Academics

Saint Francis University is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Sepich as the Director of Ambialet, the University’s flagship study abroad program, held in the village of Ambialet in southwestern France. Sepich is no stranger to Saint Francis University or Ambialet; he is an alumnus and a member of one of the earliest student groups to travel to the University’s facility in Ambialet where he fell in love with the quaint village. It is no wonder why Sepich wanted to return to Ambialet. The Semester in France allows students to experience many sites in the region including museums

Cade Young, a freshman General Engineering major with an Aviation concentration , completed his first solo flight in a Diamond DA40 NG, flying out of the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport on December 9th. Cade is only one semester into the Aviation program and is excited with how quickly he progressed in the program. “When I went down to the airport that morning I had no clue I was going to be flying solo. I was told that I was getting close and could possibly solo before Christmas break, but I didn’t see it coming so soon. When the flight instructor, Larry Servinsky , stepped out

Chemistry professor, Dr. Samantha Radford , and two of her classes, Environmental Chemistry and Human Toxicology are working with the community to bring more awareness to the under-reported issue of lead exposure in Central Pennsylvania. Several cities in Pennsylvania, including Altoona, have a higher children’s lead exposure rate than that of Flint Michigan, even during their recent lead crisis. The city of Altoona ranks second worst in the state with an alarming 20% of children having elevated lead blood levels. Dr. Radford worked with the Saint Francis University Center for Service and

Saint Francis University’s Environmental Engineering students get hands-on experience working on real projects from local organizations. These projects allow the students to get out into the field as an undergraduate, and perform work that makes a difference. In one such project, Environmental Engineering students, along with SFU’s Center for Watershed Research and Service (CWRS), are partnering with Altoona Water Authority and other agencies to assess the level of impurities and improve the water quality of a drainage impaired by historic coal mining near the Kittanning Run stream in Logan

I'm Dr. John Harris , 1982 graduate of Saint Francis University, and now the Chair of the Engineering , Computer Science and Mathematics departments at SFU. But forty years ago this year I faced the same questions as you: "What should I major in at college? And what college?" Yeah I get it, I am old, but I still remember the fear I felt, the very real concern that I might make the wrong decision. It is a big decision. Huge, right? Well, I had three major things going for me as a senior in high school: awesome parents that loved me and wanted me to go to a safe school where I could get a solid

Written by Kara Illig SFU’s Nursing Program ranks number one in the nation, a distinction that doesn’t come without merit. Their unique, interprofessional curriculum has resulted in more well-prepared nurses who are entering the field sooner. Receiving a national collegiate ranking of any kind is an academic feat, but the criteria by which the honor is determined far exceeds the prestige of the badge itself. When rncareers.org named the Saint Francis University BSN program as number one in the United States based on the exemplary preparedness of the program’s graduating nurses and first-time

The Saint Francis University Environmental Engineering Department recently launched an Adopt a Site Internship program where students restore and maintain watersheds in Pennsylvania. Rising Junior, Andrew Ferko, was the first student to participate in the experience. Through the Adopt a Site program, Andrew was able to get valuable hands-on experience working with the Shade Creek Watershed Association to maintain an efficient treatment system. The internship was paid for though grant funds from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds . The Environmental Engineering Department has plans to

For Tami Clark, Saint Francis was the last stepping stone on a long journey. After serving overseas with the Army in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, she returned home in 2004 and started a family. While Tami’s education remained on the back-burner for the next several years, her desire to earn her degree was never far from her mind.

Saint Francis University President Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D. has appointed Dr. Karan Hinman Powell to serve as interim vice president for academic affairs effective June 4. Dr. Powell will assume the duties of interim vice president when Dr. Wayne Powel, the current provost, steps down at the end of the month. She will continue in the role while a national search for a permanent successor is underway. Fr. Van Tassell thanked Dr. Powel for his nearly twelve years of service as provost (and previously vice-president of academic affairs) at Saint Francis University stating, “I am

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (PNGE) program at Saint Francis University was founded in fall 2014. On May 13th, the first two students in the four-year undergraduate program, Zachary Rohland and John Sheesley, graduated. Now that the first students have graduated, Saint Francis University will be seeking accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET . Future graduation classes expect to be comprised of roughly 15 students per year. Both PNGE graduates have secured positions in the field of Engineering. Zachary Rohland has accepted a summer internship position as