Read testimonials directly from students and staff involved in Living Learning Communities at Edinboro.
is currently an undergraduate in her junior year and a Photography major with a Business
minor. She is a member of the Photography Club and is interested in portraiture and
editorial photography. She is also interested in nature, music, movies, and drag queens.
Her favorite pastimes include going for walks and getting food with her friends. Sarah
was attracted to Edinboro because of the shining recommendations for it she received
from past professors and other alumni. After hearing the wonderful opinions, and seeing
the amazing art program and affordable price, Sarah knew it was the obvious choice
for her. After transferring to Edinboro and completing her first year, she knew she
wanted to do whatever she could to help other students find success, happiness, and
comfort at this school. When she was recommended for the Art Scholar position, she
didn't hesitate to apply. Sarah loves helping others to be their best in whatever
way she can and loves seeing others succeed, so it was the perfect fit for her. She
understands how hard it can be to start a new school, move to a new place, know no
one, and feel the pressure of higher education. Therefore, Sarah feels her LLC will
help to make the art students feel confident and at home. Through developing a healthy
and happy community among the students, giving them a safe place to ask for help and
improve both their artwork and their networking skills, she knows her LLC will be
extremely beneficial to all its members. Sarah looks forward to meeting and helping
as many students as she can during her time here at Edinboro.
the 2018-19 Education Scholar, is a sophomore studying Middle Level Math and English Education with a Special Education minor. She works as a tour guide in the Edinboro Undergraduate Admissions Office and as an assistant wedding photographer for April Smith Photography. She spent time over the summer as a New Student Orientation Leader, and during the school year she is very involved in the Honors Program, Highland Ambassadors, and Middle Level and Secondary Education Club. She has recently joined another education club on campus, the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA).
Kearney was recommended to apply for the scholar position by an education professor
whom she regards very highly, Dr. Mary Jo Melvin. It was mainly Melvin's support for
the Education Living-Learning Program that drew Shannon to the scholar role. As the
education scholar, Shannon hopes to foster her knowledge, skills, and networks and
that of all other students living on the education floor. She also hopes to build
a strong sense of community among the education majors who reside on the floor and
the education department. By growing these characteristics in all residents in the
Education Living-Learning Community, the students will feel as though they belong
and have a support system strong enough to help them through hardships and celebrate
through successes.
is a junior here at PennWest Edinboro majoring in Criminal Justice and double minoring in Sociology and Spanish. She chose this area of study because she believes that it is within her potential to help change the legal system in the country as well as push for social change. Some of Neja's interest are photography, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends. These things allow Neja to be creative and, most importantly, be herself. These things also help Neja to understand many different people from diverse backgrounds. Neja chose to apply for the Frederick Douglass scholar position because Frederick Douglass lived his life trying to inspire social change in others. Neja also seeks to live by these values and inspire change in others. The scholar-in-residence position is unique. What attracted Neja to be a part of the Residence Life staff was she was able to make this job her own as well as help students make their own experiences here at PennWest Edinboro.
is the 2018-19 Frederick Douglass Fellow at PennWest Edinboro. He hails from Brooklyn, N.Y., and is of Jamaican descent. Bruce is currently a doctoral candidate at Argosy University in Arlington, Va., pursuing his Doctor of Education in Counselor Education and Supervision. Prior to doctoral studies, he received his Master of Education in School Counseling from California University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Performance from the Theatre Conservatory at Purchase College, a university in New York's state system. Bruce also added a minor in Playwriting.
During his early career as a school counselor, Bruce managed cases and mentored secondary students throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland. Most recently, he conducted individual counseling sessions, weekly group sessions and crisis management interventions at Invictus Preparatory Charter School in Brooklyn, N.Y. He also conducted individual and group sessions for 323 students at Easton High School in Maryland and monitored the social development of students at Hosanna House, Inc. in Pittsburgh.
Bruce also has had a stunning period in higher education. He has successfully taught at New York University, Mercy College and Lehman College. He intends to sustain teaching at the professoriate level at the conclusion of his terminal degree. He has demonstrated throughout his brief career that he is passionate and deliberate with each project he takes on, because he wants to leave a legacy that will gratify not only himself, but his community.
Bruce's research areas include HIV/AIDS and unconnectedly African-American males. His research interest in HIV/AIDS will not only delve into an under researched realm, it will also implore school counselors and other mental health professionals to develop trainings and safeguard the resources for this sensitive population. First, through community advocacy and much-needed public education on health issues, individuals may develop new ideas and break stigmas around the virus. He aspires for HIV-positive individuals to maintain an affirmative sense of self and adopt healthier behaviors. Subsequently, his research aims to create age-appropriate sexual health education interventions that are grounded in the direct demographics of targeted communities. These new practices will be culturally appropriate and sustainable. Furthermore, his research will fill a significant gap in the literature by focusing on HIV-positive adolescents.
His other research interest lies within the African-American male population. Unambiguously,
he is concerned with the retention rate of this population in higher education. African-American
males' unsettled status in higher education has garnered tremendous attention at symposiums
and in academia over the past 20 years. Current literature brands the intricacies
of the problem increasingly vague. The socioeconomic harsh realities, the alternative
to college; school-to-prison pipeline; even the mortality rate of this population
has been under microscopic view. Nonetheless, interventions and research have yet
to change the trajectory of the decreasing retention rate. Bruce wants to add not
only to the literature, but also purposefulness to the population with which he self-identifies.
the PennWest Edinboro Honors Scholar, lives on the third floor of Earp Hall. This is the Honors LLC. There, she hosts scholar hours weekly. During her hours, student have the opportunity to stop by, learn study techniques, get assistance with homework assignments, have papers proofread, talk about resources on campus or simply hang out.
In addition Hannah organizes events for honors students throughout the semester as part of the Honors College's continuing Enrichment Meeting series, designed to give students knowledge they might not typically receive in the classroom.
This is Hannah's second year in the Honors Scholar position. What drew her to it was the desire to help students in her residence hall community (third floor of Earp where she has lived for her whole time at Edinboro) feel less overwhelmed by school work and ignorance to academic resources across campus. In this role, she can help guide them, or at the very least, relieve some stress.
A hardworking and dedicated student, Hannah McDonald is involved in numerous on- and off-campus activities that fulfill her many interests.
Hannah is in her senior year at Edinboro, studying journalism with a concentration in digital media production. She has also completed a minor in Spanish language and is working toward finishing her history minor by the time she graduates in May of 2019.
Hannah puts her degree training to work as the executive editor of The Spectator, Edinboro's student run newspaper that serves both the campus and community. This is her first semester as editor-in-chief, but she has been on The Spectator staff since her first semester here. Beginning as a copy editor, Hannah has worked her way up, holding the editor position for Voices (the opinion section) for one semester and was the news editor for all of the last academic year.
Over the summer and continuing into this academic year, Hannah has worked for the Erie Reader as their writing intern. She writes and also runs the newspaper's social media accounts.
When she can, Hannah returns to her parents' home in upstate New York for weekends. She spends time with her family, her dog and cat, reading, catching up on homework and - based on the season - either working as a ski instructor or cook as a local restaurant.
In her free time, Hannah enjoys yoga, biking, swimming, hiking and generally being
outdoors, no matter the season. Some of her favorite places to hike are Ithaca, N.Y.,
and Allegheny National Forest.
is currently a sophomore here at Edinboro and the ROTC Scholar, majoring in Secondary Education: Social Studies. Hunter is from Irwin, Pa., which is about 30 minutes east of Pittsburgh. The reason he came to Edinboro was that he found out how strong its ROTC program is, as well as his major. Hunter wanted to work with ROTC LLC because of how close a community it is. ROTC students live in the same building, on the same floor, and run through the same schedule. Everyone wakes up early in the morning going to PT, and missing weekends of having fun with friends to going on an FTX in the middle of the woods. However, in the ROTC we understand that grades come first. Hunter wanted to be there to help his fellow cadets achieve success. Grades are one of the major factors that go into deciding in what job a cadet gets when he or she commissions as a Second Lieutenant at the end of their senior year. Hunted wanted to help the cadets who have become his close friends through the struggle together and make sure that grades are one less thing they have to worry about. Hunter wants to make sure our future leaders are succeeding now so that they can succeed in the future.
is a 1985 graduate of Cambridge Springs High School. He attended PennWest Edinboro until 1988, studying Mathematics. Mr. Anderson enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1988 and continued his professional leadership development and education throughout his 23-year career in the Army. His assignments included senior Non-Commissioned Officer assignments at company, battalion and brigade levels. Mr. Anderson's interests include camping with his family, hunting, fishing and trapshooting. He is a coach for the Lake Edinboro Sportsman's Club Youth Trapshooting team. He continues to pursue his professional military education to provide the best services and leadership to the cadets and students at PennWest Edinboro's Army ROTC. The Edinboro area has been his lifetime home. He wanted to continue to raise his family there and serve his community. Upon his retirement from the Army, Mr. Anderson returned to his alma mater, PennWest Edinboro, to support the ROTC program as the Human Resources Assistant. His love for the Army and developing young adults into future leaders of the Army and community are the passions that then pushed him to become the Scholarship and Enrollment Officer for the Edinboro Army ROTC Program.
The ROTC LLC provides a foundation for students to begin to develop their leadership
skills and service to the community while completing their degrees. The students are
of any and all academic disciplines on campus. This promotes the diversity and teambuilding
that drives the success of a future leader. Their common bond is their desire to become
leaders in the Army, Army National Guard or Army Reserve. ROTC LLC will continue to
grow as students seek the comradery of other service-oriented students, those who
have or are serving in the Army and those who seek to become its next leaders. The
family-type bonds created in the LLC help them motivate each other's success in the
classroom, in the ROTC program and in the challenges that come to college students.
The LLC will be additional leadership opportunities for 'Those Who Strive' to become
future Army leaders.
