When Gwen Torges was an undergrad, going after a master’s degree and teaching at the college level seemed like pursuits for someone else. But then she tried them both, and her life changed direction.
Here’s how you can cheer on the Crimson Hawks throughout the winter.
Waleed Farag’s career can be compared to a quote from Mark Twain: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Learn more about him in this week’s Meet Our Faculty.
Suneel Maheshwari always knew his father was someone special. A leading academic in the accounting and finance field, S. N. Maheshwari passed along his expertise to his son, who is now sharing it in the Eberly College of Business.
A pair of communications media majors, Emily Marines and Riley Yonchiuk, joined a rare club when they handled the play-by-play and color commentary duties for the streaming broadcast of the IUP vs. Clarion football game at Miller Stadium.
Before becoming a faculty member in the Department of Nursing, Janis Barner worked in the field. Now she shares her experiences with her students, helping them get into one of the country’s most needed professions.
Of all the things that could have sent him in his life’s direction, getting hit by a car when he was a kid did the trick for Gian Pagnucci. Learn more about him in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
It’s said that the truth often changes over time, but facts remain. When Tamara Whited first understood this, she made a career chasing the elusive historical truth. Learn more about her in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Find photos from Homecoming on October 5, 2024—from the parade to the Crimson Huddle pregame party to the football game.
A former kindergarten teacher, DeAnna Laverick realized the impact teachers can have when some of her former students enrolled at IUP to become teachers. Learn more about her in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
After graduating from IUP’s Academy of Culinary Arts, Dylan and Rosie Moot knew two things: they wanted to open a restaurant, and they were prepared to do it. They now own one of the hottest restaurants on Chincoteague Island, Virginia.
Chris Schaney went to graduate school and landed in the world of geographic information systems. He now shares his passion as a member of the IUP faculty. Learn more about him in this week’s installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Like many people, Nurhaya Muchtar was on a career path that ended up leading her elsewhere, and she found a career she never expected. Learn more about her in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
Getting involved as an undergraduate helped show John Lowery what the world of higher education has to offer. He’s now sharing those lessons with his students. Learn more about him in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
When Erin Reed learned how a good meal can positively affect people, she knew she had found her career path. Learn more about this Academy of Culinary Arts chef instructor in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
Since he was little, Josiah Townsend has been curious about anything that lives and breathes. He took that curiosity and made a career for himself. Learn more about him in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
Mike Driscoll is not a university president by design. In high school, he took an interest in engineering and computers, so he went off to college to be an electrical engineer. But as it often does, life took another turn.
Dean of Students Adam Jones answers questions about his position, his experience, and why a student may reach out to him. He also provides valuable advice to students about getting the most out of their college experience.
From IUP's first Black professor to alumni working in the outdoors and faculty and students digging for dinosaur bones, here's a look back at some of the stories that show some of the many great things––and great people––at IUP.
Looking to pick up a good book about improving morale in your workplace? Anna Shively, an assistant director of Human Resources, has a suggestion.
This fall, Caio Gomes, who will graduate from IUP next week, will head to law school at Yale University. If you ask him the secret to his success, he will say IUP played a key part in it.
As a speech-language pathologist, Kacey Cowburn knew she could help people. But by becoming a faculty member, she extended her reach well beyond what it was before. Learn more about her in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Looking for a good book to pick up? Kelly Heider, the Acting Assistant Vice Provost for University Libraries, suggests one about keeping joy in the workplace.
As assistant director of Student Involvement and Leadership Development, Donovan Daniel guides students and organizations, he leads workshops and conferences—all to help students get involved and grow as leaders. Find out where he gets his inspiration in this Q&A.
A summer job in college turned out to be more than a way for Jeff Larkin to earn some cash. It introduced him to a career in conservation biology. Learn more about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Looking for a good book to read? Scott Moore, a faculty member in the Department of History, suggests a humorous one that led him to change his major in college.
When Eric Buzzelli met IUP faculty member Jonathan Warnock, he found someone who could help guide his career, thanks to a shared love of digging for dinosaurs.
At first, Crystal Machado thought she should avoid teaching and should study business. But soon after earning her first college degree, she started listening to the voices that said otherwise. Learn more in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Miko Rose, the founding dean of IUP's proposed college of osteopathic medicine, never dreamed about being a doctor. But in her "second career," she’s making a difference in the lives of patients and the physicians providing their medical care.
Looking for a good book to read? Emily Briggs, one of IUP’s Navigators, suggests one about the lives of coal miners in the early 1900s in western şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř.
Looking for a good book? Noreen Herlihy, head coach of the IUP women’s soccer team, suggests a World War II drama that will leave you pondering the cost of war.
Coming to IUP has helped student photographer Cameron Horning figure out a path to a career in sports. Learn more about him in this multimedia story, and see highlights of his work documenting the seasons of the Crimson Hawks.
When Bryce Radford heard that his former coach needed a player to give the IUP men’s basketball team a lift, he didn’t have to think long about coming back to IUP.
For Veronica Paz, accounting is more than numbers at the bottom of a ledger. It’s a language that explains in great detail what happened and why. Learn more about her in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
As an undergraduate, Lara Luetkehans knew she wanted to work in higher education. She just didn’t know in what capacity. Learn more about Luetkehans, IUP’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, in this Q&A.
Looking for a good book to read? Michael Williamson, a professor in IUP’s Department of English, recommends one that will give you a deep dive into science fiction.
In IUP’s STEAMSHOP inside Robertshaw, students from all academic disciplines have the opportunity to use technology to create objects that would otherwise seem impossible to make. Learn more about what happens there in this video.
As a child, Justin Fair learned that chemistry has many practical applications, including in national defense. He used his knowledge to serve his country. Now he shares that expertise with students. Learn more in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Peking Acrobats performance has been canceled due to a delay in the performers receiving their travel documents.
Students and faculty members from the anthropology, history, and geography areas teamed up to uncover the story of an early multiethnic settlement near Johnstown. Read more about this model for future projects that will benefit both communities and developing researchers.
Looking for a good book to read? Tiffany Potts, the director of IUP’s Office of Financial Aid, suggests a tale about a family of Holocaust survivors.
She probably had no way of knowing it at the time, but Lydia RodrĂguez’s childhood set her up for the career she now has. Learn more about this Department of Foreign Languages professor in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
The new home of the Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics opened for the start of the semester last week. Get a look inside this 142,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, now that its labs, classrooms, and common areas are in use.
Looking for a good book to read? Chauna Craig, the director of IUP’s Cook Honors College, suggests the most recent work from Melissa Febos.
Every day, Debra Fitzsimons puts out fires. Not literally. But as IUP’s vice president for Administration and Finance, she is in charge of a variety of areas, from HR and the budget to police and facilities. Get to know her in this Q&A.
Since its start in the ’70s, this series has aimed to inform students about the world around them and to prepare them for life after graduation. See how the tradition continues with the topics offered this spring.
Another year at IUP is almost behind us. Look back at some of the memorable moments in student life, academics, athletics, research, relaxation, and more in this gallery of photos.
Another year at IUP is almost behind us. Look back at some of the memorable moments in student life, academics, athletics, research, relaxation, and more in this gallery of photos.
The newly formed Lettuce Eating Club held its first competition—seeing who could devour a head of iceberg lettuce the fastest. Find photos from the contest, see who was crowned “chomp-ion” (Head Lettuce), learn iceberg-eating strategies, and more.
Looking for a good read? Distinguished University Professor Ben Ford (Anthropology Department) suggests one that he calls “the most useful parenting book” he’s read.
Alida Merlo’s first job was as a juvenile probation officer, but her thirst to know more led her to a career teaching criminology at IUP. Learn more about the 2020-21 Distinguished University Professor in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Looking for a good book to pick up? IUP faculty member Erika Frenzel has one that blends science fiction, Pinocchio, and an LGBTQ+ love story.
Zach Collins knows that nobody picks up an instrument for the first time and is a virtuoso. It takes time and consistent effort, and that’s what he enjoys about teaching. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Looking for a good book? Tedd Cogar from Student Affairs recommends one about the longing for community that many young people, from all backgrounds, deal with.
On November 2, 2023, the IUP community held the ribbon cutting ceremony for Kopchick Hall, which will be the home of IUP’s Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics when it opens in January 2024. The facility, and the college, are named in honor of IUP alumni John ’72, M ’75 and Char Labay Kopchick ’73, who committed $23 million––the largest gift in IUP history––for natural science and mathematics initiatives.
In recognition of Veterans Day, learn about an IUP center dedicated to helping military-affiliated students achieve their academic goals and about monuments across campus that honor veterans from World War I to the Vietnam War to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Looking for a good book to pick up? Erin Conlin, associate professor of history, recommends a series of novels that will help you escape the tension of daily life.
Whether you know it or not, if you are curious about people, you are a sociologist. Christian Vaccaro turned his curiosity into a career in IUP’s Department of Sociology. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Looking for a good book? IUP web developer Eric Pinkerton recommends a biography of our nation’s second president, a man whose success was built on relationships.
For Geoffrey Tickell, a faculty member in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, the best part of teaching comes when students grasp something they had struggled with before. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Looking for a good book to dig into? Anthropology faculty member Abigail Adams has one about the background and impacts of the 2014 West African Ebola Virus.
Dan Lee enjoys a good crime story. But what really interests him is the motivation behind the crime, and he shares that enthusiasm for learning with his students every day. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Looking for a good read? Harrison Wick, IUP’s Special Collections librarian and university archivist, has a classic that was ahead of its time.
It wasn’t until she got to college that Andrea Palmiotto found what she wanted to do with her life. Once she discovered anthropology, she made it her life’s work. Learn about her in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Megan McCue of the University College recommends a book about dealing with the death of a loved one, using the experiences of hospice nurses as sources for guidance.
Charles McCreary began studying French when he was 12. Today, as a faculty member in IUP’s Department of Foreign Languages, he uses that knowledge to share cultures from other countries. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
IUP Homecoming is a time for making memories. See scenes from the parade, the Alumni and Friends Crimson Huddle, tailgating, the football game, and more.
When Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity needed an advisor in 1979, marching band director Charles Casavant stepped up. But first, he had to pledge the fraternity.
Rich Caruso's generous million-dollar gift led to the inception of IUP's College of Osteopathic Medicine, a crucial initiative addressing the scarcity of physicians in rural şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, with the aim of enhancing healthcare accessibility for underserved areas and fostering economic growth.
A professor in IUP’s Fashion Studies program, Janet Blood gave a presentation last spring on changes in style from the late 1800s at Indiana State Normal School to the 1940s at Indiana State Teachers College. Following are some of her observations from yearbooks.
Explore the history of Weyandt Hall, a state-of-the-art science facility that transformed IUP's campus in 1966, providing ample space for research and instruction in various scientific fields. Discover how this building, considered a "bright, shining star" in its time, paved the way for advancements in teaching, research, and technology at the university, and learn about the exciting prospects of the upcoming Kopchick Hall, set to open in 2024, as a new era for science at IUP unfolds.
Rosemary Gido, professor emerita of criminology, is still an active researcher, often focusing on how poverty affects the incarceration rate.
Math can be intimidating. It’s sophisticated, and it comes in algorithms and logarithms. But longtime Virginia educator Gwendolyn Tolbert Best ’93, M’95 shook off math’s pretensions and made it a regular kid’s friend. For her students, Best’s math comes in roast beef subs, chili, cappuccino, and tiramisu.
Recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards were honored in April at a gala sponsored by the IUP Alumni Association.
Zach Cheever knows what it’s like to find your people. It happened when he first got involved in music, and it continues as director of the IUP Marching Band. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
Annah Hill always knew she wanted to be a helper. Now a faculty member in the Department of Communication Disorders, Special Education, and Disability Services, she shares that passion. In this installment of Meet Our Faculty, meet Annah Hill.
Julie Ankrum started her career by teaching kindergarten. Now she’s teaching the teachers who might go on to work in elementary and high schools. Although the students she works with have changed, her passion for teaching literacy has not.
For Tony DiMauro, a faculty member in the Department of Art and Design, the graphic design field is about solving problems so clients can achieve their goals. For him, it’s like solving a puzzle, and he loves it.
Every year on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, IUP and the local community gather in the Oak Grove to honor the victims of that tragic day.
As a child, Nicole Buse watched her father, a restaurant manager, closely. She saw how people come together in restaurants, and she knew it was more than a career she wanted to pursue. It was a lifestyle.
Emily Wender believes in the power of reading. She knows how words and language can help bring people together, and that’s what inspires her to teach the next generation of English teachers.
More than 1,800 new Hawks spent a full week getting to know each other, learning the ins and outs of campus, and having a great time. Take a look – smiling, laughing, and building lifelong friends.
How does roasting coffee change its caffeine level? Senior Isabelle Clayton used a U-SOAR research award to find out.
şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř held a commencement ceremony on Friday, May 5, honoring the 332 students receiving master’s degrees and 84 students receiving doctoral degrees. On Saturday, May 6, IUP celebrated students graduating with undergraduate degrees—1,021 bachelor's degrees and nine associate degrees.
Chef Andrew Nutter encourages his students at the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts to immerse themselves in food. With a career spent in some of the best kitchens in America, Nutter knows what it takes to be a success.
Stephen Shiring says one of the best things about his job is helping IUP students land their dream job in the hospitality industry. It happens a lot for students in IUP’s Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism, and Event Management program.
Music professor Henry Wong Doe has premiered compositions from New Zealand, his native country, around the world. His latest project, Perspectives, commissioned six New Zealand composers to write short piano pieces reflecting their experiences through the pandemic.
For 32 years, IUP has hosted a Sidewalk Commentary Contest, also known as "Chalk the Walk", providing students with an opportunity to express their political and social views through chalk drawings across the Oak Grove.
When Sharon Massey was a student in middle school, she had an art teacher whose passion was obvious, and it led her to a career as a faculty member in IUP’s Department of Art and Design.
The Haven Project at şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř hosted the annual Take Back the Night event on April 12th on the IUP main campus. Take Back the Night is designed to raise awareness and support survivors of sexual violence, domestic and dating violence, and stalking.
Students join faculty in the field by traveling to Honduras to find new species of animals while honoring local populations and their customs. It’s a project that has led to the discovery of more than 20 new species.
A curiosity about how cultures change and how people adapt as cities grow led Calvin Masilela to study geography in college. Now a professor at IUP, he is able to share his expertise in regional planning with his students.
An earthquake on one side of the world has the potential for catastrophic effects on the other. Learn the basics of Pacific Rim earthquakes in 10 minutes with Jon Lewis, professor in IUP’s Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning.
An internship at a state agency got Aleea Perry hooked on the power of policy and public administration.
When Rachel Pettiford met Malaika Turner, she knew she had found someone who would change her life. The two forged a bond as mentor and mentee that grew into a bond as colleagues. Learn about their connection in this video.
Get to know a little about Nate McElroy, a professor in IUP’s Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Engineering.
Title IX transformed women’s sports at IUP—from low-budget programs that sold baked goods to survive to the championship-caliber teams and athletes of today. Read about the evolution of sports in the half-century since this groundbreaking law was passed.
Top-seeded IUP men's basketball had its outstanding season come to a close on Tuesday night, falling to a focused West Liberty side by a 70-53 score here Tuesday at the KCAC.
Black alumni spanning several decades at IUP are working with the university to help current Black students succeed. See what the Black Experience Alumni Committee, known as BEAC, has planned.
Joe Rocco ’11 played for a record-breaking IUP basketball team. Now he excels on an even more celebrated squad—the one Anthony Fauci led in the battle against COVID-19.
Black students in the ’70s and ’80s often formed groups around their like interests—from the arts to political action to service through fraternities and sororities. See how these groups built community at IUP, paving the way for future Black students.
We encourage all members of the IUP community to take advantage of the resources and programs offered in honor of Black History Month, and throughout the year, on the issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As we begin our celebration, we are proud to present junior psychology major Erika Jackson reading her poem, “The Disease of White Supremacy.”
What does it really mean when the Supreme Court makes rules on a case? Gwen Torges, the chair of IUP's Department of Political Science, explains how the rights of individuals and of states are the basis for understanding.
The Spring 2023 Preview includes an assortment of some of the events in the upcoming semester. It's not a complete list.
The more Arnold Ivey learned about food and cooking, the more he wanted to learn. That’s how he became an in-demand chef who has opened multiple restaurants that feature menus based on his recipes and techniques.
Chef Arnold Ivey CA’02 has mixed his passion for food with the talents he learned at the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts to create a distinguished career in the restaurant industry.
Relive the highlights of 2022 with our curated photo gallery, showcasing our most cherished moments and unforgettable memories.
şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř held commencement ceremonies on December 10, 2022, for 551 graduates. Enjoy some of our favorite moments from both the graduate and undergraduate events.
No. 1 seeded IUP beat Ashland, 19-13 on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II football playoffs. With the win, the Crimson Hawks advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will host the No. 2-seeded Shepherd Rams on December 3. Kickoff at Miller Stadium is at 1:00 p.m.
Forty years after dedicating the şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a group of Veteran's Club members gathered again to re-dedicate the monument in front of Pierce Hall, the home of IUP's Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
Donta Green works every day to be a positive influence in the lives of the people around him. In his day job, he is the CEO of the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that helps people with barriers to education get job skills in construction and masonry, as well as life skills such as interviewing and personal finance.
Lindsay Ward found that IUP had all the things she needed to prepare her for a career in broadcasting.
According to a recent online poll, most students favor Autumn as their favorite season at IUP. Our photo and video teams went out to document this year's colorful display.
Dan Rugh ’95 took what he learned at IUP as a communications media major (he calls it his “broad and weird foundation”) and used his passion to form Commonwealth Press, a Pittsburgh company that is gaining a lot of attention for its work.
It’s not a traditional classroom, but for IUP professor of English Timothy Hibsman, it was smooth sailing, combining his love of teaching with first-hand opportunities to explore nautical history and literature. Hibsman was a member of the faculty for a spring 2022 Semester at Sea voyage on the ship World Odyssey.
See a bird’s-eye view of the new rainbow sidewalk, suggested by students from the LGBTQIA+ community. It is one of the most visible symbols of IUP’s commitment to making all people feel welcome and supported on campus.
In its efforts to be truly student centered, IUP aims to support every student. Key to that are services for the LGBTQIA+ community. Hear about the experiences of a gender-fluid student and about the support IUP provides.
The University College’s Luke Faust makes sure students have the support they need to succeed. Recent graduate Imani Jefferson attests to the life-changing experience she had at IUP with Faust’s help.
At IUP’s May 2022 commencement, two Indiana County families who are longtime friends will celebrate parent and child graduating together.
It’s Research Appreciation Week 2022, and it’s a great time to find out how you can get involved with research at IUP.
Jeff Larkin, an IUP Biology professor, uses his expertise in working landscapes as part of a team targeting coffee production’s environmental impact and exploring the use of solar power, carbon credits, and new farming methods to save forests and the biodiversity they host.
Tired of changing his son’s diaper on the men’s room floor, 2009 graduate Donte Palmer made an Instagram post that led to a national campaign pushing for changing tables in all public restrooms. His organization has since expanded to offer other help to parents, but especially to fathers.
IUP's doctoral program in the Department of Communications Media included theory, research, production work, and teaching experience. It was the perfect combination to propel Jeremy McCool from an şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř graduate student to a professor at West Chester University.
Pittsburgh PBS station WQED recently featured the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts in its Future Jobs web video series. Hear chef instructor Thomas Barnes and culinary student Emily Shaffer discuss the field’s opportunities and appeal.
Two IUP master’s program graduates—and the only archaeologists to have excavated the Mercer County site of Pandenarium, a Pre-Civil War settlement for free African Americans—are revealing the settlers’ untold stories with help from their descendants.