CASSH Con 2023

Commonwealth University’s College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH) will hold its annual CASSH Con (Careers in Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities) for students on Thursday, Nov. 2, and Friday, Nov. 3, on all three campuses, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield.

Main Events

Keynote Speaker: Joe Tamanini, President, Studio City PXL

“From Central PA to the Heart of LA: Tips for Creating Your Own Path in a Creative Career”
Thursday, Nov. 2, 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Jason Genovese) 
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 215 (Moderator: Holle Canatella)
• Mansfield campus: Retan G1 (Moderator: Andrew Longcore)

A native of Central Pennsylvania and a 2003 graduate of Mansfield University, Joe Tamanini quickly rose from the position of Production Intern to President of Studio City PXL in just over eight years. Over his 20 years with the company, Joe has been at the forefront of numerous evolutions at Studio City PXL, guiding the team through successful brand campaigns for "The Kelly Clarkson Show," "The Drew Barrymore Show," "Live! with Kelly and Mark," "Star Trek," "The Tinder Swindler," and "WebMD," among others. His leadership also played a crucial role in major projects such as Betway, three Olympic Games, the Women's World Cup on Fox, IndyCar marketing for NBC Sports, as well as campaigns for "South Park," "Family Guy," and "Criminal Minds." Furthermore, Joe has been instrumental in developing original series and specials for networks including Fox, MTV, Discovery+, and PBS.

Keynote Speaker: Amah Dunor, Voce Paralegal and Graduate Student at West Chester University for a MA in Public Administration

“Life after Undergrad: Return on Your Educational Investment”

Friday, Nov. 3, 2:00 – 2:50 p.m.

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 217
• Mansfield campus: Belknap 102

As an advocate for community improvement and public service, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Amah Dunor initiated the non-profit organization "Be a Blessing," which placed the focus on community enhancement in the Philadelphia area. This endeavor was undertaken while he was serving as a political intern with the THIS internship program during his junior year of undergrad at Lock Haven University. His educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in History from Lock Haven University. During his senior year, he started a professional role with the Child Welfare Resource Center. After completing his undergraduate studies, he continued his commitment to public service by pursuing a Graduate degree in Public Administration at West Chester University. Simultaneously, he took on the position of an LSI Paralegal with VOCE at the DHS Law Department. His dedication to public service and leadership abilities have been evident as he was elected twice as the President of the Graduate Student Association and currently holds the position of Vice President of Tri Alpha. Additionally, he has the honor of serving on the West Chester Presidential Search Committee.

Friday Documentary Film Presentation 'NEPADOC'

Friday, Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m.

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218

Screening with a brief introduction before the film and a Q&A with director David Heineman and Bloomsburg alumnus and cinematographer Noam Maymon

Sponsored by the Center for Community Research and Consulting at Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg. NEPADOC is a new feature-length documentary about intersections of environment, industry, and identity in Northeastern Pennsylvania over the past 300 years. Inspired by non-verbal documentary film landmarks such as Koyaanisqatsi and Baraka, NEPADOC blends 4K cinematography, local historical footage, and a sweeping score into a dizzying and contemplative meditation on culture, place, and public memory.

Schedule

Event information will be updated as new information is confirmed.

Thursday, November 2

9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Keynote Presentation: “From Central PA to the Heart of LA: Tips for Creating Your Own Path in a Creative Career,”
Joe Tamanini, President of Studio City PXL

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Jason Genovese)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 215 (Moderator: Holle Canatella)
• Mansfield campus: Retan G1 (Moderator: Andrew Longcore)

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Political Science Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Mathew Sullivan, MS Candidate, Foreign Service, Georgetown University (BA, Languages & Cultures and Economics, minor in Spanish and Middle East Studies, Bloomsburg, 2015)
2. Clarissa Murray, TRIO Student Development Coach, Susquehanna University (BA, Political Science, Bloomsburg, 2020)
3. Derek Danneker, Legislative Reporter, Pennsylvania Legislative Services (BA, Political Science, Lock Haven, 2018)
4. Zane N. Swanger, Elections Analyst, Supervisor, Bureau of Elections, Division of Election Security and Technology, PA Department of State (BA, Political Science, Mansfield, 2015)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Sheng Ding)
• Lock Haven campus: Akley 215 (Moderator: Andrew Musila)
• Mansfield campus: Retan 105 (Moderator: Jon Rothermel)

Music Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Sean Andres, Owner, Arts Entrepreneur, Owner/Drum Builder of Taproot Drums (BM, Music Business, Mansfield, 2021)
2. Sydney MacDonald, 7-12 Choral Music Teacher and Director of Theatre Arts, Troy Area Junior/Senior High School (BM, Music Education, Mansfield, 2012)
3. Jennifer Wagner, Senior Division General Music Teacher and Choral Director, The Milton Hershey School (BS, Music Education, Bloomsburg)
4. Ryan Wusinich, Audio/Video Director, QVC Shopping Network (BA, Music - Audio Recording/Technology, Bloomsburg, 2011)

• Bloomsburg campus: SSC 004 (Moderator: Gifford Howarth)
• Mansfield campus: Butler 163 (Moderator: Andrew Walters)

12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Criminal Justice Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Katie King, Support Specialist for Cyber Tipline, Exploited Child Division, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (BA, Criminal Justice, Bloomsburg; ongoing MS in Forensic Psychology, George Washington University)
2. Lora Rupert, First Assistant Public Defender, Center County Public Defender’s Office (BA, Criminal Justice, Lock Haven)
3. Jared Berken, Special Agent, Violent Crimes/Firearms Trafficking, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BA, Criminal Justice, Mansfield)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Scott Duncan)
• Lock Haven campus: Akley 215 (Moderator: Michael McSkimming)
• Mansfield campus: Retan G1 (Moderator: Justin Crowl)

Communication Studies Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Angela DiPasquale, Production Manager, Eventique (BA, Communication Studies – Organizational Communication, Emergent Media Minor, Bloomsburg, 2020; MBA, Business Administration and Management, Bloomsburg, 2021)
2. Owen Faecher, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Literacy New Jersey: Middlesex County (BA, Communication Studies – Organizational Communication, Bloomsburg, 2020)
3. Courtney Enderline, Area Coordinator, Residential Life & Housing Services, University of Rochester (BA, Communication Studies – Interpersonal Communication, American Sign Language minor, Bloomsburg, 2018; MEd, Educational Leadership – College Student Affairs, Bloomsburg, 2020)
4. Erin Bolan, Senior Communications and Community Relations Specialist, Tilcon New York (BA, Communication – Public Relations and Advertising, Lock Haven, 2020)
5. Megan Gupta, Senior Customer Advocacy Specialist, Relias (BA, Communication – Public Discourse & Performance, Environmental Studies and Marine Biology Minors, Lock Haven, 2016)

• Bloomsburg campus: SSC 004 (Moderator: David Heineman)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 217 (Moderator: Matt Girton)
• Mansfield campus: Belknap 102 (Moderator: Sue Young and Bia Bernum)

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.

Legal Studies Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Nick McGuire, Assistant District Attorney, Delaware County (BA, Political Science, Bloomsburg, 2019)
2. Chai Williams, Associate, Jackson Lewis P.C., NYC (BA, History, Bloomsburg, 2014)
3. Brittney Zeller, Assistant Public Defender, York County (BA, Political Science, Lock Haven, 2017)
4. Lillian (Hines) Reardon, Assistant District Attorney, Tioga County, NY (BA, Political Science, Mansfield)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Pete Doerschler)
• Lock Haven campus: Akley 215 (Moderator: Stan Berard)
• Mansfield campus: Retan G1 (Moderator: Jon Rothermel)

Visual Arts Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Kylan (Ky) Sattler, Curriculum Coordinator for Graphic Design and Media Design, Assistant Professor, Alfred State College (BS, Graphic Design, Mansfield, 2018)
2. Sarah Thomson, Tattoo Artist, Neon Rodeo Tattoo, Missoula, MT (BA, Studio Arts, Bloomsburg, 2020)

• Bloomsburg campus: SSC 004 (Moderator: Brock Dent)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 217
• Mansfield campus: Belknap 102 (Moderator: Ken Cobb)

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Languages & Cultures Fulbright Teaching Assistants Panel
Panelists

1. Nadezhda Valiaeva, Assistant Professor of the Chair for English Language and Professional Communication, Linguistics University of Nizhny, Novgorod, Russia (MA, Philology – Russian as a Foreign Language, Linguistics University of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)
2. Tzu-Han Su, Fulbright Teaching Assistant (MA, Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, National Taiwan Normal University)
3. Abdelkader Elkhaoua, Teacher of English at Alminbat Boutaleb Institution, Rabat (MA, Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, Mohammed V University, Rabat)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Amarilis Hidalgo-DeJesus)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 215 (Moderator: Enrique Herrera)
• Mansfield campus: Belknap 102 (Moderator: William Keeth)

Graduate Studies at Commonwealth University
Panelists:

1. Julie Lammel – representing the MS Sports Management program
2. Ronda Mariani – representing the MBA program
3. Leandrea R. Romero-Lucero and Dr. Kristin Vincennes, representing the MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling program
4. Yvette Ingram – representing MS Sport and Performance Psychology

• Bloomsburg campus: Student Services Center, room 004 (Moderator: Tom Kresch)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 217
• Mansfield campus: Retan 105

7:00 - 8:15 p.m.

Communication Studies Speakers Forum, Sponsored by Lambda Pi Eta

The Speakers’ Forum is an annual event put on by the students of Lambda Pi Eta (the National Communication Honor Society) that features several students who are chosen to construct and present a speech an important societal issue. This year’s speakers come from the Communication Studies 101 class, Public Speaking. In their Public Speaking courses, they were tasked with developing and presenting a speech on an important societal issue. With the recommendation of their professor, these students were seen as standouts for their hard work on their respective speeches. Their speeches will provide insight into the Communication Studies discipline and all that is possible within it.

Student Presenters:

1. Elijah Briggs
2. Kirsten Deckert
3. Kate Ferguson
4. Emmanuella Mensah
5. Addison Sondberg
6. Hunter Ter Horst

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218

Friday, November 3

10:00 – 10:50 a.m.

Media & Journalism Alumni Panel, Pt. 1
Panelists:

1. Catherine Rose, Assignment Editor, WNEP-TV 16 (BA, Media and Journalism, Bloomsburg, 2022)
2. Katelyn Caralle, US Political Reporter, Daily Mail (BA, Mass Communications, Bloomsburg, 2017)
3. Mirlie LaRose, News Producer, CBS19, Charlottesville, VA (BA, Media and Journalism, Bloomsburg, 2021)
4. Sydney Kostus, News Reporter, WBRE 28/WYOU 22 (BA, Mass Communications, Media Studies, Bloomsburg, 2017)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Jason Genovese)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 215 (Moderator: Matthew McKeague)
• Mansfield campus: Retan 105 (Moderator: Andrew Longcore)

Anthropology Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Natalie (Wagner) Waltz, Exec Admin Asst & Membership Officer, MC Federal Credit Union (BA, Anthropology; BA, Mass Communications, Bloomsburg, 2013)
2. Alexis Mendoza, Asst Manager of Multicultural Marketing for CQfluency (BA, Anthropology; BA, Chinese, Bloomsburg, 2019)
3. Christine Orlando, Research Administrator, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine (BA, Anthropology, Bloomsburg, 2001)

• Bloomsburg campus: SSC 004 (Moderator: Sue Dauria)
• Lock Haven: Akley 217 (Moderator: Katie Ely)
•  Mansfield: Belknap 102 (Moderator: Tim Madigan)

11:00 – 11:50 a.m.

Sociology Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Sarah Johnson, Associate Director of Case Management, Office of Student Intervention Services, University of Pennsylvania (BA, Sociology; BA Criminal Justice; Psychology minor, Bloomsburg, 2018)
2. Mika Mertz, Logistics Manager, Compass Natural Gas (BS, Sociology, Lock Haven, 2016)
3. Siaka Hoff, Educator, New York State Department of Education (BA, Sociology, Mansfield, 2019)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Chris Podeschi)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 215 (Moderator: Greg Walker)
• Mansfield campus: Belknap 102 (Moderator: Tim Madigan)

Theatre Alumni Panel
Panelist

1. Rachel L. DelVecchio, Theatre Teacher and Director, Socastee High School Theatre Department, Myrtle Beach, SC (BA in Theatre Arts – Integrated Emphasis, 2013)
2. Kelly Kazibwe Zziwa, Lead Choreographer and Assistant Director for Theatre, Mifflinburg Area High School (BA in Theatre Arts – Integrated Emphasis, 2015)

• Bloomsburg campus: SSC 004 (Moderators: Carrie Winship and Ethan Krupp)

Noon – 12:50 p.m.

History Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Joseph Kotinsly, PhD, Instructor of History, St. Edward’s University (BA, History, Bloomsburg, 2015)
2. Elizabeth Shultz, Above Ground Cultural Resource Survey Coordinator, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (BA, History, Lock Haven, 2014)
3. Victoria Royal, Education Technician, Boston National Historical Park (BA, History, Mansfield, 2018)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Lisa Stallbaumer)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 215 (Moderator: Laxman Satya)
• Mansfield campus: Retan 105 (Moderator: Karen Guenther)

1:00 – 1:50 p.m.

English Alumni Panel
Panelists:

1. Jennifer Wolfe, Library Director, Antique Automobile Club of America Library & Research Center (BA, English – Creative Writing, Bloomsburg, 2004; MS – Library Science, PennWest Clarion, 2011)
2. Justin Pigeon, CEO, Ideal Instruction (BA, English – Creative Writing, Bloomsburg, 2003; MS, Middle Childhood Education, Hunter College, 2011)
3. Greg MacGowan, Technical Writer, and Knowledgebase Manager, Optum, a division of United Health Group (BA, English, Lock Haven, 1988; MAT, English Secondary Education, SUNY Cortland, 1993; MLS, Library Science, Syracuse University, 1995)
4. Logan Henry, IT Control Systems Analyst, Corning Incorporated (BA, English – Professional Writing, Mansfield)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderators: Jerry Wemple and Tina Entzminger)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 217 (Moderator: David Russell)
• Mansfield campus: Belknap 102 (Moderator: Dr. Lynn Pifer)

2:00 to 2:50 p.m.

Keynote Presentation:

Amah Dunor, “Life after Undergrad: Return on Your Educational Investment”
Voce Paralegal and Graduate Student at West Chester University for an MA in Public Administration (BA in Political Science, minor in History, Lock Haven)

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218 (Moderator: Pete Doerschler)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 217 (Moderator: Stan Berard)
• Mansfield campus: Belknap 102 (Moderator: Karen Guenther)

Psychology Alumni Panel

1. Emily Pica, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychological Science and Counseling, Austin Peay State University (BS, Psychology, Mansfield, 2009)
2. Jacob P. Kelley, CEO/Founder of Mx. Kelley Queer Education LLC; Ph.D. student in Human Sexuality Philosophy, Widener University (BS, Psychology; BA, Communication Studies, 2016, Bloomsburg; MEd, Human Sexuality, Widener University, 2020)
3. Addison Monroe, Adjunct Instructor of Psychology, Bluegrass Community and Teaching College; PhD Candidate, Clinical Health Psychology, The University of Georgia (BS, Psychology, Lock Haven, 2017; MS, General Experimental Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, 2018)

• Bloomsburg campus: SSC 004 (Moderator: Mary Jo Larcom)
• Lock Haven campus: Akeley 215 (Moderator: Jamie Foor)
• Mansfield campus: Retan 105 (Moderator: Karri Verno)

6:30 – 10:00 p.m.

Documentary Film Screening of NEPADOC

There will be a brief introduction before the film and a Q&A with director David Heineman and Bloomsburg alumnus and cinematographer Noam Maymon

Sponsored by the Center for Community Research and Consulting at Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg. NEPADOC is a new feature-length documentary about intersections of environment, industry, and identity in Northeastern Pennsylvania over the past 300 years. Inspired by non-verbal documentary film landmarks such as Koyaanisqatsi and Baraka, NEPADOC blends 4K cinematography, local historical footage, and a sweeping score into a dizzying and contemplative meditation on culture, place, and public memory

• Bloomsburg campus: Centennial 218