Archive for May 2022

Dr. Pitonyak Gives Invited Talks at UVA and Italy Conferences

Dr. Daniel Pitonyak, assistant professor of physics, presented a pair of invited talks based on research supported by his recent National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to study the 3-dimensional structure of hadrons. Dr. Pitonyak presented “Updated QCD Global Analysis of SSAs: New Experimental Data and Constraints” as part of the QCD Evolution Workshop, which was held at the University of Virginia. He followed that presentation with a virtual invited talk—”Updated QCD Global Analysis of SSAs: H~, the Soffer Bound, and Lattice gT”—at the 6th International Workshop on Transverse Polarization Phenomena, which was hosted by Almo Collegio Borromeo in Pavia, Italy.

Dr. Veenhuizen Presents at National Conference on Glass Science

Dr. Keith Veenhuizen, assistant professor of physics, presented research at the 2022 Glass and Optical Materials Division meeting in Baltimore, Md. The presentation was based on results of a student-faculty research project undertaken by Olivia Magneson ’23 with Dr. Veenhuizen. The talk, “Phase-selective laser-induced crystallization of lead bismuth gallate glass,” reports how several crystal phases form preferentially at different temperatures in lead bismuth gallate glass. By varying the power and scanning speed of the laser irradiating the glass, the temperature profile can be controlled, through which the desired crystal phase can be formed. This talk was given at the Laser Interactions with Glasses session, which was organized by Dr. Veenhuizen in collaboration with Dr. Casey Schwarz of Ursinus College.

Dr. Walck Publishes Computational Physics Textbook

Dr. Scott N. Walck, professor of physics, published “Functional Programming for Physics Geeks,” with No Starch Press. The book, a culmination of a decade of Dr. Walck finding innovative ways to teach computational physics to LVC students, is available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. “Functional Programming for Physics Geeks” is the first book in the world to combine functional programming with physics at the undergraduate level.

Exercise Science Programs Achieve Initial Accreditation

Dr. Claudia Gazsi, chair of exercise science, graduate program director, and associate professor of physical therapy, announced that the Exercise Science Department achieved Initial Accreditation for the College’s undergraduate and Clinical Exercise Physiology programs by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.  

Drs. Guzmán-Zavala and Hinshaw Present at Inaugural PSU Medical Humanities Conference

Dr. Ivette Guzmán-Zavala, professor of Spanish, and Dr. John Hinshaw, professor of history, presented at the first regional Medical Humanities Conference last week, which was co-sponsored by the Humanities Department of the Penn State University Medical School, LVC, and other colleges. Dr. Guzmán-Zavala presented a poster, “Rethinking Childbirth: Oral Histories of Puerto Rican Mothers and Midwives,” and Dr. Hinshaw gave a talk that focused on how LVC’s newest major, medical humanities, was conceived and executed. Dr. Robert Carey, professor of biology and director of biochemistry & molecular biology, and Dr. Matthew Sayers, professor of religion and director of religion and philosophy, attended the inaugural conference, which was bristling with about 50 other professionals.

Dr. Josephson Published in the Pennsylvania Economic Review

After a double-blind review process, Dr. Kimberlee Josephson, associate professor of business administration, has had her paper “Implications for the Mainstreaming of Fair Trade,” accepted for publication in the Pennsylvania Economic Review. In June, Dr. Josephson will present the article at the Pennsylvania Economic Association Conference in Erie, where she also will chair a breakout session.

The Pennsylvania Economic Review is featured in Cabell’s Directory of Publishing Opportunities in Economics & Finance and articles are listed in the EBSCO database with full-text reference. PER is also listed in ABDC Journal Quality List.

Mathematical Physics Research Group Published in Quantum

Finite-Function-Encoding Quantum States,” the results of work done by LVC Mathematical Physics Research Group members Alex Heilman ’19 (physics), Ezekiel Wertz ’18 (physics), and Dr. David Lyons, professor of mathematical sciences, was published in the prestigious peer-reviewed science journal Quantum. This article is joint work with a research group at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.

Matt Keown’s Band, icarus Quartet, Releases New Album

Matt Keown, adjunct instructor in music (percussion), announced the June 17 release of ensemble icarus Quartet’s album Big Things by Michael Laurello. The album, available in physical, digital, and streaming formats everywhere on Furious Artisans Records, features Keown on percussion.

Kristie Houck’s ’22 Internship Work Featured in The Neighborhood Advocate

Kristie Houck ’22, psychology and sociology, was featured in a recent article on The Neighborhood Advocate, “YAP’s Wraparound Services Help Pennsylvania Girls Gain Confidence Through Acting.” Houck, who has been an advocate at Youth Advocate Program (YAP) in Lebanon for two years, served an internship at YAP this semester to complete her psychology major requirements. She inspired two girls to add acting as a hobby, with the duo later performing as cast members in “The Pony Expresso,” a melodrama produced by The St. James Players.  

Ten Students Receive Zerbe Scholarships to Study Abroad in Costa Rica and Germany

Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair of languages and associate professor of Spanish, announced that 10 LVC students were awarded Zerbe Scholarships to help offset study abroad costs. Petra Stanavage ’23 (actuarial science, German Concentration), will study in Wurzburg, Germany, and nine students will study in Costa Rica this summer: Amber Arnold ’22 (criminal justice and Spanish double major), Angelina Coleianne ’23 (global studies, Spanish minor), Elianna Fitzpatrick ’23 (global studies and international business, Spanish minor), Ellie Flores ’24 (early childhood and special education, Spanish minor), Griffin Weidler ’22 (exercise science, Spanish minor), Tyler Snavely ’25 (biology, Spanish minor), Victoria Fredericksen ’25 (English, Spanish minor), Victoria Moreno ’25 (exploratory, Spanish minor), and Yonaira Seguinot Velásquez ’23 (psychology, Applied Spanish for Healthcare Professionals minor).  

A record number of 14 students will study in Costa Rica this summer! This is a faculty-led program with classes in Spanish and cultural excursions led by Dr. McEvoy. 

The Wurzburg, Germany, program is led by Dr. Rick Chamberlin, associate professor of French, German, and global studies. He will teach and lead excursions for two LVC students and 12 students from other colleges and universities.