President's Newsletter
November 2024
Dear Juniata Community,
In this season of gratitude, we have much to be thankful for at Juniata. Our college community has come together in ways large and small over the past month.
November began with Juniata’s first-ever Spirit Day, celebrating school spirit and all things blue and gold. A gathering at Detwiler Plaza preceded our women’s volleyball team’s senior night game. Tonight, we will continue to cheer for the team as they face off against Penn State Altoona at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium for the first round of the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament.
Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to philanthropy, is coming up on Tuesday, December 3. This year, we are supporting our current and future students through the Juniata Scholarship Fund. Please consider participating and enjoy learning about donors like you who make these opportunities possible for outstanding students who impact campus and the broader community.
Our students have excellent mentors among our faculty and staff, who set an example of how to serve and lead. Please join me in congratulating Tammy Stuber, associate director of career development, on her recent recognition as one of the 2024 Women Making a Difference by the Pennsylvania Business Central. Her commitment to our students is an asset to our entire community.
Your support means everything to our students and campus community! Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. Together, we’re making a lasting impact, and I’m excited to see all we’ll accomplish!
Warm regards,
President James A. Troha
Recent Campus Events
In recent weeks, Juniata has enjoyed celebrating Diwali, hosted by the South Asian Student Association (SASA); welcomed the Piscataway Nation Dancers in recognition of Native American History Month, and selected our newest "Mr. Juniata," Landon Meadows '25. Events like these bring campus together to learn, laugh, and celebrate the diverse cultures, talents, and traditions that make our community vibrant and unique. Photos by Christina D'Amato '25, and Callan Beideman '25.
For the fourth consecutive year, Juniata College has had official observer status for the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, and a delegation of Juniata College students and faculty are witnessing history unfold.
This year’s COP 29 is held in Baku, Azerbaijan, one of the world’s largest producers of fossil fuels.
The Juniata delegation has two cohorts: Dennis Plane, professor of politics, Jacob Wallman ’25, and Elijah Weaver ’25, attended week one of the conference; and Uma Ramakrishnan, professor of environmental science and studies, Li Shen, associate professor of marketing, and Amelia Kasdorf ’25, who are attending week two.
The primary purpose of COP 29 is for countries to continue finding ways to address climate change. Since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015, the world has attempted to find a path to keep global warming at no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Much work remains to be done on this front, and COP is the mechanism by which countries make progress toward this goal.
A delegation of Juniata College faculty and student researchers excelled in showcasing their collaborative research at the regional meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, held at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.
The Juniata College team included faculty mentors Jill Keeney, Charles A. Dana Professor of Biology; Regina Lamendella, George ’75 and Cynthia ’76 Valko Professor of Biological Sciences; Chris Grant, Associate professor of biology; and TJ Firneno, Assistant professor of biology. The faculty mentored students Kaitlynn Balmer-Brown ’26, Kavya Chheda ’25, Kelliann Drummond ’25, Sarah Halteman ’25, Khushi Kanani ’25, Donovan McCammon ’27, Brittney McMullen ’22 g ’23, Prevena Ramakrishnan ’26, Ashley Robuck ’26, Ella Tamariz ’25, Evan Thomas ’25, Linh Tong ’25, and Lex Viands ’26.
Students Evan Thomas and Khushi Kanani earned first-place awards for their undergraduate oral presentations. Brittney McMullen won first place for her graduate presentation. Kelliann Drummond, Lex Viands, and Sarah Halteman were also recognized for their first-place undergraduate poster presentation.
This month, we feature the Physics and Engineering Physics Department.
Jim Borgardt, Woolford Professor of Physics and Engineering Physics, brings extensive expertise in nuclear forensics, supporting both the U.S. Department of State and Los Alamos National Laboratory as a guest scientist in the Radiochemistry Division over the past decade administrating international exercises. He recently co-led a nuclear forensics workshop in Manchester, UK, fostering global collaboration on security challenges. Jim is also continuing his mentorship of Rohit Raj '25, focusing on the analysis of rare stars in nearby galaxies, including Wolf-Rayet and symbiotic stars, building on Rohit’s summer research with data from the Hubble and Keck telescopes.
Jamie White, Book Professor of Physics and Engineering Physics, is a co-owner of MOGLabs USA, LLC, a company specializing in precision instrumentation for laser spectroscopy. Renowned for his expertise in optical physics, particularly diode laser-based research, Jamie integrates cutting-edge technologies into the classroom and lab, providing students with hands-on experience in advanced optics and laser applications. Additionally, he co-leads Juniata’s initiatives to support future high school STEM teachers through a National Science Foundation grant. This grant provides scholarships and academic support to juniors and seniors pursuing teaching certification, fostering the next generation of STEM educators.
Matt Beaky, professor of physics and engineering physics, shares his passion for observational astronomy with Juniata students through research on variable stars, asteroids, and stellar spectroscopy. His hands-on approach bridges theory and application, giving students meaningful research experiences. A dedicated educator, Matt encourages creative problem-solving and fosters curiosity in the dynamic fields of physics and astronomy.
Mark Pearson, assistant professor of physics and engineering physics, encourages students to proactively pursue opportunities that align with their interests and goals. He focuses on expanding skillsets and resources for both students and faculty, particularly through the makerspace, which houses electronics, 3D printers, a laser cutter/engraver, and CNC routers. New additions, including a multi-filament printing system and 3D scanner, are on the way. The workshop provides further opportunities for hands-on learning, such as woodturning on a lathe, resin crafting, and machining. Mark also enjoys mentoring students on individual projects, helping them develop meaningful applied experimental and research skills.
Will Blades, assistant professor of physics and engineering physics, is in his second year at Juniata College and has been instrumental in expanding the engineering curriculum. This semester, he has been mentoring students on advanced research projects, including Zach Henshaw ’26 and Kay Peli ’27 on nanoscience topics and Lee Roby ’27 on electrochemistry. These projects are supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, which have allowed students to travel to world-class facilities such as Penn State’s 2D Crystal Consortium (2DCC) and Johns Hopkins’ PARADIM. Through this research, students are gaining invaluable hands-on experience in materials science and engineering, preparing them for success in both academic and professional careers.
Brian Zanger, assistant professor of physics and engineering physics, a recent addition to the department, brings expertise in galactic astrophysics, exploring how irregular galaxy rotations lead to the formation of spiral galaxy bars. This semester, he’s teaching Modern Physics, covering topics from atomic structure to quantum mechanics. Next semester, Brian will offer a first-year seminar on extraterrestrial life. Catch him at Juniata’s Observatory Nights!
Arnold Schwemmlein '15 graduate in physics and mathematics, recently returned to Juniata College to give a seminar on his cutting-edge work and connect with students. Arnold is a research scientist at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester, specializing in high-energy density physics (HEDP) experiments. His work focuses on laser-driven implosions and x-ray spectroscopy, contributing to advancements in plasma physics and fusion energy research. During his visit, Arnold shared insights into his career and research, while discussing internship opportunities with students, offering them valuable guidance and inspiration for their own academic and professional journeys.
Lee Roby ‘27 interned in the Acoustics Division at the Naval Research Laboratory. Using MATLAB, Lee analyzed background frequencies to improve shallow water acoustics experiments, honing technical skills and exploring a career path in the defense industry.
Drew Perhamus ’26 worked as an assistant project manager at PowerSecure, gaining hands-on experience in technical sales and project management. Drew’s internship included nationwide travel and exposure to electrical systems and corporate operations.
Rohit Raj '25 spent the summer as a Primary Research Mentor in the Science Internship Program at UC Santa Cruz. Under the guidance of Professor Raja GuhaThakurta and Dr. Bob Williams, Rohit led a team investigating rare stars in nearby galaxies M31, M32, and M33. The research focused on Wolf-Rayet and symbiotic stars, utilizing data from the Hubble and Keck telescopes. This experience enhanced Rohit’s astrophysical analysis skills while providing valuable growth in research leadership and mentoring, blending scientific inquiry with managerial development.
Zach Henshaw ’26 conducted research with Will Blades at Juniata on 2D silver systems using the Quantum ATK density functional theory (DFT) package. Zach focused on electronic behaviors, gaining experience in computational modeling and troubleshooting software.
Lily Brownlee,‘25 interned at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, characterizing scintillator detectors for neutron spectroscopy. Her work advanced detector technologies while providing hands-on experience in nuclear science research and applications.
Mady Fleisher ‘27 (not pictured) interned at PennDOT’s Materials and Testing Lab, conducting chemical tests on road paints, beads, and salts to meet AASHTO standards. Mady's work ensured quality control and data accuracy in transportation materials.
Nel Masamune ‘25 (not pictured) interned at the University of Tohoku, Japan, analyzing GroundBIRD telescope data. Nel developed Python scripts, monitored data collection, and gained insight into collaborative international astrophysics projects.
Juniata College was recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting, which honors outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation.
A series of events held on campus leading up to, on, and after the 2024 presidential election were part of Juniata's commitment to the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge.
Juniata's All In for Democracy team includes Dennis Plane, professor of politics; Sarah Worley '00, professor of communication and director of community engaged learning; Bryce Garland ’27; Charlotte Ridge, assistant professor of politics; Derek James, dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion; Shane Moran, archive and special collections librarian; and Deb Roney, assistant professor emerita of English. The team's considerable efforts to educate and mobilize voters set a tone on campus that underscores the power of civil and civic discourse and reinforces the relevance and meaning of elections.
The All-In Democracy Challenge is a non-partisan national organization that awards campuses for their commitment to citizenship and democratic participation. On our campus, All-In participation encourages students to vote, watch debates, and be aware of our political past and present.
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