President's Newsletter

Dear Juniata Community,

Summer provides a moment to look back over the past year—my 11th as Juniata's president—and to look forward enthusiastically to the academic year ahead.

I am grateful to Provost Lauren Bowen for her wonderful leadership as acting president during my sabbatical in the spring, where I studied other top liberal arts colleges to understand their success and further strengthen Juniata for years to come.

Our campus has been bustling with activities that showcase our collective commitment to growth, learning, and collaboration. We’ve hosted events for the Class of 2028, prospective students and their families, as well as visitors who come to our campus to participate in an array of camps and conferences.

Juniatians also use this time to explore the world through work, research, study, and outreach. A total of 47 students received Super Internship Awards through the Juniata Alumni Internship Endowment and are completing internships worldwide. Many summer research participants presented their work at the 15th Annual Landmark Conference Summer Research Symposium, which was hosted at Juniata last week.

The excellence Juniata’s students, faculty, and staff exemplify has directly contributed to our recent inclusion in Money Magazine’s “Best Colleges of 2024.”

I was privileged to share all this and more with alumni, trustees, and admitted students who gathered in Baltimore, Maryland, last week for a celebration hosted by Chair Mary White ’73 and the board of trustees.

Applications will open on Thursday, August 1, which makes this a great time to share the achievements of our students and alumni with those in your life who may be starting their college search! Check out information about the Juniata Community Scholarship below to learn how you can assist in student recruitment.

Warm regards,
President James A. Troha

RECRUIT

15th Annual Landmark Conference Summer Research Symposium

Juniata hosted the 15th annual Landmark Conference Summer Research Symposium on Thursday, July 18. This cornerstone event brought together undergraduate researchers from the eight Landmark Conference schools to present the results of their summer faculty/student collaborative research in poster or oral presentation sessions. Student researchers representing the Catholic University of America, Drew University, Elizabethtown College, Goucher College, Lycoming College, Moravian University, Susquehanna University, the University of Scranton, and Wilkes University joined Juniata's student researchers for the day.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Long before sunrise, the Juniata College women's volleyball team boarded a bus for Washington, D.C. The players and coaches had just wrapped a full week of teaching high school players at volleyball camp, so it took a special invitation to get them out on the road. Their destination: The White House.

As reigning NCAA Division III National Champions, they joined student-athletes and coaches for College Champions Day Monday, July 22, to celebrate the 2023–2024 title-winning teams across all three college and university divisions. Vice President Kamala Harris hosted the teams on the lawn of the White House.

"I know it was not easy to make it to this moment. Each of you has faced challenges and obstacles, and you have endured. You have fought back and fought through," said Vice President Harris in her remarks. "By doing so, you demonstrated that true greatness requires more than skill. It requires grit and determination."

Of the teams in attendance at the ceremony, Harris explained that there were seven undefeated teams; Juniata College finished its season undefeated in December 2023 with its championship win over Hope College. Among the other teams, she said 11 were repeat champions and 20 first-time winners.

"It is amazing to be here with all these championship teams and to celebrate our national championship one more time," said Juniata Women's Volleyball Head Coach Heather Pavlik '95.

As live instrumental music rang out, the event began with a grand entrance and one student-athlete from each championship team walking down the curved stairs at the front of the White House. They remained on stage during the Vice President's remarks. Kennedy Christy '24, a returning graduate player from Saxonburg, Pa., represented Juniata College.

"It was very cool," recalled Christy after the event. "We [student-athlete representatives] were all lined up in the Green Room and the East Room of the White House. We talked the whole time we were waiting in line. I got to meet a lot of NCAA athletes who play different sports and go to different schools."

The event also featured a tour of the White House and the opportunity to walk on the famous lawn, take in views of the Washington Monument and play volleyball and lawn games. Student-athletes and coaches were invited to stop and write well wishes for Team USA athletes headed to the Paris Olympics.

"It's an honor to be here, to be invited by the White House, and to experience a unique day with other student-athletes," said Abbey Telesz '25, co-captain.

"I'm just happy to be celebrated, and it feels like we're still living the dream," said Emily Sullivan '25.

The women's volleyball team opens their season on the road Friday, August 30, at Christopher Newport.

First Look, Orientation, and Inbound

The energy on campus has been electric with summer events like First Look, orientation, and Inbound. The days are filled with sightseeing and informational sessions that offer prospective and admitted students opportunities for engagement and community building. Through Inbound, a three-day immersive retreat, 140 incoming students arrived on campus on July 12, to take part in a decades long tradition connecting with classmates through fun experiences. Photos by Nate Thompson '05.