Alvernia University

The Miller Gallery at Alvernia University became a hub of civic engagement this fall as the Media and Politics class, led by Professor of Communication and Digital Media Dr. Jodi Radosh and Professor of Political Science Dr. Victoria Williams, unveiled the voter education exhibition. The display, carefully curated by students seeks to educate the campus community about the importance of voting and media literacy during the election season. "We've been doing this class every four years for quite some time. It's our chance to team-teach and really delve into media and politics, especially around presidential elections," said Radosh. "This semester, we wanted to go beyond classroom discussions and create something tangible-a project that helps spread awareness of key issues and the power of voting, both on campus and in the broader community." The interactive exhibition highlights various facets of political media and the importance of informed voting, aiming to equip students with the tools to navigate today's complex media landscape. "In this class, we educate students on what media is, how it works, and how politics and media are intertwined," said Williams. "A key focus is developing skills in media literacy so students can better understand media bias and find credible sources of information. This project has been a great way for students to apply these skills in real-time." The display features in-depth posters created by each student to highlight the presidential candidates' takes on pressing issues. It also has different marketing materials and posters from each candidate, custom Alvernia "vote" pins and a selfie station with different props that encourage voting. "As a bio major, I'm not usually involved in political conversations, but this class has taught me a lot about media literacy," said junior Brianna Pascal, a biology major who participated in the project. "I feel more informed as a voter now, and I understand the importance of being able to navigate political information." The project also drew alumni support. Jason Hugg, founder of Berks Weekly, returned to share his experiences from the field and answer students' questions. "It's always great to give back to Alvernia and share my behind-the-scenes experiences from rallies and events. Voting is so important, not just for students, but for the community as a whole. I'm really impressed with how the students have put together this exhibition to encourage each other to vote."

Senior communications major and podcaster Sherrin Smith launched the 'Around the Den' podcast which features conversations with students, staff, and faculty to showcase Alvernia events and happenings. "I started this podcast as a need to help student organizations and other departments increase their student engagement numbers," said Smith. "Though it's a small campus, there is always something taking place that students may be unaware of. As I continued coming up with ideas for the podcast, I also thought to give the students an opportunity to share their unique experiences on campus or thoughts they may not be able to speak on in the classroom." The first episode aired on Monday, September 9. Listeners can find it on Spotify and follow @aroundthedenpod for updates and episodes. "I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes," said Smith. "I hope people will like the podcast and suggest ideas on what else they would like to see and hear from it. I really want this to be student-driven, so I'm excited to see what the trajectory of this podcast will be."

Four students in the video production class placed in the 2023 Reading FilmFEST's student film competition hosted by Netflix series "Julie and the Phantoms" star Maddison Reyes at the IMAX Theatre in Entertainment Square in Downtown Reading, Pa. The event was held to raise awareness about violence and the opioid crisis while providing students in the Greater Reading Area with a creative way to share stories on social media. "The Reading Film Festival was a wonderful opportunity for the students to share their video production skills," said Professor and Department Chair of Communication and Digital Media Jodi Radosh, Ph.D. "It also gave them a chance to meet professional filmmakers and students from other universities interested in film. Furthermore, several Alvernia students volunteered at the event as well. Alvernia values its partnership with the Reading Film Festival and believes it is an excellent experiential learning experience." Over 100 students submitted their work, saw their creations on the big screen, met Reyes, and connected with fellow filmmakers. The event was chaperoned by Radosh alongside Professor of Communication and Reading FilmFEST Board Member Caroline Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Communication Kris Lowrey, Ph.D.

21 O'Pake Fellows graduated as members of Alvernia University's Class of 2024 and presented their final reflections regarding the experiential learning opportunities and professional development gleaned from the O'Pake Fellows Program. The O'Pake Fellows Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on distinctive experiential learning opportunities. Students of high academic standing from diverse majors and backgrounds work directly with regional entrepreneurs, small business owners, faculty researchers, and industry leaders. In alignment with Alvernia's core value of contemplation, O'Pake Graduate Assistant of Student Services Brianna Schnieder took the lead on facilitating the final reflection project with the guidance of Executive Director of Student & Client Services Michelle Conway, MBA, and Student Experiential Learning Specialist Max Horn, MBA. "We often describe the fellow experience as a metamorphosis; this project aims to bring their experience full circle as fellows transition from one stage to the next," said Schneider. "We hope they can recognize their impact on the community around them while also celebrating their own achievements such as the skills and knowledge they leave the program with. Moving forward, this comprehensive project will help fellows track their impact on the businesses they work with since they might work with up to 40 businesses if they start as first-year students in the program." Graduating Fellows were able to present highlights and deliverables from their experience, including work they have done for local business owners in and beyond Berks and Schuylkill counties, the training they have engaged in, connections they have made through networking and skills they have built along the way for the resume. "Being a part of the O'Pake Institute has shaped my professional career immensely," said Graduate Assistant of Community Based Campuses, Jack Cossa '23 MBA '24 when reflecting on his experience working with small businesses surrounding Alvernia's Pottsville CollegeTowne. "I have had amazing opportunities throughout my time at O'Pake to be a part of high-level projects helping clients achieve their goals to elevate their business. Without O'Pake, I would not be the young, aspiring professional that I am. The experiential learning you receive through O'Pake is the first class that I would recommend to any professional looking to enhance their professional experience." The O'Pake Fellows program encourages students to engage in applied research activity, scholarly travel, and other personal and professional training activities to enhance their experience.Undergraduate Fellows can work with up to 3-5 clients a semester and are exposed to projects that fulfill various needs businesses in the community. "Through the various clients I've worked with, I've loved being able to learn about and collaborate with different kinds of personalities, businesses, and passions. It has allowed me to take note of the various challenges and approaches that exist in the media/marketing space, and the importance of being strategic and adaptable." After spending two years working with O'Pake, Maldonado also shares that incoming freshman to the O'Pake Institute should "always be open to new opportunities and challenges, as they will help you grow both personally and professionally."

Students in the Social Work Social Policy class, taught by Professor Lelinna Hinh, took a day trip to Harrisburg, Pa. for the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Legislation, Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD). By participating in the NASW LEAD, students engaged in experiential learning and gained actionable insights about how social work and policy advocacy intersect. "I wanted to make sure my students attended this event to provide them with a firsthand understanding of the policy-making process and its impact on the communities they will serve in the future," said Hinh. "Experiencing this process in person offers insights into how policy directly influences their work and everyday lives. Taking them on this trip was essential in broadening their comprehension of the legislative world." This experience helped prepare social work students to navigate the complexities of policymaking and serve as advocates for their industry. Hinh brought students to the capital to talk to state representatives and senators about policies that affect the industry and the importance of social workers and the work they do in their communities. During the visit, the class met with State Representative Manuel Guzman and Senator Judy Schwank's Legislation Coordinator, Tess Hoffertt. Guzman gave students a tour of the house floor and capital building while discussing the importance of The Social Work Licensure Compact initiative. Hoffertt answered questions about the day-to-day life working in state government and Senator Schwnak's role and responsibilities.

Business, political science, communication, and digital media marketing students traveled to New York City to meet with successful alumni and immerse themselves in experiential learning opportunities aligned with their field of study. "As a student, it may be hard sometimes to get guidance and wisdom from the workplace, and this trip allowed me to gain exactly that," said finance major Andrew Deschenes. "We talked to employees from top firms like Deloitte and SCOR while visiting corporate offices. As this trip was very valuable for personal work-related experience, it was also a ton of fun with visiting key landmarks and much more."

22 Alvernia students commemorated the United States' history and foundation with a trip to Philadelphia's Constitution Center, Independence Hall, and Liberty Bell for Constitution Day 2023. "Visiting the Constitution Center, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell on Constitution Day was not just a journey through history, it was a powerful reminder of the enduring principles that bind our nation together," said Director of Undergraduate Admissions and trip coordinator Bret Krotee. "Our goal was not only to witness the birthplace of democracy but to ignite the spark of civic engagement." Constitution Day is held on Sept. 17, the anniversary of when the Constitution was signed in 1787, and is meant to highlight the significance of the historical document. To celebrate the day every year, Alvernia's Veterans Center sponsors an event for students to learn and reflect upon the importance of the Constitution. Through this trip, the Veterans Center's goal is to inspire students to become ethical leaders with moral courage by promoting the importance of civic education and reinforcing the ideals that continue to unite and inspire the nation.

Three Alvernia University students in the O'Pake Fellows Program engaged in a logo design and personal branding experiential learning workshop led by Alvernia MBA Candidate and O'Pake's Graduate Assistant of Marketing, Jennifer Weasner. "Leading this workshop allowed me to share everything that I have learned about logo design over the past two years as an undergraduate fellow myself," said Weasner. "I only became interested in design after transferring to Alvernia in the Fall of 2021 and this experience has given me the confidence that I can teach others how to create effective designs that will ultimately become the brand of a business." Weasner taught students how to use Adobe Illustrator to create logos that reflected their personal brand. Students were able to learn the logo creation design process by designing logos that would allow them to create their personal brand. The undergraduate fellows who participated in this workshop were Fellow of Communications, Hector Malave; Fellow of Marketing, Ariana RosatoGreen; and Fellow of Digital Media, Kenneth Howley. "This logo workshop will provide me with a competitive edge in the job market and enhance my chances of securing internships and employment opportunities in the design field because I developed the following skills: practical experience, creative problem-solving abilities, professionalism, communication skills, and especially understanding client needs," said Malave." The O'Pake Fellows Program provides elite undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on distinctive experiential learning opportunities. Students of high academic standing, from diverse majors and backgrounds, can work directly with regional entrepreneurs, small business owners, faculty researchers and industry leaders. While fellows can grow both personally and professionally, they are also put in an environment where they can think outside the box, experiment, fail, grow and succeed. By creating this type of environment, students can transition into their desired professions while being creative and ethical leaders.

The Psychology Club traveled to Philadelphia to gain professional exposure and engage with the latest research in psychology at the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) conference. "When students attend professional conferences, they have the opportunity to explore new areas of Psychology and participate in the creation of new knowledge in the field," said Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling Erin Way, Ph.D. "They are also able to experience themselves as the professionals they are becoming in the field."