BLOG

Danielle MacMurtrie Profile

University Communications & Marketing | 04/26/2017
PT major Danielle MacMurtrie blended her love of anatomy and art during her time at Saint Francis University. Danielle MacMurtrie PT, DPT Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2016 Employed by HeathSouth Rehab Hospital in Lancaster Physical Therapy at SFU Presidential Inauguration Anatomy Painting Project Q&A with Danielle What sparked your interest in Physical Therapy? How old were you? I was first exposed to physical therapy when I was 13. I sustained a back injury caused by years of gymnastics. I wore a back brace for 2 years and received frequent physical therapy. It was the first career in

Tiger Spiketail dragonfly discovery

04/25/2017
One of the things that makes Saint Francis University different from other colleges is our commitment to research and faculty mentorship. Our students conduct research in small teams that work closely with faculty members in dedicated student/faculty research labs. Many students begin research as freshmen, and students can work with multiple faculty on different projects over their four years. Two first-year SFU Biology students, Taylin Lehman and Morgan Ruis, along with Associate Professor Dr. Lane Loya, recently discovered larvae of the rare Tiger Spiketail dragonfly ( Cordulegaster erronea

The water monsters

04/24/2017
Meet Mudkip and Wooper, the two newest members of the The Dr. Wayne and Elizabeth Takacs Biology Department . The axolotls, also known as Mexican salamander, are actually amphibians and not walking fish, although they do spend their entire lives in water. The axolotl’s name is derived from the Latin words “atl” (water) and “xolotl” (monster). They retain their larval features as adults and never go through metamorphosis. The axolotls are currently the eighth most endangered species in the world with less than 100 individuals currently left in the wild. Their natural habitat is in an area of

Scenes from Puppy Graduation 2017

04/24/2017
Athena, Otis and Tobie graduated from Saint Francis University on Friday! The trio of shelter dogs from the Central PA Humane Society received an SFU collar tag, a diploma and an AKC Canine Good Citizen certification. Now they are heading off to new "furever" homes. The dogs were part of a semester-long Psychology course, “Canine Learning and Behavior." The class is a community partnership project taught by SFU Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Shlomit Flaisher-Grinberg and Megan Sanchez, Volunteer Coordinator at the Central PA Humane Society. The idea for the class was initiated by Dr

SFU Students Prep for Professional Life With Dining Etiquette Course

04/24/2017
Having good table manners may seem like a simple concept, but in the business world, every misstep can leave a lasting impression on employers and colleagues. To college students preparing for professional life after graduation, learning dining etiquette is essential for a successful career. Beth McGregor, Associate Director of Career Services , recently invited SFU alum and independent etiquette consultant Pat Cataldo (Economics '66) to dine with students and educate them on proper restaurant behavior. One session was tailored for student athletes. “There really is a lot to learn. Good

A Solar Powered Class

03/01/2017
When the temperatures reached an abnormal high of over 70 degrees Fahrenheit in February, many professors headed outdoors with their classes. Dr. Joseph Goodwill took things a step further. For this Environmental Transport Processes class (ENVE 312), he took the Junior Engineering students and some special equipment outside. Dr. Goodwill collaborated with the Saint Francis Institute for Energy and borrowed a solar kit from Goal Zero . The portable power station generated enough power to run the large monitor that displayed Dr. Goodwill’s PowerPoint slides. That day, the Environmental

Stephanie Wilson Profile

02/21/2017
Ms. Stephanie Wilson is a senior Biology major with a Marine Biology and Environmental Science concentrations. In addition to her coursework, she has traveled, engaged in a variety of campus activities, and has contributed much time and energy to the Dr. Wayne and Elizabeth Takacs Biology Department and the School of Sciences in general. Last year, she was been actively involved in the maintenance of the 1500-gallon aquarium at SFU and the care of many specimens in the marine lab in addition to being a Work Study Assistant to the Dean of the School of Sciences, a Microbiology Lab Prep

Marine Biology Student Spends Semester in Alaska 2017

Justin Merry | 02/02/2017
Saint Francis University encourages its students to seek out new opportunities to travel and learn in their discipline. That’s precisely what Alayna Hawkins did with her Fall 2016 semester. Hawkins, a junior Marine Biology student at Saint Francis, spent the semester at Kenai Peninsula College, which is part of the University of Alaska Anchorage. There, she took a slate of hands-on courses, including Ichthyology and Mammal Biology, while exploring the Alaskan wilderness and making valuable networking connections. “I [gained] experiences from this program that most undergraduate students will

4th annual March on Mountain held

01/30/2017
Saint Francis University and the surrounding communities turned out for the fourth annual "March on the Mountain" Pro-Life rally on Friday, January 27, 2017. About 75 people participated in the local version of the D.C. March for Life that is held on each year on the anniversary of the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade.

Biology Flash Winter 2017 Newsletter Published

01/26/2017
What's going on in the SFU Biology Department? The Winter 2017 edition of the Biology Flash was just published! Stories include a feature on new equipment in the department, new relationships with local wildlife rehabilitation centers, and a feature on Marine Biology senior Stephanie Wilson. View the Winter 2017 Biology Flash Newsletter!