Reflections on a Season of Giving

As we rush toward winter break each year, I like to take a few moments to reflect on the many highlights of the fall semester and anticipate the holiday season.

For Robbie and me and our institution’s many donors and friends, a high point of the semester was the series of events to kick off the public phase of It’s Personal: The Campaign for Bloomsburg University.

Over the course of 10 days in October, we joined with members of the campus community for a rally on the Quad and celebrated at launch events here and in Philadelphia.

The gifts we have received and continue to receive as we head toward our $50 million goal will enhance our students’ experiences today and in the future. To all who have a personal connection with our outstanding university, I say “thank you."

Another fall highlight occurred very late in the semester when we welcomed our new director of external and government relations, Dan Knorr ’07. Most recently, Dan was the Borough of Danville’s administrator of government affairs, but many will remember him from his term as mayor of Bloomsburg.

In his new position, Dan is monitoring legislation and public policy, seeking opportunities for state and federal funding and economic development, and building relationships. He fills a vacancy created by Jim Hollister’s retirement.

Then there is the highlight still to come for all of us: gathering with family and friends at this special time of year for rest, relaxation and renewal. Robbie and I wish you peace and happiness during this festive season and in the year ahead.

#CollaborativeLearning #SenseOfCommunity #CoCurricularLearning

We are well on our way

I have been traveling over the past few weeks – to Austin, Los Angeles and, most recently, to Philadelphia.

One week, I was away from campus to attend the annual meeting of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Austin. I serve on the AASCU board and was just appointed to the executive committee. I ended that trip in Los A
ngeles, where I spent a long weekend with my mom, who turns 94 this week.

This weekend I attended the annual fall meeting of the Pennsylvania Council of Trustees (PACT) at the State System Center City campus in Philadelphia. Bloomsburg will begin offering degree programs in this centrally located facility with state-of-the-art classrooms in summer 2016.

Back on campus and in Philadelphia, we marked a major accomplishment for Bloomsburg University, the launch of the public phase of It’s Personal: The Campaign for Bloomsburg University.

Events were held on the Quad, in a beautifully transformed Nelson Field House, and at the Benjamin Franklin Institute to celebrate our great university and the milestone of raising more than $37 million of our $50 million goal. Over 400 donors and friends of Bloomsburg University enjoyed outstanding and meaningful performances by our Concert Choir and a group of current students and alumni from our theater program.

We are well on our way to meeting our $50 million goal to support our students through academic and athletic scholarships, to recruit and retain our great teacher-scholar faculty, to provide experiential and career-focused learning experience through Professional U, and to take advantage of emerging opportunities to enhance our university, such as the Greenly Center.

This week I look forward to meeting with the CGA Senate and having dinner with the CGA Executive Committee at Buckalew.

#CollaborativeLearning #SenseOfCommunity #CoCurricularLearning