University Of Scranton Nonprofit Leadership Program Accepting Applications For The 2026-27 Term The University of Scranton is accepting applications for Cohort 6 of its Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program (NLCP), which will run from January 2027 through January 2028. The deadline to apply is June 12, 2026. Applications can be submitted by visiting the Nonprofit and Community Assistance Center (NCAC) website at nepa-alliance.org/nlcp/. The NLCP, housed in the Kania School of Management, is designed to be broad-based, hands-on and practitioner-focused to help high-potential nonprofit leaders tackle the pressing leadership challenges in organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Since the program’s inception in 2016, 87 nonprofit professionals from 65 regional organizations have graduated from the program. Cohort 5 included 19 community leaders who completed the program. The NLCP has created a network of high-performing individuals serving at nonprofit institutions, in addition to building an informal regional network of mentors and coaches for emerging nonprofit leaders. Douglas Boyle, DBA’88, CPA, CMA, Accounting Department chair and founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program, noted the program fulfills a critical need in the region. “The NLCP creates an ecosystem for new and emerging leaders to collaborate on solving an organizational challenge and strengthening their leadership skills,” Dr. Boyle said. “The cohort-based approach assures that by building strong relationships, each participant gains a network of peers with specialized skills that they can gain insights from long after graduation. The program assists the organizations with succession planning, nurtures future collaborations with the nonprofit sector and most importantly yields strong and resilient leaders.” Sessions are led in-person by Kania School of Management faculty and peer group coaches with deep expertise in nonprofit management and practical leadership tools. The program includes work towards specific organizational and personal goals, peer group work, mentorship, and academic leadership components. For additional information, visit the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program webpage or contact one of the NLCP co-directors: Kurt Bauman at kbauman@nepa-alliance.org; Jesse Ergott at jesse.ergott@scranton.edu.
The University Of Scranton To Have NYT Best-Selling Author As Undergraduate Commencement Speaker Douglas Brinkley, Ph.D., a best-selling author, award-winning producer and nationally celebrated historian and scholar, will serve as the principal speaker at The University of Scranton’s 2026 undergraduate commencement ceremony. Dr. Brinkley will address Scranton’s Class of 2026 on Sunday, May 24, at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township. Dr. Brinkley’s prolific career has included authoring, editing and contributing to dozens of books and hundreds of essays. He has covered topics including American foreign policy, the presidency and the environment, as well as the lives of transformative figures such as Jack Kerouac, Rosa Parks and Hunter S. Thompson. Among Dr. Brinkley’s New York Times best-selling books are his biography of Walter Cronkite, which won Fordham University’s Ann M. Sperber Prize, and “The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” which earned the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book Award. He also won a pair of GRAMMY awards as a co-producer of the albums “Presidential Suite” and “Fandango at the Wall in New York.” “We are honored to welcome Dr. Brinkley to Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he will address our graduating students at an important moment in their lives,” said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president. “Dr. Brinkley has demonstrated that history, when researched with care and written with authority, can inform, inspire and endure.” Additionally, Dr. Brinkley is a leading voice in the environmental conservation and historic preservation community with service that has included board membership and advisory leadership in support of organizations at the forefront of protecting America’s natural beauty. “Dr. Brinkley’s writing invites readers to see history not as possession, but as gift, entrusted to each generation anew,” Father Marina said. “In that spirit, he has taken his words and thoughts and put them into action, advocating for the preservation of our nation’s natural and historic treasures. He reminds us that the finest form of scholarship comes when intellect and action align in service of the common good.” Dr. Brinkley was born in Atlanta, Georgia, before moving as a child to Perrysburg, Ohio. He pursued the study of U.S. history at Ohio State University and was awarded a fellowship to Georgetown University, where he immersed himself in the study of U.S. diplomatic history, and received master’s and doctorate degrees. Dr. Brinkley’s early career included faculty positions at the U.S. Naval Academy, Princeton University and Hofstra University. As part of his “American Odyssey” course at Hofstra, he traveled across the country with students to historic landmarks that shaped America. The ambitious nature of his course drew national attention with writeups in publications like The New York Times and SPIN magazine. Dr. Brinkley has since taught at the University of New Orleans and Tulane University. He is currently the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities at Rice University. He is also CNN’s presidential historian and a Vanity Fair contributor. Dr. Brinkley will receive an honorary degree at the undergraduate commencement ceremony, which will be followed by the graduate commencement ceremony, also held at Mohegan Arena. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. Undergraduate commencement activities are set to begin at 11 a.m. and graduate activities at 4:30 p.m.
University of Scranton Students to Offer Free Income Tax Assistance University of Scranton accounting students will assist local residents with their tax returns for free as part of the VITA program. Lackawanna and Wayne County residents, whose households earned $67,000 or less in 2025, can receive free assistance in completing and filing their federal, state and local tax returns from University of Scranton accounting students through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. University students have assisted residents with low and moderate incomes who need help with their basic tax returns for more than 30 years. Walk-in service at Brennan Hall on the University’s campus begins Monday, Feb. 4, and will end on Wednesday, April 8. The VITA service is offered on a first-come, first-served basis during scheduled hours. Appointments are not available at the University. Residents can schedule appointments at other locations by contacting the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties by visiting its website or calling 570-602-3133 or 1-866-662-8887. Residents who qualify for the free VITA service are asked to bring the following items: a valid photo ID; Social Security cards for all taxpayers and dependents; all W2 forms; last year’s tax returns; all 1099 forms (interest, dividends, pensions); unemployment paperwork; Form 8332 for non-custodial parents; information related to income and expenses (business, rental properties, sale of stocks); a personal banking account check if direct deposit is desired; documentation related to health insurance for themselves and anyone on the tax return, such as Form 1095-A, -B or –C; and real estate tax receipts if you qualify for the rent/tax rebate. Walk-in VITA service without an appointment is available in Room 111 of Brennan Hall, Madison Avenue, on the University’s campus on Mondays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesdays, noon to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Service begins on Monday, Feb. 4, and continues to Wednesday, April 8, except for the week of March 16-20, when the University is closed for Spring Break. The VITA office may also close due to inclement weather. The University reserves the right to cap the number of walk-in residents they can serve within a single day. Residents with questions may call the University at 570-941-4045.
University of Scranton Releases November and December Events Schedule Ongoing through to Dec. 12 Art Exhibit: “The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania.” Selected paintings, sculptures, and works on papers from public and private collections: 1829-1959. Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Nov. 5 5 p.m. Exhibit Opening: “A Life of Service: Celebrating David J. Wenzel ’69, G’74,” Sponsored by the University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service. Heritage Room. Weinberg Memorial Library. Reservations Required. Call 570-941-7401 or email alumni@scranton.edu. Nov. 5-9 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. “A Doll’s House, Part 2” Presented by The University Players. Studio Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Limited seating, reservations strongly suggested. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu Nov. 7 5 p.m. Art Gallery Lecture: “New Deal Post Office Murals in the Anthracite Regions of Northeastern Pennsylvania” Presented by David Lembeck, independent scholar. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Reception follows at the Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. The reception is part of Scranton’s First Friday event. Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Nov. 9 9 a.m. Open House for prospective students and their families. Various locations on campus. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email admissions@scranton.edu. Nov. 11 5 p.m. Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities and The Jesuit Center: “The Bible, Gender, and Sexuality: Historical Insights and Contemporary Relevance” Presented by Amy-Jill Levine, Ph.D., Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace; university professor of New Testament and Jewish studies emerita, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies emerita, professor of New Testament studies emerita, Vanderbilt University. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. Nov. 13 8:30 a.m. Data Science Day Features programming tutorial, a keynote speaker and a data science competition for high school students. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required at https://scrantondatacontest.netlify.app/. Call 570-941-6486 or email joseph.klobusicky@scranton.edu. Nov. 13 5:30 p.m.Schemel Forum with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Collaborative Program Lecture: “From Manuscript to Print: The Journey of Medieval Books” Presented by Michael Knies, special collections librarian and university archivist, Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton. The Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Registration required. Free. Exhibit and reception follow. 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. 15 1 p.m. Father Murgas Day event Honoring the 120th anniversary of the first world overland long-distance wireless transmission using radio. Reenactment of the transmission between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton held in conjunction with the Murgas Amateur Radio Club, followed by radio station open houses and receptions at both campuses. W3USR Amateur Radio Club at Scranton, PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center, and Alley Center for Health Science, King’s College. Free. Visit murgas.org or email murgasarc@gmail.com. Nov. 20 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “America is Ready for a Pro-Peace Foreign Policy. Is Washington?” Presented by Matthew Duss, executive director, Center for International Policy, former visiting scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Nov. 20 5:30 p.m. Ethics Across the Curriculum Lecture: “Spiritual Alienation and the Quest for God” Presented by David McPherson, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. Nov. 20-22 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. “Legally Blonde – 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. Dec. 4 5:30 p.m. Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities Lecture: “Do the Brain and Behavioral Sciences Show That Free Will is an Illusion?” Presented by Timothy O’Connor, Ph.D., Mahlon Powell Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science, Indiana University. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. Dec. 6 8 p.m. Performance Music: “58th Annual Noel Night” Featuring The University of Scranton Singers, String Orchestra and Chamber Ensembles with guest harpist Marg Davis and pianist Ron Stabinsky. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Dec. 14 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “The Scranton Brass Orchestra Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert.” 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.
The University of Scranton Releases Open House Schedule The University of Scranton, recently selected by multiple publications as one of the best colleges in the nation, will welcome hundreds of prospective students and their families to campus later this fall for a pair of Open House events. The University will host its first Open House at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. A second Open House is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. The events conclude at about 1 p.m. Both Open Houses will start at the John J. Long, S.J., Center before embarking on student-led tours across campus. There will be ample opportunities to interact with students, faculty, staff and administrators. Representatives of student organizations, athletic programs, arts groups and the University’s Honors Programs will be available to answer questions and provide a first-hand account of the Scranton experience. Attendees, who will be treated to a brunch and lunch, will learn more about the unique paths available to each student in the form of 70 majors and 47 minors, as well 100-plus clubs, hundreds of service opportunities, 24 NCAA programs, intramural sports leagues and a vibrant array of creative and cultural experiences. Click here for more information. The University of Scranton has recently received national recognition in several publications, including the Princeton Review, which ranked it as a top-25 college in the nation in the Most Engaged in Community Service and Best Science Lab Facilities categories. The Princeton Review also selected Scranton as one of the nation’s 391 Best Colleges and featured its Kania School of Management (KSOM) on its Best On-Campus MBA Program list. Forbes designated Scranton as one of America’s Top 500 Colleges, a ranking based on factors including outcomes for graduates. Scranton has been a top-10 Best Regional University in the North, per U.S. News, for 32 consecutive years. The Roche Family Center for Career Development’s First Destination Survey for the Class of 2024 reported a 99% success for bachelor’s degree and 100% for graduate degree recipients. Additionally, Niche recognized Scranton as one of 50 schools with the Best College Food in America.
The University of Scranton Shares Fall Semester Events Sept. 2-Oct. 10 Art Exhibit: “Sampler: Fabric Installations by Kay Healy.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Oct. 3-5 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. “Dancing at Lughnasa” 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. Oct. 8 8:30 a.m. 24th Annual U.S. Conference on DISABILITY “A.I.-Access-Action! A conference focused on Access, Advocacy and Employment in an Age of Artificial Intelligence.” McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4308 or visit www.scranton.edu/disabilityconference. Oct. 8 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “General Recital” featuring 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. 20 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “Around the World with A.G. Spalding: The Mystery of an 1888-89 Tourist’s Diary” presented by Tom Shieber, senior curator at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY. Rose Room. Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Oct. 20-Dec. 12 Art Exhibit: “The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania.” Selected paintings, sculptures, and works on papers from public and private collections: 1829-1959. Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Oct. 21 7:30 p.m. Henry George Lecture: “Violent Saviors: Development Lessons from the History of Colonialism” presented by William Easterly, Ph.D., professor of economics, New York University. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu. Oct. 23 5:30 p.m. Asian Studies and the Ethics Across the Curriculum Initiative Lecture: “Nature, Flourishing, and Disability in Aristotle and Mencius” presented by Richard Kim, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, Loyola University Chicago. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-7643 or email ann.pang-white@scranton.edu. Oct. 24 5 p.m. Art Gallery Lecture: “The Anthracite Coal Industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania” presented by Richard Stanislaus, guest curator. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. A reception follows at the Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Oct. 24 6:30 p.m. Asia Club and Asian Studies present Diwali and Navratri, a celebration of two Indian festivals about the triumph of good over evil. Free food and dancing. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Call 570-941-7643 or email ann.pang-white@scranton.edu. Oct. 25 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Jazz Band” with guest soloist Marion Felder, drums. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Oct. 26 9 a.m. Open House for prospective students and their families. Various locations on campus. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email admissions@scranton.edu. Oct. 30 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “New Discoveries of the Penn Museum Excavations at Abydos, Egypt” presented by Josef Wegner, Ph.D., professor of Egyptian archaeology; chair, department of Middle Eastern languages and cultures; curator, Egyptian section, Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania. Rose Room. Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Oct. 31 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “Phantom of the Pipes” featuring organist Christopher Johnson. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Nov. 5-9 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. “A Doll’s House, Part 2” presented by The University Players. Studio Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Limited seating, reservations strongly suggested. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu Nov. 7 5 p.m. Art Gallery Lecture: “New Deal Post Office Murals in the Anthracite Regions of Northeastern Pennsylvania” presented by David Lembeck, independent scholar. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. A reception follows at the Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. The reception is part of Scranton’s First Friday event. Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Nov. 9 9 a.m. Open House for prospective students and their families. Various locations on campus. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email admissions@scranton.edu. Nov. 11 5 p.m. Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities and The Jesuit Center: “The Bible, Gender, and Sexuality: Historical Insights and Contemporary Relevance” presented by Amy-Jill Levine, Ph.D., Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace; university professor of New Testament and Jewish studies emerita, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies emerita, professor of New Testament studies emerita, Vanderbilt University. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. Nov. 13 8:30 a.m. Data Science Day features programming tutorial, a keynote speaker and a data science competition for high school students. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required at https://scrantondatacontest.netlify.app/. Call 570-941-6486 or email joseph.klobusicky@scranton.edu. Nov. 13 5:30 p.m.Schemel Forum with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Collaborative Program Lecture: “From Manuscript to Print: The Journey of Medieval Books” presented by Michael Knies, special collections librarian and university archivist, Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton. The Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Registration required. Free. Exhibit and reception follow. 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. 20 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “America is Ready for a Pro-Peace Foreign Policy. Is Washington?” presented by Matthew Duss, executive director, Center for International Policy, former visiting scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Nov. 20 5:30 p.m. Ethics Across the Curriculum Lecture: “Spiritual Alienation and the Quest for God” presented by David McPherson, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. Nov. 20-22 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. “Legally Blonde – 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. 22 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. 4 5:30 p.m. Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities Lecture: “Do the Brain and Behavioral Sciences Show That Free Will is an Illusion?” presented by Timothy O’Connor, Ph.D., Mahlon Powell Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science, Indiana University. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. Dec. 6 8 p.m. Performance Music: “58th Annual Noel Night” featuring The University of Scranton Singers, String Orchestra and Chamber Ensembles with guest harpist Marg Davis and pianist Ron Stabinsky. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Dec. 14 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “The Scranton Brass Orchestra Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert.” 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. Schemel Courses: Tuesday: Oct. 7 6 p.m. Schemel Forum Course: “American Mothers: Society, Science, and Maternity after the Civil War” presented by Susan Poulson, Ph.D., professor, department of history, The University of Scranton. Room 305, Weinberg Memorial Library. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Mondays: Oct. 20, 27 and Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24 6 p.m. Schemel Forum Course: “Criminal Street Gangs: Causes, Consequences, and Controls” presented by Michael Jenkins, Ph.D., professor, department of criminal justice, chair of the department of criminal justice, cybersecurity, and sociology, The University of Scranton. Room 305, Weinberg Memorial Library. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu.
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.
The University of Scranton Shines in U.S. News Rankings The University of Scranton is a top 10 college in its region with nationally ranked academic programs and distinction for innovation and support for veterans, according to U.S. News and World Report. The publication’s 2026 Best Colleges report, published Tuesday, ranked The University of Scranton No. 8 in the Regional Universities (North) category. U.S. News has ranked Scranton in the top 10 in its category for an astounding 32 consecutive years. Two of Scranton’s academic programs ranked among the top 40 in the nation. Scranton placed No. 38 in “Best Undergraduate Programs in Analytics” and No. 40 in “Best Undergraduate Programs in Accounting.” The University also tied for 135th in “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs,” tied for 162nd in “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” and tied for 254th in “Best Undergraduate Business Programs.” Scranton also tied for 410th in “Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs.” National rankings reflect the results of peer surveys used to identify programs of high academic quality. The University achieved high marks in several regional categories, including No. 3 in “Best Colleges for Veterans,” a selection of schools recognized for making higher education more accessible and affordable for veterans and active-duty service members. Scranton ranks No. 9 in “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” which recognizes schools’ strong commitment to teaching undergraduates rather than conducting graduate-level research. Scranton tied for 13th in “Most Innovative Schools,” which identifies institutions making innovative improvements in curriculum, personnel, campus life, technology or facilities. The University placed 55th on U.S. News’ “Best Value Regional Universities (North).” Scranton also tied for 106th in “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” which examines the success of schools that enroll and graduate students who were awarded Pell Grants. U.S. News uses numerous data points to rank bachelor’s degree colleges in America, including graduation rate and graduation rate performance; retention rates; borrower debt; peer assessments; faculty salaries; student-faculty ratio; financial resources; standardized test performance; and Pell Grant student graduation rates and performance. U.S. News categorizes colleges for their rankings based on the official Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification of universities. Earlier this year, U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings placed five University programs in the top 50 in the nation, and several programs ranked in the top 150 in the country, including business analytics, tied for 28th; finance, tied for 31st; accounting, tied for 39th; healthcare management, tied for 46th; rehabilitation counseling, tied for 49th; occupational therapy, tied for 79th; part-time MBA, tied for 80th; physical therapy tied for 105th; nursing-anesthesia, tied for 111th; doctor of nursing practice, tied for 127th. Scranton has recently appeared in other national rankings, as well, including being designated as one of the nation’s best colleges by Forbes and the Princeton Review. Click here to find U.S. News and World Report – 2026 Best Colleges Click here to find U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools Click here to find Forbes Click here to find the Princeton Review
PS Bank Hires New Commercial Loan Officer / Vice President Anthony J. Gabello, President and Chief Executive Officer, is pleased to announce the hiring of Brian E. Burd as Commercial Loan Officer / Vice President. With over 25 years of experience in commercial lending, Brian brings a wealth of expertise to the team. In this role, he will help grow PS Bank’s lending portfolio and extend its robust product line to new business customers. “True community banks are becoming rare and I’m very fortunate to have found a great place in PS Bank to continue my banking career. I’m looking forward to connecting local businesses with their best banking option,” said Burd. Anthony J. Gabello, President & CEO of PS Bank, added, “As our bank continues to grow, our lending department is proud to add Brian to our commercial lending area. His experience and network provide growth opportunities in the Luzerne, Wyoming, and Lackawanna County markets.” Brian holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton, and an MBA from Misericordia University. Brian currently serves as the treasurer of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce; board member of United Way Wyoming County; member of the finance and audit committee for GirlScouts in the Heart of PA, and is a member of Soo Bahk Do Martial Arts Federation. He resides in South Abington Township with his wife, Cristan, with whom he shares three children.
University of Scranton to Host Cyber-AI Investigation Camp The University of Scranton this summer will host a three-day Cyber-AI Investigation Camp, engaging participants in games, interactive lectures and hands-on exercises that explore and educate on the topic of cybersecurity. Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to attend the camp at the University’s O’Hara Hall. Sessions will be held July 8, 9 and 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost to attend the camp is $399. Additional services, including on-campus dormitories and meals, are available for an additional fee. The need for trained law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges with the skills to understand and investigate cybercrime is higher than ever due to the rise in online data breaches, fraud and malicious software. Camp instructors will promote safe online behavior, teach cybersecurity essentials and will end the third day with a team investigation competition at the University’s Cyber-Forensics and Cybersecurity Lab. The topics of cybersecurity, robotic investigation and artificial intelligence (AI) will be discussed. This is the fifth year in which the University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology is offering this summer program. The University offers undergraduate programs in criminal justice and cybercrime and homeland security, as well as a graduate program in cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity. To register and for more information, please visit the registration page.
