President's Newsletter
April 2025
Dear Juniata Community,
As flowers bloom on campus, April is one of those months that reminds me just how special it is to be a Juniatian. From welcoming prospective students and celebrating the academic achievements of current students to cheering on our Eagle athletes, this season is filled with unforgettable moments.
One of those unforgettable moments is slated for tomorrow, as we break ground for the Gateway Center, a dynamic new facility that will bring education, healthcare, and innovation together for the benefit of our campus as well as our local community and region. Please join us and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra L. Bogen at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 25, at the corner of 17th and Moore Streets as we take a bold step forward in improving healthcare education and access.
Tomorrow night, we will also be cheering on our Men's Volleyball Team as they take on Southern Virginia University in the semifinal round of the NCAA DIII Championships. You can find more information on how to watch below.
Today, we celebrated Liberal Arts Symposium, a cherished academic tradition on campus also known as Mountain Day of the Mind. Our community came together to see our students’ fantastic work from classrooms, laboratories, and studios highlighted through presentations, special sessions, and posters. It’s an amazing experience year after year.
Juniata’s 147th commencement is just weeks away! We will be welcoming James Metz, MD, ’89, chair of Radiation Oncology and Henry K. Pancoast Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, as our commencement speaker and to receive an honorary degree. Carol H. Pletcher, Ph.D., ’66, a distinguished leader in corporate innovation; and James A. Wagner, recipient of the Pennsylvania State Police Purple Heart and Trooper of the Year award, will also receive honorary degrees.
None of these moments would happen without your support! Thank you for all you do to make Juniata all it is today.
Warm regards,
President James A. Troha
Eagles Soar into the NCAA Final Four
The Juniata men’s volleyball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Nichols on April 19, at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J.
This win marks the 31st of the season, setting a new program record and securing Juniata's spot in the NCAA Final Four for only the second time in program history.
Next up: the Eagles take on Southern Virginia at 5 p.m. on April 25, in the Cregger Center at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. Let’s go, Juniata!
Want to watch the Eagles play? Tickets can be purchased on-site and if you can't make it in-person, you can stream the game for free! The winner of the Juniata-Southern Virginia match advances to the National Championship match on Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m. EDT. Be sure to check out the tournament bracket!
Juniata College has earned a STARS Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), recognizing the college’s significant achievements in sustainability. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and promotes sustainability in all aspects of higher education. Juniata’s strong performance reflects our commitment to integrating sustainability into the curriculum, fostering meaningful community engagement, and promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary research that addresses pressing global challenges.
40th Anniversary of the Baker Institute
The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies marked its 40th anniversary with a day-long schedule of events culminating in a gala dinner. Past directors were honored, including founding director Andy Murray, who performed an original song wearing a hat that once belonged to the late John Baker, Class of 1917, who founded the institute with his wife, Elizabeth Evans Baker. For four decades, the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies has fostered a vibrant learning community, engaging students and faculty in critical discussions on war, peace, and justice. It continues to build partnerships that inspire growth within academia and beyond.
Physics Phun Night
Alumni Hall in Brumbaugh Academic Center was filled with science fans of all ages on April 9.
Members of Juniata's Society of Physics Students chapter organized and led the event, including a television appearance by the chapter's co-president Adrian DiBenedetto ’27. Adrian visited "Studio 814," which airs on WTAJ, to share some physics phun with host Morgan Koziar.
Juniata Students Advocate for Higher Ed
Juniata College made a strong showing at the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) Day on the Hill at the Pennsylvania State Capitol on April 9.
Led by Professor of Politics Dennis Plane and Assistant Professor of Politics Charlotte Ridge, Jackie Bryant ’25, Elizabeth Hanna ’28, Nolen Honikel ’27, Sarah Messimer ’28, Lincoln Miller ’28, Jude Pagliai ’28, Madi Van Zant ’27, and Steven An ’27 headed for the state capitol.
Juniata students stepped into the role of advocates, meeting directly with lawmakers to champion the value of higher education and student aid. Among those they connected with were alumni Carlton Logue ’13 (Chief of Staff), Rep. Ben Waxman ’07, and Legislative Assistant Jeffrey Ivicic ’22, as well as Representatives Rich Irvin, Scott Conklin, Russell Diamond, Joseph Kerwin, and Dan Moul.
The Juniata delegation joined forces with students from 26 colleges and universities across the Commonwealth—part of a 150-student rally—united in their mission to protect and expand access to financial aid programs like the Pennsylvania State Grant. AICUP Day on the Hill is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students to witness civic engagement in action and share their stories with the policymakers shaping Pennsylvania’s educational future.
Ryan Mathur ’96, professor and chair of geology, has been nominated to work with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Earth Resources Committee.
The Earth Resources Committee was established in 1991 as a standing committee under the NAS Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, serving as a focal point for mineral and energy resources. This committee is responsible for organizing and overseeing studies, monitoring the status of mineral and energy resource issues, and providing a unique forum for discussion and exchange of information.
The mission of the NAS is to recognize and elevate outstanding science, foster the broad understanding of science, and to oversee the National Research Council in producing and promoting the adoption of the independent, authoritative, trusted scientific advice to the government for the benefit of society.
Highlighting Juniata's English Department
Oral History Project
At left, Pree Pree Paw ’27 (left), Hayley Baker ’28, and at right, Gabriel Gardner ’25, kicked off Juniata’s National Endowment for the Humanities oral history project, “Living and Working in Huntingdon County,” at the Hartslog Day Heritage Festival held in nearby Alexandria, Pa., last fall.
Their work, combined with that of their fellow students working under the leadership of Amanda Page, associate professor of English, contributes to the understanding of community dynamics and lived experience of people in the rural United States.
Rural Rising
Rural Rising, an inaugural symposium celebrating grassroots innovation in rural communities, brought together local organizations for a day of inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, and meaningful conversations on addressing challenges.
Organized by Amanda Page, associate professor of English, and Territa Poole, associate professor of psychology, and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, this event fostered collaboration and new ideas to strengthen rural communities.
Juniata College Equestrian Club
The Juniata College Equestrian Team wrapped up an incredible season, highlighted by a seventh-place win by Kara Scotti '25 in a class of riders from 60+ schools across five states! This year marked a turning point for the team—not just in results, but in unity. New team jackets, shared victories, and unforgettable moments made this season one to remember. Read more about the season in The Daily News.
Springfest
This highly anticipated Juniata tradition is a great time to shake off stress and enjoy live music, games, and lots of fun activities designed to make unforgettable memories. Organized by the Juniata Activities Board (JAB), students had the chance to soak up the sun on the quad!
Graduation Forest
The members of the Habitat Restoration Club organized a planting day on Juniata’s Nest Day (a day without classes set aside to be devoted to mental health) on April 9, a perfect opportunity to serve others and spend time in nature. This annual tree planting and maintenance event encourages students to make a positive mark on the landscape by building a “Graduation Forest.” Students write well wishes on the protective stakes and tubes supporting the trees and can visit year after year to mark their progress.
Taiwanese Tea Ceremony
Pauline Wang, Juniata’s visiting Chinese language instructor from Taiwan, hosted a tea ceremony in the Global Village Lounge at Tussey and Terrace Halls on April 10. Participants had the chance to see a traditional tea ceremony and taste tea from Taiwan, as well as to make their own boba tea.
Celebrating Fashion, Art, and Entrepreneurship
Li Shen, associate professor of marketing, and seven Juniata students including designer, Sadie Maldonado ’27; graphic designer, Asher Pearlmutter-Pearson ’25; design assistants, Abby Sunchen ’25 and Estella Zhang ’27; and jazz musicians, Frank Dorman ’25, Ashton Jobes ’28, and Ben Allen ’25; traveled to Pittsburgh to take part in the Entrepreneurial Leadership Council (ELC) Intercollegiate Fashion Show on April 11. The event was an opportunity to connect with industry professionals, designers, and fellow creatives and explore collaborations within the fashion industry.
Holi Celebration
The South Asian Student Association (SASA) brought a splash of color and joy to campus on April 19, with an afternoon filled with color, music, dance, food, and fun. This highly anticipated Juniata tradition is a great time to shake off stress and enjoy live music, games, and lots of fun.
Juniata’s commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The commencement speaker will be James M. Metz, MD, ’89, chair of Radiation Oncology and Henry K. Pancoast Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Honorary degrees will be bestowed upon Metz; Carol H. Pletcher, Ph.D., ’66, a distinguished leader in corporate innovation; and James A. Wagner, recipient of the Pennsylvania State Police Purple Heart and Trooper of the Year award.
Metz earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Juniata, then received a master’s degree in clinical immunology and microbiology at Hahnemann University. He graduated from medical school at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. Metz completed an internship in medicine at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ, and his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Pletcher completed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Juniata. She earned her master’s degree in physics and chemistry at the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Minnesota in 1979.
Wagner, a 21-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police and a 1996 graduate of Mount Union Area High School, served four years of active duty in the United States Navy and four years with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He served as station commander of the Huntingdon barracks from September 2016 to January 2020.
This year marks the 147th commencement at Juniata College and will celebrate students earning Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees for their undergraduate education and eight master’s degrees for their graduate education.
Come home to Juniata for Alumni Weekend, June 5-8, 2025! Reconnect with classmates, reminisce about your favorite moments, and celebrate our shared Juniatia experience. With special events like Alumni College, the Forum on the Future with President Troha, and milestone reunions—including the Chemistry Department’s 100th Anniversary—there’s something for everyone.
Plan your visit, explore accommodations, and register by May 5. We can’t wait to welcome you back! Learn more HERE and register today.
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