Ukraine Donations
Immaculata recent graduate Sheridan Hedrick ’22 organized a drive to help the people of Ukraine. Donations from the Immaculata community went to the Sisters of St. Basil in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. From there, the items will go to the Sisters of St. Basil in Poland, who will distribute the much-needed items to the refugees and to the convents that house 164 Sisters of St. Basil in Ukraine. Many convents are housing women and children, feeding the military, transporting refugees, visiting the sick, praying with the people and distributing aid.
Sister Sheila Galligan Receives Award
Sister Sheila Galligan, IHM, professor emerita of theology, received the Margaret Way Hoffner Award from Pennsylvanians for Human Life (PHL), honoring her for her work promoting a “culture of life” as a speaker at many pro-life conferences, retreats and educational forums. She has also served as the moderator of IU’s Macs Respect Life since 1990 and supports the work of crisis pregnancy centers and organizations which support women who struggle after having abortions.
For the past 50 years, PHL’s members have been passionately committed to promoting respect for human life through educational endeavors.
New Academic Programs
Immaculata is offering two new majors this fall, public administration and public health, which will provide specialized, practical programs to help meet the serious demand for professionals in these areas. In addition, IU is offering a new online M.S. in higher education this fall, with affordable tuition of $500 per credit.
Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Immaculata is among 62 universities or research institutions across the U.S. to be chosen as a partner in the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CHWA CESU). Partner members strive to understand and protect the natural and cultural resources of the region.
The Chesapeake Watershed is home to more than 3,600 species and over 15 million people, all competing for resources and space within this 64,000 square-mile region. The CHWA CESU promotes stewardship and integrated ecosystem management of natural and cultural resources within the Chesapeake Watershed through collaborative research, technical assistance and education.
Baseball and Women’s Basketball Win Conference Titles and Participate in NCAA Tournaments
The women’s basketball team finished the season 18-9 in the Atlantic East Conference and then defeated Gwynedd Mercy University to win the conference title. They traveled to Indiana to face Trine University in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Although they came up short, the team played well and enjoyed their championship experience.
The baseball team steamrolled through the season and represented Immaculata at the Atlantic East Conference baseball NCAA Regional championship, hosted by Immaculata. During the regionals, the Mighty Macs won one of two games and concluded the 2022 season with a 29-14 record overall, the most season victories in program history. The 2022 season was a history-setting year for the Macs as they secured their first Atlantic East Championship.
LifeLong Learning Institute at Immaculata Donates to Parsons Science Pavilion
To show their support for Immaculata University, members of the LifeLong Learning Institute donated more than $16,500 toward the purchase of equipment for the new Parsons Science Pavilion.
“Working with the LLI board members has been a pleasure, and the entire Immaculata community is grateful for their donation to help equip the new Parsons Science Pavilion,” states Susan Arnold, vice president for institutional advancement at Immaculata. “Our science and nursing students will benefit from their generosity.”
Pictured L to R: President Barbara Lettiere; LLI members Gerry Mello, Roberta McManus and Ed Goll; and Vice President for Academic Affairs Angela Tekely
Student Awards
Fashion merchandising major Jaliece Horn ’24 earned the Black Talent scholarship award given by the Black Talent in Design and Fashion (BTDF) Fund. The BTDF offers assistance to Black students in design and fashion programs with a $500 scholarship and mentorship opportunities with industry professionals.
Kathryn Frederick ’22 received a $2,500 “Philly’s Future” scholarship from the Philly Ad Club Foundation. Frederick is a business and marketing management major. The Philly Ad Club is the largest advertising and communications professional organization in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Music therapy major Breanna Kratz ’23 was announced as the 2022–2023 Presser Scholar. This prestigious $4,000 award is given to an outstanding student musician and scholar who exemplifies high academic and musical accomplishment, leadership and citizenship.
Student Leadership Awards
Congratulations to Immaculata’s student-leaders who were honored at the annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony.
Pictured L to R, front row: Lauren Kolenda, Bridget McDonough, Alexandra Bethman and Melissa Hopely Rice, advisor of the year awardee. Top row, L to R: Francesca Kalie, Catherine Knoll, Thomas Pierce, and John Schuyler. Not pictured: Breanna Kratz
Distinguished Professor Award
Congratulations to Maria Cuddy-Casey, Ph.D., for receiving the Distinguished Professor Award, the highest honor the university bestows upon its faculty. The award recognizes faculty for outstanding contributions in teaching, research, scholarship or creative activities and service. Cuddy-Casey is professor of psychology and teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Posters under the Dome Research Winners
Congratulations to the 131 students who participated in the undergraduate and graduate research day this past spring. This year’s annual Posters under the Dome consisted of 93 posters—making it the largest Posters under the Dome event ever held at Immaculata.
Judges for the event recognized the following students for their excellent research (topic and faculty mentor listed after the student’s name)
1st place
Julianna Rotondo: Chromatin Protects DNA from Alkylation Damage with faculty mentor Daniel Ginsburg, Ph.D.
Tied for 2nd place
David Crowell: Influence of Microbiomes Between Humans and Pet Cockatiels with faculty mentor Kelly Orlando, Ph.D.
Cat Knoll & Darwina Vaye: Active Listening Skills In Immaculata University Student Leaders with faculty mentors Laurie DiRosa, Ed.D. and Melissa Rice, M.Ed.
Karina Ellis: Knowledge of Plant-Based Eating Among Student Athletes with faculty mentor Cecile Adkins, Ed.D.
