Commonwealth University honors 3 with Keepers of the Flame awards

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has named an individual at three Commonwealth University locations as a recipient of the third Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Keepers of the Flame Award.

Award recipients are Timothy Rooney, 1988 alumnus of Mansfield; Dr. Lisette Schillig, associate professor of English and co-director of women, gender and sexuality studies minor at CU-Lock Haven; and Marcella Woods, coordinator of cultural affairs and student support services at CU-Bloomsburg.

The award recognizes an individual from each of the 14 State System university campuses for their contributions to creating and promoting diverse, equitable and inclusive environments that cultivate a sense of belonging. The award recipients were announced during PASSHE’s annual DEI Summit held at Millersville.

Rooney ’88, double majored in communications and geography while at Mansfield. He was also involved in the All-Residence Hall Council, O-Team, Phi Sigma Pi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Spanish Club, and Basketball Cheerleading. Following graduation, he earned a master’s degree at Southern Nazarene University.

Now a City Manager in Mustang, Oklahoma, Rooney also is the director of the Mansfield Alumni Association Board and chairperson on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. He also frequently travels from Oklahoma to Pennsylvania to contribute to Professional U, DEIB and alumni events.

Rooney is a strong advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and supports voices in his own community as well Mansfield and occasionally dresses in the Mountie mascot costume during Homecoming events.

Schillig is a champion for gender equity in education. She has played a crucial role in curriculum development, ensuring the

 Women and Gender Studies minor at Lock Haven includes diverse perspectives and addresses contemporary issues that impact women and gender identities.

She is the former director of Lock Haven’s HOPE Center, fostering an inclusive environment that supports students navigating challenges related to safety, wellness and academic success. Her leadership has been pivotal in creating effective programs and services that empower students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, to thrive both personally and academically.

Schillig is a member of the Commission on LGBTQ Affairs at Lock Haven and has been involved with initiatives and outreach programs designed to raise awareness of important social issues and to promote inclusive practices within and beyond the university.

Woods initiated the establishment of the Multicultural Center at Bloomsburg, becoming the center’s first director. She partners and collaborates with many campus departments to attract unrepresented students to Bloomsburg and retain them.

As the coordinator of Cultural Affairs and Student Support Services, she assists students who may be experiencing housing and food insecurities and other obstacles that may be preventing them from focusing on their education. Her relationships with community organizations and businesses have created work study employment for students as well as volunteer opportunities.

She provides workshops on financial literacy for students and parents and also on historical and current cultural issues of diversity. To allow students to continue their faith practices, she created church visitation, which has existed for nearly 20 years.

Woods was instrumental in recognizing Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a non-school day at the university encouraging a day of service to the Bloomsburg community.

“The Keepers of the Flame Award honors members of the PASSHE community for contributions to the success of everyone at our universities and always striving to make our campuses welcoming places for everyone,” said Dr. Denise Pearson, vice chancellor and chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officer at the Office of the Chancellor. “We celebrate and honor each of these recipients who have shown time and again that a commitment to academic excellence, DEI and student success can open doors of opportunity and strengthen each of our university communities.”