Dear Juniata Community, 

April’s energy has a sense of purpose as our campus community revels in the traditions that connect us while looking ahead to the end of the semester and commencement and all that graduation represents. As we gather, it is a time to celebrate our connections and accomplishments.

The vibrancy of the Juniata College educational experience was on full display at the 18th annual Liberal Arts Symposium (LAS) last week. Each year, I eagerly anticipate this daylong celebration of learning, as it embodies the essence of our academic community. LAS is more than a showcase of educational excellence; it speaks to Juniata’s commitment to the liberal arts—nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. LAS embodies the spirit of exploration and discovery that defines our college experience.

That sense of curiosity is ideally accompanied by empathy and an ability to listen. We have launched a new initiative designed to hone that skill among our students. Matthew Damschroder, vice president for student life and dean of students, and Derek James, dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion, hosted a Braver Angels Debate on campus for students, faculty, and staff to learn how to “disagree agreeably” as part of their co-taught First Year Seminar (FYS). Our students tackled the question, “Are AI platforms like ChatGPT a threat to classroom learning?” in thoughtful and engaging ways. I am grateful to David Wagner '85 for bringing this program to our attention.

Traditions old and new can be joyful as well. It was awesome to observe Isabel Kruse ’24 organize Juniata’s second mattress dominoes on the quad. In her Bailey Oratorical speech, Isabel reflected on watching the first mattress dominoes as a child and recalled the positive effect of the event on students. Watching those dominoes fall was great fun! The solar eclipse also encouraged students, faculty, staff, and the community to gather on the quad for a truly magical moment, watching everyone look up in wonder at the phenomenon happening in the sky. And days later, the magic of Physics Phun Night demonstrated how exciting science can be. Of course, experiments with fire are always a big hit! 

Science is exciting in the classroom and lab as well. We recently learned that Juniata has been awarded $551,000 through the National Institutes of Health’s R16 Grant program. This funding results from a multi-year effort by Regina Lamendella, George ’75 and Cynthia ’76 Valko Professor of Biological Sciences, and Katie Dickey '97, director of grants and foundation relations, and will provide expanded opportunities for undergraduate research.

The latest issue of Juniata magazine hit mailboxes this past week and is now available online for you to read and share. Please take a moment to scroll through this newsletter and enjoy photos from the past month. Thank you for being a part of our community and all you do for Juniata.