“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

On November 11, 2013, the Saint Francis University Board of Trustees elected Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R. to assume the office of president of Saint Francis University. His term will begin after Rev. Gabriel Zeis, T.O.R. concludes his tenure at the end of the academic year 2013-2014. Father Malachi is the son of Fred and Barbara Van Tassell and a native of Poughkeepsie, NY. He is the oldest of five children and has nine nieces and nephews. He professed vows as a Franciscan in 1999 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2004 at the Immaculate Conception Chapel at Saint Francis University

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

The road to Germany Meet Emily Patterson, a political science major who graduated in 2012. Emily was a political science major, honor's program student, and a member of the Saint Francis Women’s Lacrosse Team. Emily accomplished a lot while at Saint Francis: a member of the Gamma Sigma Sigma National Sorority; Vice-President of Finance for the Inter-Sorority Council; Treasurer of the Class of 2013 three years in a row; an intern twice, once in business and once in legal affairs; a study abroad student in Germany; and the recipient of the Richard Dorsey Muller Memorial Scholarship Senior Award