related education events for student musicians and music educators), call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music.
University of Scranton’s Hope Horn Gallery announces upcoming exhibitions The Hope Horn Gallery at The University of Scranton will present five exhibitions during its 2026-27 season, featuring works by acclaimed artists, educators and collectors while also hosting lectures, receptions and educational programs. The season opens Sept. 8 with “Joy in the Process: Selections from a Regional Collection,” a curated exhibition highlighting artists who have helped shape northeastern Pennsylvania’s arts scene. This curated exhibition features work by John Willard Raught, Graydon Mayer, Hope Cumming Horn, Predrag Djordjevic, Louis Pontone, Cliff Prokop, William Tersteeg and Karl Neuroth, among others. The curator’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium, followed by a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall. The exhibition will remain on display through Oct. 9. The next exhibition is “Peter Hoffer: Reflections Five Decades of Art,” opening Oct. 19. Hoffer, professor emeritus at Marywood University, has worked for than 50 years as an artist and educator. The exhibition features paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints and collages he produced. The artist’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium, followed by a public reception on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will remain on display through Nov. 20. “Inscapes: Paintings by Leigh Pawling” is the next exhibition, which will open Feb. 1. Pawling, who maintains a studio in Kingston, is a painter who uses systems of mark-making to explore the symbolism of numbers, vertical lines, circles, the figure in motion and nature. Pawling’s artist’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium, with a public reception on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will remain on display through Feb. 26. Next, opening March 8, is “Meditations: Drawings by J.M. Dunn,” an artist and art historian, and professor emerita at The University of Scranton. Dunn has spent a lifetime considering and creating relationships between words and images. Spontaneously produced with marker using an automatic drawing technique, this series is informed by Dunn’s study and understanding of Biblical narratives and Renaissance art. The artist’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 12, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium. A public reception will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall. It will remain on display through March 24. The final scheduled exhibition is “Jon Carsman: Painting and Place,” opening April 1. Carsman was born and raised in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Back Mountain region. He was a painter and printmaker known for his vibrant images of forest streams, village roads and urban neighborhoods. Included in the exhibition are acrylic and watercolor paintings representing Carsman’s work from the 1970s and 1980s. The artist’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 2, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium. A public reception will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall. It will remain on display through May 14. The Hope Horn Gallery is a facility devoted to fostering the arts in northeastern Pennsylvania with exhibitions and programs designed to complement the University’s curricula, encouraging campus and community collaborations, supporting regional artists, providing arts in education opportunities and showing students’ work. All exhibitions, lectures and receptions are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the Hope Horn Gallery’s webpage.
University of Scranton releases schedule of fall events The University of Scranton has released a list of the events it has planned on campus for the Fall 2026 semester. They are all listed below: Sept. 8-Oct. 9: Art Exhibit: “Joy in the Process: Selections from a Regional Collection.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Sept. 11: 5 p.m. Art Gallery Curator’s Lecture: “Joy in the Process: Selections from a Regional Collection.” Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Reception follows at the Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Sept. 17: 7:30 p.m. Ignatian Values in Action Lecture: “Searching for God at Ground Zero” presented by Rev. James Martin, S.J. H’17. Byron Recreation Complex. Free. Call 570-941-7520 or email linda.walsh@scranton.edu. Sept. 18: 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest” presented by Rev. James Martin, S.J. H’17, editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, and author of several New York Times bestsellers. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Sept. 18: 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital: Baroque or Bust!” Aisslinn Nosky, violin, and Caroline Nicolas, cello. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Sept. 19: 8:30 a.m. Schemel Forum “University for a Day.” Topics discussed: “The ‘New Right’ and the Old Liberalism of John Courtney Murray, S.J.;” “Stress, Mindfulness, and Resilience: Small Changes, Big Results;” and “Evaluating Alternative College Football Playoff Structures: A Multicriteria Framework for Balancing Stakeholder Objectives.” Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Sept. 26: 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “Family Weekend Concert: Swingin’ The Classics” featuring The Anderson Twins Sextet with an appearance by The University of Scranton Concert Choir. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 2-4: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday “Somewhere In Between”presented by The University Players. Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu. Sept. 28: 5:30 p.m. Lecture by John Feal and representatives from the FealGood Foundation about their experiences at Ground Zero on 9/11 and their 20-plus years lobbying Congress for first responder and military healthcare. Sponsored by University Advancement as part of the Royals Remember 9/11 project. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu. Oct. 7: 8:30 a.m. 25th Annual U.S. Conference on DISABILITY “25 Years of Progress: Honoring the Legacy of Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Disability Inclusion and Careers Transforming Barriers into Opportunities.” McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4308 or visit www.scranton.edu/disabilityconference. Oct. 7: 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “The Coroner’s Silence: Death Records and the Hidden Victims of Police Violence” presented by Terence Keel, Ph.D., an award-winning professor of human biology and society and African American studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and founding director of the lab for bioCritical studies. Rose Room. Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Oct. 7: 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “General Recital” featuring The University of Scranton Performance Music student musicians in solo, duo, trio and small ensemble performances. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Oct. 19-Nov. 20: Art Exhibit: “Peter Hoffer: Reflections Five Decades of Art.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Oct. 20: 6 p.m. Schemel Forum with the Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities Collaborative Program Lecture: “The 3 Degrees of Why: Moving Beyond Positions to the Stories That Shape Us” presented by Peace Ike, a cultural strategist, dialogue facilitator, and speaker who works across both secular and faith-based spaces to build bridges and foster cultural transformation. The Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Free. Exhibit and reception follow. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Oct. 23: 5 p.m. Art Gallery Lecture: “Peter Hoffer: Reflections Five Decades of Art” presented by Peter Hoffer. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Reception follows at the Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Oct. 30: 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital: Saints & Spirituals” featuring Marcus Printup, trumpet, and Riza Printup, harp. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Nov. 6: 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “Jazz: From the Streets and Clubs to the Schools and Concert Halls” presented by Victor Goines, jazz chair, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and founding director, Julliard Jazz Studies Program. Rose Room. Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Nov. 7: 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Jazz Band with guest artist Victor Goines, woodwinds. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Nov. 11: 5:30 Lecture by retired Col. Mark Volk, Scranton alumnus and former president of Lackawanna College, about his service at the Pentagon on 9/11, for which he was awarded the Soldier’s Medal, the Army’s highest non-combat recognition for valor and heroism. Sponsored by University Advancement as part of the Royals Remember 9/11 project. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu. Nov. 11: 7:30 p.m. Henry George Lecture: “How Working from Home Reshaped America” presented by Nicolas Bloom, Ph.D., professor of economics, Stanford University. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4048 or email pamela.turbessi@scranton.edu. Nov. 12: 6 p.m. Schemel Forum with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Collaborative Program Lecture: “The Freedom to Read: A Screening and Panel Discussion of The Librarians” presented by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Kate Cummings and Michele Legate. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Nov. 14: 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton String Orchestra. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Nov. 16: 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “Why do we have the worst health care outcomes? A consideration of the Social Determinants of Health” presented by Steven J. Scheinman, MD, dean emeritus, Geisinger College of Health Sciences. Rose Room. Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Nov. 19-21: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. “Mean Girls – The Musical” presented by Liva Arts Company. The Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. $5. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.livaartscompany.ludus.com or email livaartscompany@gmail.com. Nov. 21: 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Symphonic Band. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Dec. 5: 8 p.m. Performance Music: “59th Annual Noel Night” featuring The University of Scranton Singers, String Orchestra and Chamber Ensembles with special guest Wycliffe A. Gordon H’06. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Dec. 11: 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert: Holidays Around the World” featuring Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, piano. Houlihan-McLean Center. Admission: one new unwrapped toy, new toiletry items or a cash donation. All proceeds will directly benefit local families in need. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.
Fall Schemel Forum at University of Scranton to feature nationally recognized presenters The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will offer an eclectic lineup of programs this fall, spanning topics including culture, health care, history, media, politics and beyond. The events are sponsored by Munley Law. The first of the Schemel Forum’s two evening courses this fall explores television series M*A*S*H as a lens through which to examine American culture, war and storytelling. Charlie Cino, English and theatre instructor at The University of Scranton, will lead the course. The second evening course examines Karl Marx’s “Das Kapital,” one of the most debated and influential works of economic and political thought. Andrew LaZella, Ph.D., professor of philosophy at The University of Scranton, will lead the course. The M*A*S*H course will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning Sept. 10 and concluding Oct. 15, in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The Karl Marx course will be held from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on Mondays, beginning Oct. 19 and concluding Nov. 23, also in Room 305 of the library. The first of four World Affairs Luncheon Seminars will feature Rev. James Martin, S.J. H’17, a New York Times best-selling author and frequent media commentator seen and heard throughout the world. Father Martin’s lecture will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, inside the McIlhenny Ballroom on the fourth floor of the DeNaples Center. Terence Keel, Ph.D., an award-winning professor at UCLA, will discuss death records and accountability in cases involving police violence from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Dr. Keel’s presentation will be held inside the Rose Room on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall. Victor Goines, jazz chair at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, will explore the various forces that have shaped the evolution of jazz from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Rose Room in Brennan Hall. Steven J. Scheinman, M.D., dean emeritus of the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, will present on the “social determinants of health” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the Rose Room in Brennan Hall. The Schemel Forum will co-sponsor two collaborative programs, beginning with Peace Ike’s presentation and discussion on “The 3 Degrees of Why: Moving Beyond Positions to the Stories That Shape Us.” Ike is a culture strategist, dialogue facilitator and speaker who works across secular and faith-based spaces to build bridges and foster cultural transformation. Ike’s presentation, offered in conjunction with the University’s Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities, will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall. Beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Pearn Auditorium on the second floor of Brennan Hall, the documentary, The Librarians, will be screened. A panel discussion will follow featuring Susan Campbell Bartoletti, an award-winning author; Kate Cummings, assistant professor and research and instruction librarian for business and AI at the University’s Weinberg Memorial Library; and Michele Legate, district consultant for the Northeast Library District, based out of the Scranton Public Library. The screening and panel are presented in partnership with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The Schemel Forum’s annual University for a Day program will return from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. Participants will attend three lectures presented by University faculty members on topics ranging from theology and mindfulness to college football analytics. Presenters include Will Cohen, Ph.D., professor of theology; Katherine J. Stefanelli, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and human services; and David A. Mahalak, D.Eng., assistant professor of operations and analytics. Registration fees vary by program and membership level. The collaborative programs are offered free of charge. World Affairs Luncheon Seminars are priced at $30 per person. University for a Day is $35 per person; however, the first 100 high school students to register may attend free of charge. Membership options and package rates are also available. For complete program details, registration information and membership rates, please visit the Schemel Forum website, email schemelforum@scranton.edu or call 570-941-4740.
