Profile

Teaching the Second World War Meet Garrett Lucas ’15, a recent Saint Francis University history program alumnus. Garrett knew he wanted to design some kind of senior capstone project that would help him be the best high school history teacher he could be. Having a life-long interest in World War II, he realized that teaching about local community members’ involvement in that war would be a good way to help students connect to the past. For his project, Garrett visited the Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg (near Saint Francis University) to learn about and take pictures of guns

The Question of Religious Tolerance Meet Nick Astle, a 2015 graduate of the history program at Saint Francis University. Nick was interested in religious history, and in particular in the question of religious tolerance. Nick’s interest came from his personal commitment to his own faith, as well as current events which include many Americans questioning the tolerance of one particular faith -- Islam. Nick decided to study religious conflict and accommodation in early modern India. He chose this particular history because India was ruled by Muslims for almost a thousand years, but with a

Ms. Leah Kessler Marketing and International Business Major, Class of 2014 Kessler's Story Leah Kessler loves business, but her passion is mission work. A 2014 alumna of Saint Francis University, Leah graduated a semester early with a degree in marketing and international business. During her time at Saint Francis she was heavily involved in clubs and activities related to both of her passions. She participated in Enactus and the Society of Economic Analysis, and was also active in the HUGS United Spring Break mission trips, as well as the Jamaica International Microlending Initiative (JIMI)

Fulfilling dreams in politics Meet Andrew Collier, a 2011 graduate of the history and political science programs at Saint Francis University. Andrew studied both history and political science while at Saint Francis and was quite the go-getter. Andrew was the Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association, a Psi Upsilon Fraternity brother, and Best Buddies Midnight Madness Director of Recruitment and Relations. In addition, Andrew completed two internships in Washington, DC, through the Washington Internship Institute. He interned for the National Federation of Federal Employees

“My mom got sick when I was a sophomore in high school. The PA that took care of her was amazing and really inspired me. So things sort of changed gears after that, and I’m really glad that they did. I wouldn’t trade being a PA for anything. The relationships that I get to form with my patients is everything that I ever wanted out of a career.”

From the time she was a little girl growing up in Portage, Pa., Karly Link '14 was always interested in medicine. She expected to grow up to be a doctor or a pharmacist, but after talking with a physician assistant when she was 16 she decided to take a different path. “Instantly I knew that this job would be perfect for me,” Karly said. “I would get to treat patients, write prescriptions, perform procedures, etc., and the five-year program made it very appealing.” Once Karly fell in love with the idea of becoming a PA, she just needed to find a school with a reputable program. “SFU has such a

Ms. Beth Wheeler Middle Childhood Education, Class of 2013 Bellwood, PA Entering Saint Francis University as a middle childhood education major, Beth Wheeler never even dreamed about studying abroad. The thought of being alone in an unfamiliar place terrified her. But one little bite from the travel bug, and her life changed forever. During her time as a student at Saint Francis, Beth participated in both the Springtime in Italy and Semester in France programs. Following her graduation in May 2013, she moved to Auch, France where she has been teaching English as a second language to grade

Environmental Healer Following Mom's footsteps in her own way We asked Marie Schoenenberger (’13) why she went into environmental engineering. Her answer was quite thought-provoking. Here’s what she had to say: "My mother is a physical therapist. That path is something that I never ever thought about pursuing when I entered Saint Francis University’s Environmental Engineering program , but as it turns out, I followed it in my own way. I initially was caught up in the “Go green!” hype that brought with it renewable energy, recycling, and a bunch of vegetarians (myself included). I looked for a

Life in the Law Office Meet Julie Cashdollar, a political science student in the class of 2013. Julie came to Saint Francis as a transfer student in the middle of her junior year with an Associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Clarion University. Julie majored in political science while at Saint Francis. She was an honor’s program graduate and was also inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. While earning a degree in political science, Julie demonstrated the utility of how flexible the major program is to study a broad range of subjects, including

Dr. James Burke Biology, Class of 1988 Hollidaysburg, PA James' Story Neurosurgeon Dr. James Burke still remembers the first time he saw a human brain in person. Even today, after countless surgeries, he still finds the experience of seeing and operating on a brain “surreal.” Burke’s journey to becoming a leading neurosurgeon is an inspiring tale of perseverance and achievement. Burke’s roots are in Hollidaysburg, PA, where he and his four younger siblings were raised with an emphasis on family. “Our house was headquarters for our extended family. The holidays and family events all happened at