President's Newsletter

Dear Juniata Community,

I had a wonderful time celebrating Juniata at the annual Alumni Weekend, which brought 703 alumni, family, and friends to reconnect and reminisce. The event served as nice closure to the spring semester and provided the opportunity to reflect on our good work this semester including advancing the master planning process, building new academic programs, and enhancing experiential education. The weekend also allowed us to celebrate some of our signature programs including our concert choir and the Raystown Field Station and gave us the opportunity to recognize the impact of the Statton Learning Commons on our campus.

The spring semester’s traditional milestones, including the Bailey Oratorical, Mr. Juniata, Liberal Arts Symposium, and commencement, were accompanied by the opening of the Statton Learning Commons, the return of mattress dominoes, and a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse viewing party on the quad. We’ve made strides in the master planning process, recruited students into new academic programs, and continued to strengthen experiential offerings.

Alumni Weekend celebrated reunions, philanthropy, shared interests, and connections while also recognizing those whose contributions have strengthened our campus, their communities, and the world around them. Robert Nairn ’89 earned the College’s Alumni Achievement Award, Anne Wakabayashi ’11 was awarded Juniata’s Young Alumni Achievement Award, Jennifer Dorsch-Messler ’02 received the William E. Swigart ’37 Alumni Humanitarian Award, and Christopher Gahagen ’94 was honored with the Harold B. Brumbaugh ’33 Alumni Service Award.

In a few days, I look forward to welcoming President Jim Troha back to campus, marking the end of his sabbatical and my tenure as Acting President. It has been immensely gratifying to serve in this role and be part of moments and opportunities that build toward Juniata’s future.

I’ve enjoyed sharing these updates with you each month. I look forward to welcoming the Class of 2028 to campus in the fall as I begin my 11th year as provost!

RECRUIT

Class of 1974 Legacy Gift

Members of Juniata College’s Class of 1974 presented their 50th Class Reunion legacy gift during the All Class Dinner at Alumni Weekend. The Class of 1974 raised $4,889,319.74, to support many areas across the College now and in the future. A portion of their overall gift is directed to the living room space within Statton Learning Commons.

Class of 1974’s Legacy Gift committee co-chairs Dave Andrews and Bruce Moyer and committee members Barbara Beachley Marshall, Bill Zamer, Mike Klag, and Mike Jablonski rallied their classmates to support the cause.

The Class of 1974 achieved two Juniata College records with their legacy gift. With 114 donors (56% of the class), the class had the highest number of donors for the 2024 fiscal year. They also presented the largest cash gift for a class project, $1,085,263. Andrews and Moyer credited the support of their committee, class engagement officers, classmates, and Juniata College’s advancement team with the success of their effort.

The Raystown Field Station, located on Raystown Lake, marked its 50th anniversary Sunday, June 9.

Established by Juniata College and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1974 to provide special opportunities for environmental research and education, the 365-acre reserve offers access to various aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Since its creation 50 years ago, the field station has become a leader in environmental science, innovation, and instruction. Students learn the importance of sustaining natural resources and studying the world around us.

Speakers at the celebration included Eric Quallen (pictured at right), director of the Raystown Field Station; Lauren Bowen, acting president and provost; Chuck Yohn ’83, director emeritus; Dave Robbins ’00; and Grace Lewis ’21.

Support the Raystown Field Station

Alumni Choir Reunion Gala Concert

More than 150 alumni choir members, spanning generations from the Class of 1955 to the Class of 2025, took the stage in the newly-renovated Rosenberger Auditorium Saturday, June 8, to perform under the leadership of Russ Shelley, Elma Stine Heckler ’50 Professor of Music, and to rededicate the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts. Barry Halbritter '65 and Marlene Robinette Halbritter '62 were honored for their unwavering support of the arts at Juniata College. The occasion marked Russ's final concert as choir director after 34 years of service.

Please consider a gift to the H.A. Hockley Choir Endowment

Support the Concert Choir

CLICK TO WATCH THE CONCERT

Alumni Awards

Robert Nairn ’89

Alumni Achievement Award

Robert has distinguished himself within his profession as an environmental scientist committed to watershed restoration, ecological engineering, natural infrastructure, water quality, and passive treatment of mine drainage.

Anne Wakabayashi ’11

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Anne has distinguished herself in her profession through leadership, advocacy, and public relations. She is vice president for campaign and creative services at Berlin Rosen, a public relations and campaign consulting firm.

Jennifer Dorsch-Messler ’02

William E. Swigart '37 Alumni Humanitarian Award

Jennifer has given selflessly to those impacted by disaster through her work responding to human needs and coordinating emergency relief. She serves as director of Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM), an organization of the Church of the Brethren.

Christopher Gahagen ’94

Harold B. Brumbaugh '33 Alumni Service Award

Chris has provided selfless and unwavering service to his alma mater with contagious energy and loyalty. He has worked tirelessly to promote synergy between students, alumni, faculty, and staff, ensuring that all feel connected.

Faculty and Staff Accomplishments

Jamie Weaver, dean of international education, was selected as a 2024-2025 Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) Presidential Fellow. The Presidential Fellows program is AIEA's signature program of mentorship for new senior international officers (SIOs). It is necessarily limited in number and of high prestige. Up to five fellows are selected annually and matched with a mentor throughout the academic year.

Burst the Bubble, a new book by Tia Warrick, director of public health and assistant professor of biology, was featured on the NASDAQ video screen in Times Square. The book is an inspiring resource for those aspiring to a clinical research career. At Juniata, Dr. Warrick instills research, policy, and community as the main pillars of public health. She teaches students enrolled in the Master of Public Health Program, which is designed to produce highly trained clinical research epidemiologists, community health specialists, and health policy managers.

Ryan Mathur ’96, professor of geology, has secured a $406,600 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct mineral exploration with hydrogeochemistry in the upper peninsula of Michigan over the next two summers in collaboration with the University of Michigan and Talon Metals. He has also been awarded a $172,000 NSF grant to study the migration of tin through Bronze Age artifacts in Europe and other areas to the east in collaboration with CUNY Brooklyn and multiple museums in Europe.

Jim Watt, vice president for advancement and new strategic initiatives, was named as a City & State Pennsylvania 2024 Higher Education Trailblazer. This recognition honors his leadership in Juniata's most successful campaign to date and his work to secure a major federal grant to bolster Sill Business Center, which generates jobs in high-demand fields, and cultivates business partnerships to launch graduates’ careers.

Alumni Weekend 2024

Alumni Weekend 2024, held June 7-9, was a weekend to remember as classmates gathered for reunions, to reminiscence, and to celebrate all it means to be a Juniatian. The days were filled with joy-filled occasions like the Juniata Choirs Reunion Gala Concert and Rededication of Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts, the 50th anniversary of the Raystown Field Station, and the annual Alumni Awards.

Photos by Joyce Wong and Jonathan Hsieh

Summer Stop By

Look for Juniata College at events this summer!

ZooAmerica at Hershey Park

Visitors like Leighton can stop for a photo op at the bald eagle exhibit, now sponsored by Juniata College! Share your photo on social media or with the marketing office for a chance to receive a plush eagle of your very own!

Raystown Lake Visitor Center

Juniata will be participating in the Tuesday Morning Wake-Up Receptions from June 18 through August13 at the Raystown Lake Visitor Center located in Hesston, Pa. This includes Eagle Day, July 16, sponsored by Juniata College!