Dr. Robert Aebersold (1935-2019), president of SRU from 1984-1997, came to Slippery Rock as the assistant football coach and a professor in the Physical Education Department in 1968. Aebersold would become the third longest-serving president after Eisenberg and Maltby. He was instrumental in the development of the university’s dance program: the first in the Pennsylvania state system. He also helped to shepherd the physical therapy program. 

The student apartments and the Alumni House were built under Aebersold’s presidency, and Aebersold Recreation Center, built in 1998, is named in his honor.

Full Audio

Nora Ambrosio (b. 1962), a native of Long Island, New York, was a Professor of Dance at Slippery Rock University (SRU) from 1988 to 2023. Ambrosio held several leadership positions including chairperson of the Department of Dance, artistic director of SRU Dance Theatre, and production coordinator for all department performances.

Over her tenure, Ambrosio was instrumental in the development of SRU’s highly acclaimed Department of Dance. Under her leadership, the department achieved national accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Dance in 2000, and was reaccredited in 2006, 2011, and 2023. Ambrosio secured numerous grants that benefitted the department, its students, and the greater community. She choreographed over thirty dances for both student and professional dancers. She is the author of two books: The Teaching of Dance and the Excellent Instructor (2020, Kendall Hunt Publishing), and Learning about Dance (2023, Kendall Hunt Publishing), which has sold over 400,000 copies.

Eliott Baker was Slippery Rock University’s Director of Academic Records. Baker also served as the Registrar and as the Director of Admissions. Eliott remembers his first year here when Slippery Rock played at Michigan Stadium.

Baker participated as a guest judge for Homecoming king and queen as well as emceeing the Miss Slippery Rock pageant for several years. After twenty-eight years at SRU, he believes that the employees and students are its stewards and that the university’s legacy is the impact it has on the people who study and work here.

William “Bill” Behre was Slippery Rock University’s 17th president, having taken office in July of 2018. A native of New York, Behre was the former provost at Georgian Court University in New Jersey.

During his tenure, Behre had an ambitious agenda for the direction of Slippery Rock University (SRU). These goals included building a more inclusive campus environment, increasing financial aid, focusing on affordability, and building SRU’s community-engaged service-learning capabilities. However, Behre’s intentions for the University were thwarted by an unprecedented worldwide pandemic.

Having only served as president for 3 full semesters, Behre was instrumental in navigating students, faculty, and Slippery Rock University’s administration through a worldwide pandemic beginning in 2020. The onslaught of COVID-19 brought many challenges for Behre’s presidency including a shift from all in-person classes to remote instruction between March 2020 and the fall semester of 2021. Despite this, Behre and his administration accomplished many achievements throughout his tenure at SRU. Behre retired as president of Slippery Rock University in 2023.

Dr. Bob Berner (born 1939), came to work in Slippery Rock’s Department of Special Education in 1971 and taught for thirty-three years. He worked under six college presidents and witnessed tremendous building growth on campus. Berner talks about the Over the Hill Basketball group he participated in for many years, Bob Macoskey’s Alternative Futures course, and the Human Inquiry Program at SRU.

He recalls notable campus visitors such as Dustin Hoffman, George Carlin, and Harry Belefonte. Berner was an engaging instructor and an active presenter and workshop facilitator.

Brandon Berns (b. 1985) currently serves as the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations within the Advancement Office at Slippery Rock University. Brandon is an SRU alumnus (class of 2007), attending the university during an era of major change and renovation. He is responsible for seeking funding for the university as well as engaging with alumni for donations and maintaining scholarship funds. He also established the Brandon Berns Scholarship for the student who portrays Rocky, the university mascot.

As a student, Brandon was the first person to portray both Rocky the Lion (Rocky II) and Rocky III, Pride of The Rock. He was known for bringing life to the characters and creating a distinct personality that made the mascots icons both on campus and in Division II sports.

Francis “Fran” Bires (born 1957) started his career in 1981 as an intern at the McKeever Environmental Learning Center. He was subsequently hired there as an environmental educator in 1983. In 1995, Bires became McKeever’s director, ushering in an era focused on program enhancement and environmental awareness.

The McKeever Center offered dynamic programs for school-aged students, and quickly became one of the best spaces in western Pennsylvania for student teaching opportunities in environmental education. Bires went on to hold a dual position at SRU, simultaneously directing the McKeever Center as well as the Macoskey Center for Sustainability Systems Education and Research from 2012 until his retirement in 2016.

Dr. Paul Black (1941-2023), professor emeritus, has been both a student and a faculty member at Slippery Rock University. Black left Slippery Rock in 1963, graduating with a degree in Education. He returned in 1972 as a faculty member in the department of secondary education, retiring in 2003.

While teaching, Black was involved in building the graduate degree program and served on many committees from Academic Affairs to Public Relations. While Black has received countless awards for his teaching and work in education, his most cherished award is Advisor of the Year. Black says the best thing about Slippery Rock is “the students that come here and the camaraderie and the family atmosphere that we create here.”

Dr. Patrick Burkhart has been teaching at Slippery Rock University since 1998. A faculty member in the Department of Geology, Geography and the Environment, Burkhart has taken student researchers to Newfoundland, Alaska, and the Badlands of South Dakota. His interest in Charles Darwin led him to Argentina and Chile.

Burkhart created the SRU Symposium for Student Research and Scholarship and its publication The Journal of Scholarly Endeavor. He is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys kayaking, rock climbing, and skiing.

Wilma Cavill (1930-2019), taught at Slippery Rock University for over fifty years, starting in 1958. She was a graduate of Slippery Rock State Teachers College and was captain of the gymnastics team in her junior year. As a student, she wrote a column for The Rocket called “Whirlpool by Will.”

Cavill’s accomplishments as a faculty member included coaching gymnastics, starting the women’s swim team, and election to the presidency of APSCUF four times. Cavill was honored by the Women’s Athletic Association as a pioneer in women’s sports. She also received the President’s Service Award. Cavill taught in the Health and Safety Department and retired in December of 2015.

Dr. Mark Chase (born 1960), Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, served in a variety of positions at Slippery Rock University since 1983 including Director of Media Services and a temporary position as a professor in Secondary Education.

Chase was involved with many of the technological advances on campus. He also served as an advisor to the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams and worked with WSRU. As the son of a faculty member, Chase remembers football games and the campus social scene in the 1970s.

Jane Scott Cleary (born 1948), served on the faculty at Bailey Library from 1978 to 2003. She began her career as the instructional materials librarian and shifted into the role of a reference librarian and liaison to the science and health sciences departments. She also served as the coordinator of instruction.

Cleary worked during the years of technological advancement that transformed library resources from print to online. She served on many committees during her time here, including chairing the Marjorie Stevenson Scholarship committee and the Black Action Society. Cleary met and later married Dr. Michael Cleary, a professor in the Allied Health Department, at SRU.

Thom Cobb (1951-2016), better known as T. C., started teaching at Slippery Rock University in1978. Hired to teach dance in the Physical Education Department, Cobb was involved early on in the creation of the Dance Department. In 1987 Slippery Rock University offered the first bachelor’s degree in dance in the state system of higher education in Pennsylvania.

T.C. was very active in Slippery Rock University Dance Theater. He did the choreography for the Theatre Department and the Marching Band and taught dance at festivals and conferences.

Louis Como (1927-2022), was hired in 1966 as an assistant acquisitions librarian. Como worked in Maltby Library and was involved in the move from Maltby to Bailey Library in 1972. During his career the library collection was vastly expanded and improved, supporting Slippery Rock’s transition from teacher’s college to state college to university status.

Como shares his memories of students, staff, and presidents, including the faculty no-confidence vote and the resignation of one of our presidents.

Dr. Joan (Jace) Condravy (born 1952), was hired in 1981 into the Department of Academic Support Services. She transitioned to the English Department where she eventually served as chair.

Dr. Condravy was an active member of the faculty union at Slippery Rock University and served as the APSCUF president. She was also a key figure in leading the Women’s Studies program.

Bob DiSpirito (1928-2015), came to Slippery Rock as the head football coach in 1968. After what he calls a rocky start, DiSpirito became one of the great Division II football coaches, winning 3 state championships and over 100 games.

DiSpirito also made contributions to Slippery Rock academics, teaching in the Physical Education Department and developing the Recreation Department. He was an advisor to student government, helped develop the Gail Rose facility into a successful fundraising venture, and was instrumental in the creation of the Aebersold Student Recreation Center. One of his proudest accomplishments was the development and enlargement of the Newman Center.

Dr. Diana Dreyer (born 1938) came to Slippery Rock in 1965 as a faculty wife and started teaching in 1980. She was on the faculty of the English Department until her retirement in 2006. Dreyer then served as the interim dean of the College of Humanities, Fine & Performing Arts.

Dreyer saw a lot of changes in her time at Slippery Rock. Her stories include membership in the Faculty Wives Club, downtown when it included Isaly’s and Bard’s Department Store, the demolition of the Chapel, and even an earthquake.

Susan Ferrandiz came to Slippery Rock University as the head of the library’s circulation department in the mid-1980s. She later became one of the reference librarians, retiring from that position in 2003. Ferrandiz was instrumental in the development of the Bailey Library website, working as the webmaster for many years.

Ferrandiz is deeply interested in local history, particularly in Pennsylvania coal towns. Her master’s thesis on the topic was the first Web-based thesis in the state of Pennsylvania. Susan is also an accomplished weaver.

Ettore (Steve) Gagliardo, received his bachelor’s degree in Education from Slippery Rock State College in 1969. He returned in 1972 as the assistant director of housing, and quickly became the director of housing, working in that capacity for 29 years.

Gagliardo was the president of the faculty union (APSCUF) when Slippery Rock changed from a college to a university. He was Slippery Rock’s director of veterans’ affairs during the Vietnam War. He also served on the Co-op Board and held the union seat on the curriculum committee. Gagliardo recounts some lively tales about student life at The Rock, including parties on Kiester Road and the dorms going co-ed.

Thomas Gaither (1938-2024), born in Great Falls, South Carolina, was a Slippery Rock University (SRU) professor emeritus of biology and respected civil rights activist. Gaither earned degrees from Claflin College, Clark Atlanta University, and a PhD from the University of Iowa. He began his career as a professor at SRU in 1968, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 2007.

Gaither’s involvement in the civil rights movement began while attending Claflin College, where he worked as a field secretary for CORE (Congress of Racial Equality). In 1961, Gaither, along with eight students at Rock Hill’s Friendship Junior College, were jailed after organizing a sit-in at a “whites-only” lunch counter to protest South Carolina segregation laws. Gaither and the other students became known as the “Friendship Nine,” and helped to usher in the “Jail, No Bail” strategy for the sit-in movements of the South.

Remembered at Slippery Rock University for his years of service as a professor of biology, Gaither earned numerous accolades in teaching and became a mentor for many Slippery Rock students. The Thomas Gaither Award for Excellence, a scholarship at SRU established in 2018, is a testament to his impact in the Slippery Rock community.

Dr. Thomas Hannon (1936-2015), was hired in 1970 and served as a professor in the Department of Geography, Geology and the Environment, retiring in 2004. He became the curriculum director for the Institute for Learning in Retirement, spending his free time researching cemeteries and cemetery landscapes. While working at SRU, Hannon was the advisor of the geography honorary Gamma Theta Upsilon and the sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma. He was also the chair of the university promotion committee and an organizer for overseas summer programs.

Hannon received two Fulbright grants for research travel in Europe and taught on exchange at Trinity College, Dublin, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh as well as in Salzburg, Austria, and Seoul, Korea.

Dr. Kenneth Harris (born 1936), moved to the United States from London, England as a small child. After graduate school in Iowa and teaching in West Virginia, Harris joined the Communication Department here at Slippery Rock University in 1981. He was one of the original faculty members of the newly formed Theatre Department beginning the next year.

Harris shares stories about theatre productions, rehearsal visits from President Reinhard, and a minor explosion in Miller Auditorium. Dr. Harris also served as the mayor of Slippery Rock.

Dr. John Hicks retired from Slippery Rock’s Department of Education in 2002 after 29 years of service. He then served on the Board of Trustees and on the Sports Hall of Fame board of directors. Hicks worked as an assistant to the dean of education and was twice appointed as the interim dean of the College of Education.

An Army veteran, Hicks graduated from Slippery Rock in 1962. As an undergraduate, he worked as a student assistant to the dean of men. He met his wife Judy, a Rocklette, here. Hicks was very active in education, serving as a member of the Association of Teacher Educators and on the board of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. One of his proudest accomplishments was his role in the foundation of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators.

Domenic “Dom” Ionta (born 1941) is a member of the Council of Trustees of Slippery Rock University (SRU), having been appointed in 2020 and elected chair in 2022. A celebrated educator, Ionta has taught in many local school districts serving as teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent, respectively.

A Slippery Rock State College (SRSC) graduate, Ionta earned a bachelor’s degree in Education in 1963. As a student, Ionta was a member of the SRSC men’s basketball team. Ionta later earned a master’s degree from Westminster College and a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Youngstown State University.

Bob Jones (born 1960), class of 1983, was the original Rocky the Rock Mascot. As a freshman, Jones realized that the college lacked a mascot, so he took it upon himself to create one that was “very unique, like Slippery Rock.” Jones donned the costume at athletic events the rest of his time at Slippery Rock State College. He held onto the original costume when he graduated, but gave the rights to Rocky to the college so Rocky the Rock could continue without him. The original Rocky the Rock now resides in the SRU Archives.

Jones recounts the creation of Rocky, highlights from his time as the mascot, as well as his time as a student at Slippery Rock State College.

Dr. Donald Kelly (1930-2025), taught in Slippery Rock University’s History Department, specializing in Native American studies. Kelly had a true Slippery Rock education: he attended Slippery Rock High School on the campus grounds and was taught by Slippery Rock College graduates.

After serving in the Korean War, Kelly completed his undergraduate studies in History, returning later to head the Department of History. He was instrumental in starting both the History master’s degree program and the Slippery Rock University Archives. During his time at SRU Kelly wrote two books on local history and managed the Old Stone House. He was the first ex-faculty member on the Board of Trustees.

Mel Klein (born 1927), a World War II veteran, graduated in 1949 from Slippery Rock State Teachers College with a B.S. in Education. During his years at Slippery Rock, Klein played on the basketball team, was a sports writer for the college newspaper, and was a member of the education honor society, Kappa Delta Pi. He was an announcer for college football games and had a Saturday morning radio show for WBUT Butler.

After graduation, Klein taught high school math and coached basketball before becoming a principal and then a superintendent. His athletic accomplishments are featured at two Pennsylvania sports halls of fame, and he was named Superintendent of the Year in 1995. Klein’s campus recollections include playing bridge at the president’s house, the Rocketman, and meeting his wife at Slippery Rock.

Dr. Manuel Irwin (Irv) Kuhr (1928-2008), joined the Speech Department at Slippery Rock University in 1961, retiring from the Communication Department in 1991. Kuhr was the first president of SRU APSCUF, the faculty union, and was also president of the Pennsylvania Communications Association. He was a founder of the Institute of Learning and Retirement where he lectured and took classes for many years.

Kuhr talks about the evolution of his department, the early years of the faculty union, and presidents and interim presidents of the University. He also recalls the campus of the 1960s and 1970s, along with personal stories about Emma Guffey Miller.

Cindy LaCom (b. 1961) grew up in the East Bay area of California. After earning their Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon, LaCom was hired at Slippery Rock University (SRU) as a professor for the English Department in 1992. Eventually they became the director of the Gender Studies Program, serving in that capacity until their retirement in 2023.

Under LaCom’s leadership, the Gender Studies Program evolved into a program centered on gender and feminist issues through the lenses of intersectionality. Their commitment to issues of disability justice shaped their work in academia for 30 years. Having served on numerous committees and being an ex-officio member on three President’s Commissions (the Commission on Women; the Commission on Disability Issues; and the Commission on Gender Identity, Expression, and Sexual Orientation (GIESO)), LaCom endeavored to address issues of inclusivity on SRU’s campus their entire career.

Dr. Carl Laughner (1917-2009), came to Slippery Rock on the G.I. Bill after serving in World War II. He was hired as an assistant professor of English and Speech in 1955, later becoming the Director of Alumni Affairs.

Laughner recollects when all classes were held in Old Main. He talks about coaching the debate team, teaching during the Korean War, and hitchhiking to classes from Pittsburgh as a student. Carl and his wife Norma, who also taught at Slippery Rock, established the Carl and Norma Laughner Scholarship.

Norma Laughner (1926-2022) grew up on Elm Street in Slippery Rock. Her father took her to the college football games and her mother worked here in the laundry. In 1944 Laughner started her freshman year, majoring in English and speech. That year there were only two men in her class, but soon the World War II veterans arrived.

Laughner taught for the English Department for ten years, later becoming the secretary for the Alumni Association. She met her husband Carl while singing in the choir at vespers in the Chapel, a building she and the Alumni Association tried to save from demolition.

Alan Levy, a native of New York, was a faculty member of the History Department at Slippery Rock University (SRU) from 1985 to 2023. In 1986, Levy took ownership of restructuring SRU’s University Honors Program. The program witnessed incredible growth under his leadership, going from only a few students to around 85 by 1989.

A celebrated researcher and author, Levy has published works such as Rube Waddell: The Zany, Brilliant Life of a Strikeout Artist, Walter Alston: The Rise of a Manager from the Minors to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Floyd Patterson: A Boxer and a Gentleman, and more.

Paul Lueken served as Slippery Rock University’s Director of Athletics from 1994-2021. While at SRU, he restructured SRU’s NCAA compliance procedures and made major improvements in academic support services for student-athletes. When Lueken took over in the fall of 1994, Slippery Rock’s student-athletes combined GPA averaged 2.614. Over the course of his SRU career, that average rose nearly a full point, to a 3.532 cumulative GPA in the spring of 2020.

While Lueken was Athletic Director, The Rock won 39 PSAC championships and had 11 students win national titles. Slippery Rock University also won the Dixon Trophy during his tenure. He coordinated the upgrade of SRU’s athletic facilities, and was directly involved with renovations to Morrow Field House, the construction of Jack Critchfield Park, and with the evolution of the SRU mascot Rocky, the Pride of the Rock.

Lueken was inducted into the SRU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022 and named Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau Ambassador of the year. In retirement, he serves as a member of the Slippery Rock Borough Council and spends time with his grandchildren.

Barb McGinnis, worked at Slippery Rock University for over 35 years. Starting at age 18, McGinnis worked as a secretary in the Public Relations and Sports Information Center offices. Over the years she worked in the Computer Center, Graduate Studies & Continuing Education, and then at Bailey Library.

McGinnis worked under various presidents and administrations and reminisces about the blizzard of 1977, early computer-assisted registration, and bygone campus locales like Highrise I & II and The Hut.

Kevin McLatchy (born 1947), a native of Newton, Massachusetts, is a skilled artist and longtime library employee. McLatchy attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and later obtained his MFA at the Massachusetts College of Art studying painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. After graduation, McLatchy worked part-time teaching art and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) library until he eventually took a full-time library position in Interlibrary Loan.

McLatchy was first hired at Slippery Rock University (SRU) in 2000, working in Bailey Library. McLatchy’s comprehensive career at SRU led him to several different units within the library including Interlibrary Loan, Reference Services, Government Documents, and eventually the University Archives. McLatchy recalls many changes in the university that occurred during his career including new campus buildings, the Slippery Rock downtown renovations, as well as various changes in the library including the shift from analog to digital technology and resources, as well as several library renovations. McLatchy retired from Bailey Library in 2021.

Dr. George Mihalik, known simply as “Coach” to former football players, devoted 45 years to Slippery Rock University. Serving as head football coach from 1988 until the end of the 2015 season, Mihalik remarkably led The Rock in 8 PSAC West Championships and 6 NCAA Division II Playoff Berths. In recognition of Mihalik’s success and commitment, the N. Kerr Thompson Stadium was formally renamed and dedicated as “Mihalik-Thompson Stadium” in 2011.

Mihalik was also instrumental in the creation of SRU’s Safety Management program. A rare example of a professor-coach, he taught in that department for (almost) his entire career.

Rebecca Morrice (born 1971) became a professor at Slippery Rock University (SRU) in 1997. As a member and chair of the Theatre Department, Morrice became a costume designer and worked behind-the-scenes on countless university productions. She earned her B.A. in Art History from the University of Illinois, Chicago and her M.F.A. in Costume Design from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Morrice has taken students to regional festivals, as well as Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Kennedy Center, to perform and compete with theatre professionals.

During her time at SRU, Morrice saw her department enrollment nearly triple in size. She served on numerous university committees, including leadership roles on the University Curriculum Committee and the Middle States Accreditation Committee, and an internal Theatre Department committee to design their new BFA program. She is also a proud member of APSCUF.

Gordon Ovenshine worked in the Public Relations Department at Slippery Rock University. As a writer, he contributed heavily to the Alumni Magazine, SRU press releases, and Public Relations photography. Overshine attended Slippery Rock University as an undergraduate, majoring in journalism.

In his interview, Ovenshine reminisces about college life in the 1980s, including working for The Rocket before the computer age, painting on dorm walls, and meeting his wife at SRU.

Dr. Anthony Pagano (1922-2011), professor emeritus and World War II veteran, served in the Mathematics Department, beginning in 1959. He was the president of Faculty Counsel and served on the grievance committee for APSCUF. Pagano started Slippery Rock University’s Math Club in the 1960s, while also chairing the Mathematics Department. He received top honors from the School of Natural Science and Mathematics during his time here.

Pagano remembers faculty picnics, May Day celebrations, the bowling alleys, and The Hut. The Anthony V. Pagano Scholarship in Mathematics is an annual award endowed by Pagano.

John Papa, a native of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, first attended Slippery Rock State College in 1975. As a student, Papa began his athletic career with vigor and eventually earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish in the decathlon at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division III National Championships. After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in 1979, Papa began his teaching career in Virginia. In 1984 he returned to Slippery Rock University (SRU) as a graduate assistant with the track and field program.

Papa remained at SRU, eventually earning his master’s degree in Athletic Administration, and becoming an assistant coach. Papa accepted the position of head coach of the cross country and track and field programs in 1987. His accomplishments at Slippery Rock University have been vast with 25 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference team titles and 127 student-athletes named as Division II All-Americans under his leadership. Papa retired from Slippery Rock University after the conclusion of the 2022 season.

Ursula Payne (1969-) was hired in 1996 at Slippery Rock University as a professor in the Department of Dance. Payne assumed the role of University Dance Theater director, introducing students to new experiences such as the American College Dance Festival. She served as chair of the Department from 2011 to 2020 and was instrumental in the Dance program’s development, including initiating changes in curriculum such as the inception of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.

Over her tenure at SRU, Payne has served as Director of the Frederick Douglass Institute and was appointed by President Bill Behre as the Diversity Liaison Officer to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. She achieved remarkable success in creative endeavors including choreography and movement direction for the 2021 film Obi Mbu (The Primordial House). In 2022, Payne was appointed Interim Associate Provost for Academic Finance, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, ultimately filling that role at SRU in a permanent capacity.

Kurt Pitluga (born 1959) is a professor in the Art Department at Slippery Rock University (SRU). Since arriving at SRU in 1996, Pitluga has taught Art History, actively engaging students both in and out of the classroom. He has organized numerous educational trips for students—both locally and abroad—over his tenure and helped to reform the Martha Gault Arts Society. Notably, Pitluga’s knowledge of architectural history played a crucial role in the development of the publication, Wood, Stone, Brick and Steel: An Architectural History of Slippery Rock University.  

Before arriving at SRU, Pitluga received his B.A. in Art History from Edinboro State College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Art History from Pennsylvania State University. His interest in college architecture informs his work and is illustrated in his dissertation titled The Collegiate Architecture of Charles Z. Klauder. Long a SECAC (Southeastern College Art Conference) board member, Pitluga has remained active in the art community throughout his career.

Dr. Walter V. Powell (1929-2019), served as political science and pre-law professor at Slippery Rock University, beginning in 1965. He earned his J.D. and Ph.D. after serving in the Air Force during World War II. Powell served as chair of both the Political Science and Pre-Law Departments, contributing to an annual scholarship for students in Pre-Law.

After retiring in 2009, Powell pursued his passion for military aircraft, first restoring old aircraft and then establishing the Western Pennsylvania Warbird Military Museum. Powell recounts stories about teaching in Old Main, buckets in the classrooms to catch the rain, and teach-ins.

Dr. Garry Quast (1937-2015), served in the Elementary Education Department from 1968 until his retirement in 1999. He was at the forefront of developing field experience programs for teachers as well as being a legislative delegate for the faculty union, chair of the first Constitutional Committee, a longstanding member of the College Curriculum Committee, and a Danforth Associate.

Quast reminisces about Bob Macoskey and other colleagues. He tells the story of his campus interview when he dined at the local hotdog shop with the president of the college and the chair of the Elementary Education Department.

Jean Richardson, came to what was then Slippery Rock State College as a civil service employee in 1971. She worked in the Registrar’s Office, Academic Advisement, Admissions, and then in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

In 2005 Richardson was honored with the President’s Award for Outstanding Service. She was involved with homecoming and presidential inaugurations over the years and was the longstanding coordinator of the Academic Honors Convocation.

Dr. Joe Riggs (1928-2025), joined the Slippery Rock State College faculty in 1971 as a professor in the Speech Department. In 1989 he retired from Slippery Rock University’s Communication Department. Riggs helped to improve graduate school placement and graduate school assistantships for SRU communication majors.

Riggs has been very active as an oral historian. In the 1980s he and Leah Brown, Library Department, organized an oral history program on campus. Riggs has served on the board of directors for WQED, the Child Care Center, and the Sunflower Home School, among others.

Carolyn Rizza (1944 – 2022), professor emeritus, taught in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work from 1975 to 1999. She was instrumental in starting the university’s Gerontology program, later becoming the president of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. As the only woman in her department when she was hired, and the first female chair of a department at one time, Rizza remarks on the changing roles of women on this campus.

A donation from Rizza’s family allowed the University to renovate West Hall, built in 1900 as the Model School. The building was renamed the Paul and Carolyn Carruth Rizza Hall in their honor. Since retiring, Rizza enjoys riding horses and currently serves as chair of the advisory board for the Equestrian Center.

Dr. Paul Rizza (born 1938), professor emeritus, was hired as chair of the Geography Department in 1972, where he taught until his retirement in 1997. He was awarded a Senior Fulbright Scholar lectureship in Finland, where he taught in the Spring semester of 1976. Rizza was also active in the local Slippery Rock Rotary Club and served as the District 7280 Governor from 1999-2000.

A donation from Rizza’s family allowed the University to renovate West Hall, built in 1900 as the Model School. The building was renamed the Paul and Carolyn Carruth Rizza Hall in their honor. Since retiring, Rizza enjoys riding horses and currently serves as chair of the advisory board for the Equestrian Center.

Dr. Bruce Russell (born 1950), graduated from Slippery Rock State College in 1972 with a degree in education. The next year he was hired to work in the Media Services Center, continuing his education and rising to director of Media Services before accepting a teaching position in the Communication Department. Russell became the Dean of the College of Business, Information & Social Sciences.

Russell helped launch and manage the university radio station, WSRU. He also served as chair of the Communication Department and was instrumental in the development of the Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.

Lucy Isacco Sack grew up in the area and attended Slippery Rock High School. After graduating from Slippery Rock State College in 1967 with a degree in Health & Physical Education, Sack returned to complete her master’s degree in 1970. She was then hired in the Physical Education Department, retiring in 1999.

Among other accomplishments, Sack was instrumental in starting Slippery Rock University’s Dance Department. The Lucy Isacco Sack Dance Scholarship is named in her honor.

Claire Schmieler, came to the university in 1966 to work as a night nurse in the infirmary. She rose to the position of Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, retiring in 2003. Schmieler was instrumental in the transition to the current Student Health Center, an organization for total student health and wellness. She implemented the Health Education and Health Promotion programs to further this vision.

Schmieler was a member of the President’s Commission for Women, the National Health Association, and the Assessment Movement. She has been the recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Service. The Claire R. Schmieler Leadership Institute for Professional Women is named in her honor.

Ben Shaevitz (b. 1960) was born in Columbus and grew up in nearby Chillicothe, Ohio. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science from Purdue University, and his PhD in Experimental Physics from Penn State in 1989. Shaevitz was hired that summer as a professor in the Physics Department at Slippery Rock University, where he worked for 33 years.

During his time at SRU, Shaevitz held several leadership positions, including as chair of the Physics Department and president of the faculty union, APSCUF [Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties]. Shaevitz was a Slippery Rock delegate to APSCUF’s Legislative Assembly and served on state APSCUF’s Executive Committee.

David Skeele (b. 1960) taught acting and playwriting in the Theatre Department at Slippery Rock University (SRU) from 1993 to 2023. A native of Vermont, Skeele received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing at University of New Orleans and his Ph.D. in Theatre History and Performance Studies at University of Pittsburgh.

Over his tenure, Skeele helped shape the evolution of SRU’s Theatre Department as it expanded from a BA to a BFA program, and more than tripled the number of Theatre majors enrolled. Skeele directed 51 productions since arriving at SRU including Heathers, The Merchant of Venice, Tallgrass Gothic, and his last SRU production, Hand to God. His acclaimed original plays have received professional accolades, been performed worldwide as collegiate productions and shared on stage at Slippery Rock University on many occasions.

Dr. G. Warren Smith (1941-2021), was president of Slippery Rock University from 1997 to 2003. His Future Watch program involved faculty, staff, and community members in evaluating and improving the direction of university academics. He launched Rock Pride to improve the image of Slippery Rock nationally.

Smith was keenly interested in the aesthetics of the campus and did much to improve its appearance. During his presidency, he modernized and expanded technology in the classroom. He also established the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry and the Institute for Learning in Retirement in Slippery Rock. Smith served as an instructor at the Regional Learning Alliance and played in the Slippery Rock University Orchestra, as he did when president.

Robert M. Smith (born 1945), began his career at Slippery Rock University in 1999 as the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. During his tenure as provost, Smith was instrumental in turning around declining enrollment and improving retention at SRU. He was a member of the Slippery Rock downtown revitalization project. In 2002 Smith was appointed interim President and was subsequently hired as President, the role he filled until his retirement in 2012.

While president, Smith worked to revitalize the SRU campus which culminated in 12 new buildings, including the Robert M. Smith Student Center, 8 building renovations, and a “Green Fund” to implement sustainability efforts across campus. Smith was determined to make SRU a welcoming and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. He implemented four Presidential Commissions that created programs, workshops, and symposia to ensure all groups on campus were heard and represented.

Joe Stahlman (1928-2012), served on the staff at Slippery Rock University for 41 years, beginning in 1949. He started on the college’s grounds crew, then work as a plumber, night watchman, foreman, and as acting director of the Physical Plant. In addition, he served as the president of the non-instructional union.

Stahlman saw 7 university presidents come and go. He remembers taking the loyalty oath, the World War II veterans’ trailers, and the campus coal mine. Upon his retirement in 1990, a tree was planted on the lower campus in honor of his many years of service.

Terry S. Steele (born 1947), devoted nearly 33 years of service to the Slippery Rock University Music Department. His early years saw its metamorphosis from a non-degree conferring institution tucked away in West Hall to a fully-fledged program housed in the newly built Swope Music Building.

Between his acceptance in 1975 and retirement in 2008, Steele oversaw the consistent, incremental growth in his own department and the University at large as both gained recognition. Some of his fondest memories of his tenure include hosting a series of world-renowned jazz musicians like Stanley Turrentine and taking his student jazz ensemble on a tour of the former USSR a mere three months before its collapse.

David Taylor (born 1939), was hired at Slippery Rock State College as a professor in the Chemistry Department in the fall of 1968. Taylor specialized in Analytical Chemistry but taught courses on varying subjects including basic Math and English courses as well as Aviation Meteorology.

In the 1970’s Taylor got involved with the Environmental Science Program and went on to teach the course “The University: Thinking and Change.” From 1979 to 1987 Taylor was the director of the Slippery Rock University Planetarium, known as the Rocket Room. Taylor retired from the Department of Chemistry and Physics in 2004.

Melba Tomeo (1949-2020), professor emeritus, was a self-proclaimed “townie.” She attended what was then Slippery Rock State College, majoring in library science. In 1990 Tomeo became a faculty member at Slippery Rock University, retiring in 2009.

Over the years Tomeo worked as a student, staff, and faculty member at the library, first at Maltby and then at Bailey. She was a technology leader on campus, with her Cites & Bytes @ Bailey blog and as a co-convener of the Teaching Learning Technology Roundtable. After retirement, she taught Web 2.0 workshops online for staff and faculty.

Eva Tsuquiashi-Daddesio joined Slippery Rock University (SRU) in 1988 as a professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. Tsuquiashi-Daddesio was actively involved in many campus organizations and held several leadership positions including department chair, interim dean, and later dean of the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts.

Tsuquiashi-Daddesio was instrumental in the advancement of SRU’s Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. She successfully introduced TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) to the department, students, and the greater community. Under her leadership, major reorganizational efforts were made for the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts as it transitioned into the College of Liberal Arts. Tsuquiashi-Daddesio retired from Slippery Rock University in 2016.

Gary Wakefield (1944-2013), taught in the Parks and Recreation Department from 1974 to 1988. During his time at Slippery Rock, Wakefield established a working relationship with Camp Whitewood to provide counselor experience to students. He also began the Wilderness Workshop in Colorado, which provided students with a weeklong field experience.

Wakefield developed a cross-country ski trail on the campus grounds, which hosted a major race for the U.S. Ski Team. In 1980 Wakefield was a referee for the Winter Olympics.

Dr. Theodore Walwik (1937-2010), was hired in 1971 in the Speech and Theater Department. During his career that department witnessed the significant expansion and morphed into the Communication Department.

Some of Walwik’s accomplishments include serving as the executive director of Slippery Rock Development, the Dean of Extended Services, and the Director of Planning. He was an early proponent of technology on campus and helped create the Center for Learning Technology.

His recollections include sporting events, the beginnings of APSCUF on campus, various university presidents, and the hiring and wage freezes of the 1970s.

Dr. Robert J. Watson (born 1949), shares stories of his childhood exploits in the village of Slippery Rock; his undergraduate days at Slippery Rock State College, and subsequent graduate work at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pittsburgh; his extensive research on the university’s history; and his 36-year career at Slippery Rock University.

Dr. Watson began his career in the Office of Admissions and Records, retiring as Vice President for Student Affairs in 2006. He returned from retirement to serve in two different interim vice-president roles. Watson wrote Slippery Rock University: The Legend Behind the Name. Watson Hall is named in his honor.

Provost Bill Williams (born 1945), came to Slippery Rock University in 1981 as a member of the English Department, which he later chaired. He served as the president of APSCUF (Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties) for nine years before accepting the position of provost. Williams retired in 2012.

Richard “Dick” Wukich (born 1943), worked in SRU’s Art Department from 1968 to 2011. He was a major participant in the development of the Art program, including the BFA.

Wukich discusses the beginnings of the faculty union and the influential Martha Gault. Additional topics include his involvement with the Empty Bowls Dinner, the Summer Art Academy, SRU’s exchange program with the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, and the “People’s Art Gallery.”

Amanda Yale (1958-), was hired as a faculty member at Slippery Rock University in 1985 and retired in 2024 as the Chief Enrollment Officer. Yale was responsible in the latter role for all aspects of Enrollment Management: Undergraduate, Graduate and Transfer Admissions; Orientation; Financial Aid and Scholarships; Academic Records and Registration; and the Center for Career and Academic Progress which includes the Exploratory Student Program; Career Education and Development; and the Student Success Coaches.

Yale’s earlier work as a faculty member included leading Academic Advisement Services and the First-Year Experience program. She went on to serve in various administrative roles, including Associate Provost for Enrollment Services. Yale’s 39 years in higher education and her dedication to expanding SRU’s programs and services related to marketing and recruitment, academic advisement, retention programming, and first-year initiatives have received national recognition.