East Stroudsburg University’s (ESU) political science department and political science club will be co-hosting a youth and political participation event this Thursday, April 14, at 5 p.m. in the University Center’s Senate Chambers.

John P. Blake, state senator of the 22nd Senatorial District of Pennsylvania and ESU’s 2015-2016 legislative fellow, is the event’s keynote speaker. Senator Blake will lead a conversation pertaining to political participation and civic engagement.

“I thought it would be a great idea to have the legislative fellow give a university-wide lecture,” Kimberly Adams, Ph.D., professor of political science, said. “It will help our students have a better understanding of the legislative process and pertinent political issues.”

Dr. Adams has been organizing lectures by political figures for several years.

“I hope that Senator Blake can help inspire our students to vote in the primaries,” she said.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Adams at 570-422-3924.

“These are exciting times politically,” said Adams. “Voters are passionate and much of this excitement is coming from our youth.”

The spring 2016 performance of the University Dance Company will take place at ESU in the Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m.

This semi-annual performance will highlight the talents of students, faculty members and guest artists. A variety of choreographic styles and dance pieces will include contemporary, modern, jazz and hip-hop.

The choreographers include Elizabeth Gibbons, Ph.D., professor of physical education, dance program coordinator and artistic director; Maria Triano, senior guest artist, and president of the Pennsylvania Dance Network, Inc. in Analomink, Pa., and guest artists Jessica Batha of Adora in Bangor, Pa., and Abby Slater of Symmetry Studio in Scranton, Pa.

Emotional Amendment is a trio choreographed by Jessica Batha depicting the rainbow spectrum of emotions associated with sadness followed by acceptance and then overcoming them. The dance demonstrates that all feelings are just visitors for us to process and release.

Short Stories is a dance including all members of the company and was directed by Dr. Gibbons and created by the students. It features individual solos and group work. It tells a story of individual lives and how they all fold together as one. Gibbons received her inspiration for this year’s theme after reading a book composed of short stories that all shared one theme.

“Each segment will take the audience outside of themselves and into someone else’s brain,” said Gibbons. “Everyone has a story to tell.”

Safe Soul Star is a new work created by Maria Triano.  This lyrical-modern trio tells the story of opening up and connecting to one’s true self, as well as, the process of self-reflection and growth that it takes to become aware of the safety and joy that lives in one’s soul.

Student choreographers include Jen Jordan, a junior majoring in recreation services management with a dance minor; Enouement by Alex Misurella, a senior theatre major; Cassie Dech, sophomore psychology major; Kelsie Lockley, sophomore athletic training major; Yadira Dejesus, senior early childhood education major with dance minor; Tyree Scott, sophomore philosophy major.

Both performances are open to the general public. Saturday’s performance features children from the Community Dance Program. There will also be a bake sale at the performances to support the company. Tickets are available for purchase at www.esu.edu/dance. Tickets are also available at the door.

Ticket prices are $5 for children, students and senior citizens and $10 for adults.

For more information about this event contact Dr. Gibbons at 570-422-3331 or egibbons@esu.edu

The Madelon Powers Gallery of East Stroudsburg University will feature art works and portfolios of selected students in a Senior Seminar and Portfolio in Art Student Exhibition April 20-May 4.

The exhibition will include works that students produced for various clients as part of the art+ design department’s student design agency, New Mind Design, and comic art created at recent Comic Thons.

Hours for the gallery, located in the university’s Fine & Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

A reception for the artists will be held Wednesday, April 20 from 4-6 p.m. in the gallery. Both the exhibit and reception are open to the public at no cost.

At the reception, the 2016 Excellence in the Arts awards will be presented. The art+ design department will also present the Dr. Irene Mitchel ‘Three Sisters Endowed Art Scholarship’ in memory of Helen Mitchel Stetz and Mary Mitchel Kurello, and the Cecilia S. Cohen Award for Excellence in Art History.

The exhibit will feature portfolios by eight senior art + design students including: Brenadette Acuria of Great Meadows, N.J.; Tyler Creighton of Ferndale, Pa.; Christy Flynn of Hawley, Pa.; Jared Keller of Reading, Pa.; Cameron Maher of Chester Springs, Pa.; Ryan Scardecchio of Broomall, Pa.; Christian Torres of Long Pond, Pa. and Zhane Warner-Duncan of East Stroudsburg, Pa.

Ashe Pope, a junior from Harrisburg, Pa., majoring in integrated art+ design is also part of the exhibit.

Sarah Shiner, a senior from Lehighton, Pa. with a double major in art+design and business management will be exhibiting a portfolio and a capstone and independent study project.

Other students who will be exhibiting capstone or independent study projects include: Evelyn Barone, a senior from Brodheadsville, Pa. majoring in biology with a minor in studio art; Alexandra Paino, a senior from Milford, Pa., majoring in psychology with a minor in studio art; Pitman Swen, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa. majoring in biology with a minor in studio art; Sarah Poore, a senior from Allentown, Pa. majoring in art + design; Sam Tabshi, a junior from Allentown, Pa. majoring in integrated art + design; and Morgan Weissbach, a junior from Saylorsburg, Pa., majoring in both art + design and fine arts.

For more information on the exhibit or reception, contact esuarts.esu.edu or 570-422-3483.

Presenting the Obie Award winning drama For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf is both a celebration and challenge for East Stroudsburg University’s theatre department. The play is set to debut at ESU from April 19-24.

“As a department, we’re excited to celebrate the diversity on campus by having our actresses of color take on the challenges of the play,” Margaret Ball, D.M.A., professor and chair of theatre, said.

Written by Ntozake Shange, the play combines poetry, music and dance into a lyrical “choreopoem” that weaves interconnected stories of love, empowerment, struggle and loss into a complex representation of sisterhood.

“For Colored Girls…is an odyssey of what it is to be a young, woman of color in a world that can be racist, discouraging and abusive and, at the same time, beautiful, enlightening and self-actualizing,”  Susan, P. O’Hearn, professor of theatre and the director of the play, said. “The poetry reads like music and the voices are real, definitive and truthful.”

One of the cast members, Destiny DeShawn Washington, a junior from Philadelphia majoring in musical theatre, described the piece as a huge learning experience where embodying the character is not just about the words— it includes movement and action.

“These stories come from real women,” said Angelica Ramirez, a freshman from Effort, Pa. majoring in musical theatre. “ Professor O’Hearn helped us to go below the surface to crack the depths of the script and find the hidden meanings.”

“As performers, we get to bond in two different ways—as women and as women of color,” noted Ayuana Rosario, a sophomore from Reading, Pa. who is majoring in musical theatre. “I didn’t realize this until Professor O’Hearn brought it to our attention. This is our gift, our badge of honor, and why I’m proud to be part of the production.”

Other members of the production team of For Colored Girls… include scenic designer Yoshinori Tanokura, associate professor of theatre, and guest artist lighting designer Bruce Abbott.

Curtain times for the production are 8 p.m. April 19-23 and 2 p.m. April 24.  All performances are in the Smith-McFarland Theatre of the university’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg. This play is recommended for mature audiences only.

On Wednesday, April 20, there will be a pre-show reception from 7 to 7:45 p.m. in the Madelon Powers Gallery of the Fine and Performing Arts Center and a post-show discussion of the play facilitated by Sharon Brown, coordinator of the ESU Women’s Center.

General admission for the production is $12; $10 for senior citizens, faculty & staff with ID; $7 for students with ID; and $5 for youth. This play is recommended for age 10 and above.

Tickets may be purchased in advance online with a credit card at esu.edu/theatretickets. Remaining seats will be available at the box office beginning one hour before the performance. Only cash and checks are accepted at the box office.

For box office reservations or more information about the production, please email esuarts@esu.edu or call 570-422-3483, x.4.

East Stroudsburg University students will have an opportunity to present their work at the fourth annual Student Research and Creative Activity Symposium on Thursday, April 21 in the Hoeffner Science and Technology Center.

“Undergraduate and graduate research is one of the key high impact practices,” said Cem Zeytinoglu, Ph.D., associate professor of communication studies. “The symposium effectively facilitates all of the factors that make college worth it to a student.”

A record 137 research proposals were submitted this year. Multiple majors including communication studies, biology, digital media technology and psychology will be showcasing their work.

“Through participation in these projects, students become active learners, develop intellectual curiosity, and clarify career paths,” said Peter Hawkes, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “These research projects enhance and deepen the undergraduate experience.”

Josh Aronson, Ph.D., professor of developmental, social and educational psychology at New York University, is this year’s keynote speaker. Aronson is a leading author in stereotype threat, one of the most widely studied topics in the field of social psychology wherein people who are aware of the stereotypes associated with them try to skew their behavior to avoid confirming that stereotype. He has received over 5,000 citations in education, law and psychology literature.

Aronson is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. after the student presentation portion of the symposium concludes.

Poster sessions will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. followed by oral presentations from 2 to 5 p.m. Oral presentations will be held 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“Designing a project, making discoveries and sharing the findings at the research symposium generates student excitement and interest in one’s discipline,” said Jane Huffman, Ph.D., emerita professor of biological sciences. “Connecting with other students at the symposium fosters a positive learning experience.”

The symposium is open to the public and it is free of charge. For more information, visit http://quantum.esu.edu/symposium/.

ESU business management students learned a few lessons about 74 miles away from their traditional classroom last month. The students visited the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

“Our students were afforded the opportunity to learn more about the New York region of the organization that sets interest rates and monetary policy,” Sheila Handy, Ph.D., professor and chair of business management, said. “As future business leaders they should be exposed to this current and very important information.”

The New York Federal Reserve Bank implements monetary policy, supervises and regulates financial institutions and helps maintain the nation’s payment systems. The interest rate the Federal Reserve sets impacts our daily lives.

As a part of the trip, students learned the history of the bank and its importance on the financial system in the United States. “Through the tour of the financial exhibit and lecture of the Federal Reserve’s role in monetary policy by Mrs. Nisha Daniel of the Federal Reserve, the students also gained a “big picture” viewpoint of how the central bank affects business decisions,” David Daniel, Assistant Professor, said. Students visited the Gold Vault and learned how the building was built, how cash is processed, how new currency is introduced into circulation and how old bills are destroyed.

“We wanted to educate students about the history of the bank and its importance on the financial system in the United States,” Qian Xie, Ph.D., associate professor of business management, said. “They learned the roles and responsibilities of the Federal Reserve.”

For more information on the business management department contact Dr. Handy at 570-422-3181, or shandy@esu.edu.

Carrie Hessler-Radelet, the director of the Peace Corps, is the keynote speaker for East Stroudsburg University’s spring commencement ceremonies, which will be held on Saturday, May 7 at 8:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. in Koehler Fieldhouse.

Ms. Hessler-Radelet was sworn in as the 19^th director of the Peace Corps on June 25, 2014. Before that she served as the agency’s acting director and deputy director from 2010-2014. A member of a four-generation Peace Corps family, Ms. Hessler-Radelet began her career in international development as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Western Samoa (1981-1983), teaching secondary school with her husband, Steve Radelet. She went on to spend more than two decades working in public health, focusing on HIV/AIDS and maternal and child health.

During her time at the Peace Corps, Ms. Hessler-Radelet has led historic reforms to modernize and strengthen the agency to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. She spearheaded sweeping efforts to revitalize the volunteer recruitment, application, and selection process, resulting in record-breaking application numbers in 2015. Ms. Hessler-Radelet has also been instrumental in forging innovative strategic partnerships, such as Let Girls Learn, a powerful whole-of-government collaboration with First Lady Michelle Obama to expand access to education for adolescent girls around the world, and the Global Health Service Partnership, which sends physicians and nurses to teach in developing countries.

Ms. Hessler-Radelet has championed the health and safety of volunteers, leading initiatives to dramatically improve volunteer support and risk reduction, and overseeing the implementation of the 2011 Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act.

Previously, Ms. Hessler-Radelet served as vice president and director of the Washington, D.C., office of John Snow Inc., a global public health organization, overseeing health programs in more than 85 countries. She was also actively involved in establishing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and served as a primary author of PEPFAR’s first strategic plan.

Ms. Hessler-Radelet holds a Master of Science in health policy and management from the Harvard School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Boston University. She and her husband have two children.

On behalf of the East Stroudsburg Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Office of Alumni Engagement invites you to nominate individuals for the 2016 Alumni Awards. The deadline to submit nominations is May 31, 2016.

Among the awards to be given at the annual awards and Class of 1966 Banquet on Friday, October 14, 2016, are the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Helen G. Brown Award, the Conrad “Skip” Idukas Award, the Dr. George Thompson, Jr. Award, the George Ockershausen Student Service Award, the Great Teacher Award, the Jim Barniak Award and the Young Alumni Achievement Award.

Information about the qualifications of each of these awards and instructions on how to nominate can be found at: www.esualumni.org/nomination.

For more information, contact Leon John, Jr., director of Alumni Engagement, at ljohn2@esu.edu, or by telephone at 570-422-3194.

Everyone has a story. That’s what Brandon Doman, an artist, speaker and developer who currently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., thought when he began asking people to write down their thoughts. The Strangers Project is a collection of over 18,000 anonymous handwritten “journal entries” shared spontaneously by passing strangers. Doman asks people to write about anything they want. He only asks that they write the truth.

Doman is bringing these stories to East Stroudsburg University on Wednesday, April 20, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Strangers Project will be displayed outside the Hoeffner Science and Technology Building, in the courtyard area. In the case of inclement weather, it will be moved to the lobby.

Doman is conducting workshops during the day, where he will share his experience of creating the exhibit, the stories he collected, and the impact that The Stranger’s Project had in initiating individual responses and contributing to community conversations. Those in the audience will also be asked to write their own anonymous story, which will be added to the project.

This event is co-sponsored by ESU’s Counseling and Psychological Services, University Health Services, Office of Student Affairs, Orientation and New Student Programs, Student Activity Association, Health Education and Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Prevention, Office of Residence Life and Housing, and Active Minds.

This event is open to the public and it is free of charge. For more information contact Linda VanMeter, Ph.D., director of counseling and psychological services, at 570-422-3954 or lvanmeter@esu.edu.

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. will announce the title of the 2016-2017 selection for its One Book, One Campus program on Friday, April 22 at 12:30 p.m. in front of the Hoeffner Science and Technology Center located on Normal Street in East Stroudsburg, Pa. This is the fourth year of the University’s One Book, Once Campus program, intended to promote deep reading, critical thinking and unity among members of the campus and local communities.

“Representatives of ESU’s faculty, staff and students selected the title for our next book early on so more individuals will consider picking it up and enjoying the book as part of their summer reading. We want the conversations about the book to be rich, meaningful and insightful. We envision community book clubs and neighbors getting involved in the discussions. The more involvement we can generate, the more successful this program can become,” said Dr. Welsh. “I’m really excited about the book we’re about to reveal. It’s a page-turner, very thought-provoking, timely and engaging.”

Dr. Welsh will be joined by Dr. Doreen Tobin, vice president of student affairs and Dr. Peter Pruim, professor of philosophy who will speak about upcoming One Book events and the book selection process, respectively. The first 50 individuals to attend the reveal will receive a free copy of the 2016-2017 book selection and ESU’s University Store will offer a25% discount to those who wish to purchase a copy on April 22 after the reveal.

“Copies of the selected book will be distributed to all new students who attend ESU orientation programs this spring and summer,” said Dr. Tobin. “We’re also going to make copies of the book available in Kemp Library for those who wish to borrow it, and we’ll be distributing one copy of the book to each academic and non-academic department on campus to encourage faculty and staff to enjoy the story and participate in meaningful discussion.”

The schedule for book discussion events for fall 2016 is being developed and will be announced at a later date. For more information about ESU’s One Book, One Campus program or to order the title online, visit esu.edu/onebook after April 22.

East Stroudsburg University is celebrating Earth Day on April 21, on the Shawnee Quad from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

“It’s important to understand current issues about the environment and the way the earth’s health directly affects our well-being,” Madeline Constantine, program director at Stony Acres, the ESU student-owned recreation area in Marshalls Creek, Pa., said. “We hope people who attend the celebration will be more informed about environmental issues.”

The event will include booths, live music, environmental trivia and giveaways. Presentations will occur throughout the day. Speakers include James Hunt, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences, Paul Wilson, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological sciences, and Brian Hardiman, a representative from the Monroe County Conservation District (MCCD).

This year’s Earth Day celebration includes a new program: Give it Up and Take it Away. Participants will be able to recycle any items that are in good condition from 12 p.m. – 1:30. After 1 p.m., items will be available for people to pick up. The committee reserves the right to review all items that are donated to determine their condition.

The Earth Day celebration is open to the public and it is free of charge. For more information contact Constantine at 570-422-3334.

Four members from the political science club at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania visited the Shirley Futch senior living facility in East Stroudsburg, Pa., to discuss the upcoming primary elections, each candidates’ platform, and voting.

“The political science members emphasized the importance of voting and had an open discussion of the issues that senior citizens want to hear candidates talk more about at the local, state and federal levels,” Allison Simon, a senior majoring in political science and president of the political science club, said.

The idea to involve the senior citizens began in March when Samuel E. Quainoo, Ph.D., professor and chair of political science, received an e-mail from Sharotte Giberson, a social service worker from the non-profit organization Better Tomorrows. Ms. Giberson wanted to get senior citizens from Shirley Futch Plaza involved in the 2016 presidential election. Dr. Quainoo forwarded that email to Allison Simon and it took off from there. Students from the political science club were eager to talk politics with senior citizens.

Four students traveled to the facility on April 12 and spent a couple of hours talking to about 30 senior citizens. The students, who are all seniors at ESU majoring in political science, included Alison Simon, Anthony Ruiz, from Saylorsburg, Pa., Nichole Burkhart, from Old Forge, Pa., and Blair Williams, from Millrift, Pa. This visit to the Shirley Futch senior living facility aligns with PSC’s dual mission of promoting civic engagement and civic literacy. This visit to the Shirley Futch senior living facility aligns with the political science club’s dual mission of promoting civic engagement and civic literacy.

For more information on the political science club contact Kimberly S. Adams, Ph.D., professor of political science and adviser to the club, at 570-422-3924 or ksadams@esu.edu.

Mary Tod Gray, Ph.D., a professor of nursing at East Stroudsburg University, spends one day a week during the academic year at the neighboring Pocono Medical Center (PMC).

Dr. Gray brings her academic background to a new nursing research position at the hospital, which allows her to work with nurses and help them break ground on their research. The position, which is funded by both the hospital and the university, is a part of new collaborative efforts between the two institutions.

“I love what I am doing,” Dr. Gray said. “It’s invigorating as a professional to be able to share my knowledge with others in the field.”

In her time at PMC, Dr. Gray has served on a research council, a shared governance council and as a facilitator to unit managers.

“Everything I learn at PMC, I take back to my classrooms at ESU,” she said. “Evidence-based research is something my students will be held accountable for—sharing this experience with them is very significant.”

The nursing research position is only one aspect of a series of collaboration efforts between ESU and PMC. Four employees from the hospital and four individuals from the university meet quarterly to discuss new ideas and initiatives. The group launched a website this winter which serves as a platform for anyone to pitch new ideas to PMC and ESU.

“Health care is changing dramatically every day,” said Geoffrey Roche, PMC director of community outreach and government relations, who earned his master’s degree at ESU. “This partnership allows us to break ground together.”

New initiatives also include the offering of an RN to BSN program, which allows nurses at the hospital to work toward their degree and a health coaches program that aims to improve the lives of patients and curb readmissions by training a select group of volunteer students to act as health coaches. The ESU students – many of who are going on to health science careers – visit the patients in their homes to help them follow their doctor’s advice.

“We want to make sure our nurses are leaders in the field and ESU is helping us do that,” Roche said.

PMC offers internships and job opportunities to students at the university across many different majors, according to Alberto Cardelle, Ph.D., dean of the college of Health Sciences.

“We have the academic component and they have the practice delivery component,” Dr. Cardelle said. “It makes sense for students across the university to take advantage of the opportunities provided at PMC.”

And students have been doing exactly that. Currently PMC employees 148 ESU interns.

“We really value this partnership and look forward to continue watching it grow,” Roche said.

Maxwell Orland faced every obstacle in his life by telling himself two words: “I can.” Orland, an award-winning sales associate at Vineyard Vines in Boston, grew up with a speech disability. Throughout high school, he wanted nothing more than to have a “typical” college experience. Orland received an Advanced Certificate in sports management from the University of Delaware and landed his dream internship with the Boston Red Sox when he was in college. On April 22, Orland will share his story at East Stroudsburg University as a part of a conference titled “Through Their Eyes.”

In its 18th year, the conference hosts speakers who have overcome attitudinal, physical or cultural barriers. Joining Orland will be Lydia Brown, an activist, writer and speaker who was diagnosed with Autism at a young age and Jim Conroy, director of the Center for Outcome Analysis and former professor at Temple University’s Institute on Disabilities, who dedicated his life to focus on relationships, the freedom to choose living situations and breaking the cycle of poverty.

The conference, which will be held at ESU’s Innovation Center, 562 Independence Road, East Stroudsburg, from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., aims to give those in attendance a personal perspective from people with disabilities that is unique, according to Domenico Cavaiuolo, Ph.D., professor of special education and rehabilitation.

“It is intended to provide the audience with an understanding that people with disabilities can accomplish great things despite their challenges,” he said.

The conference is open to the public and it is free of charge. For more information contact Dr. Cavaiuolo at 570-422-3893, or dcavaiuolo@esu.edu.

It took one day for the National Broadcasting Society (NBS) at East Stroudsburg University to film two videos that received national awards. Students traveled to Burbank, Calif., for the National Broadcasting National Convention and entered a competition titled On the Spot Challenge, which included a series of different contests.

The rules of the competition were simple: participants could not start before arriving in California, they had to use only equipment they had on hand, and they only had a couple of days to film. ESU’s NBS earned first place in one of the challenges, which tasked students to create an appealing video for Instagram. The organization also came in second in a challenge where they were directed to film a promotional video for their student organization.

“Winning the competition just shows what a great opportunity I had to get involved with NBS,” Amanda Bongiovi, a senior majoring in business management from South River, N.J., who is also president of NBS, said. “When I first joined in the fall of 2014, I would have never imagined becoming president of the chapter, and it has been one of the best experiences I’ve had.”

This was the first time ESU’s NBS won in the competition since 2013.

“This is an amazing chapter full opportunities for the future,” Vincent Gervasi, a freshman majoring in communication studies from Phoenixville, Pa., who is also the communications coordinator for NBS, said. “It helps students build the skills we need to be successful in our careers.”

For more information on ESU’s National Broadcasting Society contact Beth Sockman, Ph.D., associate professor of digital media technologies and adviser to the club, at 570-422-3621, or bsockman@esu.edu.

For the past two years, East Stroudsburg University students in the Musical Theatre Organization (MTO) have presented a small cabaret at the end of the academic year to have another opportunity to do what they enjoy most—perform songs from Broadway, movie and television musicals.

This year’s cabaret, New York, New York, will be held on Friday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall of the university’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.

“MTO has more members this year, so we’ve decided to turn the small cabaret into a longer, more polished production,” Katie Rose Reardon, a senior from Rockaway, N.J., who is majoring in English and is president of MTO, said. “The group chose New York, New York as the theme of the show since the city is home to Broadway and that’s what we all love and want to pursue.”

After selecting songs about New York City from a wide range of sources including Annie, Follies, Thoroughly Modern Millie, New York, New York, Avenue Q, and Smash!, Reardon and the other officers found MTO members who wanted to direct sections of the show.

The directors, which include Asia Burnett, a junior from Philadelphia, Pa., majoring in theatre; David Kunz, a junior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., majoring in technical theatre and digital media technologies; John Lauri, a junior from Long Pond, Pa., majoring in computer science; Rebecca Roeber, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., majoring in technical and musical theatre; Christopher Robinson, a junior from Cape May, N.J., majoring in theatre; Sophia Thompson, a junior from Etters, Pa., majoring in speech-language pathology and theatre; Destiny Washington, a junior from Philadelphia, Pa., majoring in musical theatre and minoring in dance; and Reardon; selected the songs they wished to do and auditioned performers in December.

“We’ve been rehearsing since January,” Reardon said.  “We have costumes—t-shirts; and scenery projections. Our accompanist, Linda Christ, is a local pianist, and the opening number was choreographed by Christopher Shin, the guest artist who choreographed the ESU Theatre Department’s production of Seussical last year.”

New York, New York is open to the public at no cost. Refreshments will be sold at intermission to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

For more information, please email esuarts@esu.edu or call 570-422-3483, x. 4.

East Stroudsburg University teamed up with the Colon Cancer Coalition – Tour de Tush Allentown on Wednesday, April 13 and hosted a conference for future medical professionals including ESU nursing students titled Diagnosis = Colon Cancer. The conference, which was held at ESU’s Lehigh Valley Center, provided future medical care givers with information that may be helpful to them in caring for cancer patients. The conference was made possible by funds from the Tour de Tush bike ride which takes place each June in the Allentown area.

David Bub, M.D., was the keynote speaker for the event. Dr. Bub was board certified in general surgery in 2002, and in colon rectal surgery in 2003. After finishing his colorectal surgery training at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, he conducted a year of research at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center focusing on the diagnosis and {Ll[management of rectal cancer. For the last six years, he has been in practice at the Mount Sinai Hospital specializing in the treatment of Crohn’s disease and colitis.

Usman Shah, M.D., a hematology and oncology specialist in Allentown, Pa., also spoke at the conference. Having more than 13 years of diverse experiences in Hematology / Oncology, Medical Oncology, Dr. Shah affiliates with many hospitals including Lehigh Valley Hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg, St. Joseph Regional Health Network, The Carbon Schuylkill Community Hospital, Inc., and cooperates with other doctors and specialists in the Lehigh Valley Physician Group.

The conference also featured a panel discussion, which included facilitator Laura Waters, Ph.D., ESU associate professor and chair of nursing, Michael Gray, Ph.D., ESU associate professor of history, Don Jacobs, chief information officer for The County of Bucks and fire marshal and deputy EMC for North Whitehall Township, and Gale Fritsche, Tour de Tush Event Director and manager of computing support services at Lehigh University.

Ahmad Chaudhry ’96, D.M.D., M.D., will be the keynote speaker for East Stroudsburg University’s graduate commencement ceremony on Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. After graduating from ESU summa cum laude with a B.S. in biology, Chaudhry pursued dental studies and graduated from Harvard School of Dental Medicine with honors. He was among one of the first classes to graduate in the new problem-based curriculum. While at Harvard, he conducted international research with a grant from Harvard Medical School.

After graduating from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Chaudhry was accepted into the dual degree program Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and SUNY Stony Brook in New York.  He completed an oral surgery internship, anesthesia training, a general surgery internship, and became the chief resident in oral and maxillofacial surgery in this rigorous six-year program. Dr. Chaudhry obtained his M.D. from SUNY Stony Brook.

A strong believer in giving back to society, Dr. Chaudhry was an active member of the Donated Dental Services program while in private practice in New York City, providing free care to the elderly and special needs patients.

Dr. Chaudhry works closely with Humanity First USA, a non-profit organization working to help with disaster relief and humanitarian work around the world. In 2008, he traveled to Ecuador to provide care to indigenous people of the rainforest, and he went on a surgical mission to Ghana, Africa, in 2009. In 2013, he spent time in Guatemala providing free dental care to hundreds of needy people and teaching college students who accompanied him on the mission.

All these trips solidify in his mind the importance of giving back and being truly thankful for all that he has.

Dr. Chaudhry is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and has lectured on the subject of implant dentistry nationally. Though his passion is patient care, he has conducted research on implant dentistry and presented at national meetings. Currently, Dr. Chaudhry has a private oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in Bethlehem, Pa.

Dr. Chaudhry is married to Mehreen Chaudhry, and they have two daughters, Amaaya and Noor.

Gage Hojnowski, a graduating senior from Bushkill, Pa., will present a guitar recital Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. in Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall of the university’s Fine & Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.

Works of Fernando Carulli, Niccolo Paganini, Hoagy Carmichael, Joe Satriani and Jimi Hendrix will be featured on the program.

At ESU, Hojnowski studied with Elizabeth Buzzelli-Clarke, Ed.D., associate professor of theatre, and Matt Vashlishan, D.M.A., coordinator of the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection at ESU. He performed in numerous university jazz ensemble concerts, several talent shows, and a piano recital. He also was part of the musical ensemble for the production of Seussical.

Hojnowski is the son of Renee and Michael Hojnowski. He is a graduate of East Stroudsburg North High School.

For more information on the recital, call the Fine and Performing Arts Events Line at 570-422-3483 or email esuarts@esu.edu.

Award-winning Canadian-born pianist and composer Jon Ballantyne will be featured at East Stroudsburg University’s Spring Jazz Concert Wednesday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall of the university’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.

The concert, sponsored by ESU’s theatre department, is open to the public at no cost.

Whether he is performing his original compositions, virtuosic two-handed spontaneous improvisations, or reworking jazz standards in his own innate, organic way, Ballantyne’s openness, originality, and inborn creativity always inform his music. He has released 10 albums and won two Juno Awards, which are the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Award.

In the past two and a half decades, Ballantyne has performed critically acclaimed solo piano concerts and with his stellar quartet at venues and major music festivals across Canada, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland, France, Germany, and Israel.

Ballantyne has performed with contemporary masters, including Joe Henderson, Roy Haynes, and Dave Holland; and with jazz greats such as Dave Liebman, Seamus Blake, Phil Dwyer, and Ingred Jensen.

The concert also will feature the University Jazz Ensemble, performing works by Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Sonny Rollins and others. Matt Vashlishan, D.M.A., temporary theatre instructor at ESU, is director of the group.

For more information about the concert, please email esuarts@esu.edu or call the Fine Arts and Performing Arts Events Line at 570-422-3483.