The International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) master’s program at Arcadia University presents the free forum, “African Solutions to African Problems: Healing after the Rwandan Genocide,” on Monday, April 8.

Originally developed in Rwanda and Burundi, the program brings together 20 people from both sides of the conflict – 10 Tutsi and 10 Hutu – in a workshop aimed to restore normal relationships and begin a process of healing and reconciliation.

Facilitated by Amy Cox, Administrative Director of the IPCR, and Theoneste Biximana, Co-founder and Coordinator of Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities (HROC), the three-hour workshop will begin at 6:30 p.m., in the Grey Towers Castle Rose and Mirror Rooms (450 S. Easton Road, Glenside, Montgomery County).

The Rwandan genocide was a mass slaughter in 1994 that resulted in an estimated 500,000 to one million Tutsi deaths at the hands of the Hutu government.

HROC brings together 10 survivors of the genocide and family members of the Hutu perpetrators in order to help the victims share their grief and heal, and to help the Tutsi and Hutu rebuild their relationship to strengthen the fabric of communities torn apart by a long history of violence.

Anyone wishing to attend should register at ipcrforum.eventbrite.com or call (267) 620-4753. The workshop is made possible by support from the Public Education for Peacebuilding Support Initiative of the United States Institute for Peace. 

— SOURCE: ARCADIA UNIVERSITY

Arcadia University will host a panel discussion with Cornel West, a prominent and provocative democratic intellectual, and Molefi Asante, an African-American scholar, historian and philosopher. The event takes place on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Commons Great Room.

The panel discussion, “Who Is Responsible for Healing In Our Communities in Post-Modern Times?” will be moderated by Attorney Michael Coard, and includes Arthur C. Evans, the Philadelphia Commissioner for Behavioral Health, and Ama Mazama, a professor and linguist. 

Register for the event online (http://west-asante.eventbrite.com) for a discounted rate ($20) or pay at the door ($25). For additional information contact Cecil A. Hankins, The Ark of Philadelphia, (215) 843-4673, or the BMDS hotline 215-572-8510. The event is free for Arcadia University students, faculty and staff with ID.

The event is sponsored by The Ark of Philadelphia, the Molefi Kete Asante Institute, the Black Male Development Symposium and Arcadia University’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice

Arcadia University has named Justin Scott as the new head coach for men’s basketball.

Scott was assistant coach of the Arcadia Knights for two seasons and led a commitment to academic excellence as the department’s academic coordinator.

“I am extremely honored, excited and humbled that Athletic Director Brian Granata, President (Carl) Tobey Oxholm (III) and Arcadia University have given me the opportunity to lead the Knights men’s basketball team,” Scott said. “With the growth, energy and vision of the University and the athletic department, I believe that this program is poised to reach new heights, and I am excited to lead the men’s basketball program into the future. I will strive to build character, achieve academic excellence, and provide my players with an experience that will lead to success in their professional careers and lives after Arcadia.”

This was the first appointment made by Granata, who joined Arcadia last month.

“I am really excited to be able to make this appointment, because Justin is the right man in the right place at the right time for us,” Granata said. “We were a very young team last year, and we took the best teams in the conference to their limits. Justin’s personal drive and desire — and his commitment to excellence both on and off the court — were key to motivating them last year. Now, he will be able to bring it all together.”

The men’s basketball team had two players recognized for superior play last season. Sophomore starting point guard Travis Saltus was named MAC Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year and Arcadia 2012 Male Athlete of the Year. Senior captain Colin McCarthy was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team and was named Arcadia Male Senior Athlete of the Year at a reception with the Arcadia Athletics Alumni Association.

“Justin is the perfect embodiment of what Division III means,” said Oxholm. “He is as intense as anyone would ever want in a coach. And he is similarly demanding of his men off the court when it comes to academic performance, community service, and professional conduct. I know I speak for our whole community when I say that we are thrilled with this appointment.”

The whole team excelled off the court, with the team’s GPA the highest it’s been in the past nine years.

“I am glad to have served under coach Pat Dorney because he taught me a lot. I know our team and the new players who will be joining us this fall. I know our potential, and I am confident that the program will continue to grow to the point where we are consistently competing at a high level within the Conference,” Scott said. “We all feel it.  Men’s Basketball and Athletics at Arcadia is on the rise.”

Dorney resigned to accept the head coaching job at Collingswood High School, where he teaches.

“Coach Scott receiving this position means a lot to me and the team because we have such a strong relationship,” Saltus said. “He has been more than a coach. He truly cares about us as people first. I also know that he is going to have us working really hard every day to give us the best opportunity to win.”

Scott has served as the academic coordinator for Arcadia’s Department of Athletics and Recreation and is widely credited with driving the athletic program’s academic success.

“As a team, we are very excited to have Coach Scott as our new head coach,” adds McCarthy, who will compete this year as a graduate student in Arcadia’s Master of Education program. “He has a great work ethic and passion for winning. Without a doubt, Coach Scott will take this program in the right direction.”

Under Scott’s leadership, Arcadia student-athletes in all sports are represented heavily on the seasonal MAC Academic Honor Roll and on Arcadia’s dean’s list. Last fall, Arcadia’s student-athletes combined to record the highest team GPAs in a decade. This spring, 154 Arcadia student-athletes — nearly 75 percent — earned a 3.2 or higher GPA, and 24 earned perfect 4.0 GPAs during the academic year.

“Coach Scott has made a big impact in my life in the short amount of time we’ve had together,” notes returning senior Khalief Trawick. “We can’t wait until the season starts so we can get rolling and compete for a MAC Championship.”

A native of Philadelphia, Scott was a member of the All-Public League team at George Washington Carver Engineering & Science High School. Scott has close educational and athletic ties to Philadelphia and remains actively involved in community service, both personally and along with his team.

Scott’s mother, Anna Lee (Gonsalves) Scott is an alumna of Arcadia (then known as Beaver College) and was a member of the women’s basketball team in 1978–79. While attending Arcadia, she met her husband and Justin’s father, Harry Scott.

Scott is also an active board member of the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation, a non-profit organization founded after the sudden passing of close friend Daniel Rumph due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The foundation raises awareness concerning sudden cardiac arrest, provides free screenings for hypertrophy cardiomyopathy, and provides automated external defibrillators and CPR training to tri-state area recreation centers. Under Scott’s leadership, the men’s basketball program will be helping the foundation to raise money and awareness for the cause.

Scott graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in 2007. He started 27 games at guard for ESU as a senior captain in 2006–07 and was third on the team with 64 assists and fourth with 29 steals. He played in all 28 games for the Warriors as a junior after transferring from Bloomsburg University, where he played his first two seasons. Scott earned a master’s degree in Management and Leadership with a concentration in Sport Management from East Stroudsburg in 2008.

Scott joined coach Dorney after three successful seasons at his alma mater East Stroudsburg University assisting head coach Jeff Wilson and the Warriors from 2007 to 2010. While at East Stroudsburg, Scott also served as the Coordinator for Special Projects, Diversity and Social Justice Education in the Athletic Department. In this role, Scott aided the ESU coaching staff in recruiting and retaining diverse student-athletes and coaches, implementing social justice education programs and assisting in athletic operations.

“Over the course of his two years at Arcadia, Justin has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to the men’s basketball program. He has proved to be a talented recruiter and has excelled in his role as the Academic Coordinator for the department,” Granata said. “Justin’s personal drive and desire to help our team be successful is admirable. He really is a great role model for all our student-athletes. I am confident that he will excel as the head coach of the Knights and look forward to working with him over the coming years.”

The Knights have their home opener at Kuch Center Alumni Gym on Nov. 20, against Drew University.

Arcadia University’s Physician Assistant program is not only one of the largest in the country — with campuses in Pennsylvania and Delaware — but its students also score collectively among the elite top 4 percent on the National Commission on the Certification of PAs (NCCPA) examination.

"Our graduates continue their fine work as students with even finer performances on the national board examinations. Our total pass rate for all of our graduates attests to the high-caliber of our students and graduates," said Dr. Michael Dryer, Chair of the Department of Medical Science and Community Health. "The recently released 2011 scores show that 100 percent of the Arcadia PA students passed on their first attempt and as a class scored in the 96th percentile of all 158 PA programs nationally. To have more than 100 students scoring together at this level is a testament to the excellent instruction they get — both in the didactic and laboratory coursework as well as in their clinical rotations.

“That puts our score somewhere between number 6 and number 7 compared with all other programs,” he adds. “This is particularly noteworthy as we tested a class of 109 students compared with the national class average of 45 students. This demonstrates our ability to provide PA students with a great professional education while addressing the critical shortage of skilled health-care providers.”

"Our pride is even greater than that,” said President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III. "Our students not only do well on tests, but a remarkably high percentage of them—between 30 and 40 percent — elect to do part of their clinical training outside the United States.  Nearly half of these are supported by University scholarships. These students really take advantage of our University’s mission to create globally aware, globally prepared graduates. We thank our clinical faculty, in particular, for sharing their expertise and their professionalism with our students."

Arcadia’s new College of Health Sciences includes the PA program, as well as other graduate programs in Physical Therapy, Genetic Counseling, and Public Health. “With these wonderful results, Arcadia has jumped into the national spotlight as a real powerhouse in the health sciences,” said Dean Archie Vomachka. “Now the world knows that we are able to offer at Arcadia graduate degrees in these key areas of scientific study, and this is a great advantage to the undergraduate students who come to Arcadia and major in the sciences. Arcadia’s undergraduate programs in Biology, Psychology and Chemistry are strong feeders to the master's programs and benefit from Arcadia's assured admission tracks for undergraduate students."

Arcadia University’s Physician Assistant program prepares graduate students from across the country for careers in today’s rapidly changing medical environment. Utilizing the resources of the medical community within the Delaware Valley, the Program provides students with the foundation for professional growth through personal attention, global perspective, and a commitment to excellence.

The master’s degree program in Medical Science (Physician Assistant) at Arcadia University is designed to produce graduates who are well-equipped to deliver high-quality, cost-effective health care in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and other community settings.

Arcadia University has opened a new entrepreneurship center that will help students gain knowledge and best practices for a real-world environment.

The university aims to leverage its leadership in preparing graduates for a global marketplace with the creation of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Enterprises at the School of Global Business.

“This is a key initiative for Arcadia,” said Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III, president of Arcadia.

“It acknowledges that a significant percentage of our young people today are taking their academic knowledge and creative skills directly from college into small business.”

“This is an approach to education that has been Arcadia’s hallmark for decades,” stated Oxholm.

“It will allow the university to be of greater service in the local communities of Cheltenham, Abington and Philadelphia.”

The center will identify and create partnerships with students, alumni, local businesses and nonprofit organizations. In addition, the center aims to provide a variety of seminars, mentoring programs, internships and consultant engagements with companies.

Integrating classroom teaching and business practices will provide research and experiential opportunities for students and faculty.

With a mission to encourage entrepreneurial thinking, the School of Global Business faculty, students and staff are passionate about entrepreneurship and the impact it will have in the region.

“Entrepreneurship is a major aspect of our economy that offers both employment opportunities and income accumulation,” said N.J. Delener, Ph.D., founding dean of the School of Global Business.

“The Center for Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Enterprises is developed to meet the needs of students who have varied backgrounds in entrepreneurial ventures, who are part of a family business, or who are interested in starting a business when they graduate.”

The new center will offer assistance to qualified local small businesses and non-profits. Arcadia’s pool of top students in the School of Global Business will share their expertise and provide consultation services in most functional areas including, but not limited to, marketing, advertising, human resources, strategic planning and operations.

“The Center for Entrepreneurship is important because it is where young talents are cultivated and channeled for the purpose of benefitting society and making a living through it,” said Provost Steve O. Michael.

“Entrepreneurship means looking for the needs of society and looking for creative means to meet those needs and to do it at a profit. Setting up a center that will attract young people and equip them with the knowledge and the skills to be able to do that is a very important goal of a progressive school of business.”

Arcadia University has recently announced the establishment of the Arcadia in Cuba study abroad program in addition to the first Global Faculty Development Workshop in academic collaboration with the prestigious University of Havana.

This new relationship has enabled the College of Global Studies at Arcadia University and Arcadia’s Office of International Affairs to launch new study abroad, faculty development and applied research programs in Cuba.

“The strong academic relationship now in place between Arcadia University and the University of Havana opens a pathway for many great learning opportunities for U.S. students and faculty. We thank our trustees, faculty, staff and alumni who have visited Cuba and worked with professors, business and government leaders over several years to build what we know will be a strong and enduring bridge to greater knowledge and a more global perspective for our learning communities,” said President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III.

Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is Cuba’s premier institution of higher education with 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students and 15 major departments in the humanities, social sciences and sciences. It is the largest and most renowned university in Cuba, and it offers some of the best learning opportunities to U.S. faculty and students.

The College of Global Studies has developed an undergraduate study abroad program in Havana, commencing spring 2013, offering U.S. students the opportunity to learn alongside Cuban students.

“We can now offer students the opportunity to explore the cultural and intellectual life of Cuba, while learning about the socio-political differences between our two countries in a distinctive, academic environment,” said Nicolette Christensen, vice president for the College of Global Studies at Arcadia University.

The program will be taught in Spanish, with U.S. students choosing courses from the whole catalogue of courses offered by University of Havana, in addition to a Spanish language class and the core course, Cuban-American Relations: Past and Present, which is taught by the deputy director of the Center for Hemispheric and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Havana.

“We are broadening and deepening our scope of studies related not only to U.S.–Cuba relations but also Latin America and the Caribbean. The learning opportunities are many, both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Dennis Dutschke, founding academic dean of the College of Global Studies.

Arcadia University President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III has announced the school will add its 17th varsity sport — women’s golf. The team will begin competition in the 2012–13 academic year.

The addition of the women’s golf program highlights the University’s commitment to the Middle Atlantic Conference’s (MAC) desire for league members to sponsor a minimum of 16 intercollegiate teams.

“The addition of women’s golf as a varsity sport demonstrates Arcadia’s commitment to developing a well-rounded athletics program while meeting the interests of our students,” said Brian Granata, Arcadia’s newly appointed director of Athletics and Recreation. “With ties to our Beaver College heritage, women’s golf is a natural fit to be recognized as our next varsity sport. We look forward to building a competitive program within the MAC.”

Arcadia becomes the ninth school in the MAC to sponsor women’s golf, joining Albright College, Alvernia University, Eastern University, FDU-Florham, Misericordia University, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College and incoming member Stevenson University, allowing the league the necessary minimum of eight programs to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.

While the program is a new addition to Arcadia, women competing on the links for the Scarlet & Gray are not. Dating back to the 1960s and early 1970s, women competed in golf for Beaver College and again in the mid-1990s when Patricia O’Brien ’96 helped Beaver’s 1995 co-ed team swing to a 4-3 overall record in its first season, competing in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC).

Over the past two competitive seasons, Shannon Massott ’14 (Philadelphia, Pa. – Archbishop Ryan) has participated on Arcadia’s Men’s Golf team — often finishing in the top two among the team’s scorers. Joining the team as a first-year student in 2011, Massott was a top-five finisher at the inaugural MAC Women’s Championship Tournament, earning her all-conference recognition.

This past season, Massott competed in the Men’s Championship Tournament and finished second overall for the Knights. This spring season, Massott was joined on the team by three newcomers: field hockey players Ashley Ditchey ’14 and Morgan Paese ’15 and equestrian rider Kristen Oliva ’15.

“It was a ton of fun practicing with a couple of the girls this past spring,” Massott said. “It was definitely a change for me, because I usually only play with guys being on the men’s team and growing up with three brothers. Ashley, Morgan and Kristen were open to improving their mechanics in their first year, so I’m looking forward to practicing and learning together and excited to see how we can do as team this coming year.”

Current Men’s Golf Coach Rick Brownell and Assistant Coach Justin Scott will also run the women’s program.

“With the sport of golf increasing in popularity among high school students the Philadelphia region, the addition of the women’s golf program will allow the University expanded visibility in the local recruiting market,” Brownell said. “Also, we’ve had interest with current Arcadia students over the past few years, and we are interested in reaching out to more of them as potential players who want to learn or better their existing game and compete for the Scarlet & Gray.”

Community College of Philadelphia and Arcadia University signed a dual admissions agreement at a ceremony recently at Arcadia’s Grey Towers Castle.

President of Community College of Philadelphia Stephen M. Curtis and Arcadia University President Carl Oxholm III, signed an official dual admissions agreement which qualifies participants from the Community College of Philadelphia who graduate with either an associate in arts or associate in science degree guaranteed admission to Arcadia University with junior status if they satisfy all admission requirements. Qualified students are also eligible for academic scholarships.

“Entering into a dual admissions agreement with Community College of Philadelphia exemplifies Arcadia’s commitment to educating members of our own community,” said Arcadia President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm. “We are a university that looks to support community college students on their path forward by ensuring they do not have to repeat a class when they transfer to Arcadia.

Dual admissions programs enable community college students to reserve a place at one of the partnering four-year institutions and work with advisers at those schools while still at the Community College of Philadelphia.

“This agreement with Community College of Philadelphia expands Arcadia’s academic partnerships across the Greater Philadelphia region,” said Arcadia Provost Steve O. Michael. “We look forward to future academic possibilities.”

Community College of Philadelphia enrolls approximately 37,000 students annually at its main campus, three regional centers and various locations throughout Philadelphia. The college offers day, evening and weekend classes, as well as classes on the Internet.

Arcadia University is a highly-ranked private university in metropolitan Philadelphia and a national leader in study abroad and international education. With more than 80 percent of its students having participated in an academic program overseas by the time they graduate, Arcadia has long been generally regarded as a national leader in undergraduate study abroad.  U.S. News & World Report has ranked Arcadia among the top regional universities in the North and as one of the top study-abroad programs.

The construction to install turf on Arcadia University’s Easton Field, now into its second week, is projected to be completed in August — just in time for preseason.

A quick glance reveals that plenty of progress has been made in replacing the natural grass with a new synthetic playing surface.

Delran Builders is performing the installation of the new playing surface, which is manufactured by FieldTurf, Inc.’s Elite Series FieldTurf Revolution product line. Last week, initial steps were made to establish a sub-grade at the field that will sit 10 inches below the final playing surface.

Once a sub-grade is established and electrical conduits routed, stone will be brought in to provide a solid base for the artificial field turf and to contribute to its fast drying capabilities, which will help it recover from heavy rain. Several tons of material has been removed from the site to make room for the new base material. Construction of a new walkway entrance to the complex has also begun.

“I am very excited about the new turf field, and I know my entire team is as well,” said David Jacobs, a rising junior on the men’s soccer team. “I am confident that the new field will not only improve our current team, but will also serve as a valuable tool in recruiting to continue improving our team in the coming years.”

Jacobs’ teammate Zach Todd thinks getting turf is not only a stepping stone for Arcadia’s athletic teams, but for the University as well.

“With the renovation to Kuch Center and now the addition of a lit turf surface, it will not only help our teams reach the next level, but also our school to be one of the best universities in the conference,” he said.

Easton Field will be lighted and marked for NCAA field hockey, lacrosse and soccer. The new green surface will cover 87,400 square feet, including 10 feet of run-off for athletes. The addition of a field house will provide new spectator seating, restrooms and meeting space.

The field house will have stone (schist) on the side facing Easton Road, in harmony with Grey Towers Castle. The side facing the campus will have glass, giving panoramic views of the campus from a new great room that will have a fireplace. The meeting room (a bit larger than the pavilion that overlooks Blankley Field and the Weiss Tennis Courts) will be large enough for receptions with the athletes and their parents and supporters, but also will be available for University and alumni gatherings.

The building will have bathrooms, a trainer’s room and storage. It will have patios on the sides, and the bleachers will be movable to allow for cook-outs and parties, reunions and recreational activities. The entire complex will be accessible through a new pathway.

The versatility of the space adds another much-needed meeting and special event venue for the campus community.

“We are committed to having the field ready for play when the teams gather in August,” noted Associate Vice President of Facilities and Capital Planning Tom Macchi. “We hope the space will go online shortly afterward, in time for the fall semester.”

Associate Professor of Chemistry Linda Mascavage was honored not only with Arcadia University’s most prestigious faculty honor, but also with an American Chemical Society award — two major honors in less than a week.

Mascavage was selected as the 2012 recipient of the Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in the Chemical Sciences.

The annual award, presented by the Philadelphia Section of the American Chemical Society, honors an outstanding full-time undergraduate chemical sciences teacher from the Delaware Valley.
Mascavage will be presented with an honorarium and plaque at the May 2012 ACS Section meeting on May 17.

Mascavage also received the 2012 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, at Arcadia University’s Honors Convocation, April 28. The annual student-nominated award is presented to a full-time faculty member who is an especially effective classroom teacher and has significantly influenced students’ academic experience at Arcadia.

“Arcadia is a powerhouse in the health sciences — with nationally recognized programs in Physical Therapy, Physician Assistance, Genetic Counseling, Forensic Science and Counseling Psychology,” said Arcadia University President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III. “Those graduate programs are built upon a very strong foundation of chemistry, biology, mathematics and computer science. This prestigious national award confirms that we are teaching our students extraordinarily well. We are all very proud of Linda and her colleagues. Their passion for scientific exploration and discovery is only surpassed by the passion they have for instilling that passion in their students.”

Mascavage joined the faculty in 1992 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and was assigned to teach Organic Chemistry, or “orgo” as it is often referred to by students. In 2002, she was promoted to Associate Professor at Arcadia University.

“Each year, we ask students to nominate their choice for this prestigious Lindback award, along with comments supporting their choice,” said Dr. Steve O. Michael, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, at the Honors Convocation on April 28. “This year, the overwhelming theme of the comments illustrated Dr. Mascavage’s ability to cut through the complexity of her subject matter and to explain, as one student states, ‘concepts very clearly and intelligently so that I was able to both understand the material and not feel like an idiot in class… [and she] explained ideas differently if the class was unclear on a certain topic.’ Another student pointed out that ‘it takes great skill and patience to instill the complicated and course of organic chemistry to a large-for-Arcadia sized class… and (she) continues to pull this difficult feat off year after year and somehow manages to make it look easy!’

“Linda’s commitment to her students is evident through comments such as: ‘She is invested in the success of her students;’ ‘she is always available for extra help and always delivers comprehensive lectures.’ In addition, her involvement in the Philadelphia Local Section of the American Chemical Society has opened up shared opportunities with her students. One such opportunity resulted in seven Chemistry majors participating in the organization’s 12th Annual Student Poster Sessions, which were held at Temple University on Feb. 23 of this year. One of the students who participated commented that it was an opportunity that would not have been sought out, had it not been for Dr. Mascavage.”

“I am honored to receive the Lindback Award and now the ACS award,” said Mascavage . “Recognition of my efforts in the classroom and the research lab is very rewarding. I am grateful to my colleagues at Arcadia, Temple and Penn State Universities, and to our chemistry majors, who put forward my nomination packet, all of which was done without my knowledge.”