President's Newsletter

Dear Juniata Community,

What a terrific month October has been at Juniata! We are basking in the afterglow of an extraordinary Homecoming and Family Weekend filled with moments to remember and the spirit of unity and pride that resonated across campus.

A highlight of the weekend was the opportunity to provide a first look inside the Statton Learning Commons, which will open in January 2024. Our campus community also had the opportunity to see the extensive renovations to the Rosenberger Auditorium while enjoying all the opportunities to reunite and reminisce.

One of the benefits of a residential liberal arts education is the accessibility of world-class speakers and events held on campus year-round. Earlier this month, The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies invited panelists from around the globe to share their expertise at Juniata’s second International Symposium. This event garnered a large crowd eager to learn more about shifts in international politics.

As we draw closer to November, I’d encourage you to follow the success of the Juniata women’s volleyball team. Currently ranked number 1 in the nation and maintaining their winning streak with a 22-0 record, they are set to take on Goucher College at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, in Memorial Gymnasium, Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center.

Your support of our students and campus community is invaluable! Thank you for being a part of our incredible journey, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact we can create together.

Warm regards,
President James A. Troha

RECRUIT

A First Look at the Statton Learning Commons

Statton Learning Commons staff, from the left, Beth McNerlin, Shane Moran, Justine (Kobeski) Black '08, Lauren Everett-Hayes, Caden Tester '25, Elainie Jury, and Tom McClain '94, with Provost Lauren Bowen.

Tim Statton ’72 and Kathy Stavru Statton ’72

Campus visitors enjoyed a first look at The Statton Learning Commons, which is slated to open in early 2024.

Guests enjoyed a first look at Juniata's newest addition.

President Troha welcomed guests to campus.

Visitors were invited to sign a beam near the heart of the new facility.

Baker Institute Brings Global Experts to Juniata

The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College brought experts from around the world for the second annual International Symposium, "The New Cold War? Strategic Competition and the Future World Order," on October 4 and 5.

A standing-room-only crowd filled Neff Lecture Hall to hear from panelists Adeye Adeto, current commissioner for the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission; Leoni Cuelenaere, a former ambassador with over 20 years of service in the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Chris Dolan, expert member of the White House Transition Project; Ibrahim Fraihat, associate professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and international consultant on conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction in the Arab world; Kenji Isezaki, emeritus professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and former director of the United Nations-supported disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) effort in Afghanistan; and Emily Welty, director of Peace and Justice Studies at Pace University and was part of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

Experts discussed the global and regional ramifications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the geostrategic competitions among major powers, which echo the nearly half-century era of geopolitical tension known as the Cold War, which spanned from just after the end of World War II to the cusp of the 21st century.

Celebrating Faculty Accomplishments

At the invitation of Italy, Jim Borgardt, William W. Woolford Professor of Physics and chair of the advisory board of the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, gave a talk, "Collaborative Exercises to Build International Nuclear Forensic Capabilities," in Vienna, Austria, at the 67th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Health Initiative for Rural Pennsylvania has awarded $31,938 to Juniata's Community Health working group to develop a COVID-19 Memorial Project for Huntingdon County. This project is led by Bethany Benson Burns, with support from Kathy Westcott, Sarah Worley, Tricia Hunt, Liz Mansberger, Lee Ann Deshong Cook, Tia Warrick, and Kelly O'Brien. This project will engage the Huntingdon community and create experiential learning opportunities for students.

Homecoming and Family Weekend

Members of the 1973 Juniata College Football Team celebrated the 50th anniversary of their appearance in the National Championship Stagg Bowl game.

The Cookies and Crafts event was enjoyed by all.

Legacy families celebrated their shared Juniata experience.

Carnival on the Quad was fun for all ages.

The beer garden was a favorite place to visit with old friends.

The Juniata College Museum of Art welcomed Homecoming guests.

New Programs at Juniata

Marta Celebic '24, an engineering student, has gained real-world experience in project management working on-site with contractors and architects at The Statton Learning Commons.

Civil Engineering

The civil engineering program prepares students by thoroughly investigating engineering mechanics, structural analyses, and various applications utilized for project development and management.

Georgios A. Stylianides, associate professor of exercise science, leads students through an anatomy lesson during a lab.

Exercise Science

The Exercise Science & Kinesiology POE draws upon the expertise of several academic departments, and prepares students to excel in a variety of professional programs and health-related careers.

Designed for in-person instruction, this program is intended for both part-time and full-time degree-seeking students.

Master of Applied Ecology and Natural Resource Management

The Master of Applied Ecology and Natural Resource Management is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and address complex environmental issues.

Upcoming Events

Empty Bowls

Empty Bowls will return to Juniata College for its 15th year of raising funds to fight food insecurity in Huntingdon County. An in-person event featuring soups from local eateries and home cooks served in the handmade bowl will be held from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, October 28, in von Liebig Center for Science at Juniata. Tickets can be purchased through the online store and at the Juniata College Unity House.

Raystown at 50: Pretty Dam Cool

A new exhibit, “Raystown at 50: Pretty Dam Cool,” opened October 25 at the Juniata College Museum of Art (JCMA). The exhibit celebrates the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Raystown Lake Project by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and explores Raystown from many points of view—aesthetic, environmental, and recreational.