News about Individualized Programs of Study

Twenty-seven Pennsylvania College of Technology students received Innovation Engineering Blue Belt certification following their successful completion of all modules within the Principles of Innovation course at the college.

The course teaches the fundamentals of innovation, emphasizing critical thinking, problem solving and stimuli for effective innovation.

“The class helps you to think more broadly and helps you get closer to the consumer,” said Nolan M. Hickok, an industrial design student from Troy.

“I think it helps you push the boundaries of your mind and what you can create,” added Harrison Wohlfarth, a concrete science technology and applied technology studies student from Midlothian, Virginia, citing rapid research and other techniques that “help you to think about what you can add to an idea and combine ideas that you might not otherwise think to combine.”

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“Second Nature,” the current exhibit at The Gallery at Penn College, is attracting educational interest from students and faculty, including psychology, sociology, English composition and art classes.

The most recent class to visit was Research Methods (SOC313), taught by Rob Cooley, associate professor of anthropology/environmental science, and Elizabeth E. Winder, assistant professor of human services.

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A podcast sharing the compelling professional and personal journeys of Penn State alumni has engaged Jennifer R. Wahl, a Pennsylvania College of Technology social sciences instructor, in a wide-ranging conversation highlighting her teaching experiences and philosophies.

Wahl, who earned her Master of Education in educational leadership from Penn State in 2012, is featured on a recent 40-minute episode of the Lion Legacy Podcast. Found on all major platforms and at LionLegacyPodcast.com, the series is hosted by 2004 Penn State graduates Jared Melzer and Ross Weisbrot.

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A Pennsylvania College of Technology social sciences instructor shared her expertise at a recent conference exploring current challenges in global education and the potential solutions offered by artificial intelligence.

Jennifer R. Wahl served as a topic leader at the online event – “Global Education, AI, and the Greater Good” – hosted by Nittany AI Alliance, a Penn State Outreach initiative focused on leveraging technologies to improve educational experiences. Attendees included educators, graduate students and industry leaders.

Wahl’s discussion explored how artificial intelligence could impact K-12 access to technology in rural areas and restorative justice.

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To assess Penn College students’ perspective on the day’s news – developments as fresh as the Washington, D.C., impeachment drama unfolding concurrently with their Thursday afternoon lecture – WNEP’s Chris Keating visited Craig A. Miller’s American Government-National course. Miller, an associate professor of history/political science whose Klump Academic Center classroom gives students a nonjudgmental space in which to formulate their opinions, began with a discussion of current events (including the congressional hearing on recess when the session convened, as well as its back story involving both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden). In addition to interviewing Miller, Keating talked on camera with Allen J. Hafner, an individual studies student from Jersey Shore, and Dominic W. Howard, an undeclared major from Williamsport. The piece was broadcast on evening newscasts, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Pennsylvania College of Technology presented honors to three alumni during Spring 2019 commencement ceremonies, held May 17-18 at the Community Arts Center, Williamsport.

John Estep, of Troy; Darryl Kehrer, of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Kristina Wisneski, of Ardmore, were recognized for their exemplary achievements.

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The latest episode of a locally produced, award-winning public television series emphasizes the importance of caring individuals who provide for the health and well-being of the community.

“Working Class: Helping & Healing,” produced by Pennsylvania College of Technology and WVIA Public Media, premieres on WVIA-TV at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 21 (with rebroadcasts at 1 p.m. Friday, March 22, and 11 a.m. Sunday, March 24). It highlights the importance of science, math, communication and hands-on experience in preparing students for success in health and human service careers.

The film features Penn College faculty, administrators and students who serve the community in helping and healing roles. Among them is Thomas A. Zimmerman, associate professor of psychology, who counseled area residents after the TWA Flight 800 crash in July 1996. He discusses the importance of people coming together to help one another and to heal in the wake of tragedy.

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Abdul B. Pathan, professor of economics at Pennsylvania College of Technology, presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Economics Association, held recently at Penn State Altoona.

Pathan’s paper, “Make Principles of Economics Class Interesting to Your Students,” explored live demonstrations involving various economics topics and explained the need for utilizing diverse techniques in lecture delivery.

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Jennifer R. Wahl, a world history and psychology teacher at Loyalsock Township High School, has been named the Pennsylvania 2018 Teacher of the Year. Wahl, who is also an adjunct faculty member at Pennsylvania College of Technology, teaching psychology and sociology classes, received the honor on Monday during the Department of Education’s annual professional development conference.

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Pennsylvania College of Technology presented honors to two alumni during Spring 2017 commencement ceremonies, held May 12-13 at the Community Arts Center.

Thomas J. Giannattasio, of Bethesda, Maryland, received the Alumni Achievement Award on May 12, and June Kilgus Zimmerman, of Williamsport, was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award on May 13.

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Joe S. Miller, an adjunct instructor of sociology and psychology classes at Pennsylvania College of Technology, assisted with supporting materials for the second edition of “Real World Psychology,” published and released recently by Wiley, a global publishing company specializing in academic publishing.

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A longtime adjunct faculty member and college alumna was recently honored with a national American Cancer Society award for her work with cancer patients and their families.

June Kilgus Zimmerman, an oncology social worker at UPMC Susquehanna’s Cancer Center, received the ACS Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award at a ceremony last month in Atlanta. The prestigious national honor recognizes leadership in serving the complex needs of cancer patients and their families.

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A sociology faculty member at Pennsylvania College of Technology co-presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Sociological Society, held Oct. 28-29 at Bloomsburg University.

Richard Sahn, instructor of psychology/sociology, presented “Unleashing the Sociological Imagination: Wild Challenges to the Status Quo of Contemporary American Ways of Doing Things.” His co-presenter was Luke R. Mann, a former Penn College nursing student who is now studying sociology at Lock Haven University.

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Two faculty members at Pennsylvania College of Technology were honored with Excellence in Teaching Awards during Spring Commencement ceremonies held May 13-14 at the Community Arts Center, Williamsport.

As part of the Distinguished Teaching Awards program at Penn College, President Davie Jane Gilmour presented Excellence in Teaching Awards to Kirk M. Cantor, professor of plastics technology, and Craig A. Miller, assistant professor of history and political science.

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A sociology faculty member at Pennsylvania College of Technology presented two papers and chaired a session at the 65th annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Sociological Society, held recently at Edinboro University.

Richard Sahn, instructor of psychology/sociology, presented “The School of the Americas as an Indication of Plutocratic Quid Pro Quo: What’s In It for the Ordinary American?” during the “Ideology and Religion” session, which he also chaired. At the “Quo Vadis? Pennsylvania Sociology at a Crossroads” session, he presented the paper “Sociology Under Attack: Can We Survive?”

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