BLOG

The Saint Francis University Community Blanketeer collected 275 beautiful quilted, crocheted, knitted, and tied blankets that will be distributed to sick and needy children in Cambria, Blair, and Somerset counties through the Healing Patch and Nurse Family Partnership (Home Nursing Agency), and through Dauntless Fire Company for comfort during emergency situations.

On October 21, 2023, four English faculty—Drs. Lisa Beiswenger, Timothy Bintrim, Brennan Thomas, and John Woznak—and five English majors—Avery Beunier-Lucas, Colette Costlow, MJ Dugery, Michael Hickey, and Erin Pyle—presented scholarly research on literary, environmental, and media studies at the 2023 Rachel Carson Conference, hosted by Chatham University.

In response to the Hamas terror attacks on October 7th and in a spirit of Franciscan solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters, Saint Francis University is offering an expedited transfer process for Jewish students who may be experiencing or are in fear of antisemitic discrimination or violence at their current institution.

On Friday, October 20, 2023, Saint Francis University celebrated the Blessing and Dedication of Saint Margaret Hall. The facility, bearing the name of St. Margaret of Cortona, will primarily serve Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistant Science majors and is scheduled to open in January 2024.

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a $399,727 award to Saint Francis University as part of its first-ever Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) grant program. The agency is investing $19.6 million to help nearly 50 emerging research institutions grow their capacity to participate in and drive regional innovation.

Saint Francis University has appointed Brianna Pavkovich of Rockwood, PA, the inaugural director of the university's newest workforce development initiative, the Aviation Maintenance Technician certificate program. As the new director, her first duties include guiding the program through the FAA approval process with the goal of beginning classes in Fall 2024. 

SFU hosted the Honorable Patrick J. Murphy on a visit to campus. Murphy served as the first Iraq War Veteran elected to the U.S. Congress and he shared his expertise on national security as well as his experiences with leadership and service with students in the Cybersecurity major and ROTC cadets

High school students are invited to submit artwork created using poppies in honor of veterans to the William N. Campbell Poppy Project through the Center for Fine Arts at Saint Francis University.

The Division of Professional Studies welcomed its second Executive Doctor of Education of Organizational Leadership & Innovation Cohort. The cohort, named Aggiornamento 2023, gathered in person on September 7th through September 10th 2023 for their first residency.

Ava Dzurenda, Features Editor for The Troubadour, published an insightful look into the significance of bells on campus and the journey that brought this particular bell to its new home. Ava is a junior Exercise Physiology and Science Writing double major with a minor in Communications. She is from White Oak, Pennsylvania.